09-10-10, 08:19 PM | #1 |
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Braid - New use
Over the last two weeks I've come to have a very found love of braid. Two weeks ago I went on a smallmouth trip. We were faced with some pretty stiff wind that positioned the smallies up ON the rocks. The first day I found a pattern that involved casting a spinnerbait up into a couple inches of water and rolling it off the edge of the rock. The smallies were absolutely stacked waiting for shad, but I was only hooking 1 out of every 5-6. Not good.
After getting off the water on the first day it just hit me. I should have really tried braid. So, I respooled my spinnerbait rod with 50 lb. braid overnight. I headed out in the morning and the wind had picked up a little more from the previous day. While I'm not a huge fan of fishing in 3-4' rollers standing on the front of boat, I had to give it a try. On my first cast of the morning, I hooked (and landed) a 3+. I was simply amazed that I it worked. I went on to land over 30 smallies over the next three hours, and only lost two. Yesterday I went back. Faced with the same strong south wind, I started and ended my day with the braid, and it worked fantastic. At one time we were catching a smallmouth or a hybrid white bass (one over 8 lbs.) on every cast. An absolute blast. Had I not switched to braid I don't think I would have hooked nearly as many. As a matter of fact, the guy I fished with lost 5 or more before he landed his first one. He switched over to a reel spooled with braid, and joined in on the fun. I will probably stick with braid from here on out on my spinnerbait rod. If you are going to try braid, I do have a couple suggestions. First, let up on the drag. Second, if you have the option, switch to a little lighter spined rod. |
09-10-10, 10:17 PM | #2 |
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Man, it sounds like you've had a pretty awesome couple weeks of fishing, I'm jealous! I've never caught a smallie, I think they are really beautiful fish.
I'm glad you figured out a solution to your missed fish problem. As was mentioned in another thread, carefully choosing your line can play a very critical role in your fish landing success in certain situations. I would consider using a slower action rod. I find that a slower action really helps when fishing moving baits with a lot of drag in the water, like spinnerbaits. Instead of using a lighter powered rod I would probably use a MH power with MF action. This would give you ample back bone but would still allow plenty of "give" while fishing braid. I also find that a slower rod makes fishing high drag baits more comfortable, the rod acts as a bit of shock absorber. Just a thought.
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09-11-10, 08:24 AM | #3 |
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Actually switching to ten pd power pro and a spinning outfit works quite well for suspended fish,in a windy or current area.Generally use senkos or flukes myself,cant think of any reason as diameter surely isnt a problem since your using heavier braid,so must be its wind resistance and less bow in the line.
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09-11-10, 08:28 AM | #4 |
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I've been using braid with spinnerbaits for a couple years and I agree it's very effective. One advantage for me is that I fish spinnerbaits around and through lilly pads and grass, which is where the braid really helps.
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09-11-10, 08:29 AM | #5 |
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camg, i too have gotten to love braid. may not be for the smallies but it has changed my fishing in the grass.
happy to see you got a boat load of fish man. bet it was awesum.
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09-11-10, 09:13 AM | #6 | ||
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09-11-10, 09:44 AM | #7 |
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I just switched all my spinning rods over to 20lb power pro w/ flourocarbon leaders. I'm hoping to not go through so much line. After every 2-3 trips I'd have to respool w/ mono, now I'll just cut back the leader a little. Great tips on braid use. Also sound like you had some fantastic fishing. Smallies are alot of fun.
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09-11-10, 10:57 AM | #8 |
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Different ways to skin the same cat, sounds like you've found the method that works best for you. I am a big fan of braid with contact baits and spinning gear, I'll have to give it a try with a few moving bait techniques.
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09-12-10, 02:16 AM | #9 |
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I have been a fan of braid for the last ten years.
How you fish and what equipment you're comfortable with will effect what you use. I only use spinning tackle for baits under 1/4 ounce. My spinning rods have 8 or 10 pound braid on them, and I use a short mono or fluorocarbon leader most of the time. (Albright knot) My casting rods are loaded with 40 pound Power-pro Hollow Ace and I use have 12 - 50 pound fluorocarbon or mono leaders attached knotlessly....See the Blog Section for details. I change leaders depending on the bait....mono for top waters etc. Garry2R's |
09-24-10, 08:05 PM | #10 |
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Love braid to man! Sounds like you had a heck of a time out there. I love to get a good spool of good braid sometime soon. Some day!
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09-25-10, 08:09 AM | #11 |
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CamG,
Forgive my obvious slowness, but why did the braid work so well casting into shallow water with the spinnerbait? Was it the increased sensitivity or because some braids have a tendancy to float and not hang up on the shallow rocks so much killing the sensitivity of a hit as mono may do? Also, with a floating braid on a light lure, and being tightlined, would the floatation of the line affect the speed of the lure's fall in that it may be somewhat slowed down? I trust completely in what you have stated, but am not clear as to why? Thanks, and Good Fishing, Mac |
09-25-10, 09:22 AM | #12 | |
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09-25-10, 09:47 AM | #13 |
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09-26-10, 08:49 AM | #14 |
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Thanks for the clarification BB and Cam.
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