braid V mono

any info. on the pro's/ cons of using braid. IDPearl has been using it for a while now with great results. 60 odd pound breakin strain with the diameter similar to 15lb. mono. seems like a good idea for big fish in strong tides. how resilent is it to fraying off rocks?? IDPearl has had little trouble with it casting wise, with Donal Domeney from Cork using it to good affect too. i like the idea that you can use an average size reel and get plenty on, plus the casting advantages of a thinner diametre line. all info very welcome.

Its good for clean ground, but as you said ther it will fray against the rocks.

One of the advantages of braid is it's thin diameter which causes less resistance in tidal runs. I use 33lb ron thompson with a diameter on 0.22mm. As for fishing over rocks it's a no no big time even on stoney beaches when there is a lot of weed about if the line is flapping close to the shore line it can fray very easly. D'not be put off on using braid it's bite detection is the thing. The last time I used nylon was up the north last year fishing 20ft out for 25cm + flounder.

I only use braid (30lbs) for very close (40-50yds) in, clean ground marks, estuary fishing for flounder or scratching for smaller fish, in catch and release matches, the only thing i would say is the lack of memory (stretch) does pull hard on the tip of the rod if there is a strong tide pull. As already stated, the bight detection is excellent.
As for casting Iv'e never found in suitable for any kind of distance work, dosn't come of the reel that smoothly, but that is only my point of view.

used braid (20lb power pro) for first time yesterday - difference is unbelievable - rod came alive and I could feel every move the fish made. Would find it difficult to go back to mono for sea fishing. Definitely worth trying out .

Can you use it on fixed spool or is it best on multiplier ?
cheers
nick

Nick, I had it on both, was better fun on the wee baitcaster though !

IMHO for sea fishing braid is better on a fixed spool and you really get extra distance with it. The main problem with having it on a multiplier with one backlash and 25 pounds sterling is down the drain.

Donagh

Listening to mister pearls rod and reel on cappa one day, braid really sounds horrible against the rings. Has this caused any one any problems?

Kev

i haven't found it a problem. cuts through your bloody finger when retrieving on venues with fine sand though. i found casting reasonably smooth with a bit more breaking than normal. bite detection is good and i will be putting it on a fixed spool soon for use with a long softish rod. should be perfect for 'scratchin season'!

i started using it for spinning this yearbut have found it doesnt like being cast aggressively( line seems to snatch up around rod rings in same way as fixed spool bein cast thru multiplier rings) to be honest i cant get on with it except for short range andthat aint no good to me when tryin to get 40 yards plus :( any suggestions would be appreciated as this stuff is a nightmare to untangle unlike mono. main reason i started using it was for salmon spinning, when snagged 35lb b/s straightens hooks on treble instead of losing 5 lures a session :x

PowerPro is about the best i have used, casts well, maybe beachcasting on a multiplier may be pushing it a bit, i use it for uptiding on a slosh 20 and thats fine, the 20lb is on a fixed spool for spinning/light work and that casts a treat. I bought it from this site in the states, reccomended by someone on this site i think, great service and as cheap as you will get.

Sean,

[/url]http://www.affordablefishing.com[url]

Qty Item Options Price
1 PowerPro - Moss Green
Item #20 lbs x 300 yds $18.85 USD
1 PowerPro - Moss Green
Item #65 lbs x 300 yds $22.52 USD
1 PowerPro - Moss Green
Item #50 lbs x 300 yds $18.85 USD
Amount $60.22 USD

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Hi all

I'm a relatively recent convert to braid.

Highly recommend it for spinning although if you have to fish the lure deep in rocky ground, you are taking a big risk. One thing I have noticed is that its a pig to use when float fishing, not sure why its not working for me but the mono hook length spent most of the time wrapped up around the float and bullet - switced to the spare spool of mono in my pocket and problem resolved itself. [Just did some research - here's the solution - (a) stop the line just as the float hits the water and (b) use a second stop to keep the float a few feet above the bullet lead.]

I will be trying it on a beachcaster / mulitplier on a sandy mark for flatfish during the summer and will let you know how it goes...

It really comes into its own off a boat when the bite detection at depth and the minimal drag from current and tide give it a big advantage over mono. That said it is very unforgiving so always use a short mono shockleader...

Anyone putting it on a spinning reel, make sure to put a decent bed of mono on beforehand. The wider diameter of the braid on the reel outside the mono aids longer casting and whilst I know some people go straight to the lure I would advocate a flourocarbon leader of a lower breaking strain.... better to lose the lure than a long length of the braid. I am also of the opinion that braid works better on plastic rather than metal spools - it seems to take more resistance slipping over the metal lip of the spool more than it does over the plastic - but that could just be me! :?

PowerPro is easily the best I have come across, have the Berkley stuff and its s****. Would not touch anything other than the PowerPro.

One thing to remember with braid - take especial care with your knots!

FWIW

re casting with braid on a multi I use the abu sports mag and have no problems sending it out.

________________

dd the cod basher from de wall

I have used braid for years without any hassles. As booner mentioned it can snag up. I find that this happens if you "snatch" your cast. I find that if you leave at least 4 - 6 foot of braid hanging when you are making your cast it will reduce this greatly. The other thing to do is build the power of your cast smoothly. I got a few knots when I first started using braid but haven't had one for a few years. All my experience is with fixed spool reel and not multipliers.

Kev