braided line

[bob46]

how can you tell if your fishing rod is rated for braided line, been thinking of using a braided line on my light tackle rod for pan fish, less break offs.
I use a bp micro lite medium light for my pan fish. And if so what kind of knot is best for braided if I can recall you need a special knot for braided.
Thanks Bob

[kygorski]

Almost all the rods built in the last 20 years are suitable for braided line. I dont think they even make carbon steel guides anymore. I use a lot of braided line for pan fishing,10/2 is about as fine as my eye sight allows me to use. I also have 50/15 for musky baits,even used 100 lb braids on one of my down riggers.I still use mono,and the only thing I use flouro for now is leaders, I didn't care for it on my bait casting outfits, but it worked well.Matter of choice there.

[crappiepappy]

As long as you have ceramic guides on your rod, you should be OK. Ceramic guides keep the "buzzzz" noise down, that braid creates when being reeled in.

I use PowerPro 10/2 on one of my outfits ... and tie a Improved Clinch knot directly to the bait. If properly (& slowly) tied & cinched down, it works fine. If I see that it's slipping loose, when I'm cinching it down, I'll just tie a "granny knot" (simple overhand knot) in the tag end & that stops the slipping.

Two things you will need, if you intend to use braid :

1) A pair of Fiskar for Kids scissors ... these cut braid cleaner & with a blunt tag end. This is important, because the braid is limper than a wet noodle and hard enough to thread thru a hook eye ... without the freyed tag fibers getting in the way. Other cutting tools can sometimes leave these on the end of your braid, when you cut it.
2) A small wood slab or dowel rod ... use this to wrap your braid around, when your bait is snagged, & you want to pull it free. You don't want to wrap it around the handle butt of your rod, whether foam or cork handled, as the braid can cut right into them. And you DEFINITELY don't want to wrap braid around your hand/fingers, as it can cut you & cut you BAD !!

You'll also want to back off on your drag, just a bit. The no stretch quality of braid will magnify your hookset power, so a little drag slippage on hookset won't diminish that power below the same hookset power of stretchy mono. Backing off on the drag also helps keep you from breaking your rod, on hookset !!

... pappy

[kygorski]

He said it all

[Big T @ E.C.]

I've gone to braid on all my spinning reels' as it has no memory, i use about a 3' leader of either floro- or mono. Depending on what i'm fishing for. I use back-to-back uni knots to join the lines, so far, i've only broke the leader, (hanging up shakey-heads) the knot has held great. Tr

[DJD]

Power Pro is ok but I would try others. I used power pro for years but have switched to Fire Line. I think it retains it's shape and color better.

[Big T @ E.C.]

power pro is ok but i would try others. I used power pro for years but have switched to fire line. I think it retains it's shape and color better.

i agree 100%, i noticed the power pro green started to fade, after about 1/2 season. Now i'm trying spiderwire, stealth-braid, but i'll probably go back to fireline when the stealth wears out. I really liked the smoke color fireline..tr

[crappiepappy]

One thing I forgot to mention .... leave about 1/2 - 1/3 of your old mono on your reel (depending on spool size) and tie your braid to that, when you add braid to your reel. You will use less braid & it won't slip around on your spool (under tension of reeling in or playing a fish).

... pappy

[kygorski]

I tried fireline when it first came out, didn't like it as much as spider wire, it frayed, and was cut much quicker.Unless they have improved it, its going to be stealth for me.

[bob46]

All good advice thanks for info, but what knot should I use on braided.

[Bassky]

Bob,
I use a improved clinch knot and add a drop of super glue. Works great. Polamar knots work good too.
Bassky