15lb Line need help

[anglerpaul]

Which line do you recommend. So many on the market.

[BUDGIE]

I have used braided mainlines exclusively for all my fishing other than light float work for over 10 years.I did however use Maxima Chamelion for 20 years plus before that so would have no hesitation in reccomending it. A slightly cheaper alternative is Daiwa Sensor.A reliable good value line.

All monos should be changed twice a year where good braids can last many years.This is because mono deteriorates when exposed to sunlight and braid dosnt.Although initially more expensive this makes braid not only a better matirial but cheaper in the long run.

A good tip is if you buy mono in bulk spools always wrap up the spool in tin foil and keep in the dark.

[Andrew Burgess]

Yes I have used Maxima Chamelion 15lb B.S. for the last 20 years as for Piking and Carping.

Just now I am going in the process of changing my monofilament lines to braid line. I have been told that Spiderwire Stealth in Moss green colour is the best braid line on the market!

[Carpy]

Great info Budgie i have never seen or used braided line. Is it the same thickness as mono, what colour is it.

[anglerpaul]

Thanks for the reply's. i am the same has carpy need more info on braided line.

[BUDGIE]

Right guys braided main lines.

Braided mainlines are relatively new to UK angling only really been over here for ten years or so.Been used in the US for quite a lot longer.They are similar to the braided hook length matirials used by carp specialists in that (as the name implies) made by braiding together many ultra fine filiments.One of the most common matiriels used is gel-spun polyethylene or Spectra as its some times called.

There are two main types of braid- fused and unfused.The unfused is made by braiding the fillaments together and the fused has unbraided filiments covered in a plastic coating and "fused" together.

Braided line comes in a variety of profiles ranging from round through to flat.The tightness of the braiding causes this to a degree and this affects its softness/stiffness,obviously the tighter the braiding the rounder and stiffer the end result.

Braids come in a variety of colours from subtle green,brown and greys to bright fluro colours such as yellow,orange and fluro green! Obviously the choice of having an invisible or highly visible line will depend on its use.One thing about colours is that the matiriels used to make these new super lines doesnt take dye very well and after a lot of use they all fade to an "off white" colour.

The first thing that you will notice with braid is its remarkabley low diameter for its strength compared to traditional mono.The exact diameter /strength ratios obviously vary from make to make but here are some examples-Spiderwire is 3 to 5 times thinner than an average monofilament of comparable tensile strength! In practical terms this means that Spiderwire in 10lb BS will have a similar diameter to 2lb BS mono,20lb the same as 6lb,50lb the same as 10lb and 80lb the same as 15lb! Impressive but it can and does bring its own problems.

Abrassion resistance or rather lack of it is the down side of using an ultra thin line.Its not the material its self merely the fact that it is such low diameter.Initialy anglers would buy the same breaking strain braid as they would mono.They would be say pike fishing with 15lb braid but in effect using a line of around the same diameter as 4lb mono! no wonder they had problems with it wearing through! Most people soon realised that the best way to select braid size was by diameter not breaking strain.Hence forth why a lot of pikers use 80lb braid and a good size braid for feeder fishing is 20lb.

So if we are not taking advantage of its ultra low diameter then why use it? Another of braids advantages is that it has virtually no stretch unlike mono.For setting the hooks at range or in to tough mouthed species like pike this is a great advantage.Bite detection when quiver tipping is out of this world,you would not believe the difference!
Another advantage is that some (most) braids float.In situations like floater fishing for carp or drift float fishing for pike this is a God send.The age old chore of greasing up your line to keep it afloat gone.I have never found its floating properties to be a problem when ledgering or feeder fishing but for those who want a sinking braid these are now available.

Braid isnt cheap.In this country expect to pay around £30 to £40 for 300yrds from most tackle shops! As with most things shop around and you can get a much better price.Although the initial outlay is high braid isnt as supseptable to UV light damage as mono is and will last many years.For example I have braids on some of my piking reels that are used every winter 2-3 days a week that are nearly 10 years old!! with mono I would have been changing that each year.So unless you are very unlucky and get a knot /tangle half way along it it works out cheaper in the long run.
I personally dont fill a spool up with braid unless its essential.For example my drifting reel has 250m on it but my normal piking reels only have 75m on them.I just simpley back them out with mono.If it starts to become a bit worn on the end after a season or two dont cut off several yards as often reccomended just take it of and reverse it!

There is a lot of rubbish spoken about braid and as with most things this is by people who have never used it! A common one is that you need special rings as it will cut through normal ones! Rubbish! My cat rods have standard FUGI BNHG rings and they have been used with braid for all my "work" fishing.These rods have seen more use in one year than most will see in a life time and despite landing literally hundreds of treble figure fish they dont have a mark on them.MMMy feeder rod is a cheap LEEDA Generation rod this has normal rings on and haas caught a lot of carp in both this country ,France and Spain for bait and the rings are also ok.A lot of this comes from the grating noise that wet braid makes when being wound in.
"Braid cuts/damages fish" the main line should never come in contact with the fishs body or mouth.Most definately shouldnt be used as a hook link.Just a case of using common sense really.One problem is that high strength braids coupled with todays trend for 3lbTC carp rods can be used by idiots to "haul" big carp in.Obviously all this force is aplied to the fish via the hook and Ive seen some horrendous damage caused by the hook ripping through the flesh.Once again common sense must be shown.

Well a bit brief as its a massive subject but I hope that gives you some insight into braid.Summing up I have found it to be a great bit of tackle and now only use mono for light float work (and most hook lengths) Need to learn to use it but well worthwhile taking the time to do so.Anything else as usual please just ask.

[anglerpaul]

wow nice info cheers

[Carpy]

BUDGIE said:

I personally dont fill a spool up with braid unless its essential.For example my drifting reel has 250m on it but my normal piking reels only have 75m on them.I just simpley back them out with mono.If it starts to become a bit worn on the end after a season or two dont cut off several yards as often reccomended just take it of and reverse it!

Great post Budgie some nice tips. You have converted me to braid.
With the low diameters of braid it will make great hook length's, is it good to tie hooks too.
do you use the same knots with braid as mono.

[Andrew Burgess]

Carpy said:

You have converted me to braid.
With the low diameters of braid it will make great hook length's, is it good to tie hooks too.
do you use the same knots with braid as mono.

Carpy, I must remind you that braid is not allowed on Lodge Pool on other waters yes

As Budgie wrote - "Braid cuts/damages fish" the main line should never come in contact with the fishs body or mouth.Most definately shouldnt be used as a hook link.[/u]

[BUDGIE]

The best knot for braid is a four turn grinner knot.Never had any problem with this.If your not familiar with this knot here is a link to a good "how to" tie animated diagram.-

www.marinews.com/fishing/Knots%20&%20Rigging/fk_grinner.htm

[Carpy]

Cheers Budgie  kerstsmiley  <br>i know the rules Andrew.  biggrinsanta
Must read the post better.

[Powermesh]

Braid for me.
thanks lads i never even thought of braided line, till this post but you have converted me.

[Andrew Burgess]

Carpy said:

Cheers Budgie    kerstsmiley

I know the rules Andrew.   biggrinsanta

Must read the posted better.

Yes must read the post better, Just checking Carpy ;D