Quote Originally Posted by CrappiePappy View Post
Glad you could join us .... to Crappie.com !!

Two things I recommend you also have, if you're contemplating using braid :

1) a pair of Fiskar Child Size Scissors - for cutting the braid. They're inexpensive (usually less than $3.00 at Walmart & can be found in the craft or school sections) and their most important aspect is they will cut braid "blunt". Why is that important you may ask ... well, try pushing the frayed tag end of limp braid thru the eye of a small jighead and you won't ask that question again. The "blunt" cut of the Fiskar's will make that task a whole lot easier !! (knives, clippers, and other cutters will "cut" braid ... but, sometimes will leave the tag end fibers frayed)

2) a piece of wood - to wrap the braid around when trying to free your lure/hook from a snag. A wood dowel (thumb size diameter) is ideal, but any piece of wood is fine. Even a towel is preferable to using your hand, or even the foam or cork handle of your rod. Reason being ... braid is thin & strong, and it doesn't stretch, so it WILL cut you (or cut into the foam/cork of your rod handle). Been there, done that.

Having these two items will make using braid a much more pleasant experience IMHO. And if you intend to use braid tied directly to the lure/hook ... that piece of wood will save you from cutting your hand, fingers, rod handle, breaking your rod or damaging your reel's drag.

This is very good advice. I use 10/2 Power pro for most of my crappie fishing. I when ever you get hung wrap the braid around a wood dowel and pull with constant pressure. This will straighten the hookout 98% of the time. DO NOT USE YOUR ROD TIP if you value your rod or your bare hands if you value them. Use mono backing and you can spool two or three reels with one spool of braid. Like stated when the braid loses color you simply reverse the line and keep on moving. A soft hook set is required with braid because it has zero stretch. It's easy to rip a jig out of a crappie mouth using braid because of the no stretch quality of it. Braid has no memory so it coiling over the spool is not a issue. You will get wind knots with it. It will wrap around your rod tip more than mono.