Lets talk braid.

[Kosie]

After some research I am thinking of getting myself some Sufix 832 as main line but nothing beats practical experience, so I would appreciate everyones take on which braids can be concidered and why. The 832 is not the cheapest but still seems to be one of the best value for money braids. Please feel free to share your views.

 

[Enigma]

Good braid but thick braid.

HMP and Jigman doing better in terms of casting braids on Grinders

 

[Kosie]

Enigma thanks for poiting that out as I should have mentioned In using grinders. Hows the hmp and jigmans abrasion qualitys compared to the 832? Do you reckon the 832 might rather make for better leaders then main line or are there better leader braids in the same price class?

 

[Enigma]

NO braid has good abrasion resistance. Fused dyneema like Fireline does last longer than other braids hence my saying use nylon leaders in and around the rocks.

832 is an excellent braid but a bit thick. Many of the top league anglers using casting braid go with Jigman but it's a very pricey route.

 

[Kosie]

Thanks Enigma. So if one cant afford the most expensive stuff what would you reckomend for catching them big cats, leader and mainline?

 

[Enigma]

For Cats I fish 40lbs Jerry Brown as mainline with 0.60 or 0.80mm leader of 6m and a 0.80 to 1mm hook snoot

Fishing in the Orange in Boulder strewn pools then fish 0.60-0.80mm mainline with a 4m x 1mm leader

 

[Kosie]

Enigma which nylons would you suggest one look at for leaders? Is fluoro better fot this or not realy?

 

[Kosie]

Anyone else had good or bad eperiences with certain braids? Will appreciate your inputs?

 

[Steve Catlin]

Hi

I am still experimenting with braid which is turning out to be quite costly. I put 832 on both my TLD's, 600m on each or close to that. I have lost most of it with hook-ups and find it very thick. I do not cast these lines.

I am using Spider wire 30lb on my Orlando's which is good for casting but cuts off very easily on rocks, I am not using a leader and think that this may be a mistake, I am just not sure of what to use as the leader.

 

[Ant86]

I use 30lb 832 on my stradics for casting, after 2 years I have no complaints and would gladly recommend it.

On my TLD and Jigmaster I have Jerry Brown 50lb , again after 2 years of abuse it is still going strong.

I use 0.75mm to 1mm maxima leaders, I also have a spare multiplier with .55 xx hi vis when needed in heavy structure where extra abrasion resistance needed.

Other braids that Ive used
-Spiderwire fused 15lb ( horrible,frays badly,never again)
-Berkley Fireline ( in the 10lb breaking strain it was very brittle, but in 14lb it was super strong. Not a bad alternative but I still prfer the others mentioned)
-Berkley Tracer 20lb ( no complaints, my 3rd choice)

 

Edit: I always add a leader of about 80-100 cm with a swivel, when you get stuck or breakoff it is normally at the swivel and allows you to reel back most of your braid.

 

[Steve Catlin]

I would think that the swivel would hamper casting, what you are saying is mainline - swivel - leader - swivel - hook link/trace.

 

[Kosie]

Steve like Enigma said, the nylons make good leaders. I just wonder if flouro wont make better leaders then normal mono, isnt the flouros abrasion qualitys better? Someone? Anyone?

 

[Enigma]

Fluoro leader good if you can affor it looking at R250-300 for 0.75mm

For cats then Kingfisher leader is fin 0.75-1mm

Earlier in the posts i mentioned the leader types and recommended connections.

1. It creates a break point so you can retrieve all of your braid 99% of the time

2. The mono provides abrasion resistance needed in rough terrain, short leader in trees etc and 2 x rod length leader in rocky areas

 

[Kosie]

Thanks for the inputs so far Gents it has realy helped A lot so far. Awesome bunch here on Sea Line.

 

[Ant86]

Steve Catlin wrote:

I would think that the swivel would hamper casting, what you are saying is mainline - swivel - leader - swivel - hook link/trace.

No, exactly as Enigma mentioned in Post 6

A)If lots of structure

Mainline (Braid) -knot -leader-swivel- trace (trace about 80 cm long , so when I snap its usually just this part that I don t get back)

B)If fishing at my place at the vaal ( at least until 2 weeks ago,might have to go to option A)

Mainline (braid)- swivel -trace made with +- 80 cm .75mm maxima( breakoff at swivel , reel in 99% of the braid)

 

The point is to make a knot to your leader/swivel/trace that is WEAKER than the breaking strain of your braid, it might sound counter-intuitive but it will save lots of your braid in the long run..

 

[Enigma]

This whole topic has been discussed ad nauseum in the salwater section as Thu is how we fish grinders with bait in the surf

All the recommended knots are in the knots section

If you use the standard Bob Sands knot betweenbraid and mainline you'll get a great cconnection but due to the properties off braid the braid will always break at this connection thereby ensuring you get all your braid back, assuming the braid has no other damage.

 

[Steve Catlin]

Try this knot, it seems very strong for leaders, braid to mono.

 

[Kosie]

Steve thanks for that example. Just to make sure, is the blue line the braid and the white line the mono?

 

[Steve Catlin]

The white line is the braid, I made it this morning, very easy.

 

[bapsfontein]

I stick with nylon...