Thread: Braid or Mono

I bought two Todd Huckabee rods at the Mid-South show in Bixby today. I got the meat draga and pulling rods. What type of line would a guy use on these rods for dippin trees? I always use power pro braid 20lb,(6lb dia.) on my other light crappie rods because I like the feel and never loose a fish due to a break. Your advice is appreciated

I bought two Huckabee rods at the show and was promptly told by Ken Roberson (Power Crappie LLC) working the booth with Todd that using braid voids the warranty then he showed me the card with Todd's picture attached to the rod so I could read it. Todd spoke up and said because of the stiffness of the 3 rods you do not need braid. I will be using 10 lb mono.

Frank depending on technique dictates the lb test mono I use. It also dictates the type reel I use also. I use 10lb BoneHead of Vicious Hi Vis while vertical with 2 big jigs and baits and also while pulling. When dipping timber either 6 or 10. While swimming baits it's always 6lb Hi Vis. As far as reels most of the time they are just line holders. And most cases you don't need a lot of it either. I use a small level wind That's about the size in diameter of a silver dollar that holds about 50yds of line. Do not buy the Wally Marshall or BP models cause they are junk. I use the BnM brand reels and have never had a single problem. If I am fishing deep like in the winter then I use a bigger level wind for that technique.....Have any concerns or Questions give me a call Frank. You certainly have a couple fine rods to work with......Ranger

Thanks Mark! Will do. I look forward to using them. I do not bass fish any more and have some top of the line open face reels I will use. They were collecting dust anyway.

I may catch a little flack over this but here goes. I use 6 1/2 foot rods from Walmart that cost a whopping $16.96 for double dipping. If any of you know me that is my technigue 75% or more of the time. So my point is my CHEAP rods get quite a work out. I use braid exclusively on these rods and have NEVER broke a tip. I find it hard to believe that the braided line would break the tip of what is supposed to be one of the best rods available. My guess is it is not the braid breaking the tip. So if I choose to put 30 lb mono (which is the test I sometimes use in braid) on the rod and use it would that void the warranty? I almost always fish braid unless casting and dragging so unless something changes that keeps me from purchasing a Huckabee rod. I don' use braid just for feel, I use it also to be able to straighten out the hooks on my Crappie Pro jig heads. Don't crucify me over this it is only my opinion. I think Ken and Todd are both great guys AND HAVE A GREAT ROD. I suspect some of the people reporting breaking the tips are blaming braid when it could have been operator error.

Odie

Odie I agree with you! I also suspect user error and not the rods! I use braid 99% of the time. Ken and Todd are standup guys, I have broke the tip on a meat dragger but it was operator error not the braid that caused it!

X3, People set the hook too hard and break the tip

I have four VERY little BnM BGJP rods I use braid on all the time. I have never broke a rod tip. If you have your "drag" set properly I not understand why you would break the tip. Just my 2c's

People don't set the drag properly and yank the rod too hard when hung up and/or setting hook or all of the above. This can happen anywhere, anytime on any rod and with any type of line. Heck I did it with fluorocarbon on my bass rod once yanking away at it when it was hung up. Also did it with monofilament on my Crappie Maxx rod. I have learned my lesson. Better to cut the line and loose the jig than the tip of my rod.

I have never broke a tip fishing so I am no expert on the matter but, when I get hung and I know it's going to be tuff getting free I point the rod right at the hangup as straight as I can. That way there is no bending pressure on the rod. If my drag starts talking to me I wrap the line around the rod handle to take pressure off the drag. If I still cant pull free or break the line, I cut it. Just my .02 cents. You got what you pad for....