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Mono is my go to fishing line. I used it when I was a kid and I use it now. It's always done the job for me so I figure why switch.
Still, curiosity is turning my eye towards braided line and I have done some research on it, but still have questions.
My biggest questions are about the gear for it.
Will it work well with spinning gear or do I need a baitcasting reel? Some people say it works with spinning, some say it will eat the spool.
I've also heard it can wear grooves in the line guides. Any truth to that?
What about knots? Will a improved cinch work or is their something better? I can tie six or seven mono knots pretty well, will I have to learn any new ones?
Oh, how well does it hold up to abrasion. I know it doesn't stretch like mono, but can it take "underwater abuse" better or worse than mono?
As a long-time mono man myself, I'd love to hear the answers from someone(s) in the know too.
I'm looking to buy a waterfront home on what will most likely be a lake trout lake. Which means I'm going to have to go deep in summer. Which means downriggers, or maybe some of the new, ultra-thin "super" lines will let me get deep enough with the right sinker set up.
I used braided for salt water. The main advantage is line capacity as the braid is thinner for the same # rated line. It is denser so it sinks deeper and, because it is thinner, less visible to fish. We also use it to go deep, 300 to 500 feet deep for bottom fishing.
But I still tie on mono as leader, at least 50 yards. It acts as shock absorber to the fish's tug & pull. With only braid line you'll feel EVERYTHING what the fish is doing and it can beat you up with a big fish. As far as rubbing against guides, you should be fine if you have ceramic guides.
Quality guides should be fine with it.
It will chafe easier then mono, so it's not real abrasive resistant.
For tying to a swivel or plug a uni has worked well but I've used 7 wraps and you need to make sure it snugs up even. Try any knot your comfortable with but you may have to use extra wraps. Make sure it snugs up correctly. I think the polymer is a good knot as well that doesn't have to be modified.
As noted I would recommend a shock leader of mono. The no stretch braid will pull hooks, especially with soft mouth fish.
If snagged you DO NOT want to wrap your hands around it and pull. IT WILL CUT YOU. Also its NOT A GOOD IDEA to take a wrap with it to lift a fish out of the water. IT WILL CUT YOU.
If you need to get a bait down deep it helps a lot because its super thin. It's the only way to go for deep dropping.
I have used it on spinning reels. Though it can tangle easier and is more difficult to work knots out of.
One important thing to keep in mind is that you need some kind of backing on the spool. Even if it's just a couple wraps of electrical tape. Otherwise with a tight drag the slippery braid can spin on the aluminum spool. You'll need something for it to "bite" into.
It needs to be wound on the spool under pressure. Otherwise it will dig into itself when a fish pulls on it.
In regards to spools, I would only use it on quality reels.
It will increase line capacity a bunch if that is a worry. A lot of offshore fishermen use it as a backing but top shot with several hundred yards of mono so they can drop down a class of reel.
Surf fishermen have been doing the same thing so they can use a smaller, farther casting reel but still have the capacity they need.
Quality guides should be fine with it.
It will chafe easier then mono, so it's not real abrasive resistant.
For tying to a swivel or plug a uni has worked well but I've used 7 wraps and you need to make sure it snugs up even. Try any knot your comfortable with but you may have to use extra wraps. Make sure it snugs up correctly. I think the polymer is a good knot as well that doesn't have to be modified.
As noted I would recommend a shock leader of mono. The no stretch braid will pull hooks, especially with soft mouth fish. If snagged you DO NOT want to wrap your hands around it and pull. IT WILL CUT YOU. Also its NOT A GOOD IDEA to take a wrap with it to lift a fish out of the water. IT WILL CUT YOU.
If you need to get a bait down deep it helps a lot because its super thin. It's the only way to go for deep dropping.
I have used it on spinning reels. Though it can tangle easier and is more difficult to work knots out of.
One important thing to keep in mind is that you need some kind of backing on the spool. Even if it's just a couple wraps of electrical tape. Otherwise with a tight drag the slippery braid can spin on the aluminum spool. You'll need something for it to "bite" into.
It needs to be wound on the spool under pressure. Otherwise it will dig into itself when a fish pulls on it.
In regards to spools, I would only use it on quality reels.
It will increase line capacity a bunch if that is a worry. A lot of offshore fishermen use it as a backing but top shot with several hundred yards of mono so they can drop down a class of reel.
Surf fishermen have been doing the same thing so they can use a smaller, farther casting reel but still have the capacity they need.
Ugh. That brings back a bad childhood memory. Eight years old, fishing for sunfish from a dock holding the line in my hand. A catfish decided to take the bait and run, pulling the line out of my hand and slicing my fingers at the joint bends.
OTOH, thanks for the info. You got a rep point coming your way!
That reminds me. There are two different braided lines. The old one is nylon braided line but the new one is made of high density polystyrene with the trade name "spectra". Spectra is what we used.
DO NOT use spectra on PLASTIC SPOOL!! The line does not stretch and under tension, it can cut your hands (as previously mentioned) and/or break your plastic spool. Use it on aluminum spool as minimum. To load the line onto spool under tension, use either line winder in tackle stores or, if at home, I use a stick perpendicular to the line spool with old tennis balls on each sides. Ask your kid or wife hold on to it and squeeze the tennis balls on both sides as you wind the line onto your reel under tension.
If you use Spectra on saltwater, be sure to un-wind it and clean it once a year to avoid rotting.
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