Braided Line For Fluke

[TurboDan]

Hi All,

Though I've used it before when using others' tackle, I've never had braid spooled on my reel before.  I'd definitely like to try it for winter flounder season as well as fluke season this year.  Can anyone recommend a good brand of braid?  Are there significant differences between brands?  Basically, I'm looking for something that is a good balance between price and quality, if such a brand exists.

Additionally, I know the tests vary a bit when you switch to braid.  What do you guys think the best test would be for winter flounder fishing in the spring and for regular bay/ocean/inlet fluke fishing for the rest of the season?  Thanks!

[Luna Sea 5]

Its the best.. never fish without it. .

[IrishAyes]

I have been using Power Pro for a number of years now.  I personally have had no problems with it what so ever.  I have HEARD people talk about problems, but I have never experienced any.  I will continue to use Power Pro without hesitation.

You will, without a doubt, up your catch by using braided line.  You will feel everything your bait drags across.  At first you will be yanking on bottom bites but you will get used to that.  After using braid, monofilament will feel like a rubber band.

My opinion; go with any name brand braid and you will not go wrong.   

[mboy]

Use 20 or 30lb for the bay. No need for more inside and it is the equivalent of 6-8lb test or so.

Tuff Line XP is my preferred. Suffix is good, but a bit more $$$.
I DO NOT like Powerpro.  Inconsistent quality, color fades quickly, etc.

I have a boat load of stuff from Australia (some generic looking stuff I bought in bulk 50 and 65lb) and have been pleased with it so far. 

99% of my gear is outfitted with braid now.

[Capt Craig]

You got to use it. I have used Power Pro and has worked fine. But I use on my personal gear and on my customer equipment 30lb Spider Wire Stealth. The 30lb test has good strength and gives you the line diameter of 8LB test. So you will find you can use lighter weights and hold bottom. The reason is that the braid has no stretch. With the small diameter there is less Resistance in the water.You will feel a Fluke breath on the bait. It is very sensitive.

Give it a go.

[Luna Sea 5]

All my reels are spooled with Power Pro.. from fluke reels, to heavy Striper and Bluefish reels and even my Surf outfit..

[mboy]

All my reels are spooled with Power Pro.. from fluke reels, to heavy Striper and Bluefish reels and even my Surf outfit..

And they are all spinning

[Luna Sea 5]

yes, spinning.

[Capt. Mike]

You got to use it. I have used Power Pro and has worked fine. But I use on my personal gear and on my customer equipment 30lb Spider Wire Stealth. The 30lb test has good strength and gives you the line diameter of 8LB test. So you will find you can use lighter weights and hold bottom. The reason is that the braid has no stretch. With the small diameter there is less Resistance in the water.You will feel a Fluke breath on the bait. It is very sensitive.

Give it a go.

I have used both and still do powerpro and spider wire. Most of my setups have the spider wire, I am going to make all of mine that way. Price is a lot better and you can order it direct for an even better price over the internet.

[mboy]

yes, spinning.

Have to teach ya how to cast with conventional one of these days 

[gottog]

Fireline
Some say it's thicker than other braided lines, but FL under-rate their line significantly.  Firelines's 30#test is comparable to PowerPro 50#test IMHO.

I have it on spinning, conventionals, and baitcasters.  No issues at all.  For fluke/flounder you can go with their 14#test.  Will break maybe at 25#s

I use their 30#test and it holds up longer than 60#mono leaders I attach to it.

I ALWAYS use a mono leader attached to the braid/Fireline.  On conventionals I go with atleast 14' of mono leader attached via a connection knot(uni-to-uni, Alberto, bimini/yucatan)  Generally will use 15-20# mono for leader for fluke/flounder.  Gives you abrasion resistance and easier to rig up.  Also alot easier to untangle especially on a crowded party boat.  Trust me, even if you're just fishing an inch of braid/superlines off the reel spool, you'll feel the difference.  For flounder fishing, sometimes I'm almost just fishing the 15#mono leader as they tend to be caught in the shallows.

On spinning gear, my leaders will range from 3' on up. 
Properly tied knots will fly right through rod guides and levelwinds.

Fireline is not a true braid, but close enough.  My overall favorite.  Next would be Tuf-line XP.

Power Pro I've used and had some issues with a few band runs of it.  To me, the Tuf-line is almost identical to PP, but less expensive

Stealth is ok as well. 
Each brand has little differences that the individual may prefer or not.

Many new brands out there, but happy with Fireline so no real need to change.

[mboy]

Fireline
Some say it's thicker than other braided lines, but FL under-rate their line significantly.  Firelines's 30#test is comparable to PowerPro 50#test IMHO.

On a private boat 14' mono is WAAAY to long to use. 5-7" TOPS.

Fishing in 10' of water in the bay, might as well not use braid then

ALways use 5' or so of topshot on braid, but no more then that unless a party boat, but I really do not fish them.

I have it on spinning, conventionals, and baitcasters.  No issues at all.  For fluke/flounder you can go with their 14#test.  Will break maybe at 25#s

I use their 30#test and it holds up longer than 60#mono leaders I attach to it.

I ALWAYS use a mono leader attached to the braid/Fireline.  On conventionals I go with atleast 14' of mono leader attached via a connection knot(uni-to-uni, Alberto, bimini/yucatan)  Generally will use 15-20# mono for leader for fluke/flounder.  Gives you abrasion resistance and easier to rig up.  Also alot easier to untangle especially on a crowded party boat.  Trust me, even if you're just fishing an inch of braid/superlines off the reel spool, you'll feel the difference.  For flounder fishing, sometimes I'm almost just fishing the 15#mono leader as they tend to be caught in the shallows.

On spinning gear, my leaders will range from 3' on up. 
Properly tied knots will fly right through rod guides and levelwinds.

Fireline is not a true braid, but close enough.  My overall favorite.  Next would be Tuf-line XP.

Power Pro I've used and had some issues with a few band runs of it.  To me, the Tuf-line is almost identical to PP, but less expensive

Stealth is ok as well. 
Each brand has little differences that the individual may prefer or not.

Many new brands out there, but happy with Fireline so no real need to change.

[TurboDan]

Wow, lots of great info here.  So, I guess the bottom line is to go with a 20-30 lb test of braid, which would end up being the same amount of yards/diameter as an 8-12 lb mono line?  Wow! I like being able to get away with using less weight, especially since I like the egg sinkers for fluke.

I'm using conventional for winter flounder and fluke fishing, does this make any differrence?  I've heard braid can "dig in" sometimes in such an outfit.

[gottog]

14' leader too long on a 7' rod w/ conventional reel on a private boat?  Only if you use a swivel for the connection

[IrishAyes]

Keep the drag set a little bit looser than normal and you should not experience the line digging into the spooled line.  If you have a tight drag and get hung up, you will dig in the line when it tightens up and doesn't come loose.

[Skolmann]

Another Power Pro user here.

Been using it for years. Every other year I'll reverse it on the reel to get 2 more years out.

For bucktailing with spinning gear in under 20' of water I'll use #12-14 rated line. I'll also use this when winter flounder fishing on the flats in the bay on either spinning or conventional reels.

For bay fluking and fluking right off the beach I like #20. For deep water fluking in the channels or out in the ocean I'll bump it up to #30.

[mboy]

14' leader too long on a 7' rod w/ conventional reel on a private boat?  Only if you use a swivel for the connection

What good is 14' of mono if fishing in 10-15' of water?

No reason to use more then 5-7' on a PrivateBoat.

Party boat? Maybe, so that mates don't complain.

Why would you?

[Bucktail]

I'd definitely like to try it for winter flounder season...
...What do you guys think the best test would be for winter flounder fishing in the spring

For winter flounder you can't go wrong with 6# Fireline.  Very thin and strong! 

BTW, I wish they'd bring back the winter season for winter flounder!   I miss catching those fat little fatties in December and January!

[bassnblues]

I've found that I like braid for Fluke fishing only.

[Luna Sea 5]

if you like braid for fluke, shouldn't you like to for everything else.  I use braid all the time.  I swiched to mone on one of my old reels, and it completely sucks.  Braid is good for FEEL... so all bottom fish are work briad, fluke, sea bass, stripers, tog, etc.. The only time I don't feel a need for it is if I am either trolling or bluefishing.  You don't need the feel while bluefishing but with most other species you want to have that sensitive touch.