Braid help

[snickerfouty4]

What is the maximum test of braid i can put on a spinning reel instead of the 6lb mono it recommends?

[Bassboss]

I would not use over 20lb. Just because it's plenty strong enough still thin so you can make long casts. I've used 10lb Ppro on a spinning reel, and the stuff is to damn thin!! I loose it and when it's windy.. FORGET IT! I'd put some 15lb on.. best of both worlds!

[BigBassin144]

You can go up to 20lb, but if you were using 6lb test before, I see no need for 20lb. I use 10lb braid on my dropshot rod and 15lb on my other spinning rig. But anywhere from 8-20lb braid should work good on a spinning reel. Also, you won't have the same problems that you will with mono; no line jumping off the reel, no line twist, etc. I have completely switched over to braid w/ fluoro leaders on my spinning rigs.

BB

[zooker]

the one thing with braid on spinning gear is it will get loose on the spool.. once a year i walk it off,and re-tighten the braid.. if not the braid will spin around the spool..

zooker

[islandbass]

You can use a mono backing to prevent slippage around the spool of spinning or casting reels. Or a piece of tape. I prefer the former.

[Rebbasser]

I use 30-diameter of 8lb mono with an 8 lb fluoro leader.

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by islandbass

You can use a mono backing to prevent slippage around the spool of spinning or casting reels. Or a piece of tape. I prefer the former.

At least a little mono backing is a must of you don't have a spool designed for braided line. I've read a rubberband works too, but I use the backing cause it also saves money on braid.

BB

[BassFeverJohn]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

At least a little mono backing is a must of you don't have a spool designed for braided line. I've read a rubberband works too, but I use the backing cause it also saves money on braid.

BB

I also use a mono backing.

[Shake n' Bake]

I don't tie the braid around the spool I tie it to the spool through two of the holes in the spool (all my baitcasters have wiffle spools), this completely eliminates slippage.

Edit: Didn't realize we were talking about spinning gear guys, my bad.

[CamG]

I run Fireline on one of my rigs. I really like the original fireline for spinning reels. It seems to fish a little easier for me.

FLFS14-42 (1013021)Smoke 14/6 Lb. Test/Line Diam.

IMO, the 14 lb. Fireline has a higher breaking strength than they list. It is tough stuff.

[Bassboss]

I just wanna add this:

I used some 30lb spider wire something (easy cast I think) on a spinning rig. I hated it!! It really sucked, couldn't cast for crap, and I think it was absorbing water.

[screwballl]

I tend to run around 20lb (usually green PowerPro)... mostly because the lakes I fish don't have larger bass. Never had a problem with it spinning or walking off the reel as long as I had enough weight on the lure and the line secured to the base of the reel when I start spooling.

[WTL]

How does braid do in regards to line twist on spinning reels? That has always been my #1, 2, and 3rd problem with those reels...I even flip the bail manually, helps a little, but I still have twist.

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by WTL

How does braid do in regards to line twist on spinning reels? That has always been my #1, 2, and 3rd problem with those reels...I even flip the bail manually, helps a little, but I still have twist.

I've had 10lb braid on my Dropshot rod for over a year now and haven't had any problems with line twist. The one thing you do get, which was rare for me, is wind knots. Although I think I have had one this whole time, and that was this spring. I definitely think the pros outweigh any cons of braid on spinning reels.

BB

[Dr G]

Yah, I've switched my spinning rig from copoly to 15 lb Fireline Tracer (not the fused) with a flouro leader. I just find it's so much more managable and generally easier to deal with.

[DaveW731]

Comparing 20# Powerpro to 8# mono/copoly, (i.e., similar diameter lines), I think the mono/copoly casts a bit further. Obviously comparing equal break strengths, Powerpro comes out way ahead.

[Mofish]

Why use a floro leader on braid in the first place..I just started using 20# Powerpro on my shakey head rig (spinning) and just last week for the first time. I used a 12" floro leader and the first fish I set the steel to I broke off...I really do like how the braid casts though...

[BassFeverJohn]

Originally Posted by Mofish

Why use a floro leader on braid in the first place..I just started using 20# Powerpro on my shakey head rig (spinning) and just last week for the first time. I used a 12" floro leader and the first fish I set the steel to I broke off...I really do like how the braid casts though...

I have wondered about doing this too. I don't seem to have an issue getting strikes with 15/4 braid, but I wonder if I am missing some fish because of the braid. It seems like a waste of the braid, though, to go stick on something that I don't like, has a lower breaking strength, and is less sensitive.

[BigBassin144]

There are a few reasons to use a leader.

1. If you're fishing very clear water. Some of the water I fish up in Michigan has like 12-18' of visibility. There's no way I'm using straight braid in there, I just have more confidence in fluorocarbon in a situation like this.

2. Certain rigs. I use 10lb braid on my Dropshot rod, and ALWAYS a fluoro leader. Many guys use a fluoro leader on a c-rig as well. This is just going to be personal preference.

3. For breaking off. If you're using braid and get hung on something, there's a good chance you're going to have to cut it off at the rod if you can't pull up the snag or straighten/break your hook.Using a leader will allow you to break off without losing a ton of braid, and more importantly, without leaving a ton of braid in the lake.

Also, using a 2-4' fluorocarbon leader doesn't lose as much sensitivity as you'd think it would. You still get the advantages of braid, with the near invisibility of fluorocarbon.

BB

[Mofish]

Now mind you the Floro broke off right at the hook knot so it may have been my knot that broke...the very next fish I had bite I didnt set the hook hard enough and it stripped off about 10 feet of line and came off (it was a good'en) im used to snapping the rod with Mono on hooksets so am I doing something wrong?

[BigBassin144]

There are a few reasons to use a leader.

1. If you're fishing very clear water. Some of the water I fish up in Michigan has like 12-18' of visibility. There's no way I'm using straight braid in there, I just have more confidence in fluorocarbon in a situation like this.

2. Certain rigs. I use 10lb braid on my Dropshot rod, and ALWAYS a fluoro leader. Many guys use a fluoro leader on a c-rig as well. This is just going to be personal preference.

3. For breaking off. If you're using braid and get hung on something, there's a good chance you're going to have to cut it off at the rod if you can't pull up the snag or straighten/break your hook.Using a leader will allow you to break off without losing a ton of braid, and more importantly, without leaving a ton of braid in the lake.

Also, using a 2-4' fluorocarbon leader doesn't lose as much sensitivity as you'd think it would. You still get the advantages of braid, with the near invisibility of fluorocarbon.

BB

[BassFeverJohn]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

There are a few reasons to use a leader.

1. If you're fishing very clear water. Some of the water I fish up in Michigan has like 12-18' of visibility. There's no way I'm using straight braid in there, I just have more confidence in fluorocarbon in a situation like this.

2. Certain rigs. I use 10lb braid on my Dropshot rod, and ALWAYS a fluoro leader. Many guys use a fluoro leader on a c-rig as well. This is just going to be personal preference.

3. For breaking off. If you're using braid and get hung on something, there's a good chance you're going to have to cut it off at the rod if you can't pull up the snag or straighten/break your hook.Using a leader will allow you to break off without losing a ton of braid, and more importantly, without leaving a ton of braid in the lake.

Also, using a 2-4' fluorocarbon leader doesn't lose as much sensitivity as you'd think it would. You still get the advantages of braid, with the near invisibility of fluorocarbon.

BB

Good points.

What I never cared for about fluoro is the stiffness, not to mention the price.

What do you think would be a good # with my 15/4 braid? Also is there anyone that sells just a small amount to save money? Like 10 yards or something.

What are some fluoro alternatives? I have some 14# Cajun line, and some Visious Ultimate 10# moss green

[BigBassin144]

When it comes to stiffness, fluorocarbons vary quite a bit. Some are very stiff, while some are as supple as mono. I use and love Seaguar InvisX. It is as supple as most mono's I've used.

It is expensive and the worst part is, you do get what you pay for. a cheaper fluorocarbon is generally going to have worse knot and tensile strength, and be stiffer than a good, more expensive one.

I would use 8lb test fluorocarbon as a leader for 15, although I only put 15lb braid on spinning reels. You'd probably want to go with a 10-12lb test leader. I normally use 30-40lb braid on my casting setups, so the 10-12lb matches up nicely.

They do sell spools of fluorocarbon leader material, but it is almost as expensive as a normal sized spool. Some less expensive one to check out are Seaguar's Red Label, BPS fluorocarbon, and Vicious fluorocarbon.

IMO, there are no alternatives to fluorocarbon. You could go with with a copolymer, but I'd rather use a pure fluorocarbon. copolymers are not the best of both worlds. While they do have properties of nylon and fluorocarbon lines, the benefits of each are not quite as good as they would be in pure fluoro or nylon form. As example would be knot strength. Mono has better knot strength than fluorocarbon. While a copolymer will probably have better knot strength than FC, it probably won't have as good as mono. Hope that made sense, lol.

BB

[BassFeverJohn]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

When it comes to stiffness, fluorocarbons vary quite a bit. Some are very stiff, while some are as supple as mono. I use and love Seaguar InvisX. It is as supple as most mono's I've used.

It is expensive and the worst part is, you do get what you pay for. a cheaper fluorocarbon is generally going to have worse knot and tensile strength, and be stiffer than a good, more expensive one.

I would use 8lb test fluorocarbon as a leader for 15, although I only put 15lb braid on spinning reels. You'd probably want to go with a 10-12lb test leader. I normally use 30-40lb braid on my casting setups, so the 10-12lb matches up nicely.

They do sell spools of fluorocarbon leader material, but it is almost as expensive as a normal sized spool. Some less expensive one to check out are Seaguar's Red Label, BPS fluorocarbon, and Vicious fluorocarbon.

IMO, there are no alternatives to fluorocarbon. You could go with with a copolymer, but I'd rather use a pure fluorocarbon. copolymers are not the best of both worlds. While they do have properties of nylon and fluorocarbon lines, the benefits of each are not quite as good as they would be in pure fluoro or nylon form. As example would be knot strength. Mono has better knot strength than fluorocarbon. While a copolymer will probably have better knot strength than FC, it probably won't have as good as mono. Hope that made sense, lol.

BB

I'll have to give it some thought. It's really expensive for something I would just be trying. Maybe I have a friend I can mooch off of... lol

[lilmule]

10-20 pd power pro or 16 lb fireline both work well no line twist,yes with mono backing.