04-12-2013, 12:05 PM
There is a delicate balance when it comes to strength vs. line capacity. I think it very much depends on what you are targeting. Bass or bream fishing, I just use mono line anyhow.
Braid really shines in deep water fishing, fishing for large fish in heavy structure, or fishing in heavy current. Deep drop fishing for grouper in 100 feet of water for instance, insures a good hookset, where as mono pretty much sucks. Catfishing heavy structure for 50 lb flatheads, the thinner diameter allows heavier test on a smaller reel, still maintaining line capacity for long casts, and wiggle room for runs. The trick in current is, the thinner line has less drag. Where if you were using 50 pound mono, you might need 6 oz of lead. Using braid of the same pound test, you might be able to get away with half that.
Don't decide to use braid because it looks cool, or because your buddy does. The extra expense isn't always warranted. If you don't need braid, why spend the extra money for it. If there is not a distinct advantage to using it, old faithful mono is just as good, and less visible in the water. Many people dont' realize, but braids lack of stretch is also a di
vantage with some fish. stretch acts like a cushion when a fish makes a blistering run, or gets air borne. The stretch in many instances prevents the hook from being pulled out of the fishes mouth. Some people try to combat that by using a limber tipped rod, but i still say that mono remains on top in many circumstances. I like mono for freshwater fishing (bass, crappie, bream, etc...), trolling offshore, etc....
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Braid really shines in deep water fishing, fishing for large fish in heavy structure, or fishing in heavy current. Deep drop fishing for grouper in 100 feet of water for instance, insures a good hookset, where as mono pretty much sucks. Catfishing heavy structure for 50 lb flatheads, the thinner diameter allows heavier test on a smaller reel, still maintaining line capacity for long casts, and wiggle room for runs. The trick in current is, the thinner line has less drag. Where if you were using 50 pound mono, you might need 6 oz of lead. Using braid of the same pound test, you might be able to get away with half that.
Don't decide to use braid because it looks cool, or because your buddy does. The extra expense isn't always warranted. If you don't need braid, why spend the extra money for it. If there is not a distinct advantage to using it, old faithful mono is just as good, and less visible in the water. Many people dont' realize, but braids lack of stretch is also a di
vantage with some fish. stretch acts like a cushion when a fish makes a blistering run, or gets air borne. The stretch in many instances prevents the hook from being pulled out of the fishes mouth. Some people try to combat that by using a limber tipped rod, but i still say that mono remains on top in many circumstances. I like mono for freshwater fishing (bass, crappie, bream, etc...), trolling offshore, etc....[signature]