I’m after buying an Abu 7001 for a bit of uptiding and am wondering what strength of braid to use as a mainline for the likes of smooth hound and maybe ray? Also, does using a mono shockleader defeat the purpose of using braid as a main line?
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Braid for boat multiplier
Moderator: JimC
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Re: Braid for boat multiplier
I've 30lb power pro on my boat rods. I would use about 10' of 40lb leader because I do a lot of drifting over reefs and fishing wrecks and it protects the braid from snags.
Specimen Fish 2024: Shore Rockling (3) 36cm, 34cm, 31cm; Thick Lipped Mullet (2) 58cm, 57cm; Smooth Hound (1) 109cm; Sting Ray (1)125cm; Ballan Wrasse (1) 48cm ; Corkwing Wrasse (1) 24.8cm. Golden Grey Mullet (2) 43cm, 1.8lb; 40.6cm, 1.55lb;
Total species boat/shore: 45
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Specimen Fish 2025: To date: 6.
Flounder 46cm; Spurdog 120cm; Stingray 91cm; Smooth Hound 114cm; 103.5cm; 104cm
Total species boat/shore: 45
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Specimen Fish 2025: To date: 6.
Flounder 46cm; Spurdog 120cm; Stingray 91cm; Smooth Hound 114cm; 103.5cm; 104cm
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Re: Braid for boat multiplier
I think a leader helps to give a bit of cushion for a hard fighting fish because there is no give in the braid
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Re: Braid for boat multiplier
Thanks for replies lads. Is Using 40lb mono as the 10 feet of leader Ok or do you use some sort of a braid leader? I’v never used braid before in my life so haven’t a clue how it works 

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Re: Braid for boat multiplier
I usually just go with mono as I can't really afford to be buying proper leader but I have damaged an eye loop from having too thick a blood knot.. the best leader for braid is tapered shock leader, as it is mono but tapered so it is easier to tie onto the braid and also makes a slimmer blood knot so less chance of damaging an eye!delmonte wrote:Thanks for replies lads. Is Using 40lb mono as the 10 feet of leader Ok or do you use some sort of a braid leader? I’v never used braid before in my life so haven’t a clue how it works
2025 shore species: Bass (1), Dogfish (1), Flounder (4), Whiting (4)
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Gonzo Fishing Ireland
2025 hours fishing on shore: 40

Gonzo Fishing Ireland
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Re: Braid for boat multiplier
Thanks man. I’ll have a look at that. Iv never taken the plunge with tapered leaders either but I may well now while the pubs are still closed at least!
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Re: Braid for boat multiplier
Remember that taper leader will only be about 15lb breaking strain where you attach it to the braid and will be very weak.
You will need to peel off the thinner line until the taper starts to thicken up a bit. I would be looking for the line to be close to the thickness of 30lb mono then wind on about 10' onto the reel and dump the rest or reuse it for traces. Way too expensive an operation
Have a look at this knot for joining braid to mono.
https://fishingbuzz.co.uk/2020/08/03/ve ... e-fg-knot/
Also look at the albright knot https://www.google.com/search?q=albrigh ... e&ie=UTF-8
You will need to peel off the thinner line until the taper starts to thicken up a bit. I would be looking for the line to be close to the thickness of 30lb mono then wind on about 10' onto the reel and dump the rest or reuse it for traces. Way too expensive an operation
Have a look at this knot for joining braid to mono.
https://fishingbuzz.co.uk/2020/08/03/ve ... e-fg-knot/
Also look at the albright knot https://www.google.com/search?q=albrigh ... e&ie=UTF-8
Specimen Fish 2024: Shore Rockling (3) 36cm, 34cm, 31cm; Thick Lipped Mullet (2) 58cm, 57cm; Smooth Hound (1) 109cm; Sting Ray (1)125cm; Ballan Wrasse (1) 48cm ; Corkwing Wrasse (1) 24.8cm. Golden Grey Mullet (2) 43cm, 1.8lb; 40.6cm, 1.55lb;
Total species boat/shore: 45
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Specimen Fish 2025: To date: 6.
Flounder 46cm; Spurdog 120cm; Stingray 91cm; Smooth Hound 114cm; 103.5cm; 104cm
Total species boat/shore: 45
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Specimen Fish 2025: To date: 6.
Flounder 46cm; Spurdog 120cm; Stingray 91cm; Smooth Hound 114cm; 103.5cm; 104cm
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Re: Braid for boat multiplier
Yes! 30lb braid would be lovely. Just watch the diameter as some American branded line can be heavier for a stated breaking strain. For general boat fishing I'd be happy with "bog standard" braid. Some of the thinnest is quite expensive but would be overkill for general scratching about. Standard 30lb would work out at about 0.25mm.
There's some blurb on line here: http://www.topfisher.eu/line-getting-to-the-end-of-it/
There's some blurb on line here: http://www.topfisher.eu/line-getting-to-the-end-of-it/
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Re: Braid for boat multiplier
As above, the Albright knot works for me. Never had any trouble with it catching in the guides.
Alternatively if you keep the length to 10 feet or so you can work without having to wind the knot inside the guides at all
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Alternatively if you keep the length to 10 feet or so you can work without having to wind the knot inside the guides at all
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