Fish Beware…I’ve got Braid!

With all of the press it has received over recent years, it should come as no surprise to any angler that braided fishing line represents the latest innovation in modern sport fishing technology. Ultra-strong “super lines” as they have come to be known, are manufactured through a process where individual fibers are joined together through an intricate, time-consuming weaving process which ultimately produces an ultra-thin, ultra-sensitive product with near zero stretch. One company even claims that their braid is “10X’s stronger than steel!”

With numerous manufacturers producing superior fishing lines, the newest braided lines incorporate innovative materials like gel-spun polyethylene, Dyneema, Spectra and state-of-the-art technologies like Advanced Microbonding, Tension Lock and Enhanced Body Technology. It is hard for me to suggest one specific label over another since I have not tested them all but from my personal experience; PowerPro has left me with no regrets.

Unlike monofilament lines which can stretch up to 30-percent, braided line has relatively no give. This can be a slight problem because when anglers spool with monofilament, their lines stretch and become tight against the spool - allowing the drag mechanism to work smoothly and efficiently. Anglers who spool braid directly to their reels run the risk of having their line become loose and potentially slipping on the spool. Some manufacturers of conventional reels have taken this into consideration and now incorporate a knob on the spool which allows anglers to securely attach their braid. Spinning reels on the other hand, do not have these knobs and anglers have had to come up with creative solutions to get around this issue. I have heard stories of inexperienced fishermen wrapping their spools with tape or rubber bands to give the braid something to grip. While these techniques may work for some, I do not suggest them as tapes will saturate over time and rubber bands will eventually rot.

In today’s modern day and age, it really seems like each piece of fishing tackle is manufactured to be application specific. From ultra-light to big-game reels, rods, lures and, of course, the vast choices in fishing lines to shuffle through. Braid was developed to be an extremely tough line but without sacrificing much of the other characteristics we have all become so accustomed to when spooling with high-quality monofilament. Overall, braided line does do an excellent job in certain applications both inshore and off. Go deep, fish heavy cover and jagged structure or go the distance, braid’s ultra-thin diameter will get you there and deliver the tensile strength to bring home the trophies.

When spooling braided line onto an inshore spinning reel, I prefer to use a monofilament backing. An Arbor knot is an excellent choice for connecting the monofilament to the spool. I suggest a monofilament that has a very small diameter so the ultra-thin braid cannot wedge itself in between the monofilament rings. There is no rule of thumb as to how much backing you should use; however, unless you are seriously under-equipped in a fight, your backing should never come into play. If you find that your monofilament becomes visible during an extended battle with a drag-screaming fish, then you likely have too much backing loaded on the reel and not enough braid. You should also keep in mind that once you connect your braid to the monofilament backing, there is no advantage to over-filling your spool and if you do, you may be doing more harm than good. Ideally, leave at least a ¼ inch of space between the edge of the spool and the braid. This will help greatly with avoiding tangles. Braid must also be put on the reel with some load on the line to avoid problems loose lines may cause during repeated casts.

When spooling conventional reels, anglers must decide what type of fishing they will be involved in. When bottom fishing, braid is most often used as a topshot to capitalize on the super-line’s non-stretch properties. For trolling, big-game anglers use ultra-thin braided lines as backing to allow for greater line capacity. For example, a 50-pound class outfit spooled with 80lb. braid and an 80lb. monofilament top-shot will hold greater line capacity than a larger 80-pound outfit spooled with straight 80lb. monofilament.

When drifting for broadbill swordfish off South Florida, I prefer to fish 50lb. class tackle because the equipment is easier to handle than bulky 80s. With 50-wide conventional reels, I suggest filling approximately two-thirds of the reel with 80lb. braid and then adding a 200-yard top-shot of 80lb. mono. Because braided lines are highly visible, the use of a top-shot or shock leader is absolutely necessary. Also, since braided lines offer no stretch, top-shots are very important when targeting fish that jump and strike with reckless abandon.

• Unparalleled strength-to-diameter ratio.
• Flows effortlessly through guides for extra long casts.
• Near zero stretch.
• Picks up less water.
• Very limp with no reel memory.
• Incredible abrasion resistance.
• Braided lines cut through water to reduce scope when bottom fishing or trolling deep-diving plugs.
• Long shelf life.

• Possibility of wind knots.
• Watch out for nicks and frays in the line.
• More expensive when compared to monofilament.
• Color coating often wears off.
• Extremely visible.
• Only certain knots can be used when tying braided lines.
• Since braid has relatively no stretch, when you get hung on the bottom, expect to lose your terminal tackle.