A little braided line help needed - opinions

[Artwo]

OK, I know there have been many discussions on here already about different aspects of braided line. I'm just looking for some opinion on a few brands i'm thinking of using.

Here's the deal, I have bought all new gear to use for sringers this year and want to go with braided line on the reels, I've always used mono in the past. I have been doing a little research into braided line and have narrowed it down to my top three.

My typical method of fishing for springers is diver/bait and diver/kwickfish mostly in the smaller rivers (Sandy or Clack) and I plan to do some trolling in the Willy and in the channel this season out of my driftboat. What I'm looking for is your opinion on which one out of the three I've picked you feel is best and why.

Here's my three choices in no particular order:
50lb Power Pro Hi Vis Yellow
50lb Tuf Line Yellow or Green
50lb Stren Super Braid Hi Vis Gold

Thanks

[Smily]

Hi Jeff,
I have 50 lb Tuf-line XP hi vis yellow on all my reels except one which is white. The one with white seems to catch most my fish. Maybe because I use it the most. They are all good choices you have. I have just noticed that stren is now a new competitor in the braid line dept. :grin:

:smile: Smily :smile:

[Jettin' Fool]

I have given up on braided line. I love using it but lose to many fish with it. I mainly anchor w/kwiks and the line has no stretch. When I switched, our hook up ratio dramtically increased. I would still recomend it for bobber fishing however.

I know a lot of folks use it and love it....but for me the stretch of the mono makes it better for kwiks IMHO.

Jfool

*I used Tuffline and Power Pro 65lb. and liked the Tuffline the best.

[GOT2FISH]

I have changed all mine over to Tuff line XP except for the one I use for jigs. I have noticed a higher catch rate on Steelhead. The Stren braid I have heard good things about but have not had a chance to try. I think the lack of streach gives more sencitivity. But thats just me.

[Jettin' Fool]

Sensitivity is right....I dont need sensitivity with Kwiks. I feel that when the fish hits the Kwik they feel the reel instantly and dont hang on long enough to get the head turned around. I tried a loose drag, tight drag, salmon bungee, everything! Mono was the only thing that made a difference for me and the results FOR ME were incredible when it came to less drive buys.

Use whatever you have confidence in.

Jfool

[Lemon Head]

Artwo......I have 50lb. Tuf line in white, green, that I use for for anchor fishing for salmon. I just got some yellow Tuf line in 30lb for drifting for steelhead (it floats better than 20lb). I like them all and when the line gets questionable, I can just reverse it! No memory what so ever!!!
Now as for loosing hookups because of the no strech policy and I would like for us all to catch more fish, I learned from a Guide Presentation at the sportsman show if you set your pole in the holder at a horizonital position instead of a angled position, the bite when it takes place will go to the reel instead of bending at the pole when tilted making for more hookups!! :smile:
As Martha would say, that's a good thing!!Good fishing all! :smile: LH

[David Johnson]

The first two except that I would go with 65#, it's the size of 20# mono.

For diver and bait I like 25# Big Game mono for most all other boat fishing I like braided.

I"ve found there has to be some give in the equation. Either a rod that loads up, a gungee, a mono line that streaches or a loose drag.

Jet-I love braid for Kwikfish. Maybe the drags are too tight or the rods are too stiff, in that they don't "load up" good.

[steelheadslayer]

I've been using Tuf Xp in 50 and 80 lb. for salmon and sturgeon. The 50 lb. for salmon only in the fall when I'm fishing wobblers in deep water. My feeling is that a majority of guides go with braid for two reasons: 1, they fish almost everyday so they know what they need to do to make it work right for the species they're after and 2, over half their clients fish very little so a stronger line makes up for the subtle errors they make when playing a fish.

For kwikies I prefer mono. I don't see the need for 300 yds of line on the reel because you're normally drifting and fighting the fish after hookup and dropping off the anchor ball. Besides I like the stretch for letting them chew on the kwikie and driving the hooks in deep. Many people say to use a loose drag and let the fish just take it and run with it to drive the hooks home, I haven't tried it yet but I may to experiment a little.

I am going to pick up some Stren braid this year and try it. I really like the fact that it's supposed to maintain it's round shape on the reel. And, go with gold, it's always nice to be able to see your mainline when playing a fish. If you're able too, keep two rod setups with you, one braid and one mono, then you can make your own choice on what works best for you.

[Go Fish]

I started using tuff-line XP last year for springers and love it. I do feel a soft slower action rod is an advantage. Have had problems ripping hooks out on fast action rods. Even started using it on my 10.5' ultra light last summer for steelhead and had a blast. have heard good things of power pro but as of yet no personal experience.

[175]

I've been using fireline for the past few years and love it. 30# is 8# diameter. I recently put on PowerPro 30 #. The Fireline is a bit stiffer but both are excellent. I will have to get used to the Power Pro suppleness as it makes a difference in the energy you use when casting. All it takes to make even the longest cast is a light casting action. I had to get used to not trying to cast so hard when I went to braid. I found the fireline easier to un nest when it happened because of it's stiffness and the ease of pulling it out of the backlash. You can use lighter lead on the line to feel the bottom because of the sensitivity.

The usual deal very sensitive, always use a mono leader.