Braid to ? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Dirty Curti · 02-10-2016, 12:08 PM

So I have recently been spooling braid to my arsenal and have been exploring the best setup to fish with.

Straight braid to hook/lure

Braid to fluorocarbon leader/topshot to hook/lure

It appears that I get more action when I have a flouro leader or topshot to hook than straight braid.

Do any of you fish straight braid?

summers in kuwait · 02-10-2016, 12:15 PM

I used to top shot my reels with Fluoro, but now I just spool with braid and then tie the braid to a owner steel ring and then connect my fluro leader. I use this setup for everything and adjust my leader length and lb test based on the rig and time of year.

jorluivil · 02-10-2016, 01:09 PM

I will go straight braid but only when I'm rock fishing, all other times I will go braid to fluoro or mono. I won 1000yds of 40lb mono at the CCA meeting so I don't have any plans on using anything but that until it runs out.

Geno Machino · 02-10-2016, 01:41 PM

I always use fluore top shot. It has a much better abrasion resistance. Braid has very little abrasion resistance and is more likely to break than Fluoro.

YakDout · 02-10-2016, 02:33 PM

Yep, cheap 40 lb mono. Short leader for everything except surface jig fishing. For that, top shot just longer than I can cast

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BIG JOAQUIN · 02-10-2016, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geno Machino

I always use fluore top shot. It has a much better abrasion resistance. Braid has very little abrasion resistance and is more likely to break than Fluoro.

Huh? Braid has very little abrasion resistance? You sure about that one? Time to lay off the Blantons?

Geno Machino · 02-10-2016, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG JOAQUIN

Huh? Braid has very little abrasion resistance? You sure about that one? Time to lay off the Blantons?

Yessir

Raskal311 · 02-10-2016, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG JOAQUIN

Huh? Braid has very little abrasion resistance? You sure about that one? Time to lay off the Blantons?

LoL compared to mono and floro yes VERY little.

Geno Machino · 02-10-2016, 07:34 PM

Here's the first paragraph on the Power Pro web site:

"Fluorocarbon Leader

Fluorocarbon leaders are used regularly in conjunction with PowerPro. The specific applications where a fluorocarbon leader is used range from Fly-lining baits for Pelagics to tournament bass fisherman drop-shotting in clear lakes. By utilizing a Fluorocarbon Leader, PowerPro can be used in all situations an angler may encounter. With this technique, anglers do not have to sacrifice sensitivity, strength and abrasion resistance like they had to when fishing straight monofilament was their only option."

Geno

Delbrugge4 · 02-10-2016, 07:52 PM

Braid has VERY little abrasion resistance. It's made out of a bunch of little strings pretty much and when one gets nicked/cut it will break a lot easier. But if you're fishing rocks and see that your mono or fluoro is frayed then you should still re-tie.

But to answer the original question, you should always fish with either a leader or top shot since braid is very visible. Any fish that can see will see your braid.

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YakDout · 02-11-2016, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG JOAQUIN

Huh? Braid has very little abrasion resistance? You sure about that one? Time to lay off the Blantons?

We can tell you know a lot about braid considering it does actually have very little abrasion resistance vs mono and flouro...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fishin' Magician · 02-11-2016, 05:23 AM

I always use a braid with a fluorocarbon topshot. The reason is that I change the flourocarbon based on the type of fishing I'm doing. If I'm fishing the bays, I'm using 8 lb up to 12 lb, but outside the bays I' using 20 lb plus. But the braid is usually 20 lb in Newport and Mission Bay, 40 lb in San Diego Bay, and 65 lb outside. The topshot is paired with the size braid.

taggermike · 02-11-2016, 08:35 AM

I use a 3-5' fluorocarbon leader with braid. The Albright knot is fairly easy to tie and has worked very well for me. Mike

ful-rac · 02-11-2016, 09:02 AM

Yep! no need to copy and paste anything here...fluorocarbon is definitely more abrasion resistant compared to spectra...not stronger, but more abrasion resistant.

Dave Legacy · 02-11-2016, 09:28 AM

Do any of you guys concern over fluorocarbon's lack of decomposition? I know guys who fly fish streams have some concern that broken off FC leaders will just be part of the stream forever. I'm just curious if any of you guys have similar feelings as it pertains to our coastal waters; Too big of a water source to matter?

BIG JOAQUIN · 02-11-2016, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

We can tell you know a lot about braid considering it does actually have very little abrasion resistance vs mono and flouro...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

... At the end of the day, do what you like and what you're comfortable with. Personally I like braid because when it gets abraided it still has several strands of braid that are likely unharmed to carry the load. For isotopic materials like mono and flouro when they get abraided it creates a stress concentration site for tensile failure which is unpredictable.

I use a wingspan of flouro or mono for transparency reasons not for its abrasion resistance.

...now back to my Blantons.

Jacurley45 · 02-11-2016, 11:02 PM

Depends on what size reel in using and the braid size. For smaller ones, just 3-5 yards of fluro but for thicker ones... 100 yards ish of mono top shot

Jacurley45 · 02-11-2016, 11:04 PM

*I'm using...

Anyway, braid is easier to cast with Cardiff 300 (for me) at 20-30 lb braid with 10 lb fluro for plastics jig. Irons will make braid clusterfuck, so I like mono for heavier jig/bait

02-10-2016, 12:08 PM	#1
Dirty Curti Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 419	Braid to ? So I have recently been spooling braid to my arsenal and have been exploring the best setup to fish with. Straight braid to hook/lure Braid to fluorocarbon leader/topshot to hook/lure It appears that I get more action when I have a flouro leader or topshot to hook than straight braid. Do any of you fish straight braid? __________________

02-10-2016, 01:09 PM	#3
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,855	I will go straight braid but only when I'm rock fishing, all other times I will go braid to fluoro or mono. I won 1000yds of 40lb mono at the CCA meeting so I don't have any plans on using anything but that until it runs out. __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

02-10-2016, 01:41 PM	#4
Geno Machino "Relax" Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: O'side Posts: 552	I always use fluore top shot. It has a much better abrasion resistance. Braid has very little abrasion resistance and is more likely to break than Fluoro. __________________ Last edited by Geno Machino; 02-10-2016 at 01:43 PM. Reason: Spelling

02-10-2016, 07:34 PM	#9
Geno Machino "Relax" Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: O'side Posts: 552	Here's the first paragraph on the Power Pro web site: "Fluorocarbon Leader Fluorocarbon leaders are used regularly in conjunction with PowerPro. The specific applications where a fluorocarbon leader is used range from Fly-lining baits for Pelagics to tournament bass fisherman drop-shotting in clear lakes. By utilizing a Fluorocarbon Leader, PowerPro can be used in all situations an angler may encounter. With this technique, anglers do not have to sacrifice sensitivity, strength and abrasion resistance like they had to when fishing straight monofilament was their only option." Geno __________________

02-11-2016, 05:23 AM	#12
Fishin' Magician Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 219	I always use a braid with a fluorocarbon topshot. The reason is that I change the flourocarbon based on the type of fishing I'm doing. If I'm fishing the bays, I'm using 8 lb up to 12 lb, but outside the bays I' using 20 lb plus. But the braid is usually 20 lb in Newport and Mission Bay, 40 lb in San Diego Bay, and 65 lb outside. The topshot is paired with the size braid. __________________ Here fishy, fishy, fishy.....

02-10-2016, 12:15 PM	#2
summers in kuwait Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: East County San Diego Posts: 657	I used to top shot my reels with Fluoro, but now I just spool with braid and then tie the braid to a owner steel ring and then connect my fluro leader. I use this setup for everything and adjust my leader length and lb test based on the rig and time of year.

02-10-2016, 02:33 PM	#5
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	Yep, cheap 40 lb mono. Short leader for everything except surface jig fishing. For that, top shot just longer than I can cast Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

02-10-2016, 07:52 PM	#10
Delbrugge4 Junior Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 18	Braid has VERY little abrasion resistance. It's made out of a bunch of little strings pretty much and when one gets nicked/cut it will break a lot easier. But if you're fishing rocks and see that your mono or fluoro is frayed then you should still re-tie. But to answer the original question, you should always fish with either a leader or top shot since braid is very visible. Any fish that can see will see your braid. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

02-11-2016, 08:35 AM	#13
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	I use a 3-5' fluorocarbon leader with braid. The Albright knot is fairly easy to tie and has worked very well for me. Mike

02-11-2016, 09:02 AM	#14
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Yep! no need to copy and paste anything here...fluorocarbon is definitely more abrasion resistant compared to spectra...not stronger, but more abrasion resistant. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

02-11-2016, 09:28 AM	#15
Dave Legacy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Hacienda Heights, CA Posts: 427	Do any of you guys concern over fluorocarbon's lack of decomposition? I know guys who fly fish streams have some concern that broken off FC leaders will just be part of the stream forever. I'm just curious if any of you guys have similar feelings as it pertains to our coastal waters; Too big of a water source to matter?

02-11-2016, 11:02 PM	#17
Jacurley45 Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Escondido Posts: 47	Depends on what size reel in using and the braid size. For smaller ones, just 3-5 yards of fluro but for thicker ones... 100 yards ish of mono top shot

02-11-2016, 11:04 PM	#18
Jacurley45 Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Escondido Posts: 47	*I'm using... Anyway, braid is easier to cast with Cardiff 300 (for me) at 20-30 lb braid with 10 lb fluro for plastics jig. Irons will make braid clusterfuck, so I like mono for heavier jig/bait