Braid vs. Rocks.

[dulouz]

Hey everyone, I need some advice.  This is the first year I have used braid.  While fishing in the river along rip rap banks I have been getting hung up quite a bit.  I am using 20# PP on spinning gear, and am able to free most of my jigs.  The ones that break off appear to break at the knot.  So far no big deal until today.  I got stuck good, and i tried breaking off but lost a good deal of line doing so.  It is to where i can see the backing.

My question is am I wasting my time and money by using braid in this situation?

[skunked_again]

youre not breaking off at the leader? are you using a leader?

[dulouz]

No leader, didn't figure I needed one given that the river is pretty dirty.  Should I use one?

[fishingkidPA]

No leader, didn't figure I needed one given that the river is pretty dirty. Should I use one?

i have never used braid but i think people use leaders for 2 reasons, so the fish cant see it and then so if the get a snag the leader will break off and they wont loose a ton of line, but im not sure.

[Shane J]

Yes, and for abrasion resistance. Braid and rocks don't go well together.

[Fishing Rhino]

Braid is great in lily pads and other vegetation, but around rough rocks it will part like sewing thread.

The best thing for cutting braid is not braid scissors, though they do work quite well.  The cutter on a spool of dental floss cuts it quickly and cleanly. 

[MNGeorge]

There are many times when I would not need a leader due to dirty water, but I always use one in the river so that I can be able to break off if I need to.  I use 30# braid with a 12# fluoro leader.  The statement made about the fluoro holding up to the abrasion in rocks is also right on...sharp rocks and braid do not go well together.

[breezy]

Agreed on the comments about the leader. I use one 100% of the time while fishing braid, but not because of visibility. My main concern is being able to break off at the leader; the increase abrasion resistance of mono/fluoro is just a plus.

[Jason_Barnucz]

Braid and rocks definitely don't mix. FC is a good alternative to braid in rocky situations. I spend most of my time fishing for smallmouth in open water areas. Dragging tubes is a great method for enticing the Brown Bass from deep areas. Straight FC is the way to go.

[hookingem]

Yeah go with a leader the braid will fray awkwardly, Also breaking 30+ pound braid when you get hung up is near impossible and once you do break it it'll sound like a .22 going off!   

[HookSetDon]

Braid is great in lily pads and other vegetation, but around rough rocks it will part like sewing thread.

The best thing for cutting braid is not braid scissors, though they do work quite well. The cutter on a spool of dental floss cuts it quickly and cleanly.

thats a great idea, and so simple using the cutter on the dental floss box, definetly going to start carrying it with me on the boat

[dulouz]

How long of a leader would you use?

[MNGeorge]

I start the day with a long leader, at least 2 rod lengths long.  That way I can retie my bait a number of times before needing to replace the leader.  You do need to occasionally check the knot between your braid and the leader though...bouncing through all the guides on every cast and retrieve takes its toll on that knot after a while.

[slonezp]

I start the day with a long leader, at least 2 rod lengths long. That way I can retie my bait a number of times before needing to replace the leader. You do need to occasionally check the knot between your braid and the leader though...bouncing through all the guides on every cast and retrieve takes its toll on that knot after a while.

X2 At least 6-8 feet. I use an albright knot with a dab of superglue.

[dulouz]

I start the day with a long leader, at least 2 rod lengths long. That way I can retie my bait a number of times before needing to replace the leader. You do need to occasionally check the knot between your braid and the leader though...bouncing through all the guides on every cast and retrieve takes its toll on that knot after a while.

X2 At least 6-8 feet. I use an albright knot with a dab of superglue.

So what happens when you get snagged? Does the leader itself break, or does it completely come off of the main line? 

[J Francho]

Ideally, the leader breaks.

[dulouz]

Ideally, the leader breaks.

So what should be the difference in strength between the leader and the main line so that the leader breaks first?

[J Francho]

really, whatever you prefer, just less than the mainline.  I use 15# P-line with 50# PowerPro for jigs and T-rigs, for example.

[baluga]

.

So what happens when you get snagged? Does the leader itself break, or does it completely come off of the main line?

It usually breaks on the knot on the hook. Since it is the weakest point between you and the fish. Hardly breaks off on the joint of the leader and main line

Alberto knot fan here too.

[Midnight Splash]

really, whatever you prefer, just less than the mainline. I use 15# P-line with 50# PowerPro for jigs and T-rigs, for example.

Which model P-Line are you using?

[Josh Bassman]

How long of a leader would you use?

I like a long leader. Two benefits: last longer and my FC leader sinks and my braid floats. I use braid with a leader mostly for shakey head fishing. Floating braid drives me crazy, but with a 10+ foot leader it isn't so bad.

[dulouz]

I tried using a leader today, 10lb Trilene XT, with my 15lb PP.  On my first cast I got snagged and it broke on the main line of PP.  I think I am going to use the 10lb XT on the river now.  Or I might use a lighter jig that won't go down so fast. 

[J Francho]

really, whatever you prefer, just less than the mainline. I use 15# P-line with 50# PowerPro for jigs and T-rigs, for example.

Which model P-Line are you using?

CXX Moss Green.

[Raul]

I tried using a leader today, 10lb Trilene XT, with my 15lb PP. On my first cast I got snagged and it broke on the main line of PP. I think I am going to use the 10lb XT on the river now. Or I might use a lighter jig that won't go down so fast.

15 lb braid is still as thin as a hair, doesn 't matter you have a 10 lb test nylon leader, you will continue to experience main line breakeage if you keep on fishing with 15 lb braided, for me even in the less rocky lake I fish won 't fish with less than 30 lb braid, it may be 30 lb breaking strength but it 's 8 ish lb test diameter and I treat it like I treat 8 lbs test.

[dulouz]

I tried using a leader today, 10lb Trilene XT, with my 15lb PP. On my first cast I got snagged and it broke on the main line of PP. I think I am going to use the 10lb XT on the river now. Or I might use a lighter jig that won't go down so fast.

15 lb braid is still as thin as a hair, doesn 't matter you have a 10 lb test nylon leader, you will continue to experience main line breakeage if you keep on fishing with 15 lb braided, for me even in the less rocky lake I fish won 't fish with less than 30 lb braid, it may be 30 lb breaking strength but it 's 8 ish lb test diameter and I treat it like I treat 8 lbs test.

You know that is an interesting thought... I started using braid on a smaller reel so I could have a stronger line at a smaller size.  I am learning that there is a lot of trial and error in all of this.