** Mono vs Braid **

[Ms Fish]

Couple of questions; can I take off new braid from one of my larger reels and and spool it onto a different conventional? Also, do you usually use braid for fluke fishing? I have always used the mono period which I am happy with, but have liked using the braid over the past season or so for stripers. The better braid can be expensive so if I get the same results using the mono I am not sure what the big difference is with the braid other than the $$$. BUT if I can use the braid on the one reel that I love to use with my rod, for fluking or any other species I am targeting at the time, other than the stripers, maybe I'll use it.  Thoughts?

[fluke - u]

 ... You can use the braid on a different reel, the advantages of braid is smaller diameter for the same breaking strength and less stretch which translates into less weight needed to get the bait down due to less resistance and better feel on the bottom due to less stretch...hope it helped, I use braid on all my reels. I back them with mono and use 150 yards of power pro.....  

[Pops Soul]

Trish once  you use braid for flukeing you'll never go back. Smaller diameter = less weight needed. Increased sensitivity, you can feel when a fluke is smelling your bucktail.  I use 35lb then attach a fluorocarbon leader via a Albright Knot.

[Luna Sea 5]

bottom line.. dump the mono completely.. unless you back up the spool with it.. I back up the spool with about 50 yards of mono, then fill the rest with braid.. That is it.. mono, in my eyes is obsolete..

[fellinger]

bottom line.. dump the mono completely.. unless you back up the spool with it.. I back up the spool with about 50 yards of mono, then fill the rest with braid.. That is it.. mono, in my eyes is obsolete..

Braid for crabbing? 

[Hunter 2]

You can spool the braid from one reel to another easily. Just put a little tension on the drag of the reel you are spooling off of to prevent overspin on the spool. I do this sometimes to flip the line on one reel to another. For instance,  if I have 300 yards of braid on my reel "900 feet" that I use inshore.  The braid close to the spool is never going to get used. So the line is in perfect shape and has no frays or imperfections in it. To save some money buying new line after a season or two of use,  spool the line from this reel on to another and now the fresh line that was near the spool is now on the outside of the spool on the other reel.  For a Fluking reel you most likely will not fish deeper than 120' at most.  150 yards of 30lb or whatever test you prefer braid is all you need.   I have never seen a 30lb Fluke  but that's another equation. Line Strength*~drag setting%+fish weight/current>depth..
      To put braid on an empty spool you have options. A couple wraps of electrical tape or friction tape on the spool first to prevent line slippage then fill the spool with only braid.  "This method uses more braid".
  The other is to first back the spool with mono line to prevent slippage.
 This method also takes up space on the inside of the spool. Then use a uni to uni knot to attach the braid and your 150 yards of braid will be be more towards the outside of the spool.
      There are formulas out there to determine how much mono/ braid you will need to fill that spool based on the manufactures specs. You can find the specs on the reels box or instructions and they're websight.d
 

[Ms Fish]

Thanks gang! I will concider all of the advice given and let you know what I decide. 

[Luna Sea 5]

Thanks gang! I will concider all of the advice given and let you know what I decide. 

don't even think about coming with us using mono or circle hooks.. lol.. those are 2 pet peeves I have.. lol.. ask uncle Luna..

[cricker]

i waited until a couple of years ago to try braid because of the cost but quickly learned that its worth every penny, its stronger with a smaller diameter so it casts further and requires less weight to hold bottom, it also doesnt tangle as much and doesnt have the same line twist issues that mono can have on spinning tackle, if your fishing deeper water it also provides a better hook set because theres no stretch, i would try it on one of your rods to start with just to make sure you like it

[Takes Prizoners]

been using braid since I started saltwater fishing.  Way better IMO, especially for bottom fishing and surf casting. you can feel even the slightest bites or change in bottom contour.  Consider the rod guides when you switch. Specifically when going with lighter/thinner line.  I've seen it saw through a couple times back in the day. AND WATCH YOUR FINGERS!!!!!!  That's the main reason party/charter boats don't allow braid. I've had it cut good and deep a couple times when fish decided to take the bait at the surface.  All my reels except for 1 that I use for headboats have braid

[Luna Sea 5]

if a head boat doesn't allow braid, they lose my business..

[Ms Fish]

Thanks gang! I will concider all of the advice given and let you know what I decide. 

don't even think about coming with us using mono or circle hooks.. lol.. those are 2 pet peeves I have.. lol.. ask uncle Luna..

I ain't ascared of you!!!!!!!   

@cricker; I use it already on a couple of my reels. And you are right, it appears to be smoother then mono, def can feel the hit, but again I have done just as well with the mono before I was turned onto the braid. Fluking with it was the biggest question I had; like many, that's what I target in the summer big time and if the braid was ok to use then I prob will.   

@takesprizoners; LOL I have scars on the inside of both my pointer fingers from it  The first time I used it, I was fishing for Stripers and had a tremendous day! But tore my fingers up from them being damp from reeling in, bait, and so on. Gotta love it though, all part of the game baby!   

[Pauls1976]

I agree with all above, braid can not be beat for bottom fishing! I use braid to increase my line capacity but I still prefer mono, call me old school. One thing to think about is if you are jigging blues, do put a mono top shot on as my experience is toothy critters can bite through the braid easier than the mono.

In OBX a few years ago, we were fishing in the sound for puppy drum, I was using mono and the guide and my father fished braid. I out fished them by far until they added a mono too shot.

Some boats have banned it because it can be more difficult to get tangles free, it can give you a nasty cut and it can get cut other lines when tight. I don't fish head boats often any more but the last 3 I fished on won't let you use braid.

[italianfisherman]

i change over all but one reel back to Mono.