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I always thought that braided line was strong. But I have two pound braid (equal to much stronger mono, I thought) that after use four or five times while crappie fishing began to break. This was a disappointment, not to mention how easy it is for braid to get tangled! So … is hybrid -- fluorocarbon polymer alloy -- stronger? Can I place fluorocarbon on the whole reel? Will it be stronger? Ms. Catfish
Two pound braid is as strong as two pound mono. The strength rating doesn’t change between types of line. However, the diameter of braid is typically smaller for the same rating as an equivalent mono.
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flouro is stiffer than mono and much more so than braid, but as far as “stronger” , well each line is labeled to its breaking point and on some brands you can actually believe it, personally i just stick with plain ol mono, its much cheaper and less hassle, sometimes we overthink things, you could have a 10 pg debate on the differences of each line type and its advantages and disadvantages, all have a niche but for 99% of regular crappie fishing gonna be hard to beat a good mono overall
I put 6# Fireline on 2 of my ultralights only because I can cast a light lure, jig or beetle spin about 30% further than with the 4# mono I was using and I catch an occasional bass so the extra strength helps. It's around same diameter as 2# mono.
Braid "pound test" is what it says it is on the package ... the diameter (size) of the line is where the 2lb connection comes in (it's just the same size as 2lb test mono).
I use 10/2 PowerPro hi-vis braid ... 10lb breaking strength / 2lb mono diameter equivalent. I've never lost a lure to snags or fish due to breakage. (except one time when a toothy fish bit it off :Doh: )
I even have some braid that is still strong as ever, and it came off a spool I bought back in the 1970's :yikes
If your braid is breaking easily after only a few times using it, then something just ain't right .... either the braid is defective or some chemical has been accidentally introduced to it and deteriorated it. :twocents
What crappie pappy said or you could have a line guide on your rod that has a burr on it or a sharp spot that is cutting the line. Pound test is pound test. It's the diameter advantage of braid that makes people go nuts over it.
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OK, thanks,NewYakker. Ms. Catfish.
I'll doublecheck the line guide. Maybe that's what doing it. Ms. Catfish.
Maybe it's the braid on this one reel. I have braid on another reel and it hasn't broken so much like this. Just gets tangled up so bad. Ms. Catfish
Gobbler, I usually just stick with mono, especially Stren, until in the last few years Stren just went downhill for me, so I thought I'd try braid. It's too expensive to buy any more of, though. I thought I'd try floro to see how that does. Probably go back to mono -- Trilene. Ms. Catfish.
One spot worth checking is the part where the line touches the bail on your reel. Braid has been known to chew that up and cut line.
Personally I agree with gobbler above on just mono. I feel crappie are not that finicky.
If you slip cork any, you will hate all floro because it "sinks" and you have issues reeling up that additional slack.
I like braid in certain situations. Say my catfish rig. I'm putting 50lb braid on it because I dont want the diameter of 50lb mono. I use zebco omniflex mono and it's always done the job for me.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ms. catfish
Quick way to check guides is with a Q-tip. Any rough spot will catch on the cotton when you rub the q-tip over the guide and will be obvious.
It sounds like you're saying you braid that has 2# diameter -- like the 10/2 PowerPro CP mentions above. Actual 2# braid would be insanely thin.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ms. catfish
Regardless, if your braid is breaking easily, something has damaged it.
All else being equal, a thicker line is a stronger line. But you have to ask yourself: how strong does your line need to be to land crappie?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ms. catfish
Exactly !! I've landed a 6lb Largemouth and a 12lb Tiger Muskie on 4lb test & UL equipment. If you don't (or can't) trust your spinning reel's drag, learn how to backwind the spinning reel while fighting a big fish. I use 6# test Vicious copolymer line now, but only because I'm using a bigger/stronger hook on my jigs & 4# test mono won't straighten them out when they get hung up. I've yet to have a Crappie break either one of those lines.Quote:
Originally Posted by deathb4disco
another thing with braid is that on cheaper guides it will actually cut a groove into the eye, yet another reason to stick with mono
Thanks, Pete. I've been trying out braid because four pound and six pound mono break on snags when I'm fishing for crappie and hit a largemouth or catfish. So I just thought I'd try braid to see if it was stronger. I don't plan to make it a lifelong commitment. Ms. Catfish
Crappiepappy, you're right that a crappie probably wouldn't break those lines. My thing is not wanting line to break after I've snagged it on something and sometimes additional nicks in the line are not visible. Where I live I'll cast by logs and rocks to hook onto crappie, who of course don't run in straight lines trying to get away but go over, under and around everything in the water. I don't have a boat so I can't just net the fish up out of the water. I like to use 6 and 8 pound mono, too, but after having trouble seeing those lines at night tried braid. And NO, I don't fish braid at night because I'd never see my line! :-) Ms. Catfish.
If you're using regular white lights at night, you might consider a hi-viz braid like PowerPro or a white braid like Cortland. :donoQuote:
Originally Posted by Ms. catfish
But, if you REALLY want to see your lines at night, you'd have to use hi-viz mono or clear/blue fluorescent mono & a "Blacklight". Then your clear/blu or hi-viz yellow/gold lines would look more like glowing ski ropes in the dark. Unfortunately, any other "white" lights in the area would diminish the "glow" of your lines.
Braid is stronger for the diameter, but it is not very abrasion-resistant. Rocks, logs, and other snags will shred it. Most people who use braid tie a mono or fluoro leader on the braid to make it more abrasion-proof.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ms. catfish
One issue with braid is no stretch so if you have 20 foot of mono out and a crappie makes quick jerk or run it will absorb some of the initial shock. Braid has zero stretch. I switched to 12 lb braid on all my crappie outfits and love it. Get same depths as 4 to 6 lb mono and can still horse in a cat or striper if I need to. I only pull cranks and jigs so best line for me.
I pull crankbaits most of the time too and love the no stretch properties of braid, though I also use a 3'-5' fluorocarbon leader just because. I was wondering which manufacturer makes a 12 pound braid? I haven't searched for it much, but all I see stocked around here is 10 or 15 pound test with nothing in between. I went with 15 lb. because I use shorter medium action rods for crankbaits from my kayak and I run into good size catfish that can snap lighter line, especially of there's cover nearby. I want greater depth by running thinner main line if I can get it. Thanks for any replies. My apologies for hijacking this thread off the original topic.Quote:
Originally Posted by cwright
Jim