May have to leave braid....

[OVERBOARD]

My new rod and reel showed up today, which are awesome by the way, and I had the shop string the reel with 40lb Power Pro Slick 8. Now I'm thinking that may have been a bad idea.... I had been looking around at some line reviews and suggestions for weight to go with and I came across a youtube video of a guy doing an abrasion demonstration. He was rubbing PP across the surface of a rock and it was breaking like nothing. He did the same thing with sufix 832 braid which did about twice as well and then mono, which obviously proved to be far better than both. I pretty much just discounted it as something bias and moved on. I've used PP on some of my other stuff and while I have had a couple mysterious break offs I never thought about abrasion being the cause, even though I was fishing over rocks. I just figured it was a big fish, bad knot, or weak spot that i missed in the line.

Well, they put the leftover portion of the PP in the box with the reel when they shipped it out, and i decided to replicate the test for my own amusement. I took a piece out and rubbed it across the rounded concrete edge of my porch step, and wouldn't you know, with next to no force that line broke after only sliding across about 8" of concrete... I couldn't believe how easily 40lb braid was breaking!! If you were fishing next to any structure, ie: bridge pilings, kipto ships, rock piles, or anything rough, it would literally take next to nothing for that fish to run around a corner or rub something and believe me, if your using this stuff, he would be gone..

I did the same thing with mono and it lasted easily 8-10X's more and it was only 30lb test, and probably 4 years old. I already ordered sufix 832 braid for the other reel I have coming and I'm really curious to try the same thing with that.. If it fairs like the Power Pro did, I'm gonna be on the search for a good mono or fluoro to start using. I've been stuck on braid for several years now but this may have turned me..

[Pinch]

Never had any issue with it and I fish 15-20lb braid around heavy structure. Its more how you play the fish when it wraps you.

[OVERBOARD]

thats how i felt too, but this was crazy and really surprised me... I'm undecided right now. I would hate to go back to mono, but it does change how i feel about the braid, and the Bulletproof feeling ive always had when using it. Especially when i think about the huge fish i lost last year... At the very least, it's something to keep in mind..

[Skidsteer]

I have also had some "fluke" breaks with braid - at times it snaps like it has almost no strength. Maybe abrasion is the answer and you have to be very careful about the line getting worn. I wonder if the "smooth" style is better?

[M_Duong60]

Well if i'm fishing for tog or anywhere around rocks I just use a 5' mono leader with a swivel to which i'd clip on the rig. Never lost a rig/fish due to line break. Even if not fishing for tog I know a lot of people I know use leaders in general with braid.

I don't see how it's possible to have your line rubbing against the ships or pilings unless 1. the fish has you wrapped around it or 2. your rod tip was touching the piling. (However I do agree that the abrasion resistance isn't as good as that of other lines and there are pros and cons to each type of line on the market).

[OVERBOARD]

Well if i'm fishing for tog or anywhere around rocks I just use a 5' mono leader with a swivel to which i'd clip on the rig. Never lost a rig/fish due to line break. Even if not fishing for tog I know a lot of people I know use leaders in general with braid.

I don't see how it's possible to have your line rubbing against the ships or pilings unless 1. the fish has you wrapped around it or 2. your rod tip was touching the piling. (However I do agree that the abrasion resistance isn't as good as that of other lines and there are pros and cons to each type of line on the market).

A fish trying to run for cover is exactly what I was talking about, I don't think you would do it casting or working a bait. A fish will head for cover when hooked and try to get to structure or around pilings and such.. Guys, I'm not saying your line is going to break if it hits a stick on the way to the water, and I'm not saying everyone should ditch braid.. I think the benefits of braid are awesome and I don't know that I'll stop using it either. I was just very surprised by how pathetic it was when rubbed on a rough surface. I sometimes have a hard time cutting the stuff with scissors and would have thought it would have faired much better..

What I do know, is that I will be much more diligent in using a leader. Sometimes when using the lower vis colors of braid I haven't always bothered with a leader. I realize that some of you are much more experienced than me, and probably already know this stuff. I wanted to put it out there for the guys like me, who maybe didn't realize it. Try it for yourself...

[toyomo]

I was just very surprised by how pathetic it was when rubbed on a rough surface. I sometimes have a hard time cutting the stuff with scissors and would have thought it would have faired much better..

I dont think anyone can dispute that braid has very little abrasion resistance. The thing with the scissors is revealing...try cutting limp braid with scissors, or rub on a rock without pulling tight vs pulling tight and notice a big difference. The key is to use a fluoro or mono leader and to loosen your drag if a fish is running your braid around something. You have alot higher chance of pulling that fish out if you play it right. I remember hearing this on one of John Skinners videos and tried it myself and it works. The benefits of braid far outweigh the downsides IMHO.

[Jaspratt]

I liked braid for its non stretch and feel, but i recently strayed away from braid too, i used to run 30lb spiderwire on all my rods and reels, now i just use 50lb on my flipping rod, and floro-coated P-line on all my other reels. 8-15lb i have always used a leader with braid but knot strength would weaken after a few good fish. And the p-line even the 8lb has held up well. I use 10lb for drop shotting around rocks, logs, spatter dock, lillies, hydrilla... And ive only lost 1 fish since.

[ES Fisherman]

Braid, mono, and fluro all have their place in fishing. There's not necessarily a "best" one to use. Like others said braid is less abrasion resistant but makes all the difference when it comes to sensitivity and its ability to get down deep. The abrasion resistance is accounted for by using a mono/fluro leader. I will say that although the super slick casts better I think the standard power pro is a bit tougher and holds up better.

[HJS]

I'm thinking a dry, non-algaed edge of concrete is waaaay more abrasive than a submerged rock that has a thin covering of slimy algae. For the past 15 years all I have used for stripers is 10# or 14# Fireline... and it has served me well.

And yeah, I always tie on about 8' of 20# mono leader... just long enough to keep the knot off the spool when casting.

[BassMoore]

braid really does nothing to enhance your fishing.

it does break ALOT. hense why pros use 80-100 lb for frogging

but for jigging and all for saltwater fish braid actually makes you loose fish. Its so sensitive you set the hook to fast at times.. where mono stretches enough for the fish to get the bait in its mouth

im not buying the hype in braid. it knots up way to easy in the wind, detroys your rod guides with pressure

i have mono on all my rods, i let my drag do the work.. and i can about gurantee you will catch more fish with mono or fluro then braid... regardless of what people say ive sat next to people using the very same bait and caught about 4 x more fish them them using mono over their braid. even in dark water

[reel-em-in]

I switched to braid recently and so far I like it. I like the sensitivity and the distance I can cast. (I don't do all my fishing from a kayak). I do add a ~6-8' mono leader to help with the abrasion issue though. It serves me well for where I fish. However if I fished around a lot of rocks I think I'd use straight mono. I guess that's why they make extra spools so you can use the right tool for the job.

[kayak456]

I hate super slick, every twist in your line shows and it becomes very bumpy, I love really well broken in regular power pro. I just put some 832 on a Stradic of mine and so far I like it

[HokieDJ]

Maybe the brand matters? I use 40/50 lb suffix and never had any issues with it in both salt and bass fishing. I use 50lb mono leader when togging/sheeps/etc. Straight braid for anything else. The line gets abrasions but it holds well. When it breaks, it's either at the knot on the swivel or bucktail on mono.

Wind knots do suck on these but it casts smooth. Also I don't think braided lines are good for walking the dog with trebles. Snag city.

[Mark]

I think we each have to find our comfort levels.

I've caught many more fish in my life on fly tackle than conventional tackle. As a result, I am used to slow rod tips and the stretch of mono tippets on my fly leaders.

I suspect I would miss that "play" in the line if I used braid on conventional tackle.

I use mono on my spinning and bait cast reels. I'm partial to Trilene XL. The only concession I've made is to tie on a heavier pound test mono leader in salt water to provide a stronger connection to my lures.