Another Braid ?

[RichmondVa]

Any of you guys using braid on your spinning outfits?  Dropshots, shakey heads, senkos, etc...  If so, what are the pros and cons you have experienced?

[Buzbait88]

I use braid on my spinning rods.  I really like it.  Doesn't seem to spool off and knot up in front of the reel like mono or flouro. 

[Joshawa]

I use braid on a few of my spinning rigs and usually spool up my spare spools with braid so I can change from finesse to heavy cover on the fly. As mentioned, It works nice because it lies flat and doesn't jump off. One thing to note is you always need to be aware of your line. Keep line twists under control and make sure you are taking care of loops when they occur. If you keep an eye on the line and manage it every cast you will not get the massive rats nests that some people experience.

No matter what kind of reel or line you are using you have to always keep an eye on it and make sure its perfect every cast. Just make a point of doing it every cast and it will become second nature in no-time.

[RichmondVa]

Are you guys who use braid tying directly to your finesse baits or are you using flouro leaders for your dropshots, shakeys, etc...?  I currently use Power Pro on all of my baitcasters w/the exception of my cranking outfits and have been really pleased.  Would like to get more feed back from those who use it on their finesse outfits, good and bad.  Any info is greatly appreciated.

[Joshawa]

I just use straight Flouro for my finesse baits. This is just my opinion but if I'm using braid, its because I need the muscle, tying a leader onto it just defeats the purpose.

[bass1cpr]

   I've used Fireline on my spinning reels since 1990. It's the perfect fit for spinning reels in my opinion. It isn't as limp as braided line but cast's better than any mono I've ever had on and the sensetivity is fantastic. When i first started using it I was setting the hook on pieces of wood because it felt like a fish hitting as I was swimming my grubs, took some getting use to but I was sold.
   The eyes aren't what they use to be so I was excited when they brought out Fireline Crystal now I'm switching all of my spinning reels over to it. I can see it when I cast, and above the water so i can watch my line that's huge when you find some isolated cover so you can identify where it is and make repeated cast's to it not guessing and having to search to find it again.
   The only time I tie on a leader is for drop shotting and that's just a rigging thing for me.
   Most of the time I use it as a split shot rig or Mojo rig. The split shot rig I'm usually using BB,AB,AAA, size split shot. If there's more wind I'll step up to 1/32, 1/24, or 1/16 size if I have to. If i go above those sizes I use Mojo weights.
   I use mostly 4, 6, and 8lb test as the heaviest, no need for anything bigger, I've landed four pound bass on four pound test on my micro light rod and the only fear I had was breaking the rod as it was bowed over all the way to the handle. Yes I've been broken off before but that was my fault for not retying sooner but I would have been broken many more times if I were using mono.
   Baitcasters are a differant animal and I only have two with braided line on them and they are not Fireline.

[ʇuǝɹq™]

I just use straight Flouro for my finesse baits. This is just my opinion but if I'm using braid, its because I need the muscle, tying a leader onto it just defeats the purpose.

Braid is mostly used on spinning reels because it has a lot less line twist.  When drop shotting or using a shaky head attach about 10 to 12 foot on mono to the braid.  You still get good sensitivity from the braid, minimum line twist, and the light low vis line for finessing.

[Bassinkorea]

I use braid on a couple of spinning rigs. One is rigged with 11lb power pro and the other is rigged with 16lb fireline.
I never use a mono or fluro leader as an extra knot/connection in the line is another weak spot. I used to fish a drop shot rig with braid but found the hook would slip down the braid with the weight of the fish. For all other finesse rigs I still use the light braid and love it.

[Ray Emory]

The PowerPro Braid is the best     I use it when frogging, running a spinnerbait and flipping.

[OutdoorFrontiers]

Braid is mostly used on spinning reels because it has a lot less line twist.  When drop shotting or using a shaky head attach about 10 to 12 foot on mono to the braid.  You still get good sensitivity from the braid, minimum line twist, and the light low vis line for finessing.

I use braid (PowerPro) on both spinning tackle and baitcasting.  Eight and ten pound goes on my spinning tackle, 30, 50, 65, 85 and 100 pounds goes on my technique specific baitcasters.

Twist is rarely an issue of the line itself, it appears more to be a mechanical issue.  Line twist can appear for a number of reasons, it can come from the type of lure you're using such as an inline spinner, spoon or a twisted soft plastic.  Line twist can come from the spinning reel itself.  If you continue to crank the handle and not retrieve line onto the reel spool, each revolution of the handle will add twist to the line.  Or, if you have a sticky roller on the bail, that can contribute twist to the line. 

Braid is less susceptible to twist than mono, but it can still occur for the above reasons.

Depending on your fishing beliefs and water clarity, you might or might not tie your finesse lures directly to the braided line.  I fish a lot of stained water, where clarity means the bottom can be seen in six feet of water, but it's dark.  I tie direct to the lure.  However, I also fish waters where the bottom can be seen in 20 feet of water, and I still tie direct, and I still catch fish.  For some people, it's a confidence thing and they feel the need for a flourocarbon or mono leader.  Try both and see if it has an effect on your catch rate.

I always wacky rig and dropshot with braid directly tied to the lure and it works well for me.

Steve

[tmiller2]

i also use braid on a bunch of my spinning stuff....not so much my finesse techniques like drop shot or shakey head for that i use floro but i love it for senkos tubes and smaller worms....i also like it for skipping docks...if you hook a fish behind a crossbeam you can wrestle it over without worrying too much about your line gettin nicked up and losing the fish.....i also like how its more sensitive than the other lines...

[bass1cpr]

   I like my power pro too it's what I have on my bait casters 50 and 65 pound test.

[RichmondVa]

thanks guys, I appreciate all of your input.  I believe its time to re-spool a few rigs...