Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

[Isaacm1986]

I am wondering what the differnce is between braided line and regular line? I have always used Pline CXX, but I have several friends who swear by the braided line. Could someone tell me the pro's and con's over it.

(I mostly fish rivers for salmon and steelhead)

 

[dingbat]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

I?ve gone to braid on everything with the exception of my conventional surf reels.

Pros:
Small diameter to strength ratio

1. Higher line capacities
2. Requires less weight to get your baits down
3. Increased sensitivity
4. Longer casts

No stretch
Less expensive in the long run

Cons:
Because of its small diameter, it can be hard to break when you get snag
Need to learn new knots
Can be a bear to pick out professional over runs if used on a conventional reel
Not as abrasion resistiant as mono if using low strand count braids. The high strand count and fused briads fair much better

Example: Your #10 Pline CXX is 0.35 mm in diameter. That's very large given it rated strength. The smallest #10 monofilament is 0.25 mm in diameter with the majoritiy of the popular brands being 0.30 mm in diameter.

On the other hand, a #10 braid will run 0.20 mm in diameter. Your #10 Pline CXX would be the equivalent of a #50 braid.

 

[Andyfender]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

I?ve gone to braid on everything with the exception of my conventional surf reels.

Pros:
Small diameter to strength ratio

1. Higher line capacities
2. Requires less weight to get your baits down
3. Increased sensitivity
4. Longer casts

No stretch
Less expensive in the long run

Cons:
Because of its small diameter, it can be hard to break when you get snag
Need to learn new knots
Can be a bear to pick out professional over runs if used on a conventional reel
Not as abrasion resistiant as mono if using low strand count braids. The high strand count and fused briads fair much better

Example: Your #10 Pline CXX is 0.35 mm in diameter. That's very large given it rated strength. The smallest #10 monofilament is 0.25 mm in diameter with the majoritiy of the popular brands being 0.30 mm in diameter.

On the other hand, a #10 braid will run 0.20 mm in diameter. Your #10 Pline CXX would be the equivalent of a #50 braid.

Agree!!! And you could always use a mono, fluro leader attached to the braid.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

Agree!!! And you could always use a mono, fluro leader attached to the braid.

I've had great success using the blood knot for that application.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

Good to know.

What is the your favorite braided line? I am completely new to using braided lines and I am considering trying it out on my baitcaster reel. I have always used mono stuff.

 

[legacycycles]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

I just switched to calcuttas green braid on my baitcasting reel i use for lures. Ive only been out with once since switching,and havent landed any fish yet,but so far i like it. Plus its made in USA and also locally made here in NC so that really why i chose it over others.

 

[Pontoonfoon]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

Braid:

PROs

stronger per diameter

no stretch/more sensitivity


CONs:

very visible in the water.. despite is smaller diameter its not at all translucent... and in clear water is VERY visible.. play with some in a pool, see for your self.

NO STRETCH.. that's right.. also a con.. the stretch afforded with mono help in keeping the fish on the line, reducing the possibility of a slack line and also reducing the chance of ripping the hook out of the fish is soft hooked.



my choice: fluorocarbon

enough stretch to take it easy on the fish, but sensitive enough to detect slack line strikes.

less visible in the water than mono and A LOT less visible than any braid.


I settled on Seguar InvisX after trying quite a few different brands.

just make sure and hit it with a good dose of reel magic after you put it on to tame it a little, after that its good to go.

 

['96 Charger]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

I personally hate braid with a passion but use it on my heavy heavy for punching a hole in the moss or using heavy spinnerbaits. Suffix is my braid of choice because I like how it handles on a baitcaster. On everything else either Berkley Sensation or Trilene XT.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

Dingbat,Why not braid in the surf?.Ive used it casting spoons and marias w a baitcaster and a 30 spinning reel w good success.and bottom fishin it seems to cut the current better and hold bottom w less weight than thicker mono.I always check my drag to make sure its not too tight to pull lips off and the diff in mono stretch at 50/70+yrds lets me hook some fish better I believe.if anyone has never caught blues and spanish macs in the surf on a baitcaster 6 -7'+ rod w any line you should try it.its a whole lot of fun when their schoolin.I do use 25/30lb mono leaders on the lures 12" to 16" or so.and whats a Dingbat??Ive been called that among other things!!!LOL.I know what it means.moms maiden name is Willis

 

[dingbat]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

Why not braid in the surf?.Ive used it casting spoons and marias w a baitcaster and a 30 spinning reel w good success.and bottom fishin it seems to cut the current better and hold bottom w less weight than thicker mono.I always check my drag to make sure its not to tight to pull lips off and the diff in mono stretch at 50/70+yrds lets me hook some fish better I believe.if youve never caught blues and spanish macs in the surf on a baitcaster 7+ rod w any line you should try it.its a whole lot of fun when their schoolin.I do use 25/30lb mono leaders on the lures 12" to 16" or so.

Braid on a conventional buys you nothing but headaches and cut thumbs.

All my surf rods are designed to cast specific weights. The weight I use is determined by the rod more so than the weight needed to hold bottom. I fish a lot of Red Drum surf tournaments where throwing 8-10 oz plus bait is the norm. I have the equipment to throw anything from feathers to bricks.

I've never caught Blues and Spanish on a 7' rod. I use a 6500 Abu Mag E-lite on a 10' custom when fishing for them. I use 25' lg. #50 leaders on all my surf rods

BTW: I?m a tournament guy. I fish most of the surf tournaments from MD. to NC. We?re curently the reigning champs, with three consecutive wins, of the Mid- Atlantic Surf fishing tournament.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

Dingbat,Im more of a relax in the sand w a beer surf fisherman.4 to 6 ounce is big to me.but I always have a rod w a spoon or maria ready incase of schooling fish in the surf.great sport on bass size tackel.mostly emerald isle ,atlantic beach, surf city.hopefully portsmouth/davis area again soon.hatteras seems to far to drive for leisurly trips and I havent been there in a long time.but I remember the great fishing there.I hear its a madhouse there nowdays when the fish are there in good numbers.check my previous post as I edited In another question for you!

 

[sasto]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

for us it is:
surf= mono/floro w/leader of choice
swardfish=braid w/floro leader
bass=braid or mono
other billfish=mono w/floro leader
grouper=braid
panfish=mono
jack cravelle/bluefish=braid
catfish=mono
tuna=anchor winch
all others we use mostly Tournament Grade Ande mono with florocarbon leader....that's our way.....more ideas please!

 

[JB]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

When I was a boy the question was, "Monofilament vs. regular fishing line?"

Glad regular fishing line (Power pro) is back.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

Dingbat,Im more of a relax in the sand w a beer surf fisherman.4 to 6 ounce is big to me.but I always have a rod w a spoon or maria ready incase of schooling fish in the surf.great sport on bass size tackel.mostly emerald isle ,atlantic beach, surf city.hopefully portsmouth/davis area again soon.hatteras seems to far to drive for leisurly trips and I havent been there in a long time.but I remember the great fishing there.I hear its a madhouse there nowdays when the fish are there in good numbers.check my previous post as I edited In another question for you!

I can still "beer in the sand" with the best of them.

I assume the madhouse you mentioned is the "Point". The Point is the tourist spot. Lots and lots of wide open places to fish on HI if you know what to look for.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

I am wondering what the differnce is between braided line and regular line? I have always used Pline CXX, but I have several friends who swear by the braided line. Could someone tell me the pro's and con's over it.

(I mostly fish rivers for salmon and steelhead)

For salmon and steelhead it has its good and bad points.


For float fishing it works well, since it floats its much easier to mend and with the lack of stretch you can take up the slack faster. 30# works well for this.

For side drifting it works OK, I use both, most of my side drifting reels have braid on them, but mainly because the guy I fish with the most uses braid and its easier to not mix and match when fishing this way. 20 and 30#

It can work OK for drift fishing, but you won't make any friends using it because there is a real mind set against it. 30+

I use it on my plug rods, some people tie it directly to the plug, other use a leader, I do it both ways and don't see a big difference in my results. Braid will dive deeper. 50# and up

It can be a little more difficult to use it on a downrigger, braids can be slippery and some DR clips don't hold on to it very well. 50# + so its easier to keep in the clip.

For jigging in deep water its the only line to use. 50# and up.

Like others have said, the zero stretch is good and bad, it helps when setting the hook, but it can be difficult to keep a tight line on the fish sometimes. If you're a heavy hook setter you can pop the leader easily, I'm not, so its not an issue for me.

For soft mouthed fish like pinks and sockeye, you may be better off with mono since the hook set is easy and it will cushion the shock more when fighting them. On Coho Steelhead and Kings, it will help with the hookset and since their mouths are harder the added shock won?t be as much of an issue.

It takes some time to get used to braid, but after you are, mono feels like big rubber band. I not saying this is good or bad, just that?s what it feels like.


More and more of my reels have braid on them, the main reason is that I have many reels and some only get used in specific situations a couple of times per year. With mono this means I may need to change the line on the reel every time I may possibly use it, even if there's only a slight chance of needing it. Braid can be left on the reel for years and its still in great shape and ready to go.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

Dingbat.i know the surf is usually rougher/larger breakers a HI compared to more southern beaches because of the eastern exposure right?Do you think the fishing is better there than say Emerald isle/ or Topsail??takes about 5 hrs from home to HI.only 2 to Wilmington, 2.5 to Emerald isle for me.we dont drive the beach anymore. we usually rent oceanfront and fish out the back door w a homade wagon/for the gear. last three yrs. at bogue inlet as we can fish the surf,inlet and some slews/channels on the soundside w alittle walking,wadeing.are there ocean front rentals at HI or do you need beach buggies/4wds to cruise the beach there?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

Dingbat.i know the surf is usually rougher/larger breakers a HI compared to more southern beaches because of the eastern exposure right?Do you think the fishing is better there than say Emerald isle/ or Topsail??takes about 5 hrs from home to HI.only 2 to Wilmington, 2.5 to Emerald isle for me.we dont drive the beach anymore. we usually rent oceanfront and fish out the back door w a homade wagon/for the gear. last three yrs. at bogue inlet as we can fish the surf,inlet and some slews/channels on the soundside w alittle walking,wadeing.are there ocean front rentals at HI or do you need beach buggies/4wds to cruise the beach there?

The "Point" was formed by the convergence of the Labrador Current coming down from the north and the Gulf Stream coming up from the south. It is not unusual to see a 10-degree difference in the water on the North side compared with the south side of the Point. It?s the converge of these two currents that makes for the topography of the island and the reason for the abundance of fish in the area.

Three years ago we vacationed with friends at Topsail I did not bother to take a rod if that tells you anything.

There are places that you can rent a house on the beach on HI and walk, but for the most part you need a beach buggy get to the better places to fish.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

thanks for the info.were going to EI in october. if the house is still there.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

...It can be a little more difficult to use it on a downrigger, braids can be slippery and some DR clips don't hold on to it very well. 50# + so its easier to keep in the clip......More and more of my reels have braid on them....

The Chamberlain release works GREAT with braid.....

"More and more of my reels have braid on them"
I was commenting to someone recently about braid- I hate the stuff cuz it is not very user-friendly (tangles, knots, etc.) but it is so strong and thin, and the feel so good, I can't stop myself. I looked in my boat and discovered that 10 of 12 rods on board have braided of some form or another on them! I run fluorocarbon leaders (about a rod length, tied on to a swivel with a palomar from the braid and a 'trilene' knot on the fluoro. I don't go after fish the size of an SUV like some do, but this setup works for me and produces a lot of fish. The mono rods are downrigger rods or occasionally flatlines rigged with 10# BPS Excel which has worked well.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Braided fishing line vs Regular fishing line

It can be a little more difficult to use it on a downrigger, braids can be slippery and some DR clips don't hold on to it very well. 50# + so its easier to keep in the clip.

Just double up the line in the clip. No problem holding #20 braid.