I can hear it, don’t know if the fish mind or not. It drives me crazy, I use mostly mono.

The only time I've heard braid noise is fighting a fish, and then it's too late for the fish to be spooked.  I once read that motoring over a flat at high speed "wakes up" the smallies.  I've tried it a couple times and have no data that indicates it works.  I did read recently about using popping corks for smallies, which to me makes a lot of sense. I've never tried it because they are a PIA to cast, but might change my mind.  It's a lot like trailing a fly or small jig behind a surface lure, so why not?

I've noticed that most of the time when I get snagged up and I am pulling/snapping the line to get free, it seems like I don't have any nibbles/bites for a while until things die down.

 

Also notice that if I fish a spot a while with no results, then fish another spot 15-20 minutes and return to the first spot, immediately after I return and the water is "fresh" is when I get bit. 

If I can feel the tick of a blade of grass on my lure on flouro, it stands to reason the vibration of a noisy reel is making it back to the lure. How loud it is and whether the fish care is another question, but if one is big fish hunting it's a good assumption that details matter. It's either neutral or it's hurting and that sounds like a losing game to me. 

 

I often have thought, if I can feel so good, the fish can feel and hear back. I bet the sound of a baitcaster locking into gear is heard through the end of the line.

I have used 8 strand braid for years and it makes minimal noise. However if the noise doesn’t bother you then I don’t think it really matters all that much.

On 7/15/2024 at 3:19 PM, Bazoo said:

Also notice that if I fish a spot a while with no results, then fish another spot 15-20 minutes and return to the first spot, immediately after I return and the water is "fresh" is when I get bit. 

The first defense mechanism of heavily hit fish is to feed on a cycle.  

This is probably a bigger factor in not catching than anything related to line.  

Where you really notice this is in a trout tailwater.   

I can think of great pocketwater in a BWO hatch, where you can't buy a strike for 20 minutes, then you catch 3 fish on 3 casts, and they shut down again for the next cycle.  

Fear keeps them from feeding, while the hunger drive is always there.  

When one fish feeds, the rest will feed in competition.  

15 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

The first defense mechanism of heavily hit fish is to feed on a cycle.  

This probably a bigger factor in not catching than anything related to line.  

Where you really notice this is in a trout tailwater.   

I can think of great pocketwater in a BWO hatch, where you can't buy a strike for 20 minutes, then you catch 3 fish on 3 casts, and they shut down again for the next cycle.  

Fear keeps them from feeding, while the hunger drive is always there.  

When one fish feeds, the rest will feed in competition.  

Thank you. I have noticed that I'll sometimes catch 2-3 in short order and then nothing.