Why braid?

[dulouz]

Is braid really worth the expense and inconviences? I ask because I recently put braid on one of my smaller spinning reels to get a stronger line with a small diameter.  I  like it so far, especially for the sensitivity.  So I put some Power Pro 15 on one of my casting reels.  It casts a mile! But after reading some posts on here about smaller braid digging in I am questioning my choice.

The general opinion is that you need at least 30-50# braid to prevent digging in.  Well that puts the diamater back to comparable size mono that what i had been using.  Also people have mentioned tying the  line to fence posts and reeling it in as tight as possible.  Seems like a hassel to me. Besides, I am not sure I want a braid that takes a pickup to break off if I ever get snagged.   

I am thinking about going back to my 12lb Trilene XT, which I have never had a fish break.  I generally don't fish areas with  a lot of heavey cover.  Any thoughts???

[Senkoman12]

if you fish heavy cover braid is a must. i have it on my texas rig/large spinnerbait rod and gonna put it on my pitching rod. it is way more sensative and much stronger than mono. if you dont like it and are more comfortable with mono than use mono

[roadwarrior]

Braid will significantly improve your jig fishing.

I am experimenting with the new Fireline Fusion

recommended by dodgeguy. So far, me likes!

8-)

[jdw174]

I'm asking myself the same question.  I'm currently running PowerPro 20# with leader on 3 spinning outfits, one pitching combo, and my C-rig.  I like it on the C-rig, but I could go either way on the spinning rigs and the pitching outfit.  If it weren't so expensive, I'd just swap it out and go back to my favorite copolymer.

[rubba bubba]

I a stronger line with a small diameter.

especially for the sensitivity.

It casts a mile!

smaller braid digging in

The general opinion is that you need at least 30-50# braid to prevent digging in. Well that puts the diamater back to comparable size mono that what i had been using.

tying the line to fence posts and reeling it in as tight as possible. Seems like a hassel to me.

takes a pickup to break off if I ever get snagged.

Everything you mentioned are all valid points to consider/evaluate but keep in mind everyone's experience is not the same. Continue using your 15 lbs braid on the caster and see if you have any problems; many have not. If you need to go to a bigger diameter, that's the reason many end up tying a fluoro or mono leader to their braid. Keep using it and experimenting to determine what works best for you; that's part of the fun of fishing.

[cigarleaf]

I don't use braid, but I would like to know if there are any braids that don't have a coating on them. From everything I have read, the coating and color from the braid gets all over your hands and reel. Don't want my reels stained with the color. That's the only thing stopping me from fishing with braid.

[J Francho]

I never had any braid stain anything.  Yes, some of the color bleeds, but stain?  No.  KVD Line & Lure prolongs this process greatly.

[SharkHat]

Besides, I am not sure I want a braid that takes a pickup to break off if I ever get snagged.

This is solved by using a leader.  If you have to break off, you'll break the leader and not compromise the braid.  This also saves a lot of braid if you retie a lot, as you'll be cutting off leader instead of braid.  A filler spool lasts a long time when you're using it this way.

[Wayne P.]

I've got superline on about 35 rigs from spinning ultra light to baitcasting heavy frogging setups. I have no problems with any of them since the smallest I use is the 6# mono equivelent diameter.

[dulouz]

Thank you everyone for you input.  Since posting this I talked with the three most knowledgeable fishermen in my area.  All three of them use 20# power pro on baitcasters with no problem one said he had some 15# on one reel. 

They all also stated they use braid for the strength at such a small diameter, and the excellent sensitivity.  The exact reasons I started using braid.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

All three of them use 20# power pro on baitcasters with no problem one said he had some 15# on one reel.

I used 10/2 PP for years on a baitcaster no issues tossed senkos and spinnerbaits. I went to 20#PP for throwing frogs still no issues so far.

Too on my spinning reels I have 10/2 PP

[dulouz]

I used 10/2 PP for years on a baitcaster no issues tossed senkos and spinnerbaits. I went to 20#PP for throwing frogs still no issues so far.

Too on my spinning reels I have 10/2 PP

10/2, wow that is small.  It is good to know that there are other people that are interested in keeping things light.  I really like the way baitcasters handle and how versitile they are.  What I don't like is how heavy they tend to be.  I actually had someone build me a casting rod with a Batson blank meant to be a spinning rod.  It is listed as light with a fast tip; meant for light jigs, spinners, and micro cranks.  It is great for all that and more.  I love it and look forward to trying it out in the spring with braid, 15/4 or 20/6 (?)PP. 

[trevor]

Mainly, I saltwater fish. When I saltwater fish, I mainly reef fish. When I reef fish, I use braid, period. Its sensitivity and low stretch are undeniably crucial to successful bottom fishing. Setting the hook in 120 feet of water with mono would need some serious swinging, but with braid just a little pop! and you're good. Freshwater fishing, I usually like mono. I have had braid dig in and ruin lots of casts, so I just use mono. But of course I use braid for flipping and frogging. I still have my doubts when fishing bottom contact baits if braid would be the better choice. But overall, I just don't like the way braid casts. To me, it doesn't flow off the spool like mono. When throwing reaction baits, I only use mono.

[Aluma-Bass]

maybe try putting some backing on the reel bf putting on braid to help the digging issue or slipping. I use mono or flouro to barely fill bottom of spool then fill up with braid.

[Locked]

I am not sure I want a braid that takes a pickup to break off if I ever get snagged.

When I need to break off on braid I'll just wrap the line around the handle of my pliers a couple times and give a nice pull. A lot of times I will just straighten the hook or uproot whatever I'm stuck on.

[Texasfishingtips]

Carry some sizors or a sharp knife. When you get hung up it works good.

Clancy W

[dodgeguy]

1 inch thick 8 inch dowel to wrap braid around and pull.you will lose far less lures with braid.get rid of the powerpro.it's outdated.i like fireline braid (not regular fireline) because it is round and smooth and does not dig.you could try diawa or sufix 832 also.

[jdw174]

I am not sure I want a braid that takes a pickup to break off if I ever get snagged.

When I need to break off on braid I'll just wrap the line around the handle of my pliers a couple times and give a nice pull. A lot of times I will just straighten the hook or uproot whatever I'm stuck on.

A couple of times I've wrapped it around a mooring cleat and backed up with the tm.  Works every time

[J Francho]

I am not sure I want a braid that takes a pickup to break off if I ever get snagged.

When I need to break off on braid I'll just wrap the line around the handle of my pliers a couple times and give a nice pull. A lot of times I will just straighten the hook or uproot whatever I'm stuck on.

A couple of times I've wrapped it around a mooring cleat and backed up with the tm. Works every time

I tried doing the same thing with 15 lb. CXX once.  The boat lost, LOL.

[Alpster]

Locked and Dodge Guy are right about something to wrap braid around to pull it so you don't cut your hand off. I have also saved a few expensive baits by straightening the hook or catching a limb. I buy Power Pro in bulk spools to make it affordable. 50/12 for bait casting and 20/6 for spinning reels. I don't use it exclusively, but it is mandatory for some of my fishing.

Ronnie

[cbfishalot]

I'm not a big fan of braid.  I use it for frogs and flipping in heavy vegetation.  I will once in a great while use it for spoons, jerkbaits and topwaters.

[SirSnookalot]

Braid excels in open water for fish that make super long runs where both strength and line capacity are needed, also why I prefer not use any backing.

[gotarheelz14]

I am not sure I want a braid that takes a pickup to break off if I ever get snagged.

When I need to break off on braid I'll just wrap the line around the handle of my pliers a couple times and give a nice pull. A lot of times I will just straighten the hook or uproot whatever I'm stuck on.

A couple of times I've wrapped it around a mooring cleat and backed up with the tm. Works every time

I tried doing the same thing with 15 lb. CXX once. The boat lost, LOL.

You got a weak trolling motor then

[dulouz]

Locked and Dodge Guy are right about something to wrap braid around to pull it so you don't cut your hand off. I have also saved a few expensive baits by straightening the hook or catching a limb. I buy Power Pro in bulk spools to make it affordable. 50/12 for bait casting and 20/6 for spinning reels. I don't use it exclusively, but it is mandatory for some of my fishing.

Ronnie

Yeah, I found a broken shovel handle in a barn on the family farm.  I just cut myself a chunk of that to break off when I get snagged.  I have been using 12lb Trilene XT and have cut myself up trying to break that off.   

[Micro]

I'm in the minority. I don't like braid. I like it well enough to have it on a couple of my 25 outfits.

Some issues I have with braid:

People say it cuts through vegetation. True. It also cuts into vegetation when you don't want it to. It's limp enough that when you cast to water behind or beyond vegetation, it seems to find every nook, cranny, and hang-up on the vegetation it crosses.

People say that because of reduced stretch, you can get hook sets at longer distances. But "experts" recommend slower rods and/or reduced drag settings when using braid. If you have a rig set to fish braid like mono, then where's that braid-advantage?

People say that braid is "more sensitive" than mono or fluoro. I haven't really detected that. How can it be? Unless the tiny bumps and ticks you feel when fishing with mono are dampened by line stretch, and frankly, I don't think line stretch is an issue under those circumstances.

Braid has poor abrasion resistance.

Ever try to dig out a braid backlash?

Braid is very visible. Even "Invisible" line, like Spyderwire Invisibraid, sticks out like a sore thumb compared to run of the mill mono.

People say "braid is a must." It's no more of a "must" than it was before it was invented. I use braid and mono (Yo Zuri Hybrid specifically) when fishing frogs. I like mono better. I get more hits with mono. Hookups are just as easy. It doesn't cling to vegetation.

Braid is a preference. It is not necessary for successful fishing.