Braid on a baitcaster.

[WTL]

I also have few problems digging in. Perhaps the levelwind mechanism on my abus, which is advertised to prevent braid digging in, is the reason, but its just not much of a problem.

[MississippiBoy]

It happens to me every now and then, but virtually never on a normal cast/retrieve. If I've had to put a lot of pressure on, like horsing a fish out of weeds, or pulling free of a hangup, the very first wrap around the spool will bury a little, but not bad. I've gotten into the habit of letting out several feet of line then reeling back in to cast all the time now on both my braid and mono setups just to make sure it's running free.

[islandbass]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

I don't know why everyone has problems with braid digging in. I use 30lb braid, and it never digs in unless I'm thumbing the spool tightly to pull at a snagged lily pad, a branch in a laydown, to uproot a tree, etc. lol.

BB

I'm in your camp. I use 30# ppro and I know how to manage braid. Taking the rod and reel out of the snag freeing equation eliminates 90% on line dig occurences.

[BigBassin144]

Very true, IB. But NEVER pull on snagged braid with your bare hands, unless you want a few very painful cuts.

BB

[islandbass]

I have had the cuts to prove your point! I use either a stick or my key caribeaner to handle the braid. No more hands fo sho'!

[floyd]

Originally Posted by dodgeguy

you guys are living in the stone age!!!the best braid made is the new fireline braid!!!

Gotta agree with Dodge Guy- Fireline is hands down the best braid. HOWEVER, in my opinion, all braid under 30lb test has issues.

When I started getting serious about bass fishing about 18 months ago, everyone who knew absolutely nothing suggested Power Pro. Especially salt water guys. So I spooled on some 20 lb test and my hooks sets started snapping. Good back lashes- it snapped. And I mean w/ no weight, just a hook and a Horny Toad. Nothing like looking down to see a birds nest and then looking up to see your junk doing a ‘pre-burn” for re-entry. 30 lb test, same deal- especially on casts where the fish hits the bait immediately. Buuuh-Bump, reel in the slack, hip move, hook-set, BING! line snaps.

So I switch to Stealth, as I’ve heard it’s better and there are fewer wind knots. Wind knots are a big deal to me since I do about 80% of my fishing at night. Same deal. Snaps and breaks. My neighbor has worked at Dicks and BPS for the last 10 years, so I ask him- WTF is up with this braid? It just breaks on me all the time. He’s dumbfounded and talks about cutting hands on braid, and pulling boats on braid. I agree- and this will lead to my theory. We experiment w/ knots and rule that out as a possible culprit

I started entering tournaments so I’m looking to eliminate this issue. I go for the Fireline, even though the reviews say it buries itself into the spool. I spool both set-ups with 30lb test. I modify my knot- the “old fisherman’s knot”, but now I fold over about a foot section and string both pieces of line through the eyelet before starting my knot. If you tie this knot correctly, you will be trimming 3 tags (1 loop and 1 lone ranger). The self bedding issue is negligible, and after several casts, this stuff becomes more pliable. 30 lb test works good, but I would like more workability w/ lower test.

OK- so here I am. I have a tourney next week and I’m trying to practice. I measure the difference in castability between 20 vs 30 and it’s significant. Also, I note that I cannot get a jig or tube to descend as needed on the 30. So I spool my Chronarch D w/ 20 lb test. I’m fishing a fluke minnow through a ball of shad yesterday- tick-tick… I go to set the hook and PING! Line snaps. My intended victim jumps, and this bass can’t be a pound!

Today- it rains like hell here. So I throw my daughter in the back seat and we hit some local retention ponds. I love to flip a tube or trick worm into those culverts after a good rain! Never fails, I get a bite, but this bite isn’t the tick-tick… It’s that infamous bhaaa..BUMP. (for the guys who know, you know what I’m talking about) I give her a second, reel in the slack, make my hip turn and……..BING! Line snaps. I could throw up. My daughter asks what GD means.

So here is my theory: Braid cannot handle instant tension. Because it has virtually no stretch it will snap when immediate, violent pressure is applied (like a hook set or a real bad backlash). It’s like the old horsepower vs torque argument. Braid can handle 1000 feet of torque, (school bus) but couldn’t handle something that is high reving horsepower (think Ninja motorcycle). That’s why you can pull a boat with it at a steady tension, but it snaps like dental floss on a quick stopping backlash.

So I’d love to hear your all’s thoughts on this. I’m pissed, and frustrated. I refuse to go to braid w/ mono leader since I’m re-tying so often. I can’t afford 10 set ups. Do I go to mono? Flouro? Do I stick w/ 30-50 lb Firewire and just make it work? I fish a ton of pads and grass. I target big fish. Both rods are St Croix w/ pristine Fuji guides. Both reels are Shimano Chronarchs w/ drag set up properly.

Looking forward to the feedback!

Floyd

[wargoth]

You might have something there, as it has 0 stretch, it may be more susceptible to snapping like that, though I have to admit, I have NEVER had a breakoff with powerpro that wasn't intentional over 3 years of fishing. I have trolled with it for walleye, caught countless 5#+ LM, fight 20#+ channel cats, steelhead, even a couple snapping turtles. never once had a breakoff that wasn't a direct result of me being snagged up on something and I usually end up either straightening the hook, or pulling up the Mercury Sable I got snagged on... The only thing I can think of that MAY be a factor is that all of my rods I run braid under 50# on are fast action, which may act as a bit of a shock absorber. However, I have stopped several beastly channel cats dead in their tracks when they did their best impression of a 747 on the runway without breaking, and my catting rods are anything but fast action, but that could be just the 50# braid there.

[bassintom]

I only use braid on one rod.The one I use for flippin into willow bushes.60lb.Powerpro.

[Jim80]

Originally Posted by bassintom

I only use braid on one rod.The one I use for flippin into willow bushes.60lb.Powerpro.

Originally Posted by floyd

Gotta agree with Dodge Guy- Fireline is hands down the best braid. HOWEVER, in my opinion, all braid under 30lb test has issues.

When I started getting serious about bass fishing about 18 months ago, everyone who knew absolutely nothing suggested Power Pro. Especially salt water guys. So I spooled on some 20 lb test and my hooks sets started snapping. Good back lashes- it snapped. And I mean w/ no weight, just a hook and a Horny Toad. Nothing like looking down to see a birds nest and then looking up to see your junk doing a ‘pre-burn” for re-entry. 30 lb test, same deal- especially on casts where the fish hits the bait immediately. Buuuh-Bump, reel in the slack, hip move, hook-set, BING! line snaps.

So I switch to Stealth, as I’ve heard it’s better and there are fewer wind knots. Wind knots are a big deal to me since I do about 80% of my fishing at night. Same deal. Snaps and breaks. My neighbor has worked at Dicks and BPS for the last 10 years, so I ask him- WTF is up with this braid? It just breaks on me all the time. He’s dumbfounded and talks about cutting hands on braid, and pulling boats on braid. I agree- and this will lead to my theory. We experiment w/ knots and rule that out as a possible culprit

I started entering tournaments so I’m looking to eliminate this issue. I go for the Fireline, even though the reviews say it buries itself into the spool. I spool both set-ups with 30lb test. I modify my knot- the “old fisherman’s knot”, but now I fold over about a foot section and string both pieces of line through the eyelet before starting my knot. If you tie this knot correctly, you will be trimming 3 tags (1 loop and 1 lone ranger). The self bedding issue is negligible, and after several casts, this stuff becomes more pliable. 30 lb test works good, but I would like more workability w/ lower test.

OK- so here I am. I have a tourney next week and I’m trying to practice. I measure the difference in castability between 20 vs 30 and it’s significant. Also, I note that I cannot get a jig or tube to descend as needed on the 30. So I spool my Chronarch D w/ 20 lb test. I’m fishing a fluke minnow through a ball of shad yesterday- tick-tick… I go to set the hook and PING! Line snaps. My intended victim jumps, and this bass can’t be a pound!

Today- it rains like hell here. So I throw my daughter in the back seat and we hit some local retention ponds. I love to flip a tube or trick worm into those culverts after a good rain! Never fails, I get a bite, but this bite isn’t the tick-tick… It’s that infamous bhaaa..BUMP. (for the guys who know, you know what I’m talking about) I give her a second, reel in the slack, make my hip turn and……..BING! Line snaps. I could throw up. My daughter asks what GD means.

So here is my theory: Braid cannot handle instant tension. Because it has virtually no stretch it will snap when immediate, violent pressure is applied (like a hook set or a real bad backlash). It’s like the old horsepower vs torque argument. Braid can handle 1000 feet of torque, (school bus) but couldn’t handle something that is high reving horsepower (think Ninja motorcycle). That’s why you can pull a boat with it at a steady tension, but it snaps like dental floss on a quick stopping backlash.

So I’d love to hear your all’s thoughts on this. I’m pissed, and frustrated. I refuse to go to braid w/ mono leader since I’m re-tying so often. I can’t afford 10 set ups. Do I go to mono? Flouro? Do I stick w/ 30-50 lb Firewire and just make it work? I fish a ton of pads and grass. I target big fish. Both rods are St Croix w/ pristine Fuji guides. Both reels are Shimano Chronarchs w/ drag set up properly.

Looking forward to the feedback!

Floyd

I think you just might have gotten bad spools as crazy as that might be I use 50lb power pro and have had no issues this season , though with the 30lb I did have the occasional snap off it was not that frequent .


Jim

[Bassassinator]

Hey Guys i am reading all of your posts on Braided lines using Baitcaster reels, and even though i am learning a lot of good tips even before i purchase a relatively inexpensive one to practice with, i find myself having one question.....what are your thought's/feelings on using 20lb test Fluorocarbon Cajun Line? is it a decent line to use for my spinning combo, or is it one of those bargain shop specials? i haven't had a line snap on me yet, and i have used the same stuff since i bought the rod/reel combo, but i was curious.

[bassintom]

Using 60lb PP I have never snapped a line on hookset.I have snapped roots off of willow bushes,I have flung 4lb bass over my shoulder and I have ripped branches off trees,but I never had the line snap.I've broken and straightened hooks and shattered rods,but the line never snapped.
These willow bushes I fish are I guess very similar to buckbrush.Really tough stuff,PowerBass knows.Trying to get a bass out of the willows is like hand to hand combat.I like to win.

I have been converted to Suffix Braid. I also like the vision fluorocarbon line as well. I would recommend them lines to anyone.

[wargoth]

OK, I suffered my first braid breakoff ever the other night on a 20-30# cat that chugged herself like a bulldozer to the lillies... entirely my fault though as it was from not abrasion checking as I should have been doing. But even at that she didn't break off on the hookset, it was only after about 10 seconds of seriously trying to stop this fish from getting herself buried in the lillies.