Braided line was one of the earliest types of fishing line used and was originally made from natural fibers such as cotton and linen. During the past few years it has become very popular as it is very strong and works well in certain fishing situations.
Nowadays, braided fishing lines have been improved and they are mostly made of synthetic materials, offering many applications to all fisherman. However, they do have some drawbacks, at times. In this article we’ll learn everything about braided fishing line and its pros and cons.
What are the advantages of using braided fishing line?
The first advantage of braided fishing line it’s that it is very strong and has little to no stretch. While monofilament can be stretched up to 30%, with braid you’ll be able to feel the bite even in deep waters. It allows full sensibility and, if you do a lot of deep water fishing, braid is definitely the best choice.
Braid is more resistant than monofilament, which usually lasts for no more than a season. It does not wear out easily and it does not break down under UV rays. Unlike mono, that deteriorates no matter whether you use it or not, braid is supposed to last for a very long time.
Braid is also a lot thinner than mono: it offers a great strength while still maintaining a small diameter. This aspect not only increases the line capacity of your reel, but it also reduces the overall weight of your fishing outfit.
Braided line costs more than monofilament, but since it also lasts more, you can consider it an investment. Actually, due to the fact that it can be used for longer periods without damage or loss of strength, the overall cost is reduced in the long run.
Finally, another advantage is that braid comes in a wide range of color choices and it can be seen better than other lines.
Disadvantages of braided fishing line
Braided line does have its downsides too. Its biggest disadvantage is that many anglers find it difficult to master. Especially when switching from mono to braid, you may find it hard to deal with the extreme transfer of energy.
There’s no shock absorption with braid and this means more wear and tear on your other gear. In fact, it can put more stress on reel parts, rods and line and even cause premature damages or breakage, if used wrong. Most braids require sharper instruments to cut it and overall, it may not be the best choice when fishing in clear waters (unless you use a leader).
Another recurrent complaint is its limited ability to hold well when tied: many popular fishing knots will slip under pressure and you may lose the fish. Because of this, with braided line you should use only the knots that the manufacturer recommends. Proven knots are the Uni knot, the Alberto knot, the Improved Albright Knot and the San Diego Jam knot.
Although its disadvantages, braided line can definitely be a game changer if you learn how to use it and maintain it properly.
Is braided fishing line good?
Depending on the fishing environment, braided fishing line can be better or not for you. Its lack of stretch will prove good when fishing topwater baits on long casts. Braids are good in many situations, but not for everything.
Braid is also good when fishing in waters with deep vegetation, as it will cut through the stems of most of these plants, preventing the fish from tangling up, and allowing you to land a catch that you might lose with other lines.
Will braided line damage my rod?
The web is full of horror stories about rod breakage, but the truth is, no such problem will occur if you won’t abuse your equipment and treat it properly. Rods are most likely to be broken in car doors, house doors or through overall poor storage.
If you’re concerned about fishing guides, you can rest assured as well: while in the past braid caused damages on aluminum fishing guides because of the abrasion, modern braided line has been improved and does not cause this kind of damage anymore.
The only difference between fishing with braid and with other fishing lines is to remember to loosen your drag. Any spinning reel can be used with braided line, but since it does not stretch, you’ll need to loosen your drag to effectively hook and land fish.
When is braided fishing line most useful?
Braid has proved to be extremely useful in bass fishing. Try a 50 lb to 65lb braided line and use a Palomar knot to connect your line to the hook eye for the best results. Also, make sure to wet the line before cinching the knot.
Recently, more and more anglers have chosen to use braid in finesse fishing situations, as the sensitivity it provides makes it ideal for fishing small lures, even in windy situation. 10 lb to 15 lb braid has proven to be perfect for finesse.
We said that braided line is useful in presence of vegetation, such as when you’re fishing in a field of lily-pads or stumps. Braid will help you land the fish before it has a chance to throw the hook.
On today’s market you’ll find many braided lines which can be a useful tool for any angler. If used and maintained properly, they’ll help you being more successful and confident during your fishing trips.