Braid line suggestions

[RoldGold]

Alright, I'm trying to plan ahead. I'm wondering what you guys like using for a braid line. Last year I used PowerPro, but it seemed to randomly snap. It would usually happen about 1/4 of the length of my cast. I only used it on my bait caster, so I'm wondering if there may be a nick on one of the guides, but I'm not sure. I thought the line cast great, so I'm kind of bummed. Maybe it was just a bad batch. Thanks!

[delmuts]

What strength? There was some talk a while back about some line that wasn't PP, but marketed as such. I've been using PP for years with out any problems. i'm using 1/8, 2/10, 8/20, (or is it 30?)and the 80#, in hi vis yellow, red, and the green.

[h8go4s]

Was it snapping at the spool? Using lighter test braids (very small diameter) on baitcast reels, the line can dig in on the spool during retrieve, causing backlash and/or line snapping at the spool on the next cast. The fix is to use heavier line. I use 30# minimum. You might find some older post on this subject on the bass forum.

[delcecchi]

Braid doesnt have much stretch. If it backlashes and you are throwing a heavy bait it can just snap from the sudden impact and go flying off. I know where there is a nice expensive big spinnerbait with about 30 feet of braid attached......

[Raider4ever]

I used #50lb 832 braid on my frog rod without an issue. I would check it frequently near the frog but rarely saw an issue. I would recommend it.

[CAMAN]

+1 to Del!

If you cast too hard and the line backlashes it will snap. I've got probably 20 Jig-n-Pigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, chatterbaits, etc, sitting on the bottoms of various lakes and rivers. I have no problem when I cast with a smooth and even motion, it's when I get excited throwing at a surfacing fish in the distance or throwing back to a fish I just swung and missed, and I get that lure moving at mach3 and my thumb isn't fast enough to slow the spool.

Luckily there usually is a 20-30 foot tag of line to grab and retrieve the lure, but sometimes it goes further than you ever anticipated and disappears.

[Aaron Carrell]

I used #50lb 832 braid on my frog rod without an issue. I would check it frequently near the frog but rarely saw an issue. I would recommend it.

I'll toss in an opinion here. I've tried a good amount of braids over the last couple years and I keep on coming back to Power Pro for most uses. I tried out the Sufix 832 braid and I'm impressed with it overall for sure, however do NOT use it for frogging since this braid sinks. You'll get frustrated for no reason since all other braids float. I tried it for a while for that purpose and noticed quickly that the line was getting under lily bads and into weed mats when my other rod w/ PP doesn't have that issue at all.

The 832 is great for everything but topwater IMO. Similar costs, though if one is on sale over the other, I see no reason not to get the cheaper one. Both have slight bleeding, but nothing excessive. Power Pro still felt limper to me though. 832 seemed to have a bit more memory in my experience.

[Nick Kuhn]

My cousin had a similar issue; it was a nick in the levelwind breaking the line. Unless you have a really bad spool braided line is tough to break, except in the case where you are throwing something heavy and have a major backlash.

[Raider4ever]

Didn't notice that with the 832. Then again, I move the frog along pretty quickly and keep the rod tip up fairly high. Will keep that in mind though for the upcoming season. Thanks.

[BTL]

I love the original Sufix Performance braid. I've had the same 50lb Sufix on my frog reel for 4 years, and I don't intend to take it off this year. Also had some on my flippin/big lure reel for at least a couple years now.

I also like Spiderwire Stealth. It handles well and it's one of the least expensive braids out there.

[Aaron Carrell]

Didn't notice that with the 832. Then again, I move the frog along pretty quickly and keep the rod tip up fairly high. Will keep that in mind though for the upcoming season. Thanks.

Raider, that probably is the biggest difference then. When I'm walking a frog back to the boat my rod tip is down and I'm also twitching down for my walking action. I tend to move my frogs a little slower than most people too I've noticed. Either way, I know it sinks and it can be a pain if you're not expecting that to happen.

[Red Cabin]

I would be suspicious of a nick in the guids also. You can test them by threading a ladies nylon through them.

[Larson15]

Like previously stated, lower pound test braids do not perform well on baitcasters because they dig more into the spool and since they don't have any stretch it becomes very easy to generate enough force on a cast to cause a break. The smallest I use on a baitcaster is 40lb powerpro and use up to 65lb. I know a lot of guys use 30lb as a minimum as well but find the 40 is a little better.

[delmuts]

"I would be suspicious of a nick in the guides also. You can test them by threading a ladies nylon through them"

Another way to check your guides is to take a Q-tip, and rub it around on the inside and the faces of them. If there is a crack the cotton will snag.

[mainbutter]

A few thoughts:

Ditto on backlashes and no stretch = snapped line

Ditto on guide nick possibly cutting line

Ditto on upping braid lb test on a baitcaster. I only use 80 or 100lb test on my baitcasters, but they are large baitcasters as well.

If you're worried about fish seeing the line, you can use a fluorocarbon leader, or even fluorocarbon line instead of braid. As far as diameter for casting, my "universal use" spinning reel that I take everywhere with a MH telescoping rod (caught everything from panfish and bullheads to carp and muskies) casts typical bass lures on 80lb braid wonderfully. You wouldn't have casting issues with anything between 30-80lb test unless you're trying to go with light/ultralight stuff, but I wouldn't use a baitcaster in those situations anyways.

I would check the guides first with methods stated above to eliminate (or confirm) that possibility.

I currently have powerpro on one baitcaster and spiderwire on another (80 and 100lb test). I can't really tell a difference when I'm flinging mag dawgs for muskies. My spinning reels with braid have powerpro (20-80lb test). I can't remember the last time my line failed me, except when I've had a snag in the river I couldn't free, and I had to use a snag buster to break my line.

[Nick Kuhn]

30 lb works just fine on a baitcaster if you are tossing bass tackle. Some people do like 50 lb, but I've always found it to be a bit excessive. I've actually interested in how some of these guys break the 30lb stuff. If I hook a stump with 30lb, I can't break it: I have to cut it.

[bobbymalone]

30 lb works just fine on a baitcaster if you are tossing bass tackle. Some people do like 50 lb, but I've always found it to be a bit excessive. I've actually interested in how some of these guys break the 30lb stuff. If I hook a stump with 30lb, I can't break it: I have to cut it.

do like the cat dudes do....

get yourself a dowel rod or a stick or something, give the line a few wraps around the thing, and then give it a quick jerk.

[mainbutter]

If I hook a stump with 30lb, I can't break it: I have to cut it.

Snag buster:

A stick/bat/pipe/tube/whatever about 1' long, wrap some electrical tape around the middle. I just use my fish-bonker, and took an idea I read on here about wrapping in electrical tape.

When you snag and need to break large lb test line, wrap the fishing line around the electrical tape covered section of the snag buster multiple times, and use the buster as a 2-handed grip to pull and break the line or bend/break the hook. On 80lb test line I tend to just bend hooks out before the line breaks.

edit:

old thread about snag busters - http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1790229/Re_Cat_Tip_of_the_Day_Snag_Bus

[Northlander]

I have tried almost all of them and I probably use Power Pro the most with Suffix 832 coming in a close second. I like the suffix better when ice fishing because it doesnt seem to hold as much water.

[Aaron Carrell]

30 lb works just fine on a baitcaster if you are tossing bass tackle. Some people do like 50 lb, but I've always found it to be a bit excessive. I've actually interested in how some of these guys break the 30lb stuff. If I hook a stump with 30lb, I can't break it: I have to cut it.

If I get truly stuck (I use 30pp on alot of bass tackle other than frogs @ 65lb), then I usually just quick wrap my line a few figure-8's around one of the cleats on my boat and kick the trolling motor into gear. I've pulled up some funny stuff doing that before, but maybe half the time my line breaks. Its a simple solution and since its right at my feet anyways up at the trolling motor, I figure why not.

[Kyhl]

I have tried almost all of them and I probably use Power Pro the most with Suffix 832 coming in a close second. I like the suffix better when ice fishing because it doesnt seem to hold as much water.

That is reassuring. I thought I would try 832 on my ice gear this year. It worked well but I've only been out one time so far.

Looking forward to not respooling every year.

[RoldGold]

Thanks for all the input, guys. I was using 30#, but maybe I'll up it to 40#. I'm going to check the guides, also. I'm thinking the backlash might be the biggest issue though, I was probably underestimating how much damage that does.

[Dbumb]

Berkly Trilene has good line

[Kyhl]

After a couple of trips on the ice, I'm not a fan of braid for ice fishing. I've had issues with it freezing to reels, eyes, boobers.

It might work better used in an ice house but I'm not happy using it outside.

[Jarrod32]

I've never had breakage problems with Power Pro. I like and use the Power Pro quite a bit...I haven't used any of the 832 yet, but I have heard good things about it, so I will give it a try this summer.

And I like the Power Pro Ice for ice fishing, as well.