Braid or Mono ?

[flynnboy]

What are opinions about braid v mono for shore lure fishing ? I was thinking about maybe getting some braid but would like some more informed opinions if possible.

Thanks

FB

[teacher]

Definitely braid. Better strenth to diameter ratio. Less stretch for working lures.

[flynnboy]

So, braid being thinner, if you were normally using say a 15lb bs mono would you go for a greater bs braid having a diametere = to the mono but giving greater strength or stick with a 15lb bs braid ?

[Tomaszek]

I would stick with 15lb braid or even go for 12-10 lb. I'm using 10lb power pro braid - and two years ago I caught double figure bass - no problem at all. Also caught a few good pollack on that line. I got great confidence in it and certainly wouldn't go for any heavier braid. Thinner braid not only cuts better through the water but also gives you better casting distance.

[teacher]

I use 20lb PowerPro myself.

[flynnboy]

Thanks guys. Just one more question. When using braid do you use braid for the leader also, like when you use mono leader with mono mainline ?

[teacher]

i use a mono or fluoro leader of about 1m.

[fishermannum1]

some times fish can be line shy, so it best to have a length of mono between the braid and your lure, as braid can be easily seen, and could put them off...

[Richie07]

Braid, no contest. As theres no stretch you can feel the fight of the fish much better, also if you're fishing over rough ground its easier to retrieve from snags. If you are new to braid its better to pay a bit more and get a good quality line rather than an inexpensive one as you'll just end up getting wind knots with every cast with cheap stuff.

[flynnboy]

What do you reckon is 'good' and 'cheap' r07 ?

[Richie07]

PowerPro as the boys said above seems to be a favourite here and very good, I use the Berkeley Whiplash Pro myself, have had no problems with it.

[flynnboy]

PowerPro as the boys said above seems to be a favourite here and very good, I use the Berkeley Whiplash Pro myself, have had no problems with it.

Glad you said that because on the basis of what has been said I had already ordered some Power-Pro

[fishermannum1]

power pro is a very good choice i use it myself, but this year i got a few spools of another cheaper type of braid just to try it out, and it is great stuff.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/20lb-Professional ... 286.c0.m14

[Tomaszek]

I use 20lb PowerPro myself

OK here is one more thing. It depends how big/heavy the lures, that you intending to use, are. I'm using lures 9g and 12g and 20lb braid would really make it hard to swim them properly (they are pull baits therefore you need to swim them as they will not have action otherwise). If you intend to use heavier lures with lip, so they will have action by its own - then 20lb could be OK.

I never use mono leader - I'm tying snap directly to the braid.

[flynnboy]

I never use mono leader - I'm tying snap directly to the braid.

What do you mean by that Tomaszek what is 'snap' ?

Guys - how does the thickness of 20lb braid compare to the thickness of 15lb mono ?

[Tomaszek]

Sorry, may be I used wrong terminology. I'm attaching small snap (http://fishcopia.com/yahoo_site_admin/a ... 152037.jpg) to the braided line to easily change lures if I need to. Sorry for the confusion.

[fishermannum1]

Guys - how does the thickness of 20lb braid compare to the thickness of 15lb mono ?

the stonefisher 20lb braid i got is a lot thinner than 15lb mono, would reckon its app; the same thickness as 8lb mono.

[flynnboy]

Sorry, may be I used wrong terminology. I'm attaching small snap (http://fishcopia.com/yahoo_site_admin/a ... 152037.jpg) to the braided line to easily change lures if I need to. Sorry for the confusion.

OK Tommy. What I am trying to clarify here is that you said you don't use mono for your leaders. So are you attaching braid to your snap as your leader ? Other people have said it could make the fish shy because it is more visible than mono as a leader.

[flynnboy]

Hi Guys

I have received my power pro braid but before I spool up I have another question. My spool would normally take around 200 yds of 15lb mono, this is a lot thinner than the mono and I only have 150 yds of braid (or was that 120....) so should I put backing on the spool before I spool on the braid ?

[Tomaszek]

flynnboy, sorry for not replying for so long - just catching up with the topic. In fact I'm not using leader at all. (Maybe except for pike fishing but that's a different story). I wouldn't say that braid will cause fish to be more shy. Minimizing number of elements on your rig is always good. Other than that, I'm pretty sure that connection with the lure without any stretch allows you to better swim the lure and better feel what is happening in the water. So I wouldn't bother with leaders. If you worry about the snags - I would rather suggest using special split rings to attach trebles to the body of the lure (can't recall it's English name - basically the split ring is made out of special metal material and will unfold releasing the treble once under pressure - than it will close again once you take it in to your fingers due to warm of your fingers). Again it all depends on that lures you are intending to use - for small ones (like ones that I'm using) there is no better solution (in my opinion) than tying snap directly to the main braided line.