Just got a brand new megabass destroyer, but I don’t want to mess up my guides with crappy braided line. Anyone have a favorite brand/type?

I know some will disagree, but I've never had any issues with Power Pro

Power Pro.

 

BTW, don't think crappy braid will hurt your guides.  It'll just be crappy braid.

Spectra? Or?

My personal favorite is Daiwa J-Braid x8.  Sufix 832 is great as well.

5 minutes ago, Johnpenguin said:

Spectra? Or?

I use Spectra - but I think any of PP's line would be a safe bet.

832

Suffix 832

 

PowerPro

If you are looking for "the best", I HIGHLY recommend Seaguar Smackdown.

 

https://www.seaguar.com/freshwater/braid.html

 

 

 

I've heard of braid grooving guides but perhaps the rods today are made to withstand braid. Though I've personally had no issues with braid even under heavy punching/frogging use, I've already decided to go straight fluoro when I get my Destroyer FMJ or other high-end rods.

 

No issues with braid on my Orochi XX Perfect Pitch though.

Which Destroyer did you get OP?

39 minutes ago, ResoKP said:

I've heard of braid grooving guides but perhaps the rods today are made to withstand braid. Though I've personally had no issues with braid even under heavy punching/frogging use, I've already decided to go straight fluoro when I get my Destroyer FMJ or other high-end rods.

 

No issues with braid on my Orochi XX Perfect Pitch though.

Which Destroyer did you get OP?

Daemos

Suffix 832

Personally, I think the hard lines (mono, fluro) are harder on guides than braid.  That said, I can't remember the last time I've worn out a guide.  Any reasonably decent rod will have good guides.  Some better than others, of course, but I don't see guide wear as a problem. I step on two or three every year, slap a few more up against the boat, but never wear one out. I'm a braid believer.  Every rod I own, and I have a whole bunch of them, casting or spinning, is spooled up with some kind of braid.

 

I alternate between Power Pro Slick 8 and Suffix 832, whichever is on sale.  I am going to try (really don't know why) some of the new Berkley braid.  BPS has on sale starting tomorrow.

Typically it is not the braided line itself that damages guides.  It is the fact that braided line has a tendency to hang on to the very fine particles of suspended dirt, sand and other debris.  This debris that becomes attached to the braided line can then act like a sort of very fine sanding paper.  Overtime if the trapped particles are persistent enough you can end up with grooved guides.   Use to be a more common occurrence when guides were sometimes made of SS without inserts or cheaper inserts that were not hard enough to protect themselves from being damaged in this manner.

The original Superline, Kevlar, was pretty abrasive. But none of the current lines will damage your rods.

A lot of rods in the 200$ to 300$ range are now being made with cheap aluminum oxide guides. They may wear with braid.The St.Croix Avid X is one of them.

Go fishing, don't worry about the guides.  I've used braid on my old cheapo rods and never had a guide groove.  Tiptops, yes, but these were old very cheap rods with guides/tiptops made long before the current braids.  Most tiptops are a piece of cake to change.  If you have to come back here and ask for advice.

10 hours ago, Heartland said:

Typically it is not the braided line itself that damages guides.  It is the fact that braided line has a tendency to hang on to the very fine particles of suspended dirt, sand and other debris.  This debris that becomes attached to the braided line can then act like a sort of very fine sanding paper.  Overtime if the trapped particles are persistent enough you can end up with grooved guides.   Use to be a more common occurrence when guides were sometimes made of SS without inserts or cheaper inserts that were not hard enough to protect themselves from being damaged in this manner.

This makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

 

As for the braid, I like Suffix 832.

19 hours ago, Scott F said:

The original Superline, Kevlar, was pretty abrasive. But none of the current lines will damage your rods.

That’s exactly what I was about to say.