So, rather than threadjack the other braid thread since it seems to be primarily about spinning reels, I started this one to ask specifically about (BFS-ish) baitcasters.

 

In the other thread @@bulldog1935 stated: "Note however, Jun Sonada recommends PE#1 as the smallest braid to use on a LW that doesn't have increased LW pitch for the smaller threadline braids (e.g., Silver Wolf, Daiwa Air), and his recommendation is all about line dig."

 

And that got to thinking about my own situation a bit more. I have two Curado BFS reels which I started out using 15 lb (8 carrier) braid with 6 to 8 lb leader, and as I mentioned in the other thread, I have had significant issues with line dig.

 

The Curado BFS already has a fairly shallow spool on it. I have tried keeping tension on the braid as I reel it in, but that hasn't seemed to help. I mostly have an issue after setting a hook, and then reeling a fish in. After releasing the fish, I go to cast and %$%^&*(*&^%. So, when I remember, I strip out some line, reel back up and take a 'practice cast' keeping a watchful eye and thumb on the spool, reel back in and then make my cast to the next target.

 

For the time being I have respooled both with 6 lb monofilament because I have a lot of experience using 6 lb mono on the four Daiwa PT10Z and PT15Z baitcasting reels I used back in the 80's and 90's. 

 

There are some other things I have thought about trying:

 

• a different brand/type of braided line
• a different diameter of braided line
• a super shallow 'microcast' spool (although the stock spool is only estimated to hold 45 yards of 15 lb braid)

 

My thought with the microcast (Ss) type spool being that there is even less line on the spool to dig into. I have no experience with microcast type spools, so other than the reduced thickness of spooled line and reduced weight as pros and the fragility and further reduced capacity being the cons, I don't know what unintended can of worms that might open up.

 

I am not throwing fingernail size crankbaits and trout magnets. . . . more like old-school finesse type offerings. For example1/16 to 1/4 ounce jigs, slipshot and texas rigs with possibly up to 3/8 ounce weights, shakey heads, ned rigs. . . that kind of stuff. I know that using monofilament on at least some of the super lightweight microcast spools is very much against the recommendations of the the makers of the spools because the stretch of mono can work to literally crush them. I truly would like to go back to braid for at least one of them IF I could resolve the line dig issue. Otherwise I will continue with mono, or maybe wait so long since I used fluorocarbon that I might be tempted to try fluorocarbon again, LOL.

I've used 20 lbs braid for years on shallow spool baitcast reels.  Never had a dig in unless I was trying to break off.  I suspect you have too much drag pressure or are setting the hook too hard.  With the tiny baits and tiny thin wire hooks they use I just sweep and reel then lip land the fish.  

Yes, 20lb is also the most braid I use on BC reels, and I use them for jigs, t-rigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits... Sometimes I'd even go down to 15lb. I also never had dig-in problems because I set the drag low, around 3lb. For fighting a bass, even a feisty 20" river smallie, 3lb drag is enough.  Just use your thumb if extra drag is needed during hookset. 

Jun also used to push uncoated braids for BFS reels, again, PE#1 - 0.165 mm dia. - as minimum.  

He's backed off on that a bit, as the Japan braid vendors (all made by Izanas) have been using harder FEP-based coatings, and getting smarter about their coatings.  

If you look at Varivas, they've gone to hard coating on everything new, and their earlier lines with harder coating included Casting in the name.  There's a Varivas store on Amazon and a US website.  

 

The softer-coated braids (e.g., Florida Fishing Products Distance, and YGK BornRush) perform better on spinning tackle, and it's that softer rubbery coating that contributes to line dig in threadline sizes on baitcaster.  

 

I fish 20-lb 832 on my deeper spool Super Duty with no troubles (20-lb mono backing), and as mentioned on the other thread, I fish down to PE#0.8 on Steez with shallow Roro-X spool.  

Never had a line dig issue.  

 

I better add a PS about Daiwa Air and Silver Wolf.  These reels have faster LW pitch that lays the line wider on the spool - the whole point is to prevent line dig down to PE#0.4

Fins Braid I made in Georgia and has been costing their Spectra fibers with polyurethane since the original PRC braid.

Wind Tamer is designed for bait casting reels so it reduces digging into itself. 10# is .007D.

Tom  

3 hours ago, newapti5 said:

Yes, 20lb is also the most braid I use on BC reels, and I use them for jigs, t-rigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits... Sometimes I'd even go down to 15lb. I also never had dig-in problems because I set the drag low, around 3lb. For fighting a bass, even a feisty 20" river smallie, 3lb drag is enough.  Just use your thumb if extra drag is needed during hookset. 

 

The drag slips quite a bit when I set the hook. The drag on the Curado BFS is not strong by any stretch. I would not fish 10 lb main line with this reel as it would have a VERY hard time applying the pressure that 10 lb line is capable of applying. A 2 lb bass can take a few runs before I get them boatside. A 3 lb bass is almost a PITA. Since I have caught bass over 10 lbs on 6 lb mono, just under 13 lbs on 10 lb mono and channel cat over 22 lbs on 8 lb mono, I feel like I'm not terrible with drag adjustments.

 

I'd be willing to try 20 lb braid. It should still have enough line capacity for for the stock Curado spool. Otherwise, I'll probably stay away from braid for that application.

 

3 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

I've used 20 lbs braid for years on shallow spool baitcast reels.  Never had a dig in unless I was trying to break off.  I suspect you have too much drag pressure or are setting the hook too hard.  With the tiny baits and tiny thin wire hooks they use I just sweep and reel then lip land the fish.  

 

I'm not using particularly tiny baits and tiny thin wire hooks. Some hooks are a little on the thinner side, but not ridiculously thin. I'm setting the hook more traditionally and not really a sweeping hookset, but the drag does give a fair amount. 

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Jun also used to push uncoated braids for BFS reels, again, PE#1 - 0.165 mm dia. - as minimum.

 

He's backed off on that a bit, as the Japan braid vendors (all made by Izanas) have been using harder FEP-based coatings, and getting smarter about their coatings.  

If you look at Varivas, they've gone to hard coating on everything new, and their earlier lines with harder coating included Casting in the name.  There's a Varivas store on Amazon and a US website.

 

The softer-coated braids (e.g., Florida Fishing Products Distance, and YGK BornRush) perform better on spinning tackle, and it's that softer rubbery coating that contributes to line dig in threadline sizes on baitcaster.

 

I fish 20-lb 832 on my deeper spool Super Duty with no troubles (20-lb mono backing), and as mentioned on the other thread, I fish down to PE#0.8 on Steez with shallow Roro-X spool. Never had a line dig issue.  

 

I better add a PS about Daiwa Air and Silver Wolf.  These reels have faster LW pitch that lays the line wider on the spool - the whole point is to prevent line dig down to PE#0.4

 

Whenever you get towards the extremes of performance, it can get very detailed to pick the fly poop out of the pepper. In bass fishing, it's BFS and Swimbaits at the opposite ends of the spectrum.

 

It looks like many have decent outcomes with 20 lb braid, but smaller than that, things might get iffy.

 

The level wind/line lay subject is interesting and has my gears turning upstairs. 

 

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Fins Braid I made in Georgia and has been costing their Spectra fibers with polyurethane since the original PRC braid.

Wind Tamer is designed for bait casting reels so it reduces digging into itself. 10# is .007D.

Tom  

 

Do the coatings on these braids wear off over time?

@Big Hands

dug back to these photos I posted before, showing the difference in worm gear pitch

Slower-LW-pitch Zillion SV TW - 5 nodes across worm gear

Faster-LW-pitch Zillion Silver Wolf - 4 nodes across worm gear - LW rider is moving 20% faster

____________________________________________________________

As far as coatings, the FEP-based coatings used on Japan X-braids is a teflon derivative.  Here's the marketing blurb on YGK Oddport, the first X-braid sold in 2018 at $1/yd.  

 

Here's the Izanas process on the higher-strength center strand, which contains an oriented, higher-crystalline content.  

https://www.toyobo-global.com/products/hp_fiber/category/dn_izanas/index.html 

The photo on their applications page shows 4 different brands using the process, which has become the PE standard in Japan.  

I put 20 on mine. If I’m not mistaken that’s a 6 pound mono diameter. I only used it twice, for a couple fish. But no trouble.  I also believe the reel was made to hold 40/45 yards of 8 pound mono or flouro I don’t remember. That’s closer to 30 pound braid. You might have more 15 on there then you think. 

I run 6lb and 8lb Berkley X9 on most of my reels, which are #0.8 and #1.0 respectively.  Oddly enough, I've only ever had the dig-in issue on my Millionaire CT while my Millionaire Ringa, Ambassadeurs, and Calcutta Conquest have no such issues.  I feel as if the CT is having that issue due to it being such a narrow spool.  The other reels have wider spools and I have yet to have any dig-in.  X9 is pretty good stuff and more firm than J-Braid and Power Pro.  It's more limp than 832, but 832 is too thick for my tastes no matter what the label says.

As you may know I sold my reels with 65# Fins PRC that had line on the salt water reels since Early 90’s In 2020 or over 25 years of use. The braid looked the same, no fading or any signs wear.

I haven’t tried Wind Tamer braid but did buy  SpinBraid 10# and 15# this year to try leader to braid one more time on spinning tackle being a back seater should be easier to manage line twist.

Tom