Experimenting With Braided Line

[roadwarrior]

Braid can be a pain in the rear...I have been experimenting

with a number of applications for the last 9 months or so.

Here's my take:

1. No leader unless you fish gin clear water, mussels or

what seem to be sharp edge structure (rocks and

ledges).

2. The impact on jig fishing is dramatic.

3. The "feel" when fishing soft plastics is improved,

but not nearly as much as with jigs.

4. I hate braid in the wind...PERIOD!

I have braid (PP 50/12) on three rigs:

1. Jig rig, no leader.

2. Weighted soft plastics, fluorocarbon leader.

( For weightless presentations, spinning

tackle and #6 Hybrid)

3. Small swimbaits (Mattlures Baby Bass),

no leader.

8-)

[SirSnookalot]

Kent, I had tons of problems when I first used braid, then realized nothing is perfect and just dealt with short comings.

I use braid on everything ( I only use spinning) and always use leader regardless of water color and my simple rule of thumb is to double the braid, 10#=20# leader.  I learned to cast using braid, my technique is to slightly pinch the line as the lure hits the water, can not remember the last windknot I had in freshwater.  I use 10 and 15#, even in heavy slop.

Saltwater I use 15 or 20#, get a few more windknots but nothing I consider discouraging. 

What I like is the strength and sensitivity, using cut or live bait for fish like kings, you don't always feel the bite with mono, but you do with braid.  I don't have to do bone jarring hooksets and many fast swimming fish set themselves with braid.  I could never go back to mono.

Still boils down to personal preference.

[Fat-G]

Braid can be a pain in the rear...I have been experimenting

with a number of applications for the last 9 months or so.

Here's my take:

1. No leader unless you fish gin clear water, mussels or

what seem to be sharp edge structure (rocks and

ledges).

2. The impact on jig fishing is dramatic.

3. The "feel" when fishing soft plastics is improved,

but not nearly as much as with jigs.

4. I hate braid in the wind...PERIOD!

I have braid (PP 50/12) on three rigs:

1. Jig rig, no leader.

2. Weighted soft plastics, fluorocarbon leader.

( For weightless presentations, spinning

tackle and #6 Hybrid)

3. Small swimbaits (Mattlures Baby Bass),

   no leader.

8-)

Same here. I just need to slow down when I'm fishing bottom contact baits. Lately I've been fishing them too fast.

I'm using P-Line Spectrex 50/10. I like it, but next time I'll 65/16 PP.

[b.Lee]

So when you guys tie jigs directly to braid what do you do when you get hung up? I feel like it is too hard to break and I don't want to cut because I lose so much line.

[scbassin]

I tried it but I ended up throwing it out. All my rods are built on Shikari SHX blanks which are sensitive. So with the exposed blank real seat & the Yo-Zuri line I'm good. In clear water I will use Seaguar AbrazX. Braid has no stretch & I do like some for a little more protection for my rod. I have seen rods explode on a hook set that had braid on the reel. Good luck with it, I know many people like it.

[Wayne P.]

scbassin, if a rod explodes on a hookset when using a superline, it's the stupidity of the person using it and they haven't adjusted their technique for it.

It's no difference if a person is a superline user and then switches to a mono and keeps loosing fish due to the lack of hook penetration caused by an improper hook set with the mono.

I've been using superlines since the days of Kelvar and original Spiderwire and have never had any rods explode or break when using it. All it takes is the simple awareness of their equipment and using it accordingly.

[Dan:]

So when you guys tie jigs directly to braid what do you do when you get hung up? I feel like it is too hard to break and I don't want to cut because I lose so much line.

Point the rod tip at the bait, reel down, hold the spool, pull straight back (or walk backwards if you are on the bank). It should break at the knot. Many times that will dislodge the lure as well but be careful, sometimes it will come flying back at you.

[florida strain]

The only time I use braid really is with buzzbaits (frogs) mostly,and flippin. With no leader..I use it on a caster with no problems. I dont fish rocks though.

[Wayne P.]

Dan, that is a good way to bend the reel spool axle. THE best way to get un-hung or break off is to wrap the line around a net handle, boat cleat, or some other solid object and then pull. Do not wrap the line around your hand to do it--it will cut your hand. I carry a short piece of 1" wooden dowel for that purpose.

[SirSnookalot]

I always open my bail, to avoid breaking a tip, which I've done, then I wrap the line around ,my shoulder and walk, lure comes loose or line breaks.  The bow snapping method works exceptionally well with braided line, doesn't work as well with mono due to the stretch.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Dan, that is a good way to bend the reel spool axle. THE best way to get un-hung or break off is to wrap the line around a net handle, boat cleat, or some other solid object and then pull. Do not wrap the line around your hand to do it--it will cut your hand. I carry a short piece of 1" wooden dowel for that purpose.

x2  Hands down the best way.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

scbassin, if a rod explodes on a hookset when using a superline, it's the stupidity of the person using it and they haven't adjusted their technique for it.

It's no difference if a person is a superline user and then switches to a mono and keeps loosing fish due to the lack of hook penetration caused by an improper hook set with the mono.

I've been using superlines since the days of Kelvar and original Spiderwire and have never had any rods explode or break when using it. All it takes is the simple awareness of their equipment and using it accordingly.

I believe the PP packaging even tells you to back off the drag a little.  It should play out a tiny bit on the hookset.  Some people have this bad habit of hammering down their drags to the max when it's just simply not needed.

[Dan:]

I always open my bail, to avoid breaking a tip, which I've done, then I wrap the line around ,my shoulder and walk, lure comes loose or line breaks. The bow snapping method works exceptionally well with braided line, doesn't work as well with mono due to the stretch.

See, I've had the opposite experience. It always seems to me that the stretchiness of the mono allows for more of a bungie effect that shakes the bait free with the bow and arrow method. Although I've also found that braid on a moderate rod will work better than braid on a fast rod with that technique.

[Wayne P.]

I agree with Mr. Snook, the superlines work very well with the bow method. The stretchy mono absords the shock needed to dislodge a hang up easily.

[bigfruits]

rule of thumb is to double the braid, 10#=20# leader.

a shock leader? what is the reason for the larger leader for bass fishing? chucking big swimbaits/plugs?

i guess you wouldnt use it for most braided lines, a 100# leader on 50#PP is going to be huge!

roadwarrior - why do you use such heavy braided line (as many others do, including pros) on your setups? im just curious, i just started playing around with 20#PP, and it seems about 30# would be strong enough for heavy cover.

-z

[ChiCityBasser]

So when you guys tie jigs directly to braid what do you do when you get hung up? I feel like it is too hard to break and I don't want to cut because I lose so much line.

Point the rod tip at the bait, reel down, hold the spool, pull straight back (or walk backwards if you are on the bank). It should break at the knot. Many times that will dislodge the lure as well but be careful, sometimes it will come flying back at you.

I also keep a work glove in my bag to put on and wrap the braid around the glove and just pull on it line til the jig either pulls free or the line breaks at the knot.

[RandySBreth]

Rods "exploding" on the hookset?

Were these rods made by Al Queda? ;D :

Breaking, perhaps, but not "exploding".

I've heard that one since, well forever.

Dramatic sounding, but to someone like me that's used superlines since they came out, when someone trots that one out it makes them sound ignorant.

[islandbass]

Dan, that is a good way to bend the reel spool axle. THE best way to get un-hung or break off is to wrap the line around a net handle, boat cleat, or some other solid object and then pull. Do not wrap the line around your hand to do it--it will cut your hand. I carry a short piece of 1" wooden dowel for that purpose.

You got that right about potentially damaging the reel.  x3. I guess great minds think alike. I will always free snagged hooks and lures by removing the rod and reel out of the lure/hook removal equation. Not worth the damage or heartbreak.

[Hammer 4]

So when you guys tie jigs directly to braid what do you do when you get hung up? I feel like it is too hard to break and I don't want to cut because I lose so much line.

I wrap my hand in a rag, and wind the braid around my hand a couple of times...and steadly pull. Make sure there's enough line at the end of the rod, as not to break the rod...trust me on the one.. :-[

W/o a rag, you can cut your hand pretty easy..and unless your hooked to a good sized tree, you'll get the lure back..Just stay away from rocks.. ;D

Oh, my braid..55lb Diawa Samuri.. 8-)

[scbassin]

Wayne, I guess I should have said that I backed off on the drag when using braid but my point to RW was I like Yo-Zuri better, it's my choice. I drop every bass I catch back in after I get the hook out so it's no big deal if one comes unbuttoned during the fight.

Randy, Osama must have wrapped the rod counter clockwise instead of clockwise. My buddy was in the back of my boat when it happened you should have heard it. The rod broke in 3 pieces & the look on his face was priceless. He had his drag as tight as he could get it & gave it the old cross his eyes hook set, you had to be there. I did replace his rod.   For your info I have been fishing for over 60 years & have not yet forgotten everything that I have learned.

[Long Mike]

As RW knows, I use braid on all my rods, both spinning and bait casting.  Unless I'm fishing in slop, I use a six-foot flouro leader at all times.  If I have to break off I use a piece of PVC pipe to wrap my line around.

[dodgeguy]

So when you guys tie jigs directly to braid what do you do when you get hung up? I feel like it is too hard to break and I don't want to cut because I lose so much line.

you bring a foot long 1 inch thick round wood dowel and wrap the line around it and pull .you will lose less line and lures than you ever thought possible.

[dodgeguy]

rule of thumb is to double the braid, 10#=20# leader.

a shock leader? what is the reason for the larger leader for bass fishing? chucking big swimbaits/plugs?

i guess you wouldnt use it for most braided lines, a 100# leader on 50#PP is going to be huge!

roadwarrior - why do you use such heavy braided line (as many others do, including pros) on your setups? im just curious, i just started playing around with 20#PP, and it seems about 30# would be strong enough for heavy cover.

-z

the thicker the line on a baitcaster the less it will dig in.also if you use the same diameter as you would with mono your lures will ride the same depths in the water column.

[dodgeguy]

kent,i have to give you one bit of advice.

[roadwarrior]

Thanks!

I WILL BUY Fireline Braid next time on your

recommendation...Promise!

65/16?

8-)