Braid on baitcaster

[sto]

I just put 30lb Maxima braid on my new baitcaster. I've never used a baitcaster with braided line. I hear that it's harder to use. Is it just harder to control? Any suggestions?

[S. Sass]

I use braid on all my baitcasters and have no issues that i am aware of besides operator error. I thought the opposite that braid was easier to use. Tells you what I know. 

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

Did you put some kind of backing on first? Other than that, braid is pretty easy to use, although the near zero stretch takes some getting use to. 

[Allen Der]

30lb can be a little thin for a baitcaster and dig into the spool or backlash if you're not experienced.  I prefer 40lb and up on baitcasters, otherwise I use mono of fluoro is smaller lb tests.

[eyedabassman]

If you never used a bait cast reel before I would have put some CHEAP mono on and went out and got used to casting the reel and half the battle is setting the reels up ( brakes and tension knob ). This way if you get a birds nest no big deal with a CHEAP line but braid is a bit high price line to make a mistake on when learning how to use the reel.

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, Allen Der said:

30lb can be a little thin for a baitcaster and dig into the spool or backlash if you're not experienced.  I prefer 40lb and up on baitcasters, otherwise I use mono of fluoro is smaller lb tests.

When I got into baitcast reels, and decided to try braid on one, the consensus was to use 40# or heavier to avoid it digging in.  Since then I have read of quite a few using less with no problem.  A used reel I bought two years ago came with 30# braid.  First thing it needed was to make a long cast and then pull off more line before retrieving.  Repeat.

However, it worked fine for me after that.  Took it to Florida where I sometimes got snagged on lily pads.  Still didn't have any digging in.  I guess the trick is to keep the braid reasonably tight on the spool.

[eyedabassman]

2 minutes ago, eyedabassman said:

If you never used a bait cast reel before I would have put some CHEAP mono on and went out and got used to casting the reel and half the battle is setting the reels up ( brakes and tension knob ). This way if you get a birds nest no big deal with a CHEAP line but braid is a bit high price line to make a mistake on when learning how to use the reel.

I re-read your post and I see that you never used braid on a bait cast before so forgive me.Yes braid to me is no harder to cast or fish with than any other line! Just get a good braid.Most braids are flat and they tend to dig into the spool.But i fish the 832 it is a round braid and Power Pro also makes a round braid also.

[sto]

Great!  Thanks guys!  I have been using a baitcaster for about a year now. I've gotten pretty good with it. I did some practice casts in my backyard with the 30# braid and I didn't have an issue once I adjusted the reel appropriately. However, my casts in the backyard aren't long distance. I did notice the line digging in a little. I'll will try it out on the lake and see how it goes. Might be switching to a 40+ line. Thanks again for the info!

[Allen Der]

the other problem with 30lb in my experience is that if you get a backlash with a lure that weighs more than ~1/2 oz, you are probably going to lose that lure.  

[gulfcaptain]

6 hours ago, STAGOUTDOORS said:

Great!  Thanks guys!  I have been using a baitcaster for about a year now. I've gotten pretty good with it. I did some practice casts in my backyard with the 30# braid and I didn't have an issue once I adjusted the reel appropriately. However, my casts in the backyard aren't long distance. I did notice the line digging in a little. I'll will try it out on the lake and see how it goes. Might be switching to a 40+ line. Thanks again for the info!

First let me tell you 30lb braid is plenty strong and easy to manage.  I use it for punching grass, frog fishing, and any and everything else other then big swimbaits.....which I use 40lb braid to 25lb mono.  If you make short casts and it seems to look like it's not tight, make a long cast and wind it in. I have to do this when I'm pitching and punching.  30/40/65/80 they all dig in if you pull on a snag and sink it into the spool....regular fishing use nope...never gonna happen, your drag is going to slip before it digs in.  Also, get some KVD line conditioner before you take it out and it will help some and condition it.

19 minutes ago, Allen Der said:

the other problem with 30lb in my experience is that if you get a backlash with a lure that weighs more than ~1/2 oz, you are probably going to lose that lure.  

And for this, you cast any size braid with enough force with a 1/2 ounce bait and backlash causing that lure to stop quickly, any bad spot in any size braid is going to break from the shock load of the lure.  It's not the size.  Lighter braids you have to be more aware of the wear on the line and bad spots.  And if you don't wet your knots good and backlash then the bad spot at the knot caused by being dry will cause you and your lure to part ways as well.  My crankbait rods have 20lb and 30lb braid on them.  Never parted with one yet in 4 years casting.