Braid In Clear Water

[Old plug]

In really clear water my buddies will out fish me if I run braid all the way to my Fluke. Add a leader in clear water. If the water is colored up I don't see the catch rate change if I run all braid.

I have a notion that the braid is effecting the action of your fluke. It floats and will cause the fluke to respond differently than mono. I can get a slower presentation with a 1/16 oz crappie jig using braid or fireline. At about 10 ft some bulky 1/16 oz jig eill almost suspend with 8 lb test fireline.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I didn't see much, if any, difference. Have you thrown it in gin clear water yet? If so, how'd that go?

I've been known to catch trout in Crane as well as some other creeks using Crystal Fireline.

I've caught a ton of smallmouth with it too on Big Sugar, Elk and the like.

I do think I am going to drop the Crystal and go to Suffix on the spinning rod as well.

[kirbydog]

Bear,

Your gonna like the suffix-make sure you get the 832 as they make another braid that's not

as good. The suffix works better on a spinning reel than anything I have tried.

[Old plug]

I just cannot see it making enough of a difference to let it interfere with the rest of my fishing concentration. Myself about all In use is PBS mono sold on bulk spools. Except for the before mentioned crappie instance. Really what worries me more is a noisy reel or a guide that drags because it makes noise that is transmitted all the way down to your lure though whatever line you use. But I got my doubts that bothers them either.

[Mitch f]

In theory, the combination of braid with a fluoro leader is the perfect combination...the sensitivity of braid combined the abrasion resistance and stealthiness of fluoro. Since braid lasts so long and you only use a small section of leader, it's also a very inexpensive alternative. I went thru a stage about 5 years ago with this combo. I now just use straight hybrid line because the re-tying of the leader with a double uni. It was just too much of a hassle and waste of time. Since my fishing time is limited anymore, I'm all about maximizing time on the water.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I wish I knew how to make video's. I could show you a knot that holds great and is so fast to tie you barely have time to spit on it before you pull it up.

[MOPanfisher]

I tie the braid directly to my crappie jigs, braid does have a weakness in the lack of abraison resistence, however I use a lot of weedless jigs or with 6# braid can often simply pull them loose, re-bend the hook and move on. I tried using mono leaders but tying a blood knot or whatever it is drove me to distraction the braid slips so easily it takes too many turns to make it hold. Wayne what is the name of that knot.

[Gavin]

use a triple surgeons knot and you can tie a leader on in less than 30 seconds

[Ham]

I tie the braid directly to my crappie jigs, braid does have a weakness in the lack of abraison resistence, however I use a lot of weedless jigs or with 6# braid can often simply pull them loose, re-bend the hook and move on. I tried using mono leaders but tying a blood knot or whatever it is drove me to distraction the braid slips so easily it takes too many turns to make it hold. Wayne what is the name of that knot.

Braid has excellent abrashion resistance around wood and cuts through aquatic vegetation great. Admittedly, not so great around rocks and other sharp edges. Several easy knots out there to join braid to leader material, but to each his own.

[Mitch f]

Just one extra knot to fail when the big one is on, but like Ham said, to each his own