Braided Line

[Gavin]

Braid just rocks....when you can use it...gotta be above freezing, and I usually use a 6' leader of mono or floro...

[Wayne SW/MO]

Thats normal with the braid,

I haven't noticed this with Power Pro or Tuff XP? I've been using mostly braid for years now and like all things, it isn't perfect. The old Fireline, which wasn't a braid, made a lot of noise and felt like it drug on the guides. All braids are coated, and the line you're using may not get along with the slick juice, or it may be something in the coating that will dissapear with time. If it subtracts noticeable casting distance then its not up to par with many other braids.

As to the cutting of guides, that's true on cheap rods, but its not the texture, its the diameter that causes the damage. When you're able to put 20 to 30 lbs of pressure on a line that is only 6 or 8lbs in diameter, any dirt or hard material it has picked up will magnify the abrasive affect.

[BolivarBasser]

Thanks Wayne for your insight. Again, the braid is only on my flipping rig, so if it can do that job with brawn and sensitivity, then I don't care about distance really. We'll give her a try next week and see if I can't horse a few lunkers in the boat and see some results.

[Gavin]

Braid can make for some nasty backlashes on casting tackle...might want to peel off a long cast worth of line and tape your spool to minimize your potential problems till you get used to it. Cheers.

[eric1978]

...and I usually use a 6' leader of mono or floro...

Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose, Gavin? Most of my break-offs with mono and flouro go at the knot or just above the knot from abrasions from their teeth or cover they dive into when hooked. I honestly haven't noticed any decrease in strikes with braid, although I do tend to fish faster moving baits, so that may be a factor. I have noticed a decrease in lost fish, though...that would be ZERO.

I can see the leader on braid being beneficial under a few conditions, such as fishing a slow moving bait in gin clear water, but usually I find that braid tied directly to lure works fine for me.

I didn't use any mono or flouro last year. Power Pro is awesome stuff, but it is a nightmare if you backlash.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I use a leader on all my braids, except when fishing a Sammy. I start with one that reaches from the levelwind to about 6" past the tip. I do it for more than one reason, one is to simply control the amount of trash I leave in the water. If I break off, it's normally less than 6'. I also can break off with out cutting my hand, pulling the boat into my fishing, or wasting a lot of time trying. I can also use a leader to fit conditions, heavy Flourocarbon for abrasive areas, light for those clear lakes, or something in between.

I use an Albright with a touch of glue and have yet to break one.

[Dutch]

I have tried lots of knots attaching line to leader and found the the Alberto's works best for me. It is a modified Albright which is smaller easier and faster to tie and requires no glue. I have used it for over a year and never had a knot failure.

http://www.stripersonline.com/Pages/Articles/article_arby_albertos_knot.shtml

[Wayne SW/MO]

I have seen that knot, and I've seen the knot he describes as an Albright, but it doesn't fit the older tying of the Albright. In the one I learned a long time ago you you take the line you're going to wrap straight down the loop, and then wrap back. For the most part you're only making one warp around three strands, instead of two wraps around two strands. You can strengthen the original with half hitches at each end, but I think glue makes a slimmer knot.

[BolivarBasser]

except when fishing a Sammy.

Mind explaining to the noob what that is?

[Dutch]

Sammy is a top water walk the dog (like a Zara Spook) bait by Lucky Craft.