To Braid or not to Braid, that is the Q?

Braided line, why, how and trouble free usage! by Dr. Bogus

http://www.ncoif.com/braided-line-trouble-free-usage-by-dr-bogus/

• What are super-braid fishing lines?
  1. Remember the original braided fishing line? Dacron polyester by DuPont.
  2. Today’s gel-spun polyethylene fibers make up the NEW braided fishing lines
     1. Fireline, PowerPro, Tuf Line, Sufix etc.
     2. Not for casual user, took me 2-years to get comfortable with use and knots.

• Alternatives, low stretch mono lines-coated/copolymers/fluorocarbon

1. Advantages (why?)
   1. Smaller diameter for equivalent strength of mono lines
      • 30/12, 20/6, 15/4, 10/2, 8/1 (250/80)
      • Use of smaller lighter reels with same line capacity (extra line capacity)
      • Less water resistance, less weight needed for getting line to bottom or trolling
      • Better casting distance
      • Little or no line memory, good for cold weather use
      • Extra strength and abrasion resistance Easier to pull fish away from pilings etc.
   2. Little or no line stretch (vs. rubber band stretch of mono lines)
      • 0 to 5% vs. 15 to 25% (20 feet/100 feet of line!)
      • Sensitivity, feel hat fish is doing, feel light hits (e.g. winter trout bump)
        • Original instant messaging (IM) system!
      • Quick hook sets (line moves the same distance as your rod tip)
        • Feel faster, hook faster, equals more hookups

1. Disadvantages (why not?) WIND KNOTS are a MYTH…OPERATOR ERROR!
   1. Slippery: need backing on reels or will slip, knots may slip (two-sided tape)
      • Palomar, uni; Albright (20 turn), surgeon’s (four turns), uni to uni knot
   2. Soft, limp and thin: wind loops/knotting, wrapping of guides, hard to untangle knots and backlashes and snarls (hard to “pick” out tangle). Some are coated or fused.
      • Fuji guide design helps minimize looping/wind knots

• Cutting, line is difficult, need special scissors, also I burn off end to a bead, to stop fraying

1. Will cut through mono lines of neighboring anglers and your fingers too!
2. May slip through eyes, split rings, snaps and other small gaps

1. Tips
   1. Careful to not overmatch your rod with higher strength line that rated (breaks)
      • Lighten drag to compensate for non-stretch (set to mono you would have used)
      • Use gentler hook-set, gentle sweep or wrist snap, don’t try to set hook and land fish in one motion!!
      • If hung-up, pull from spool to pull free or break off, NOT your rod or hands
   2. Under fill spool (minimize snarls from loose line/coils, good for mono too)

• Close bail manually to eliminate loose coils and place line in bail roller
  • Raise rod tip to tighten line and remove loops.
  • Look for loose coils and cast and rewind tightly periodically through finger tips
  • If loop gets caught under line, pull line through roller do not open the bail and pull off of the top!!! Don’t cast to get rid of the loop or it will make a mess.
  • If you still get a know (you didn’t do what I said), but rub some ChapStick on the knot and it will be easier to get out.

1. Use mono or fluorocarbon leader, braided lines are very visible (red braid???)
2. 20-pound test braid will tangle less than 10-pound test