Who uses Braid

I use 20 lb braid all the time. I tie the braid direct to the jig. I buy 3000 yards of braid direct from China for $20 the last time I bought it. Takes around one month to receive after ordering.

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Originally Posted by Micanopy

I am new to crappie fishing, but very accomplished at surf fishing. The UNI to UNI connection is solid but keep in mind that it can and will over constrict and cut itself loose. I applied a lot more force obviously while surf fishing, but that was my experience. I prefer to use a Nail to Nail knot connection. These knots constrict around the line and just kind of jam together. Very strong and durable and they don not over constrict as stress is applied.

Mono has a pretty good amount of stretch ( 20%), which helps it retain it’s strength. It stretches, then recovers. Flouro stretches, but it does not recover. Instead it gets thinner, but not uniformly, rather a little bit here and there kind of affair. Braid stretches by tightening it’s weave not by elongation of it’s fibers. 5% stretch can be expected.

So...... with a knot, mono strains then recovers. The knot tends to relax some. With braid it strains, but never relaxes, rather it maintains it’s strain. Strain it again, and it tightens again, never to relax. So when using a constriction knot like a UNI, you can expect it to continually tighten. This is why it is not durable over time.

Braid to mono or flouro, the braid can and will cut the mono/flouro. Just as there are some knots that do not work well with flouro, there are some that do not work when joining lines. Not sure of how long any of you keep this braid to mono connection before retying, but I would change it out more often than not. Everything is relative I understand, but thought it worth mentioning when the OP was asking.

The easiest way to fashion Nail knots is with a tool. There are many out there to choose from and they cost just a few bucks. With practice you can fashion up perfect knots in no time. The knot was designed for attaching a thin mono line to a fat rubberized fly line. The attachment is a Nail knot in the mono coiled around the fly line, which has not knot. It tightens and simply grips the material for the hold. I began using it to attach my main line braid (30Lb) to my braid shock leader (100lb) for surf fishing. Everyone recommended the UNI to UNI but I began getting mystery separations where no force was being applied and the two lines simply separated. One knot had over constricted and cut itself free. Once I changed that all went away. Landed some very large fish with that connection to be sure and even old knots held just fine.

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Interesting observations. I have never had the Uni to Uni fail swinging up to 2.5 pound crappie into the boat, used same setup since 2017 for thousands of crappie including a lot of tournament fishing. Also landed quite a few big bass, catfish, Asian Carp, and drum on the same setup without any knot failure. It normally breaks just below the Uni to Uni if you get hung up in something really solid. But never had any case whatsoever of a separation. I dabble in surf fishing a little but always use a Carolina rig with a swivel, never tried a Uni to Uni in that application.


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Originally Posted by ezgoing

I use 20 lb braid all the time. I tie the braid direct to the jig. I buy 3000 yards of braid direct from China for $20 the last time I bought it. Takes around one month to receive after ordering.

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What brand. Sounds like the braid I mentioned.

I used 15& 20 lb braid some last year.
It didn’t take long to start cussing, the way I fish.
Long pole 12 &14 ft poles , heavy cover above and below water. I pitch and drag a lot.
I stayed tangled due to the braid being so soft.
I quickly switched back to mono.

I’ve recently decided to test a rig with some 50 lb braid and using a 8 lb.test with 3 ft mono leader.
I only had time to fish once for a couple hrs. But seem to feel the bite better than using straight mono.
Time will tell....




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Originally Posted by DrNip

That's some expensive braid right there. Shipping alone. :yikes

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I can have it brought back by a friend who is a Pilot....you can also find it sometimes discounted with free shipping on EBAY.
There's not a better braid out there right now...the stuff is amazing. I'm stocked up with 13, 16, 22, and 26lb spools.

I use Power Pro yellow 10/2 or 5/1 for casting jigs around docks and brush. Usually I tie directly, but I will use a fluoro leader if the water is really clear. It stays stained much of the year around here.

For tightlining and longlining, I prefer mono. I read a good general rule that I am coming to believe in: If the rod is in your hand, use braid, if it is in a rod holder, use mono. Because that sensitive braid works both ways, telegraphing your rod pressure to the fish before you can set the hook.

I am going to try some of that KastKing braid though. I have a few products from them that I like and they are half the price of other brands.

Kast King for me, price and great braid. Sometimes a leader and some times not!

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Originally Posted by sky hawk

I am going to try some of that KastKing braid though. I have a few products from them that I like and they are half the price of other brands.

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Yes, I love the 6 lb yellow braid.

there are some that prefer braid, so they get the jig back when they hang it up on the cover down below
then they just bend the hook back after it gets torqued real good to its semi original state
that is all fine and dandy UNTIL the next fish is a TOAD crappie and POOF they is gone kuz of a weakened hook .........
and just trust me it could happen i promise ......:Rofl

I have to give a good think on braid. My previous experience years ago was SO bad I threw it away and never tried it again. Technology has come a long way with braid, but so has mono. I am just so comfortable using mono I’m hesitant to change. Confidence with mono keeps me in the fold!
Bob