Favorite braid?

MisterT

Well-Known Member
#2
I grew up using Mono and lately experimented with braid. I've only been using Daiwa J-Braid x8 which has been decent. For the price it's good. I hear Yozuri SuperBraid 8 is good too and at a much more affordable price.

Maybe I'm new to braid but I get annoyed by the tangles / wind knots or the occasional tip wrap from jigging.

I'm thinking of using Fireline next after I clear out my existing spools of braid. I hear Fireline is more stiff which I think will prevent or reduce the issues I've been having.
 

Mahigeer

Senior Member
#3
Back story: Few years back at the Fred Hall Show, I was waiting for Skipper Jones to start his lecture on Pier fishing.

The Gentleman who was showing how the braid line was made, was asked about the wind knot and rod tip wrap, etc. of the braid. He said the regular braid was too soft for spinning reels. Ok for casting, but not for spinning reels. That got my attention.



He recommended the braid that has mono inside of it. He showed a box and I started using it since then.

I am very happy with the results. I have no connection to the maker, just mentioning it here as a tip.

Tuf-line Duracast is the name. At 24 lbs. test., is the same diameter of 12 lbs. test mono.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203497938995?hash=item2f616c2033:g:HuIAAOSwoiZgunSO



As for casting reels, I use the green Power-pro.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/273832070912?epid=1200004798&hash=item3fc1a9cf00:g:ldwAAOSwBdhgWJY3



As the salesman was talking, at the corner was a machine making (I think 8 strand) braid. When he finished his lecture, he shut the machine down and measured the length of the made line. It was about 10 feet long for 45 minutes of time. He made the point that the high cost of braid vs Mono is the time it takes to make it.
 

K1n

Active Member
#4
I use both suffix and power pro. Wind knots on spinners is due to line twist. If braid lays flat as possible and not twisted, you get no wind knots (ie baitcaster). The inherent design of spinners isn’t braid friendly. However, use of quality swivels reduces twist drastically. Also better line management goes a long way too. Make sure you try your best to keep some tension on the line prior to the retrieve as loose line causes things to get worse.
Using stiffer braid helps because it’s harder to twist. Using mono/flouro core superlines for normal use is not necessary. Those are very technique specific ie assist hook rigging.
 
#5
I’ve been using Hurricane Brand 12 strand on my spinning reels. Very round, durable and easy to tie knots. Snugs up very nice. Available on E-Bay.
 
#7
I only use braided line for the last 8 years. I see no disadvantages, only advantages. I use it on spinning reels as I prefer to be fishing rather than pulling line out of a baitcaster.... like all the salmon guys do. Braid is thinner, stronger, doesn't stretch so I can feel what is going on much better. I can get better hook sets from the end of a cast and can be much quicker with it requiring less range of motion. I can cast farther with braid and don't believe there a line visibility issues in ocean or bay water. The only negative are the other fishermen who don't like braid, but I don't care. The first fishing lines invented were braided lines. Braid came first.
 
#8
Three is a place for all types of line. I still use Mono to throw Jerkbaits for Halibut and I believe the stretch helps with landing them on the waves. I use braid for throwing Topwater, and so I can use my light Spinning Reels with heavy(30)pound) line in certainty snaggy situations.
 
#9
I've been using powerpro slick v2 which is pretty strong and just as thin as J-braid. I use my shimano vanford with it so the line lay is pretty amazing. Still use a leader of mono though, not a topshot of it, only because when throwing calissa's or lighter jerkbaits it seems like the stretch helps in casting although now that i've gotten used to throwing it around im curious to see if my thesis is still the same
 

pinfish

Well-Known Member
#10
braid works when conditions are perfect. that doesn't happen when fishing. wind knots, snags, digging into reels, backlash, wear on your gear, having to tie special knots, not being able to handle the line, etc. all spell doom for those playing with braid.
 
#11
I respectfully disagree with most of the above.

Wind knot…. Mono core almost eliminates that.

Snag…. Not too apparent. However, it can cut kelp.

Digging into reel…. If angler pulls hard on reel after the snag. Could happen with mono too.

Backlash…. Ok it is harder to undo backlash than mono, but mono can get backlash too. I have a tool for that.

Wear on the gear…. Perhaps with top guide on the fishing rod.

Having to tie special knot… Not really, I use improved clinch knot all the time with braid. wetting not needed either.

Not being to handle the line…. I give that one, but I have tool for that too!

Etc….?



It has a small diameter than mono, thus more line on the spool. That could be the difference between landing the fish, or getting spooled.

No stretch…. Good to feel the bit, but also could lose fish due to no give.

Fishing for halibut in Alaska in 170-300 feet of water, you want to feel every bite. you want to set the hook with no slack. Not too easy with mono.

It boils down to personal preference and the type of fishing.
 
#12
I respectfully disagree with most of the above.

Wind knot…. Mono core almost eliminates that.

Snag…. Not too apparent. However, it can cut kelp.

Digging into reel…. If angler pulls hard on reel after the snag. Could happen with mono too.

Backlash…. Ok it is harder to undo backlash than mono, but mono can get backlash too. I have a tool for that.

Wear on the gear…. Perhaps with top guide on the fishing rod.

Having to tie special knot… Not really, I use improved clinch knot all the time with braid. wetting not needed either.

Not being to handle the line…. I give that one, but I have tool for that too!
Pretty much have to agree here since i have been exclusively fishing braid and have experienced none of those issues especially since im using a spinning reel.

Also never knew you could use an improved clinch knot with it, will give it a try next time.
 
#14
I actually don't understand why people use mono. Stretches too much, hook sets are not as good. Looping memory like a slinky is a nightmare. Thicker, doesn't cast as well. Doesn't handle abrasives as well. I don't get it.
 

Red Fish

Senior Member
#15
I rarely use braid so I am asking this for a friend. What is your favorite braid fishing line and why?
Lol, Ken. 1. "asking for a friend" 2. Pepsi or Coke .... "Lets get ready to rumble." 3. Two words: PowerPro (original) or is that a compound word, lol reputation/reliability/availability :p
 
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Ken Jones

Administrator
Staff member
#16
I was asking this question for the widow of my fishing buddy Mike Granat who sells a limited amount of fishing equipment on her EBay site (and does really well wiith her fishing flies). She had been selling some line recommended by another author that I think is terrible line and I told her so. I told her that I would recommend some brands of fluorocarbon line that I use but that she may also want to carry some braid since it's used by so many anglers. However, since I don't use braid I told her I would get a consensus from the board as to the best brands.

I understand the various arguments for and against braid and that's not really the question. The question is what is the best braid? As with monofilament, I think there is a wide variety of answers based on a number of different factors.
 

fish-ninja

Well-Known Member
#17
Hi, a newbie here with my first post here (Thanks Hashem). Of course it all depends on applications/targets/environment but I like using 8 stranded braided lines for casting from shore. It allows the often needed casting distance because of its smoothness and thinness. Many selections of such exists in JDM called PE lines. Majorcraft America sells one (Dangan Braid) in their online shop with a reasonable price. Since overhanded casting is prohibited from most piers, this may not be too useful tip for pier fishing application tho.
 

Mahigeer

Senior Member
#18
Welcome to the board.

MY #150 braid on my electric reel allowed me to feel the halibut bite at 230 feet depth.

Also allowed me to bring up a (.......lbs,) fish to the boat and have it landed.

You need to read my full report to see the actual weight. It will be posted in a while.
 

K1n

Active Member
#19
Power pro is always a popular choice. Suffix is the next up along with Jbraid.

PE is different from the common US braid because its based on the diameter of the lines and not breaking strength. PE is a more standardized way of measuring lines. There is still a breaking strength placed on the spool, but its a better "apples to apples" comparison between brands.