Why use braid mainline?

[Alan Whitty]

Well you shouldn't be using reel braid to the hook/s, hooklength braid tends to be thicker and softer, for toothy predators obviously wire traces, for gummy ones it is normal to use fluorocarbon, trouble starts really when you catch hard fighting fish with strong rods and fine but heavy lines...

 

[RMNDIL]

Braid can be VERY useful in certain circumstances and for me, mostly, waggler fishing. But also some feeder work and I can understand why some would use it long trotting. I'm not a lure/predator/sea angler. It's just another tackle item which can be useful sometimes

 

[seth49]

I never use braid through to the hook, always have a nylon shock leader or at least a nylon hook length for the last part of the line, it does help cushion things when playing fish.

 

[Steve Arnold]

I never use braid through to the hook, always have a nylon shock leader or at least a nylon hook length for the last part of the line, it does help cushion things when playing fish.

I quickly found out that I made a lucky choice of rod when I hooked that first porbeagle shark so many years ago.

The fashion was, maybe still is, for shark rods to be less than 6' in length and of a fast action. Now I had very little money and most of these specialist "stand-up" boat rods were custom jobs and way above my price range. So I found a Daiwa end of season bargain that was over 7' long and comparatively flexible, for a 30-80lb class rod anyway!

It was that length and extra flexibility that saved me from being even more "beat up" by that shark than I actually was. Braid and overly stiff rods are NOT a good combination!

It's the same with coarse fishing rods, particularly the powerful carp rods. I have learnt to dislike carp rods for my river fishing and now have settled for more general purpose "barbel" rods for most of my big river fishing. This style of rod has a tip that shows bites and bends to even a smallish barbel, the mid-section just stiff enough to play much larger fish in flowing water and a butt that has some reserves for casting heavy weights and bring a good fish back against the current.

These rods range from 11' to 13' and none were expensive, I think I paid 80 euros for a Korum Big Water 13' 2.75lb rod in the sales and I have other rods in the 1.75lb to 2.5lb that were only half that price. All are "soft" enough to feel comfortable with braid mainline and hook-lengths, they bend with barbel and chub nicely but I have had great fun with carp to over 40lbs without excessive drama.

I had two carp one morning recently of 24lbs and 22lbs whilst using two Korum Opportunist Xtender+ 12' rods in 1.75lb and 2.25lb test curves. The fight with the lighter rod was fun, the fish perfect.....

The slightly more powerful 2.25lb tc version felt more in control! The point I make is basically only one hook pull on a carp in 6 years with "soft" rods, the only breaks when properly in the snags.

I think the whole setup needs chosen to use braid, then you see the advantages.

 

[Alan Whitty]

There is an advantage, but there are disadvantages, as in most things, it's what the individual makes of all of those, right or wrong...

 

[chevin4]

I use 50lb Power Pro Braid for deadbaiting it so much easier to set the hooks than mono. I believe the use of braid lowers the risk of deep hooking particularly when fishing at range. The disadvantage is that IMO braid is harsh and that a jack feels like a big fish I much prefer playing fish on mono. I also use braid when drop shotting for perch on reservoirs where I may be fishing at depths of 40ft or more.

 

[Alan Whitty]

The thing is you can drop shot with relatively light braid and to be honest you could land any pike on 20lb braid, but because of diameters there must be a greater chance of wind knots with it I suppose, most however use the greater b.s. per diameter as a safety aspect so as not to lose fish, again the thought of using even 20lb line of any sort for barbel sickens me to the core, as I thought fishing was a sporting pastime????

 

[nottskev]

The thing is you can drop shot with relatively light braid and to be honest you could land any pike on 20lb braid, but because of diameters there must be a greater chance of wind knots with it I suppose, most however use the greater b.s. per diameter as a safety aspect so as not to lose fish, again the thought of using even 20lb line of any sort for barbel sickens me to the core, as I thought fishing was a sporting pastime????

I do see your point Alan. There may be a case for the line that some can make, but here's the type of barbel fishing that makes me wince. A long stretch, so popular people ask on social media if they can get on, will they need 6, 8 or 10 oz to hold and will the Pizza Delivery bloke be there tonight. With the river a long tunnel full of traps 24/7, and the anglers eating take-away or snoozing in tents, I feel sorry for the barbel.

 

[chevin4]

The thing is you can drop shot with relatively light braid and to be honest you could land any pike on 20lb braid, but because of diameters there must be a greater chance of wind knots with it I suppose, most however use the greater b.s. per diameter as a safety aspect so as not to lose fish, again the thought of using even 20lb line of any sort for barbel sickens me to the core, as I thought fishing was a sporting pastime????

I use a Japanese braid called YGK Sol Upgrade for drop shotting in places like Grafham. It has a nominal rating of 11lb but it has a diameter of 1lb Mono it's expensive but superb stuff. It can sometimes be difficult to get hold of I got mind from Glasgow Angling Centre.

 

[Alan Whitty]

Exactly, that makes sense, 40lb braid for soppy pike(lol) however seems a huge overkill, at the Airman pit I know three successful catfish anglers that have caught them to over 80lbs on that strength braid, we have mutated into using what I consider to be very unsporting tackle quite often, sometimes I think we as anglers need to look into why we go fishing, because quite a few are only interested in lbs and ozs....

 

[@Clive]

I do see your point Alan. There may be a case for the line that some can make, but here's the type of barbel fishing that makes me wince. A long stretch, so popular people ask on social media if they can get on, will they need 6, 8 or 10 oz to hold and will the Pizza Delivery bloke be there tonight. With the river a long tunnel full of traps 24/7, and the anglers eating take-away or snoozing in tents, I feel sorry for the barbel.

There is a plus side though Kev. Those nouveau barbel hunters asleep in their bivvy 50 yards or so from their rods unknowingly donate good quality fishing tackle to others. My Trent fishing friend won a Korum Big Water barbel rod and Shimano baitrunner reel in the Tidal Lucky Dip last year.

 

[Ray Roberts]

I don’t know what is sporting about leaving hooks and line attached to fish.

 

[Alan Whitty]

Better to leave a hook in a fish that it can get rid of than leave yards of braid in the water with a hook and bait attached (if accidently broken in snags etc), thats without the obvious greater risk of lip damage the heavier we go, also, we aren't fishing for the table we are supposedly fishing for sport, so the skill of playing fish well and giving the fish a fighting chance is all part of the excitement, for me at least.

 

[nottskev]

I hope to land practically everything I hook, but it's part of the satisfaction to feel a bit of bite-striking and fish-playing skill has been applied, and that means a line that's just strong enough for the job in hand, not hugely out of proportion. For recent instance, I felt quite chuffed catching pound-plus perch on .10 or .08 line. The internet these days features loads of anglers holding up titchy perch caught on lures and braid that could lift my keepnet out of the water. I get the bite-detection point, but after that the vids seem to involve them winding like crazy til a little fish pops out.

 

[Ray Roberts]

I use heavy braid and titanium traces for jerk bait fishing. I go a bit lighter for general lure fishing. I could use lighter mono or braid but I would not only lose more lures when snagged but potentially leave more line in the water when it snaps off. Personally I try to fish in a way that gives me the best chance of landing what I hook. I hear people boast of how they got snapped up several times in a session and to my mind it’s just really bad angling with zero concern over fish welfare. I can’t say that I never get broken off, but when I do it’s not usually because my target species has done it.

 

[Steve Arnold]

I lost my interest in light lines for a "sporting" approach to angling about 60 years ago. It surprises me that there are a few anglers think it matters!
For a very short time I was suckered by what I read in the angling press to try 8lb line for pike. After two average pike ran me through weed beds and broke my line I decided 18lb mono was the only humane way to fish in snaggy waters. I never want to risk leaving a hooked fish to suffer a lingering death!
A bendy rod gives me fun, hooks are the weakest point of my rig. I rarely "pull" hooks unless a fish is in the trees!
Now strong, thin braid allows me to fish in a "sporting" and humane way. It suits my conscience and sense of fun!
It is the way that suits my fishing here on the Lot.

 

[Alan Whitty]

I use heavy braid and titanium traces for jerk bait fishing. I go a bit lighter for general lure fishing. I could use lighter mono or braid but I would not only lose more lures when snagged but potentially leave more line in the water when it snaps off. Personally I try to fish in a way that gives me the best chance of landing what I hook. I hear people boast of how they got snapped up several times in a session and to my mind it’s just really bad angling with zero concern over fish welfare. I can’t say that I never get broken off, but when I do it’s not usually because my target species has done it.

Totally agree with using tackle that you land the fish you are targeting, however that is laughable when b.s. of 40lbs is being thrown around, OTT is what I class it as, using lines as per conditions and requirements is good angling, the crucians that I've caught this year have been caught on 0.10mm hooklengths, why, because the buggers don't bite on heavier and 0.12mm results in half the bites, which when some days you are talking about getting three in a full day that isn't viable, to me at least, this is also going on the fact that majority of mono's break at above their stated b.s. , fishing for chub with 10lb plus line doesn't interest me, nor does catching 2lb plus roach on carp gear, as I've said, we are all different, strange though, I don't get broke often, balanced tackle is key I feel...

 

[chevin4]

There is a plus side though Kev. Those nouveau barbel hunters asleep in their bivvy 50 yards or so from their rods unknowingly donate good quality fishing tackle to others. My Trent fishing friend won a Korum Big Water barbel rod and Shimano baitrunner reel in the Tidal Lucky Dip last year.

It's not just the Bivvy boys who risk loosing their tackle. My mate hooked and anded a Shimano Barbel rod and reel on the small stream we fish. Tim did the right thing and contacted the bailiff to make the owner aware. The bailiff told Tim that as many as 7 set ups had disappeared into the river over the season. I almost learnt the lesson the hard way when I turned round to get my mug out the bag. My Torrix was about to take off and I just about grabbed it in time the culprit was a 4lb barbel.

 

[Steve Arnold]

Totally agree with using tackle that you land the fish you are targeting, however that is laughable when b.s. of 40lbs is being thrown around, OTT is what I class it as, using lines as per conditions and requirements is good angling, the crucians that I've caught this year have been caught on 0.10mm hooklengths, why, because the buggers don't bite on heavier and 0.12mm results in half the bites, which when some days you are talking about getting three in a full day that isn't viable, to me at least, this is also going on the fact that majority of mono's break at above their stated b.s. , fishing for chub with 10lb plus line doesn't interest me, nor does catching 2lb plus roach on carp gear, as I've said, we are all different, strange though, I don't get broke often, balanced tackle is key I feel...

I have some quite thin 12lb mono, forget what brand. It is a nice line to use, thin for its breaking strain and actually breaks at 16lbs with a decent knot!

Most braid lines break at far less than their stated BS, quite the opposite of monofilament "nylon" ratings. The only reason I mention breaking strain here is as so many anglers quote that rather than diameter. Until you measure the braid and try a few knots in it, tested with scales, the truth is not known. With the wrong knot any line will break at far less than what the manufacturers quote, Braid is vastly overstated for its strength advantages in that respect!

That's why I ignore the diameter and bs the marketing boys advertise! It's taken me a long time to work out myself but I reckon .2mm braid (measured by me!) of a reasonable quality gives me the strength and small diameter to allow me to cast a good load without a "casting" leader. That diameter braid is also thick enough to allow a couple of strands to be chafed through and still leave me with enough strength to play a good fish to the net.

When we think we are playing a fish against a heavy drag and a doubled over rod we are only applying, at best, a few pounds of pressure on the hook-hold! Get a mate to take the end of your line attached to spring scales, then bend your 3.5lb carp rod fully into it and I doubt the scales will register more than a couple of pounds. You, with the rod bent, will think you are applying considerable pressure!

Really, those big fish that rocket off against your bent rod......they are not fighting quite as hard as most would think!


So many reasons to ignore the quoted breaking strain of any line. Pick a line that will cast your chosen loading, a line with abrasion resistance that copes with your fishing situation and, of course, a line that is comfortable for the way you fish.

Then the weak point always ends up being at the hook.

 

[chevin4]

Totally agree with using tackle that you land the fish you are targeting, however that is laughable when b.s. of 40lbs is being thrown around, OTT is what I class it as, using lines as per conditions and requirements is good angling, the crucians that I've caught this year have been caught on 0.10mm hooklengths, why, because the buggers don't bite on heavier and 0.12mm results in half the bites, which when some days you are talking about getting three in a full day that isn't viable, to me at least, this is also going on the fact that majority of mono's break at above their stated b.s. , fishing for chub with 10lb plus line doesn't interest me, nor does catching 2lb plus roach on carp gear, as I've said, we are all different, strange though, I don't get broke often, balanced tackle is key I feel...

Many braids breaking strains are overstated The Tackle Box have produced an excellent chart which can be downloaded. According to the chart 60lb Power pro had an actual average breaking strain of 33lb. I don't see the point in changing from the 50lb bs braid I am currently using. Braid having minimum stretch can lead to break offs particularly if you are using a heavy casting lead. For the well fair of the fish it is sensible to select a braid on the heavy side. Most of my dead baiting is carried out on gravel pits if I fished rivers or fen land drains the use of braid IMO is unessary.
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