Do you really need super heavy line?

[Wayne P.]

I just got a fishing report from a guide service on the Potomac River near Washington,DC. and remembered this thread. Here is part of it:

"In grass beds, a black or green frog worked over the thickest portions of the grass had paid off with larger than average bass, and when the bass refuse to strike the topwater offerings, we have switched to a 1 oz. tungstun sinker and a 4" Berkley Chigger Craw and have punched the heavy weight through the mats, finding bass under the thick carpet of grass. We have found that in order to keep from breaking off bass in this thick mat, we have been forced to use at least 65 pound braided line, and Spider Wire Stealth has been our choice of line. As the grass continues to thicken, we will probably be forced to up our weight to at least a 1/1-2 oz. tungstun weight to punch through the thick surface grass."

[Iowa Matt]

It still amazes me that people either don't like or haven't tried braid...........IMHO it is the beggest advance in my tackle since I began bass fishing (middle 80's). It allows me to detect subtle strikes and details of the structure I am fishing in that I would never get with any kind of mono. I use six standard rods when I am out after bass; 5 have braid and one has flourocarbon (for drop shotting) and the only time I ever use mono now is for ice fishing because braid freezes. To me (this is just my $0.02) braid allows me to cast farther all else being equal, feel more bites easier with no uncertainty, set hooks more solidly with no crazy BASSmasters TV hooksets, and get my baits deeper quicker.........plus it lasts about forever. I can't see a down side and wonder why mono is still so popular........are people just stubborn?

Matt

[burleytog]

Braid isn't a do-everything line.  It has it's appropriate applications.

[bilgerat]

I'm still on the fence about braid and I'm teetering more and more back toward mono......

[fishinflip415]

today with the advantage of florocarbon and the thin diameter of braid why not go a little heavier. Floro has the advantage of being harder to see in water than mono so why not go a little heavier in test. Also I don't know where most of u fish but fishing the cal delta mostly where every cast could be a 10lber and has some of the nastiest cover out there I don't go with anything less than 14lb. And when I'm flipping,punching or frogging no less than 65lb power pro.  In real clear water I usually downsize. Even then I usually go 30lb braid with leaders of mono or floro depending on what presentation I'm doing. I say take advantage of what's available and I think it's always better safe than sorry.

[bigtimfish]

It seems to me that the only thing braid would be good for is Flipping jigs in really heavy cover and really thick grass to haul the pigs out. And I guess for frogs, but I no longer fish frogs so I have no need for it.

[Willzx225]

I just got back from the Potomac fishing a BFL up there and I was flipping 80lb PP (after being strongly suggested this by my local buddy) and 1 3/4oz weights in the mats.  Personally I witnessed 2 guys break off 65lb braid while flipping the grass.  IMHO why not go with some goat rope in that situation?!  Line visability is not a factor but getting 5+lb fish out of 20lbs of salad is.  Braid is a tool just like mono and fluro.  Certain conditions just 'require' braid.  Mostly heavy heavy grass.

[ArcticCat500]

Spinning tackle:

Yo-Zuri Hybrid or Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (.010" diameter, 11.9 lb breaking strength).

Baitcasting: #12 Hybrid or Ultra Soft (.013" diameter, 19.5 lb breaking strength).

8-)

Im not picking on you RW, but I took these recommendations from you awhile back, and wasnt impressed with it. The switch went from Brekley Trilene XT's n XL's.  After several trips out I switched to Power Pro Braid, the best use for the Yo-Zuri Hybrid or Hybrid Ultra Soft I found was either backing for the braid or to hang the wifes birdfeeders.  Nothing personal, it just didnt work for me.

Spinning gear: PowerPro 15/20

Baitcasters      PowerPro 50

[flechero]

Personally I witnessed 2 guys break off 65lb braid while flipping the grass.

Anything can happen... the question is why. They didn't use 65 pounds of pressure on the rod or reel... both would have failed. I suspect they either didn't retie when line was frayed or had weights with an edge on them. (or perhaps bad line)

Certain conditions just 'require' braid.

I don't have any trouble punching grass with XT.

While braid is good in grass, it's hardly required for success.

[Teal101]

Explain to me the point of having 65 lb braid with a significantly weaker 12-20lb fluoro leader?

I think I'll stick to fluoro. 8-)

[grimlin]

Just checked 2lb Stren off one of my ice fishing rods and it ran .004". The 10lb powerpro I bought last week went between .0075" and .008".........still small, but nearly double 2lb mono.

Matt

Funny you should mention that,I just checked mine and i got .045-.050.Pretty dang close to 2lb line if you ask me.Sure you are checking it right?

I rarely use braid.Rocks and zebra mussels discourage any kind of braid usage around here.

[Willzx225]

I agree that it wasn't the force that broke their 65lb braid but it was the conditions that they were putting their baits that lead to it.  I agree 100% that it was angler neglegence for not retying but by using heavy braid you cut down on the amount you have to retie.  The main use for braid in grass, IMHO, is that it cuts through the grass instead of slidding through it.  By cutting through the grass it increases your chances on getting that fish out of the grass instead of having him bury up in it.  Can you get by w/o using braid in matted grass - yes.  Would I put my $200 entry fee and possible 3-5k top prize on the line and use mono/ fluro - no.  But then again that is just me.  Different strokes for different folks thats all.

[NOVA Angler]

I fish the Potomac River pretty often.  I fish anything from heavy hydrilla mats to moderate milfoil beds and everything in between.  I use both 65# braid and 20# Flourocarbon on my flipping sticks.  For the moderate to moderately heavy cover I prefer the Flourocarbon.  For whaterver reason I just seem to hook up better and I've never had a problem breaking off fish.  For the heavy hydrilla mats I use the 65# Power Pro.  I find that I still lose fish from time to time, not because of line breaking, but because when it is very thick I sometimes can't get them out of the slop fast enough.  I wonder sometimes if I'm actually ripping the hook out of their mouth due to the added drag and weight of the grass.  I use the braid because, like others have said, it supposed cut through the grass better than flouro.  With that said, sometimes the hydrilla is just so thick that it doesn't matter.  You'll break your rod before you get the fish out.  It litterally feels like you are hung up on something that just isn't moving.  Sometimes the fish works itself free, but often they come off.  I'm not sure how much benefit the braid provides, but I imagine it is definetly better than flouro in this situation (strictly for its abilitiy to cut through the grass).