Trouble with braid?

I’ve got sufix 6lb braid on one of my smaller reels and fight the thing more than I fish. My biggest issue is the line getting under itself. I’ve had some knots and it wrapping around the rod as well. I really want to like braid as I love the durability of it. I’m thinking I need to go up to maybe 15lb braid with a 4 lb leader. Or would I have the same issues? Is it worth it, or just go back to hi vis mono? Sorry yall have to keep seeing my name pop up, but I’ve got a lot of questions. lol

Thanks again guys.


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Are you casting with it or vertical jigging light lures with it ??

heavier braid tends to not be quite as bad as the light stuff
but boy howdy braid is a pain in the everything ,
cant tie a jig on without a knife
cant break it if you need to
eats rod guides
eats rods
and will flat out eat hands and anything else it gets around ....
crappie are not big fish . mono works well 99% of the time ....
of course diehard braid folks will disagree with me ...
but it is what it is for sure ....:highfive

If you are going to use braid I'd go with 10# braid. I use it sometimes when fishing rivers but prefer mono for just about all my fishing.

Make sure it is wrapped tightly on the spool, this will help with it wrapping under itself.
I also stretch it out in the yard or behind the boat and allow the twist to come out of the line while I reel it back on tight. This will help with the knotting and tip wrap

10 lb good quality braid works best for pulling ( cranks or jigs ). 4-6 lb Mono for casting or vertical jigging. :twocents

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Originally Posted by happycaster58

10 lb good quality braid works best for pulling ( cranks or jigs ). 4-6 lb Mono for casting or vertical jigging. :twocents

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This is me too.

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The best solution I have found for myself to getting light braid to work itself out is to just flat out use it. It likes to knot and wrap up when its fresh, when it starts to lose its color it seems to settle in and get more pliable.

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Originally Posted by ALBuzz

The best solution I have found for myself to getting light braid to work itself out is to just flat out use it. It likes to knot and wrap up when its fresh, when it starts to lose its color it seems to settle in and get more pliable.

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So, what you're saying is we should go fishing more? Copy that. :)

I’m mostly vertical jigging. I may swap the small reel to my jig pole and upsize on the casting setup and just use a good mono


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Originally Posted by Auston22688

I’m mostly vertical jigging. I may swap the small reel to my jig pole and upsize on the casting setup and just use a good mono


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Yeah, I had "tip wrap" problems with braid when trying to vertical jig a lite jighead setup ... due to the jig not being heavy enough to pull or keep the line down thru the rod tip guide when I was "working" the jig. I gave up "vertical jigging" & went to Vertical Casting (as I call it) .... explanation of "Vertical Casting" : https://www.crappie.com/crappie/cont...ppiepappy&

I also defeated "wind knots" when casting jigs with braid, by realizing it was my wrist snap casting method that was a major factor in causing that problem. I went to a more "smooth" casting style, using my arm more than just snapping the rod forward with my wrist. That also cut down on the number of times the jig got sent thru the line loop that occurs between the rod tip guide & the next lower guide when the rod is in forward motion, but the jig is just beginning to move forward.

My wife does the same technique. And she tends to catch them when I can’t. (As bad as I hate to admit it)


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I use light braid, I also use larger 2500 size spinning reels because I like larger diameter spools for casting. I only spool 75 yards of braid, when it’s worn I pull it off and respool it backwards. I’ve tried everything under the sun when spooling my reels directly from the line spool and have always had line twist. The thing that helped minimize line twist for me is to pull the line off the spool it comes on out into the yard, cut it off and spool it onto the reel.

I have found the most common issue with spinning reels is a mysterious loop of line forming on the reel ... that consequentially causes a mess in the very next cast ...

This mysterious loop of line on the reel is created by where the bail rotation position is at the end of any particular cast ...

The bail (in certain positions around the perimeter of the reel) can cause slack in the line (around the spool wrap) at the very instant of engaging the reel (with the handle) ...

This “slack” of the line (in the reel wrap around the spool) can be “grabbed” by the forward momentum (of the line exit from the spool) of the very next cast ... which pulls the line off the spool at the “slackened segment” of line spool wrap ...

This phenomenon can be completely prevented by mentally creating a habit of …:

1. Use the off casting hand to close the bail after casting (DO NOT USE THE HANDLE TO START REELING) ...
2. Use the off casting hand to physically pull the line forward in front of the reel to take up any slack in the very first line wrap around the spool after casting (BEFORE EVER STARTING THE LINE RETRIEVE) ...

After practice, using the off casting hand to “close the bail and pull the line forward” will be one motion and … well ... habitual ...

This habit works with mono, floro, or braid ...regardless of line lb strength ...

This habit does not help with braid rod tip wrap problems ...

Rickie

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

1. Use the off casting hand to close the bail after casting (DO NOT USE THE HANDLE TO START REELING) ...
2. Use the off casting hand to physically pull the line forward in front of the reel to take up any slack in the very first line wrap around the spool after casting (BEFORE EVER STARTING THE LINE RETRIEVE) ...

After practice, using the off casting hand to “close the bail and pull the line forward” will be one motion and … well ... habitual ...

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Very important tips here!!

Yep, braid isn’t perfect, but after using it the last 15-20 years, and then using a mono set up that stretches like a worn out rubber band, no thanks… The last 5-7 years I’ve been using Fireline Crystal haven’t had to much problems with wind knots or line digging in the spool.

I use `5lb diawa j braid x4 to a 10lb mono leader both casting/pitching & vertical jigging & don't have any problems with it.

I use the vicious panfish braid with good results. Never had an issue. I use the high vis. So now I have the best sensitivity and the best visibility. I tie a 6 pound flouro leader on it. Use it for casting at structure or brush, to let sink and reel
over the top.
this is the only braid I’ve used that has given me no problems. I still use mono most of the time though. I just like the sensitivity of the braid.

My opinion only, kind of like Ketchn don’t want to upset those diehard braid fisherman.
But I have tried it several times over the last four or five years.
For me, it just adds aggravation to my life in the boat.
Doesn’t do well in the wind and I am only talking 4 to 5 miles an hour or so.
Tangles that can make a man say things that would not normally come out of his mouth.
Cuts skin on fingers better than the sharpest of knives.
And don’t fall for the more expensive ones want do it cause it will.
And if your eye sight is starting to go don’t do it.
However if you are going to use it, purchase the heavier weight line it tends not to tangle as bad. And works best with no wind.


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Braided line sux when it comes wrapping around anything and everything you don’t want. The lighter the test, the worse it is, though I don’t go below 10#. However, I use it with a 25’ mono leader because of the line twist I get with all mono on spinning outfits. I have to carry a razor blade to make a clean cut offs from knots with braid.
So, why do I still use braid? Feel & hook set, especially as it relates to setups for larger game fish.

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Originally Posted by Student

Braided line sux when it comes wrapping around anything and everything you don’t want. The lighter the test, the worse it is, though I don’t go below 10#. However, I use it with a 25’ mono leader because of the line twist I get with all mono on spinning outfits. I have to carry a razor blade to make a clean cut offs from knots with braid.
So, why do I still use braid? Feel & hook set, especially as it relates to setups for larger game fish.

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Buy yourself a pair of Fiskar Child Size Scissors to cut your braid with ... you'll get a clean cut, with no frayed fibers sticking out the tag end (frayed braid makes poking it thru a jig eye a frustrating ordeal). It's also handy to have a section of wood dowel to wrap the braid around to pull your bait free from snags. :twocents

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Buy yourself a pair of Fiskar Child Size Scissors to cut your braid with ... you'll get a clean cut, with no frayed fibers sticking out the tag end (frayed braid makes poking it thru a jig eye a frustrating ordeal). It's also handy to have a section of wood dowel to wrap the braid around to pull your bait free from snags. :twocents

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I read your tip about the fiskar scissors a long time ago and I have never forgotten it. I’ve got 3 pair in the boat. The last pair got used to jump across a starter solenoid. lol


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I could never get used to the smaller braid for casting but 40 to 60 lb braid is great for bass fishing or inshore salt water bait caster reels and spinning reels.
For crappie with my 12 and 14 foot jig poles I’ve been using 60 lb braid tied to 10lb mono using the Alberto knot.
This eliminates most tangles on the rod tip.
It gives the jig a slow fall and when pitching the jig swims like a baitfish.
I only use spool type reels on jig poles. My set up is fool proof, hassle free and catches way more than I prefer to clean.

Didn’t think about the “wood dowel” as i tend to use a light line leader anyway, But I also use wire & braid on other gear where a ‘wrap around’ would be a useful tool. T/U, for that tidbit.:ThumbsUp

Wow. That reminds me of back in the day…using a bamboo pole to great affect on lake Michigan while perch fishing from shore. :ThumbsUp

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

heavier braid tends to not be quite as bad as the light stuff
but boy howdy braid is a pain in the everything ,
cant tie a jig on without a knife
cant break it if you need to
eats rod guides
eats rods
and will flat out eat hands and anything else it gets around ....
crappie are not big fish . mono works well 99% of the time ....
of course diehard braid folks will disagree with me ...
but it is what it is for sure ....:highfive

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PREACH!

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Originally Posted by Auston22688

I’ve got sufix 6lb braid on one of my smaller reels and fight the thing more than I fish. My biggest issue is the line getting under itself. I’ve had some knots and it wrapping around the rod as well. I really want to like braid as I love the durability of it. I’m thinking I need to go up to maybe 15lb braid with a 4 lb leader. Or would I have the same issues? Is it worth it, or just go back to hi vis mono? Sorry yall have to keep seeing my name pop up, but I’ve got a lot of questions. lol

Thanks again guys.


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Reels made for braid have different line travel. I hate braid because of tangles. I can't see good enough to untangle it . I use mono cause I can just cut out a tangle and go on. :twocents

I use 10-15lb hi vis yellow power pro braid for all my crappie fishing. Drop the spool in a bucket of water and leave it be when you spool up a reel. Hold the line fairly tight in your thumb and finger when reeling the braid on. Use a small scissors to cut with. I love using braid it holds up so well if you want to get into the nasty thick stuff.

I’ve shared the exact same experiences and come to realize I’m spending too much time mess’n with wrap-arounds & tangles, rather than fishing. It’s a matter of weighing one’s priorities on what’s important when fishing. For me, time efficiency with working the bait to make a catch is #1. Can’t catch ‘em while I’m spending excess time fiddlin’ around with equipment.