Fishing question - braided line or mono

[Hoosier]

I'm going on a fishing trip for the first time in quite a few years. Apparently braided line is now the new thing. I always used mono. Any thoughts on this???

[moosehead]

Depends on what your fishing for. I use braided for game fish, muskies etc...I use mono for crappies and the like..but it's a personal preference

[misty_pines]

I switched to Fireline several years ago (which is a fused braided line) and find it much stronger and thinner (when comparing the same pound test line) than mono. It cost more than mono but lasts much longer. I don't have my line broken nearly as often using Fireline as compared to when I used mono. There is very little to no stretch with most braided lines, so you can feel subtle hits easier than using mono although some like a little stretch that mono line gives you. Many still use mono for many applications, I but I have completely switched over to Fireline for all my summer and ice fishing rigs.

[xc700LP]

I use power pro braided and love it, but it depends on what type of reals your using I would only use it on casting reals verses spinning. It won't stay wound on tight enough on spinning so all you will have is greaf, and with braided you have to run a backer on your spool because braided wont stretch so it slips on the spool with out a backer.

[HardwaterHoosier]

Same here.
When it starts getting frayed and worn, I'll reverse it on a spool so the worn line is the backer, to save a few $'s.

[Hoosier]

Same here.
When it starts getting frayed and worn, I'll reverse it on a spool so the worn line is the backer, to save a few $'s.

Thanks for the tips. We're heading to Ontario for pike and walleye. I use three set-ups - a baitcaster (heavier lures) and 2 spinning reals (one for lighter lures and one for jigs). I'm going to at least try it on my baitcaster and probably one of the spinning reels. The other spinning reel I use just for jigging, so I think I'll stick to mono on that (I jig a lot for Walleyes in rapids so I need to be able to break the line easily if I get hung up).

[tequilamonsta]

Another vote for Power pro. It is the only line I use here in Northern MN for walleyes, pike, smallmouth and crappie. The 8 or 10 lb test is absolutely amazing for feel, whether fishing 20-30 fow or pitching in shallow and dragging back. The ability to 'feel' the slightest twitch, bump, or rock scrape helps keep the rods bent over pulling in fish instead of snag.

I should also say that 90% of my deeper water eyes are caught pulling a slip sinker and a bare hook mono lindy rig behind it. But, I'll tie a jig right to that power pro any day and fish it next to a jig on a mono setup any day.

I've had customers bring their own rods setup with mono claiming its their 'favorite' stick and by the end of the day they are literally begging to use one of my rods with the power pro.

[Polarice]

I use fireline on my spinning reel for walleye. I use it for jigging and casting harnesses. When I jig, I put a flurocarbon leader on the end about 12" or so with a uni to uni knot. The fluro keeps the line straight. Otherwise the braided line tends to get wrapped around the jig sometimes. The harness is essentially a leader so no need. The leader keeps the visibility of the braid down too.

I use braid on my smallmouth spinning rod that I use for dropshotting also. However I tie on a longer 5 to 10 foot or so leader of fluro on it. I like the properties of the invisible fluro but like the non stretch of the braid. That way I can feel subtle hits better. Uni to uni knot there also.

I use heavy braid for musky on a baitcaster too.

I use light mono for crappie.

One thing you have to remember about braid is that the line diameter is a lot smaller if you campare pound test to pound test. That means if you're trolling or something like that the line is going to go deeper.

If you're concerned about losing a rig in rapids just put a lighter leader on the braid. The weakest line is going to break. 10 pound main and 8 pound leader. I do that for steelhead and only lose the leader if I get hung up. Unless somehow my float gets on a rock or log. Once I had a fish dart right for a log and I lost everything. Must've been a 15 pounder or so.

[Hoosier]

Thanks again for all the info. This site has proven itself again as a source of a wealth of information. I am going to look into power pro and fireline, and also making a flurocarbon leader for jigging...all of this is new to me!