Braid opinions/suggestions

I'm not unfamiliar with braid as I have tried most of the brands over the years. It is not a favorite line as the only two I have liked is Suffix (original braid) and Power Pro. I normally prefer mono or flouro. However, after hearing all the hoopla about Bonehead braid I ordered a spool for my own testing. It didn't make it in until this afternoon's mail so I didn't have it when I went to Blackwell today. I did take some Power Pro Super 8 Slick to do some comparison against mono and flouro (but that's another story.)

My question is how much braid should I/or would you recommend putting on reels that will be used strictly for jigging? The bonehead braid is in a 150 yard spool. I was thinking of splitting it onto two reels for testing purposes but now think I might do three. 50 yards is a lot of line for vertical jigging and. that way, I could use it on three different rods. If I like it I will buy more. If not, I'll move on. So suggestions or thoughts - is 50 yards enough?

Good question, I will be interested in the answer(s)!

Since you are just vertical jigging 25 - 30 yards should be enough per reel.

We like and use spinning equipment!! Fished with a crappie friend he showed us berkley Nano-fill 10 and 12 lb test pricy but unreal can see the line jump in the wind!!! We use and like the clear mist!!! for vertical jigging!! and casting!! use powerPro for all other!! pulling cranks,crappie rigs!!!

I fill with Mono and only add enough braid to reach the max depth I would fish. Use it on all my reels. Jigging poles get about 25 ft. Spider rig poles get about 40 ft. Anything more is just a waste of money.

I would think that 50 yds would be good because u have to allow for some break off and just plain wear from the brush

Floyd, this is a great question that I addressed at one of our Crappie.com meetings. It was not something I came up with in my own litlle pea brain. One of my best friends is a pro bass fisherman and he showed me that instead of respooling his entire reel he would leave about 1/3 of his line on then spool then spool the rest with whatever pound line he needed. He then used a marker to write the poundage of the line on the reel or rod handle. This was necessary because of the number of rigs he had set up at any one time. So I got the idea to do the same with my braid reels. I go buy the CHEAPEST mono I can find and spool my reels 2/3 - 3/4 full then tie on my braid to finish filling the spool. I use 6 pound mono and 20/6 power pro on my reels. So in answering your question that 150 yd spool of braid would do about 5 reels for me. Yes braid is more expensive but doing it this way makes it very affordable. Not to mention you will save more than enough on retrieved jigs to pay for it 5 times over. Another advantage is not losing fishing time having to tie on jigs all the time. Using this little trick and using super glue on my jigs I have fished multiple days with the same jigs. Before some of my "BUDDIES" jump on that last statement, YES I was fishing deep in brush and caught fish. LOL!!!

Hope this helps!

Odie

Today I purchased a 150 yard spool of Power Pro in 10lb. The box says 'Super 8 Slick'. What does this mean and did I waste my money? I can take it back and get something else as I haven't opened it yet. Sorry for the dummy question. I'm new to braided line.....Also, what is best to trim it with? Do finger nail clippers work or will I need a chain saw? And one more, can this line be used while slip corking? Does the stop knot stay where you want it?

Papa - that ties into my other story. I did not like the 10lb Power Pro Super8 Slick. If I had to option to take it back I would. I much prefer the regular Power Pro to it. Clippers wont work well with braid - I don't know about a chain saw. Scissors work pretty good but my preference is a really sharp pocket knife. I found the string type stop knot will slip but the little rubber ones work pretty good and the little plastic ones with 4 holes work well.

Thanks, everyone, for your responses. I know now what I'm gonna do on setting up my rods with the Bonehead. If I don't like it after a few trips it will come off. I do like the orange color. It's similar to what I used for awhile in the Suffix. This 150yds should set up my three pitch/vertical jig rods (baitcast) and a spinning outfit for cast and drag.

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Originally Posted by IkenI

I do like the orange color. It's similar to what I used for awhile in the Suffix. This 150yds should set up my three pitch/vertical jig rods (baitcast) and a spinning outfit for cast and drag.

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I will be interested how the orange works out as to the visibility factor. Seems like line is harder and harder to see!

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Originally Posted by crappiepappa

Today I purchased a 150 yard spool of Power Pro in 10lb. The box says 'Super 8 Slick'. What does this mean and did I waste my money? I can take it back and get something else as I haven't opened it yet. Sorry for the dummy question. I'm new to braided line.....Also, what is best to trim it with? Do finger nail clippers work or will I need a chain saw? And one more, can this line be used while slip corking? Does the stop knot stay where you want it?

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Get a pair of those cheap little kids paper scissors. They work about as good as my braid scissors.

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Originally Posted by cray

Get a pair of those cheap little kids paper scissors. They work about as good as my braid scissors.

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I use & recommend the Child Size Fiskar Scissors for cutting braid. You can usually find them in the "school supplies" section of X-marts & similar stores, for around $3 or less.

The great thing about cutting braid with these scissors, is that they will leave a blunt tag end. That makes it a lot easier to put the tag end through a small jig eye. Other "cutters" seem to leave the tag end a little raggedy, with fibers sticking out from the tag, which can make putting the line through the jig eye more difficult than it needs to be.

One other recommendation, is to have a wood dowel handy. Use it to wrap your braid around when you're hung up & need to pull your bait free. Braid will cut into your skin, cork handles, and foam handles when wrapped around them !!

... cp :kewl

Thanks Pappy, gots lots to learn! GAWD I love this sight!

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Originally Posted by deerhunterodie

Floyd, this is a great question that I addressed at one of our Crappie.com meetings. It was not something I came up with in my own litlle pea brain. One of my best friends is a pro bass fisherman and he showed me that instead of respooling his entire reel he would leave about 1/3 of his line on then spool then spool the rest with whatever pound line he needed. He then used a marker to write the poundage of the line on the reel or rod handle. This was necessary because of the number of rigs he had set up at any one time. So I got the idea to do the same with my braid reels. I go buy the CHEAPEST mono I can find and spool my reels 2/3 - 3/4 full then tie on my braid to finish filling the spool. I use 6 pound mono and 20/6 power pro on my reels. So in answering your question that 150 yd spool of braid would do about 5 reels for me. Yes braid is more expensive but doing it this way makes it very affordable. Not to mention you will save more than enough on retrieved jigs to pay for it 5 times over. Another advantage is not losing fishing time having to tie on jigs all the time. Using this little trick and using super glue on my jigs I have fished multiple days with the same jigs. Before some of my "BUDDIES" jump on that last statement, YES I was fishing deep in brush and caught fish. LOL!!!

Hope this helps!

Odie

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I've read this about spooling with junk line and then with your good line somewhere before. I forgot all about it. Good to know again.

On my baitcasters I just wrap around the handle to pull it loose