Hey all, just looking for opinions here. I've been getting into K9 Line lately. Love their fluoro and x9 braid. FIgured I'd make an order for some more, and wanted to replace the Yo-Zuri on my Topwater/Swim Jig/Chatterbait rod. K9 makes a x9 40lb braid with a diameter is .23mm, which is less than most 8lb monos. In other words, crazy thin. When using 20/30lb braid of other brands in the past, I've had huge digging and backlash issues compared to 40/50/60lb braid, so it seems "too thin" to be used on a non-bfs or non-spinning reel it seems. I'm sure I'm wrong so I'd like to hear what yall think.

 

Alternatively, they make a x8 45lb braid for the same price that has a .30mm diameter, about the same as 12lb and sounds significantly manageable.

I run 20lb Power Pro braid on my casting reels, no issues with digging or backlashes. All my reels are 20+ year old Shimano Curado's and Citca's. 

I have used power pro in 30lb i

on baitcasters for years and never had a dig in problem, unless I pulled really hard on a snag using the reel instead of a wooden dowel.  I do remember using spiderwire stealth years ago and having that issue. It could be the line you are using. How tightly are you spooling it, maybe that’s it?

20# 832 was a bit too thin on my reels, but 30# works just fine...just make sure to spool it tight and re-tighten it every so often.

It depends on the reel and the way the level wind wraps the line on the spool.   On my Shimano Scorpions I go down to 0.009 in / 0.229 mm.   On my Diawa Silver Wolfs that are designed for braid I have no problems with 0.004 in / 0.102 mm.

1 hour ago, PTasker15 said:

Hey all, just looking for opinions here. I've been getting into K9 Line lately. Love their fluoro and x9 braid. FIgured I'd make an order for some more, and wanted to replace the Yo-Zuri on my Topwater/Swim Jig/Chatterbait rod. K9 makes a x9 40lb braid with a diameter is .23mm, which is less than most 8lb monos. In other words, crazy thin. When using 20/30lb braid of other brands in the past, I've had huge digging and backlash issues compared to 40/50/60lb braid, so it seems "too thin" to be used on a non-bfs or non-spinning reel it seems. I'm sure I'm wrong so I'd like to hear what yall think.

 

Alternatively, they make a x8 45lb braid for the same price that has a .30mm diameter, about the same as 12lb and sounds significantly manageable.never run less than 50 lb. It actually casts way better.

Never use less than 50 lb.i suggest Vicious no Fade Braid.

When it comes to braid on a baitcaster, outside of frogging or heavy cover it’s all about line diameter and handling. I use line or similar diameter to mono or fluoro you’d use in similar applications. 

"Braid" is used generically to represent 4 different generations of line, all currently on the market.  

Basic spectra/dyneema, X8 carrier, coated braid, hard-coated high-density drawn braid (X-braid). 

Three generations improved braid roundness - the latest generation has twice the breaking strength for the same diameter as the older generations. 

I use equivalent dia. to 20-lb Sufix 832 on deep-spool Super Duty by backing with 20-25 yds, 20-25-lb mono, with 100 yds working braid on top, for casting lighter lures to greater distance.  This works like it was made for it, and line dig is never an issue.  

 

For frogging, you want higher strength and improved abraision resistance, which may include bigger diameter, but doesn't have to.  

With shallow spools, you can fish down to 0.17-mm diameter without line dig, and BFS reels with improved LW pitch like @Tennessee Boy Silver Wolf (I have one, too) will fish down to 0.1-mm dia. without line dig.  

Backlash in fine braid appears so different from mono backlash, most of the braid line dig called out on the forum is probably backlash.