Drop Shot Main Line

[Gone Fishing]

I am tired of my main line getting all twisted up after a few trips out. I am currently using 8lb InvisX which I really like. But it gets expensive replacing it all the time. I was wondering if any of you use braid or some other superline and have good look with it.

[Doug Weston]

I do use a braid then swivel to floro at the business end. I like it. The braid doesn't get all curly q'd up and it saves me lots of money. The braid lasts a looooong time. I've had some tied on for a year now and no problems so far. It can be a pain tying the leader because you have to keep a spool handy, but after a little practice and keeping a small spool conveniently located somewhere, it don't take much longer than using straight flouro. I advise using as long a leader that you can get away with but I can't get away with much more than 5 feet. Otherwise your swivel gets in your rod guides. I find you have much more sensitivity but no stretch. This means if you are using a stiff rod you should probably go down to a medium light action to compensate for the loss of stretch.

[Stump bumper]

I do use a braid then swivel to floro at the business end. I like it. The braid doesn't get all curly q'd up and it saves me lots of money. The braid lasts a looooong time. I've had some tied on for a year now and no problems so far. It can be a pain tying the leader because you have to keep a spool handy, but after a little practice and keeping a small spool conveniently located somewhere, it don't take much longer than using straight flouro. I advise using as long a leader that you can get away with but I can't get away with much more than 5 feet. Otherwise your swivel gets in your rod guides. I find you have much more sensitivity but no stretch. This means if you are using a stiff rod you should probably go down to a medium light action to compensate for the loss of stretch.

Does the Braid cut into your guides or do you yuse a rod with stainless guides? I have debated switching to this situp but I am afraid I will ruin the guides on my drop shot rod.

[dblades]

Does the Braid cut into your guides or do you use a rod with stainless guides? I have debated switching to this situp but I am afraid I will ruin the guides on my drop shot rod.

I don't think braid has any effect on a quality guide.

[Stragler]

I also like braid (power pro) and I keep cut to length fluro. leaders coiled up in zip lock bags in boat and replace as necessary. Works for me and the leaders can be different lb. test which gives you a choice.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Does the Braid cut into your guides or do you yuse a rod with stainless guides? I have debated switching to this situp but I am afraid I will ruin the guides on my drop shot rod.

There's a lot of misinformation about braid cutting guides. You have to look at how this can occur. Braid has two properties that can cause this, the ability to hold grit and the ability to put unrealistic pressure, for the diameter, on the guides. I don't throw my rods down where they might get abused, or pick up dirt and grit. i also don't use the real small braid. 20/6 works well and if you don't put pressure on it like the 20# rating allows, it won't cut even cheaper guides. If you get hung up, use a piece of wood, or something round to hold the braid when exerting full pressure, don't use the rod guides.

I've used braid almost from the time it hit the market, the new braids, and never had a problem, but I'm aware that its small diameter combined with all the pressure that it can bear can cause problems.

I might add that while it may seem troublesome to some, a braid with a fluorocarbon leader is hard to beat. By using a leader of fluorocarbon you can adjust for conditions. You can use the best FC, in the most appropriate diameter, and allow the braid to last years. I recently turned two braids around hat were 4 years old and very close to their original length. If I get 8 years out of them, that's a bargain line.

[Gone Fishing]

Thanks for the help guys. I have braid on some of my other spinning rods but haven't got around to putting it on the drop shot rod yet. Got a dumb question but is Fireline the same,better or worse than braid.

[SKMO]

I am tired of my main line getting all twisted up after a few trips out. I am currently using 8lb InvisX which I really like. But it gets expensive replacing it all the time. I was wondering if any of you use braid or some other superline and have good look with it.

Back to the original question, as far as the mainline getting twisted.....

Someone please explain how one line can twist more than another. You got mono and floro and superline and etc etc etc but the twist is going to always happen on the terminal end of the line, hopefully just above or beyond a swivel of some sort on a dropshot.

Anyway I have heard forever that some lines twist more than others and I just can't see it. It's all in the reel and presentation. My baitcasters never twist, my spinners always do if I reel against the drag. Enlighten me, I can't see how the line itself has anything to do with twisting.

[rps]

I don't think the braid twists any less. I just think the consequences are not nearly so apparent and deadly.

I believe Fireline is made from the same material, dyneema, as Power Pro. They are woven differently with Power Pro being rounder and more like a very miniature braid. Fireline is flatter. This difference does cause anglers to prefer one or the other, depending on how they use their line. I use Power Pro for the braid applications I use. When I use a leader I tie an Alberto knot (modified Albright) or use a swivel depending on what I intend to do.

[RSBreth]

I use either 2/10 Spiderwire Stealth or 4/10 Fireline as my main line for drop-shotting, and really the only difference is Fireline needs a little "breaking in" period before it is at it's best. PowerPro is kind of like this, too, but to a lesser degree.

I like the thin 2/10 Spiderwire for it's ability to get down a little quicker, so on my dedicated drop-shot rods, that's what I use.

I like a small swivel, then Orvis Mirage Fluoro tippet material for my leader, usually 3X.