Braided Line

[chilliblanket]

I know fluoro and mono are pretty susceptible to kinking from backlash. Is braid as likely to kink? Will it weaken the line substantially?

[Packard]

I find braid to be less prone to this than fluoro and mono. I don't like braid's other hindrances though.

[chilliblanket]

so bends in braided line do not really affect line strength like they do in mono and fluoro? and which characteristics of braid do you not like?

[Packard]

so bends in braided line do not really affect line strength like they do in mono and fluoro? and which characteristics of braid do you not like?

I have had mono and fluro snap on the spool on a hard backlash. It doesn't happen often but it has happened. I haven't had this experience with braid I assume is due to its shock strength. The bends might weaken it a bit but since you are using high lb test (I assume so because it's on a baitcaster) then you should be fine. I do not like braid's slack line sensitivity, abrasion resistance, manageability, and visibility. I only use it for a few applications such as wacky worming which I use a fluoro leader. I know many users on this site like braid but it's just not for me. I roll with mostly sunline super fluoro right now due to trial and error as well as insight from members here.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

If you get a significant backlash on braid in the middle of a cast, you'll probably be kissing that lure good by. The lack of stretch in braid leads to losing heavier lures if you really mess things up.

As far as the line weakening or anything like that. You'll be fine. Braid doesn't really kink. If you see strands of the braid fraying, then you know it's time to either cut some line off, or respool depending on how far down on the spool it is.

[dodgeguy]

i have never lost a lure on a cast with braid and ive been using various braids since 1995.as far as braids go sufix 832 rules.it has the best abrasion resistance and the least amount of hassle of any braided line out there.

[chilliblanket]

thanks for all the help everyone!

[LgMouthGambler]

I use braided line on all my rigs, 65# Spiderwire. Some say 65 is way over doing it, but for the castability and control, I think it handles better since its a 12# diameter. Take a black Sharpie marker and color the line before the bait, I like to use the length of my rod for a guide of how much line to color, 6 1/2 feet. If you use a quality reel, you wont have to worry too much about backlashes. Knot strength is unreal, polamer knots are what I use, and never had a problem. If a bait gets stuck in a tree, or lillypads, just point the rod straight to it, hold the spool and pull. Either the branch or pad is coming with it, or the hook is gonna straighten, either way Im getting my lure back (unless its a worm hook, then Ill just let it go). Only downfall is when you do a good hookset, you get a bit of set memory in the spool, but it comes out on the next cast.

[Hooligan]

I have lost spinnerbaits or large cranks on the cast with braid. It doesn't take much to hit that tensile strength limit, particularly in a shock situation. Braid can kink, knot, wrap, whatever, and it will have few, if any, ill effects. As stated, braid will fray when abraided. Cut that portion back and retie. If you have abrasion deep in the spool, there's a very good chance something else is going wrong.

[dodgeguy]

I have lost spinnerbaits or large cranks on the cast with braid. It doesn't take much to hit that tensile strength limit, particularly in a shock situation. Braid can kink, knot, wrap, whatever, and it will have few, if any, ill effects. As stated, braid will fray when abraided. Cut that portion back and retie. If you have abrasion deep in the spool, there's a very good chance something else is going wrong.

i'll take a guess at what brand it is.

[dodgeguy]

I use braided line on all my rigs, 65# Spiderwire. Some say 65 is way over doing it, but for the castability and control, I think it handles better since its a 12# diameter. Take a black Sharpie marker and color the line before the bait, I like to use the length of my rod for a guide of how much line to color, 6 1/2 feet. If you use a quality reel, you wont have to worry too much about backlashes. Knot strength is unreal, polamer knots are what I use, and never had a problem. If a bait gets stuck in a tree, or lillypads, just point the rod straight to it, hold the spool and pull. Either the branch or pad is coming with it, or the hook is gonna straighten, either way Im getting my lure back (unless its a worm hook, then Ill just let it go). Only downfall is when you do a good hookset, you get a bit of set memory in the spool, but it comes out on the next cast.

bad idea.good way to bend the spool axle.get a 1 inch dowel and wrap the braid around it and pull..

[LgMouthGambler]

bad idea.good way to bend the spool axle.get a 1 inch dowel and wrap the braid around it and pull..

I dont do it if its too much to pull, only small branches and lilly pads, not a whole tree, haha.

[A-Rob]

I don't find braid is as susceptible

I know flouro and mono will crack if kinked, braid I don't think will crack.

Often I will tug on the braid where it got kinked and I will never know where it happened...good luck doing that with flouro!

[Hooligan]

i'll take a guess at what brand it is.

I'd guarantee you you're 100% wrong in your assumption.

[SirSnookalot]

I'm a pro braid guy and not fussy on the brand. The only problem I ever get is the occasional wind knot, many I get out but not all. Where I fish any line can be cut or get abrasions ( coral, barnacles, rocks ), since I always fish with a leader that's what usually gets cut. Braid does get line twist, seldom does it have any negative impact. The radical line twist is from applications that very few on this forum will ever use, barracuda tubes, this is one of the very few times I use mono instead.

I've learned not to pull my lures too hard out of tree, I don't want it flying straight back to me, which has happened, I'd rather lose line and lure than get hooked.

For me the positives of braid out weigh the negatives.

[Hyrule Bass]

bad idea.good way to bend the spool axle.get a 1 inch dowel and wrap the braid around it and pull..

excellent point. ive broken the drag on a reel trying to free a snag as described above. ever since then i find something to wrap the line around and pull with, that way i put no stress on the reel or rod...

[Bass Junkie]

The problem Hooligan stated has occurred on every brand of braid I've used, its not just a brand related issue. But once you learn to handle braid on a baitcaster properly, that problem nearly vanishes.

[SirSnookalot]

A tip learned from my own personal experience. When trying to get unsnagged the first thing I do is open the bail or put the reel in free spool to take the tension off the tip of the rod, I did break a couple of tips years ago, never happens now. Also I prefer to pull the line with my hand rather than using the rod, snags come free a bit more easily.

A former BR member sold me on " snapping the bow" for snags in certain situations, works very good with braid, mono not quite as good because of the stretch.

[BasskingKeith]

Braid is some tough line! I have never had a kink or anything like that in braid that will, in turn, substantially weaken it. However, in my "earlier" days of first using testing braid out (on casting gear), I've had some bad backlashes with it that did cut it in half down the spool. Let it be known that I was using Berkley's "Fireline" if anyone was wondering.