Braided lines

[SandyRiverFisher]

whats the deal with braided lines?

I went out today and had my good reel spooled with a 30lb. test braided line. I cant remember the brand name, but it wasn't cheap. $20 for 200 yards.

When I got home I threw the reel on my bobber rod and tied a 3oz. lead to the end and took a few casts in the yard. Since I am only now trying these lines I didn't know what to expect. I cast out and reeled back, and as I did the rod made all sorts of humming and clicking noises as the line rubbed along the guides. This cant be normal, and whats more the green line left a green residue on the eye of the rod after a few casts. It makes even stranger noises when line gets pulled out of the drag.

So whats the story with this stuff, does it just need breaking in, or is it junk? When these lines first came out I tried fireline on my steelhead rod with the same results, which is why I quit using it. Maybe im not giving the stuff a fair chance, what do you think? images/icons/confused.gif images/icons/confused.gif

[boater]

i have tried them for salmon and steelhead and think they are junk, i`m stickin with mono

[BUGLEMAN]

Yah I understand the grating noise issue. Kind of like the nails on a chalkboard but it you can get over it that, tough line type fishing line is the best for bobber fishing you can get. The stretchless hook sets are awsome considering the slack you can develope plus if you dress your line with some fly line dressing it just floats on top making mending much easier. Mono can't even come close in this Dept.

As far as the green residue just get it wet and fish, it will go away after the first cast. I use the green 50# for my bobber rod. Just make sure you tie that special knot. I think I am only getting about 60% on mine and I need improvement.

[Rippenlips]

I love my braided line. It is much more sensitive to things bumping your junk. I can cast it pretty far and it works great in a hog line. Ramstrong said his was getting a little fraid (Sp?) when drift fishing in the wind river canyon.
It would be nice to have a spell checker on this board?
Jon images/icons/grin.gif

[Get Bit]

SRF,
I've had great success using 80lb. Tuff Line on my Backbouncing rod and bobber fishing. The jurys still out for Kwikfish or trolling.
Sturgeon fishing it can't be beat. You may want to size up your leader material when using it for the Salmon applications I described. I've been using 50 to 60lb. Big Game mono for leaders. You can really cross eyeballs with this setup. I still use good old mono for all my steelhead rods but I think the Fireline would work if you were a big time float fisherman. I've also really put the pressure to my rods and I have yet to break one or cause any damage to the eyes.I think I've had the same line on my reel now for about 5 years and its still going strong. Good Luck !!

[boater]

the biggest king i have caught on 8 lb. line is 28 pounds, my normal salmon line is 20 lb test, am just curious as to why people think they need 30 to 80 pound test braided line, thanks.

[backlash]

Obviously braided is the only way to go with sturgeon, and is tuff to beat for bobber fishing, ie:hookset right now! Be careful you don't overload your rod, 80# braided on a 30# rod will blow up on a heavy fish with a hard enough hookset. Other than that it just takes some time to get used to. It sounds like you are using Power Pro line, if so it gets better the more you fish it.

[David Johnson]

Get Bit has it about right.

It's great for bobber fishing, backbouncing and sturgeon fishing. I wouldn't use anything but braided for these.

Another thing, you don't have to set the hook very hard, except for bobber fishing, while using this line. There is only about 3% streatch with braided line, verses up to 20% streatch with mono.

I don't use it for kfish, diver/bait, spinners, or herring because I like the streach fr these techniques.

[Firedog]

Have to agree with DJ. You can't beat the braided for bobber fishing and back bouncing. I use 80# tuf plus on my bobber
rods, not because I need 80# but because of the thin diameter of these lines that is the size I prefer. Do makes sure you learn
the right knots or they will slip. Also leaders need to be a little heavier also because of the lack of stretch it is easy to break 25#
or even 30# leader. Last year was the first year I went to them and can't believe I didn't do it sooner. We use paraffin wax on
ours to keep it on top, it will float for awhile with out but eventually absorbs water and sinks. One other thing make sure your rods have good quality guides on them because this stuff if hard on guides. Good luck.

[David Johnson]

I've never had a problem with my line guides and braided line.

I have had clients break of fish once in a while because they set the hok too hard.

I prefer 50# or 65# test. These are usualy about the same diameter of 20# mono. Any thinner and I feel you loose some of the benifit there isn't much there if you get some line nicks.

And yes, you must use the correct knots.

[willierower]

Dont use braided lines for drift fishing! I repeat, Dont use braided line for drift fishing! When you break it off it just makes a mess. If you leave line in the water when you break off every person that comes along with mono hangs up on it and breaks off. Pretty soon there is a huge ball of line in the river. Besides that, Birds and other critters get tangled in it. I pulled in some spider wire once that had a 1/2 dozen crawdads tangled in it.
Braided works great for Boobers, Back Bouncing, Kwikfish, Diver and bait and trolling. With those methds you dont hang up all that much.

[Orca]

I like the braided lines and use them for trout, bass, steelhead, salmon, and most recently for Halibut. I believe they cast better, and very little stretch makes for a sensitive bite and solid hooking of fish .

My recent experience with 80# TUF-Line Plus for Halibut is pretty dismal however. I got hung on the bottom, was unable to get loose, and when the line broke, it broke in the middle of the line rather than at the knot. Put that reel aside since it was unusable (not enough line left to get to the bottom) and used another reel spooled with the same stuff. Half hour later, same result. Now I had nothing left to fish with and had lost $70 worth of line.

After talking with some friends back at the dock I found out they had the same problem in past years and will not use TUF-Line again. I now join them after learning a $70 lesson.