braid newb

[bsp]

A practice spool is definitely a good idea. I used 30lb Power Pro as my first line for baitcasters and on the first cast got an enormous backlash. After that, I couldn't cast farther than where the backlash had beat up my line. The cast would be going perfectly and then the line just suddenly stopped coming off the spool. It then got completely unmanageable after I caught a few legal halibut. Once I put some pressure on the line with good size fish, It dug into itself so much that my casts were hitting 10yds with a LC max.

This is what led me to figure out that anything below 30lb for braid was pointless. With 50lb and up, you don't ever get it digging into itself to the point where you can't cast. If you have the money, spring for the Daiwa after your learner spool. It is supposed to be one of the best braids on the market, and it feels like it will perform very well.

Spiderwire would be a good learning spool. A few pros on the Elite Series use it, so it's not completely garbage like Fireline Crystal. It's just not that great either. Once you get comfortable with that, the high end braids should feel just like you are casting mono.

Braid will be perfect with what you want to do. Just be sure to practice in the day first so you aren't picking out a backlash at night.

[calico killer kevin]

TJ, do yourself a favor, get some 40 or 50lb Daiwa Samurai Braid, and never look back. It's thinner, stronger, casts better, ties better knots, and I have NEVER, NEVER had a breakoff on it. If anything it's good luck haha. I have NEVER had a backlash in which I had to pull out the scissors, I have NEVER pulled a hook, and I have NEVER gotten a dreaded wind knot.

I use 5 yards of a mono backing and I tie the braid to that. I don't get any of the slippage I did with PowerPro. I tied the PP directly to the spool using a polamar knot and after 6 months of use, it started to slip.

I can't comment on the logevity of the line, but I have used it for 3 months without any problems. I always use a 5-10ft topshot depending on the type of fishing I do unless I'm frogging over pure mats.

[tacklejunkie]

Now I'm thinking my Luna might be a little slow.
Those fish hit and slack is there and needs to come out quick.
"the big one" hit and knocked it so far forward I didn't feel anything until 3 cranks of the 7:1 reel. I may have never even got the hook set in time with a 5.1:1, nor taken up the slack from his charge after the hookset.

I guess I can try it and see if it will work out with the Luna. I'll have to remember to crank like a mofo though.

That Daiwa line caught my eye right off the bat. I'll try something junky to start with though I guess so I can see what the comparison is once I'm confident I can cast it. Time for a 1/4oz casting plug training session..

[vanillagurilla]

power pro casey... thats what i use. 30lb.

[tacklejunkie]

Was that the black stuff on your reel?

[GeordyBass]

I personally don't care for Fireline Crystal Either.... I used it on my Daiwa Coastal and Backlashes were consistent and I wouldn't use it again, I have lost a KPN because of it wrapping around on the guide like usual.... Damn!!!! I'd personally prefer to use other lines like Izor or Powerpro too.... I don't use braid on my baitcasters either, it reduces castability and some sensitivity, but it would be fine for your applications anyhow.... Good luck!

[calico killer kevin]

I personally don't care for Fireline Crystal Either.... I used it on my Daiwa Coastal and Backlashes were consistent and I wouldn't use it again, I have lost a KPN because of it wrapping around on the guide like usual.... Damn!!!! I'd personally prefer to use other lines like Izor or Powerpro too.... I don't use braid on my baitcasters either, it reduces castability and some sensitivity, but it would be fine for your applications anyhow.... Good luck!

???Really???

I've been using braid for awhile now and of all the negatives they have, I have never experienced either of the two.

[vanillagurilla]

the black stuff was fireline but i took that off and use power pro. and Geordy if ur loosing sensitivity with braid.... idk what ur doing wrong. lol.

[That Dang Guy]

Braid increases your sensitivity by leaps and bounds. It's definitely possible to go too large and loose a bit, but odds are you're going down in diameter size....otherwise what's the point? I do hate flyling baits with short topshots.

I've never personally seen braid wrap around a lower guide on a baitcaster. I know some rods that use fuji's reverse their first guide to prevent it from looping around the guide, but those are on spinning reels.

I find that small birds nest are very easy to pull out of braid. But the closer you get to a "spool ending" birds nest they get much more difficult. I believe that it has to due with the low memory with braid. It doesn't have that much memory and won't expand outwards too much with smaller nests.

Casting distance? It should also increase as well. Odd results you're getting Geordy.

[tacklejunkie]

What do you do when you snag your 55lb braid from shore?