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With my eyes and age I like the 6 lb hi-vis yellow but lately I am drop-shotting for panfish with light to medium 6-7 ft poles and bait casters think I might switch to braid. What lb tess and can I get braid in hi vis colors. Also do regular clippers or nippers work and how well do the crimp on split shot work. Thanks
I use Power Pro Hi Vis braid. You will need scissors made to cut braid...regular scissors and nips generally won't work. On my casting rods I use 10-15lb...I believe these have a 4-6lb equivalent diameter. On my long pole dipping rods I will use 20-25lb.
I use Power Pro Super Slick in 10/2 and don't have any troubles, but at times when the lake gets really clear I get the feeling there may be some issue with line shy fish.
However most of the time I love the braid! Maybe I should try a smaller line too, not sure. I have been using this for a long time now.
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I started out using braid in about 1966! Still have that same line on that same old Zebco direct drive reel. Haven't a clue why, I don't use it anymore and only used a braid one time since; that stuff really hard to tie and get a knot to hold. Guy's using braid, what is the reason for that?
I drop shot crappies all the time. Braid as main line and then i put on fluro or copolymer line
Palomar knots and aberdeen hooks size #2 or #4 depending what i am fishing for. I even go up to size 1/0 for big slabs when i fish for places where bass are abundant.
Tightlines!
We use Fireline Crystal in 2# test for the main line with a 4# test fluorocarbon leader. Fireline does make a "flame green" line, but in 4# test and up only. I just find that the 2# test casts light jigs a lot further and makes for a great drop shot option to boot.
If you try ANY braid, you will never go back to single filament lines again. They are far more sensitive than any other lines. (And get yourself a "Boomerang" cutting tool for the braid.) There are many manufactures of braided lines out there. Most will do the job and most are just a matter of preference on the part of the individual fisherman.
If you do go the braid route, do use a fluorocarbon leader. Braid is not abrasion resistant. Which is one of the parameters, so outstanding, of fluorocarbon lines. And the limited stretch of the fluoro assists in not breaking off on your hook set. JMO! :)
I use Fiskar Child Size Scissors to cut braid ... inexpensive & cuts braid "blunt" across the tag end (which makes for an easier time poking the braid thru the small jig hook eye)
I also recommend having a wood dowel handy ... to use to wrap the braid around should you become hung up & need to pull the bait free or bend the hook open. I DON'T recommend using your hands/fingers nonono, or even rod handles of cork or foam, as the braid can & will CUT YOU and can cut into the cork/foam of rod handles.
Thanks for the info on Braid, think I better look up the proper knots for it and put some copies in my tackle boxes!
Double Palomar knot works great on braid, Fireline or Nanofil.
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You will need to learn how to tie an Alberto knot to join your leader to the end of the braid. It appears daunting at first, but with a little bit of practice, it's easy as cake to me now. Best part is, it's not really a knot, but rather a braid of joining lines. Very slim knot and very reliable.Quote:
Originally Posted by RM Fishin
Others prefer the Uni to Uni knot but I dislike the noise it makes clicking through the guides. A reliable knot but bulkier. JMO. :)
I use a loop to loop (surgeon's loop} connection, that way, if my leader gets damaged or the fish swallows my jig I can quickly slip on another premade leader/jig.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crestliner08
Uniknot works fine on braid and two uniknots are perfect for joining braid to mono. I use 6# yellow Suffix tied directly to lures for panfish and crappie .
CrappiePappy is 100% correct on the children's Fiscars scissors. They work perfect for braid and mono. $1 apiece at Walmart. I keep several on hand in various boxes.
I honestly don't know where all these legends about braid came from. Cheap kid's scissors cut it clean and quick and I've caught bream, bass, crappie, stripers and catfish using just the braid tied directly to the hook or lure.
When you switch over I guarantee you'll feel fish better. I prefer Power Pro slick 8 15# test. I use Cuda brand scissors they have big finger holes and cost 4$. I tie directly to the line with a loop knot unless the water is real clear.Quote:
Originally Posted by RM Fishin
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I think the legends comes from people trying to cut braid with fingernail clippers, which works find for mono, but not so good with braid.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaRay
Yeah, pretty much anything with a sharp edge will "cut" braid. The problem is many of those things leave a ragged, frayed tag end with lots of braid fibers splayed out. And as limp as braid is, tying to get that ragged tag end thru a small hook eye can be aggravating and time consuming. For ~ $2 at WallyWorld (craft or school dept) you can get the Fiskar Scissors and put an end to the madness. :ThumbsUpQuote:
Originally Posted by Techno2000
Right,I know what you mean,sometimes when that happen I'll touch the frayed end to the flame of my lighter.Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappiePappy
I have switched to braid just for different hi-vis colors. But I don't like it so far. Don't like the fact of having to keep up with something to cut the line. I always had my chompers with me. That's my main complaint.
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Yep...teeth work terrible for cutting braid, lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pithon
I use the PowerPro 10/2 but use a 4' leader of your choice. I tie PP to leader using a Uni to Uni. I fish tight lining small jigs and a jig under a cork, so i just have had better experience using the braid and I do not have to change line...
I have been using braid for the past 4 or 5 years and love it. I use 12 lb on my crappie outfits and 40 lb on my striper rigs. It last for years and I get yellow for my crappie rods to see a little better. It does fade a little in the sun though. Save yourself a lot of money. Go to ebay and order KastKing. It is as good as power pro at a fraction of the cost. It is great stuff.
Many of the affordable fishing pliers on Amazon cut braid better than any scissors without the stray hairs. I have many of the brands Amazon sells.Quote:
Originally Posted by Toby from MO
Here is another thread on switching to braid and best braid cutters. The Cuda scissors are awesome! Love them.
https://www.crappie.com/crappie/main...itching-braid/
I just tie to a barrel swivel. Braid gets a Palomar knot, flouro gets an improved clinch knot.
I"m using 15 lb diawa j braid X4 in flourescent yellow with a 10lb mono leader joined by a double uniknot.
Power Pro Slick 8. I like the moonshine color a lot. If I feel they are line shy I color some of the line with a sharpie a foot or so up
This is an older thread but I couldn’t handle the small braid . It tangles too much the way I fish. ( heavy cover and sometimes windy ) I’m using 12 and 14ft jig poles.
I know all y’all think I’m crazy or have made a typo, but like I’ve posted before I’ve gone to 65 lb hi vis braid tied to mono using the Alberto knot.
My style is usually pitching to cover, then working it vertically. The big braid slips through my guides like butter, tangles are a thing of the past.
So when I’m on the water I get more time fishing and less time tying and fiddling with my gear.
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Have used 10 lb. spiderwire since it came out. Use Yellow and tie loop knots. Have caught a 10.6 and 11.2 and two 9's bass on Lake fork. Plus two flat heads oner 20 lbs. NO leaders tie all my hand tied jigs and plastics to the braid. Fish don't seem to be bothered by the line.
I cut braid with a small boxcutter
Thanks for all the replys/tips. I have been using braid all summer here in NY and outfishing the grandson most of the time. Works really well in some of the clearer bodies of water but his yellow stren has been good in the dirtier lakes for detecting bites. Amazed at how sensitive the braidis on light bites with the UL poles.