LINE WARS

Comment

Comment by Leo Nguyen on June 6, 2016 at 3:03pm

For braid, there's a bit of stretch, but the stretch, compared to mono, is so minute that it's neglectable. The reason why I fell in love with braid for the lower test pounds was the sensitivity. Incredible sensitivity. However, mono is catching up fast, and furiously. Sensitivity is rivaling of the braid now, at 1/8th the price of braid. Even the cheaper brand is still sensitive to detect a bite, but without breaking my bank accounts.

I've been trying to get a hold of Gamma Polyflex, Copolymer. However, since I don't go out to fish as often, I'll stick with Mr. Crappie that Carl graciously dumped a box full on me. I still have the Red Cajun lines, Spiderwire, Maxima, Suffix, Stren, and so many more. I'll just use them all first before spending any more. Mono, like all plastics, degrades over time.

By the way, unless you're fighting weeds like satan's spawns from hell, using high test pounds (10lbs or higher), it's a waste of money. Braid will cut through the salads like a hacksaw through branches. Perfect for baitcaster with crankbaits. 

Comment by John Sheehan on June 6, 2016 at 2:51pm

What monos are you spooling these days  Leo?

Comment by John Sheehan on June 6, 2016 at 2:49pm

Thanks Leo -backlash troubles on bait casters was another concern of mine ., but that happens with  mono also . Makes sense what you say regarding salt water conditions .The one thing about braid that I've heard that I like though is no stretch and that may be crucial for weed predators but for  panfish  I don't see it .

Comment by Leo Nguyen on June 6, 2016 at 2:06pm

This is my opinion only based on my usages of braid over the years, but braid is horrible at 8lbs test and less. 10lbs to 15lbs, ehhh..20lbs and higher, awesome, and long lasting. Lower test pounds frayed so easily, and expensive too boost. The great thing about braid was (and emphasized on was) the diameter. I can have add extra length to the same spool size for playing with the big fishes, in comparison to the mono. Now, with the mono lines came down in smaller diameter, and durability that's not a problem any more. I've been using mono and no longer using braid.

Spool tech has not kept up with the braid tech. Just smoothness and gear ratio. Nothing special. But, rod guides, however, have improved tremendously, at a massive cost for the higher ends as well. If you're using braid as dedicated line, best not to play with ceramic or aluminum. Go straight to stainless steel and titanium. Even when the braid (the high test pound) is wet, the braid can still eat away your ceramic and aluminum rings easily. This is one of the reasons why I gave up on braid, aside from it flying so easily in the wind during cast. I live in a pretty windy area year round. Not fun with braid lines tangling up due to wind backlashes.

However, deep sea fishing, or trolling for stripers, now, braid is the way to go. More line for the same spool. That's when things can be extremely advantageous. 

Comment by John Sheehan on June 6, 2016 at 1:56pm

What is the take here on Braid wearing  grooves  to fray line on bail rollers? I 've seen, even with mono ,where the rubber Plastic arms attached to the roller and bail   has been cut when the line didn't stay on the roller .I guess this happens with a wind bow or faulty mechanism because of a loose bail screw but i imagine if it happens with mono it's worse with braid , fireline and spider wire .Perhaps reels have caught up to the super line demands but I imagine it drove the price up of  the reel, rod and and  lines . What does braid do to wear certain Rod guides?

Comment by Leo Nguyen on May 5, 2016 at 10:13am

In my world Carl, setting the hook when the line gets twitched, that may be a chance I won't have. Mommy may have that chance. Me, not so much, when fishing with the family. So, in search of circle hooks (and exclude all trebles) in all sizes, starting from #14 to as small as #20, is a up-the-river-without-anything battle. Any company makes such a range of hook sizes will have me as their most valuable customer.

Comment by carl hendrix on May 5, 2016 at 10:04am

VERY WELL SAID LEO !!  TO ADD TO THAT; USING A COLORED LINE; HELPS YOU  TO SEE YOUR LINE IN SUNLIGHT;  OR SHADE BETTER; TO HELP IN LINE CONTROL; ALSO; IF BY SEEING YOUR LINE TWITCH; ERACTICALY;; SET THE HOOK !!

Comment by Leo Nguyen on May 5, 2016 at 9:36am

The funny thing is, scientifically, all species don't care about the color of the lines, nor the size of the line. HOWEVER, from all the scientific studies, including from avid anglers, the easily spooked older generations (at max is 7%) of the species do tend to get weary of the presentations, and the water-water column disturbance (inclusive of sink rate). Yet, nothing on the line sizes and colors.

Marketing managed to grab our balls and took control of our wallets. We need to focus on more on the strength of the line, durability against kinks and abrasion, and smaller diameter to house more line on existing reels' capacity. Secondary to that are the retention of water, sensitivity rate, and memory effect. Don't buy into the flouro is better than mono mantra, or ultra light braid is better than flouro and mono. I have yet to see a definitive conclusion, based on sheer data and field testing, without bias, that present such info. So far, nothing but marketing hypes and opinionated surveys to increase sales, especially in flouro and braid. I'll stick with high end ultra light mono that will do the work.

Comment by Kelly Peterson on May 5, 2016 at 9:25am

Been using 5# and 8# Power Pro Braid in white but am going to spool up some 4# Berkley Nanofil braid in green for stealth fishing. Have been using either a 4# or 7# fluorocarbon leader on a barrel swivel and have been pleased. Want to try the lighter line and tying direct like Slip Sinker suggests. Have had some bite offs of leader from toothy fish like Walleye and Northern Pike.

Tried Spiderwire a few years ago and didn't like it-think it was installed wrong on reel-had lots of rats nests so really didn't fish with it for very long. Took it off and went back to regular mono.

Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on May 1, 2016 at 6:27am

Being a creature of habit I've always fished Stren, but I could use some education if there's something else I should consider. I also build my tapered nymph leaders with Stren.

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