Braided Line

[Tatanka]

Gents , I am looking at braided line but it is a nightmare to choose any. I could see from the forum that the main braided line is Spectra. Could anyone advise what is the difference with the colour of the line. I came across various yellow , green , blue , black & red. Can anyone advise what is the difference & what do most of the forum members use. 

[skip]

I think with braided lines it's more a visibility thing for you when fishing, as they are fine lines I don't think the different colours would stick out in the water. Not come across black before myself!

[Tatanka]

Yes skip you are correct, when it was coiled up it seemed black but the actual line was gray. So I take it the colour should not make a difference.

[camkev]

Is braided line good for trolling?Is it stronger or just the visibilty is different.I never used braided lines,and would like to know more please.Tks

[rob1974]

The characteristics for braided line are smaller diameter, and no stretch.  It is highly visible in water as well.  It is a must for jigging due to the limited strech and small diameter, which enable you to fish with a lighter jig, and maneuvre the jig without loosing contact with it due to the strech in conventional fishing lines.  I also use it to troll with live bait, or any other technique that would require using a weight to troll deeper.

Rob

[camkev]

Tks,so you think it's better to use braided for trolling.More line in spool as well?And do you need changing of line often?Tks mate

[shanook]

be careful with braided line especially if u have old rods. It will cut into the guides. U need guides that can take braided line otherwise u are in trouble. Apart from that its expensive so it u are trollinmg and need more line its better to have a bigger reel. Braided line is good when u need 0 stretch as in jigging or deepwater fishing in and over the 200 mtrs.

[rob1974]

Well said shanook, guides shoudl be in SIC or similar. 

Rob

[ganni]

braided lines are use ful fore live bait trolling, jigging and deep dropping.

i wouldn't reccomend it for anything else. since it has zero stretch you are in trouble if you are trolling and have a good fighting fish like tuna and in trolling it offers a lot of resistance, it makes a lot of friction with the water, more than mono if trolled at good speeds of +4knts.

for offshore trolling forget braid

which brands do you use guys??

i found power pro the best

[shanook]

power pro doesnt have much stretch either gann. I use duell for trolling its more power per daimeter. 80lbs is .8 others are more  50lbs is .6
not bad for a mono.

[skip]

Actually Ganni, to correct you, 'For offshore trolling, forget braid', that isn't technically accurate. A west coast Tuna set up is braid backing on the reel, something like 80-130lbs or powerpro or JB hollowcore spectra and than a 50-100meter top shot of mono.

The braid gives you the capacity for putting alot of line on the reel, albeit it expensive, plus you can run stronger lines on 50lbs reels that typically couldn't take much 80-100lbs mono. The top shot is then usually the same line class as the braid or you can even use one class down as good mono will not break at it's rated strength whereas braid will!

The mono gives you the stretch you need, plus as braid lasts a long time, you just change the top shot every season or two. I tried this set up on a couple of reels when I first started fishing, 130lbs powerpro with 80lbs top shots. We certainly got alot of line on but found the following:

1) We don't have the massive fish necessary for such an expensive set up
2) Braid needs to be packed down tight on a reel, either when being spooled on or fighting a big fish, it doesn't like to go on loose and causes the line to bite down, not good
3) Aside from needing special guides if you put your finger on the line as it spools out it will cut down to the bone easily in a split second or two


Overall I didn't think it was worth it, and good 50lbs line like Momoi diamond is more than enough for trolling in Malta.