Braid - advice required

[cm75]

I'm wanting to put some braid on my reel & am looking for some advice.

At the moment i have approx 200yds of 18lb mono on the reel.
Bait fishing from shore/pier is what i'll be doing.

As the diameter of braid is a lot less, is it best to buy a stronger breaking strain of braid ie maybe 30lb braid instead of 18lb mono or would i be best sticking with the equivalent breaking strain of braid ( say 20lb braid).

Also, how much braid would i put on the reel? Half full mono & half braid?
Is there a best knot to join the mono & braid?

Hopefully somebody can help me with some answers!

[theguyfulla]

hi cm put in a search for braid there are dozens of pages on this subject !! an btw once you use it you wont go back to mono!!!:clap2: :clap2:

[neil52]

for a straight through casting 3.5 to 4 ounce without a shock 80lb power pro with a mono bed to stop the slide on the spool,, with a shock leader 50lb power pro,good stuff for pulling out of weed it will straighten your hooks first ,not so good over rough ground though but there again power pro floats,btw dont be fooled by the weights i have quoted the line diameter of 65ilb power pro is the same as 15lb bs mono

[maghouse]

Lots of posts on the subject but a quick resume if it helps ...

I use 30lb Braid on my Bass rod (FS reel) with 60lb shock leader if I need to cast it out any distance plus it acts as a rubber on the seabed and gives a little bit of stretch to the line ...

I use a doubled braid Allbright knot to join Braid > Mono ... works every time.

Much thinner than mono so you will need a backing of mono line on the spool - fill to a few mil below the spool lip. (Difficult to use on a multi)

You can use 60lb + braid straight through but if you pull to break - it could go anywhere and loose a lot of braid ! With a shock it should go at the knot first.

You need a nice smooth cast action as it is not very forgiving ...

Get a fish on board - brilliant fight & the bite detection is superb !

Cuts through the current & weed much better than Mono due to it being very thin ...

Hope that helps ...

[dean_gifford]

Might i suggest you dont put braid on your multiplier if your using a multi, you'll be wasting your time as when you get a birdy with braid... it doesnt come undone... Fixed spool, carp rod... your on a winner!

When im putting braid on a reel i put a few winds of mono down for the braid to bed into then as much braid as i can get on, you never know when you might hit a tope or something when you dont expect it and you got that extra 200 yards of line on the reel. as for breaking strain around 20lb should be fine.

If your casting any sorta weight [3oz+] a leader is a must! not only will it help obsorb shock it wont cut through your finger like braid if something goes wrong.

One last thing, be careful when hand lining fish up walls, the low diamiter will cut into your hands so wrap a rag around your hand before doing it.

[Angling]

If you have a spare spool put the line on the spare spool first but backwards ie

put the braid on then top up with mono

Then reverse this onto your main spool - this will give you a full capacity spool with all your braid on