Hey guys,

Changing out line on one of my older set ups, a Curado 50e paired with a Dobyns sierra MH/F, I primarily use this set up for unweighted or slightly weighted T-rigs. With this set up, I also fish the braid straight, no leader.

Looking for recommendations on current braid out there, been a while since I've shopped for new line.

Thanks

My favorite (and I've tried many) is Suffix 832. Got turned onto it by others on this forum and I have been extremely pleased. It handles well, is plenty durable, and isn't overwhelmingly expensive. It's all I buy at this point. 

Hard to give an accurate answer without knowing the braid diameter range ("lb-test" in USM); 

however, tough to beat 832 for friendly braid.  

 

The main thing here is a good FEP (teflon-based) coating.  

 

When you get to smaller sizes, Japanese X-braid excels for double the breaking strength at the same diameter.  

2 hours ago, Backroad Angler said:

Hey guys,

Changing out line on one of my older set ups, a Curado 50e paired with a Dobyns sierra MH/F, I primarily use this set up for unweighted or slightly weighted T-rigs. With this set up, I also fish the braid straight, no leader.

Looking for recommendations on current braid out there, been a while since I've shopped for new line.

Thanks

 

30 lb 832 and be done with it.

I run suffix 832. Cortland masterbraid is my favorite but, I am too cheap to run that. 832 checks all the boxes I need. For all the rocks I encounter I do run a FC leader. If I did not fish in highly rocky areas I would probably just run it straight. 

Sufix 832 has been my mainstay - but I am trying out some Spro X8 and some Reaction Tackle 8x line.

 

If price is no object - Smackdown has them all beat.

I bought Smackdown based on the hype on this site and wasn’t pleased casting performance changed it to Fins Spin5 using the same rod, reel and lures very happy with performance. The difference comes down to braid diameter and smoothness coming off the spinning reel. 
15# Smackdown is .009D vs 15# Spin5 is .006D.

Tom 

I have tried over a dozen braids.  I fished Power Pro for many years.  Now I use gray Diawa J Braid 8  for  everything, except for my big game reels which get Jerry Brown hollow braid.

I use the new Japanese seagur 24lb on my 150mgl curado and don’t have any issues and enjoy the extra distance that I get with the ultra thin diameter. It’s very pricey at $40 a spool, if you want a cheaper option daiwa j braid grand 8 strand is half the price but just about as good in my book.

I was debating on leaving a comment but......

 

I have the Chronarch 51e. It's pretty much the same reel as the Curado 50e with a few more bells and whistles. One of the reasons I stopped using braid years ago was because I put 50lb 832 on this reel. It was none stop frustration. With that said, I really didn't have an issue with 832 on any other reel.  In the years since I have owned it, I have found that 10lb fluorocarbon has worked the best but I have tried other braided lines and mono on this reel. Last year, I tried YGK Upgrade #2 and really liked it.  No issues but I was using leader on it.  Since then, I have gone back to fluorocarbon because the main lake I fish has a forest on the bottom and braid just gets dug in tree stumps and limbs like crazy. 

 

 

Sunline FX2. It’s what braid is meant to be. I love it and have had zero issues. 

unweighted or light t-rigs.  I now like a braid that sinks a bit.

 

I have been using Almight.  it is neutral density.  

Liking seaguar JDM braid so far! 

Everyone in-the-know uses the 832, its THE line, but i do use the Berkley X9 for the third season, and love it.

Cortland master braid and 832 are my favorites. Stay away from smackdown, power pro, and jbraid

16 hours ago, ABU is overpriced said:

Everyone in-the-know uses the 832, its THE line, but i do use the Berkley X9 for the third season, and love it.

Sufix 832 & Power Pro have the same line diameter in their 30 lb. rated lines - I believe PP is a 4-carrier braid while 832 is an 8-carrier braid - is that correct ?

37 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

Sufix 832 & Power Pro have the same line diameter in their 30 lb. rated lines - I believe PP is a 4-carrier braid while 832 is an 8-carrier braid - is that correct ?

Yes

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

If you want a good line that legit doesn't fade, there 2 that I've really been liking.

 

P-Line EndurX. Comes in black, green and neon green. Also, FINS Infinity. This only comes in black. This line also runs a tad thicker, so 30# diameter in most other brands is 20# in this one. 

Sufix 832 on my baitcasters. Smackdown on my spinners. I love Smackdown so much I might switch to it for everything but it definitely is more $$

17 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

If you want a good line that legit doesn't fade, there 2 that I've really been liking.

 

P-Line EndurX. Comes in black, green and neon green. Also, FINS Infinity. This only comes in black. This line also runs a tad thicker, so 30# diameter in most other brands is 20# in this one. 

Vicious No Fade Braid is the best braid out there. 

Agree with Suffix 832 AND the comment about Japanese braids (all at least 8 strands) being stronger at small diameters.  But I think one has to consider the application.  For most bait casting applications, I don't think being really small in diameter is an advantage, and even 4 strand braids might handle better than the smaller diameter ones.  

 

For spin, especially where one wants to have a lot of line on the reel, then the premium Japanese (and probably some US ones by now) make sense.  I like Hitena Pure Line 19/21 pound test for my salt application where I want good strength but also want a lot of line on the reel. It is very small in diameter, handles well with few problems.  It's my favorite.  But Hitena has not been shipping for a long time, heard they might be up and running this fall. 

 

There are so many braids on the market that I don't think anyone has tried them all.  TW shows 128 different braids if I counted correctly.  I have a spool of Defiant thinking it's close in description/diameter/strength to Hitena.  Will see how it works.

For the past three years, I have been fishing Cabela's brand braid that's about 30 years old. I know, I know, it's cheapo and ancient, but it works and it works in heavy, heavy cover. I've never had it break in battle. A few pickerel have cut it. 

 

However, I just bought some Suffix 832 20 lb. test and I'll soon be fishing like Hollywood! I'm expecting high-kicking dancing girls to suddenly appear on the bank with my first cast, while a band on a barge plays. 

On 8/8/2024 at 6:01 PM, Darth-Baiter said:

unweighted or light t-rigs.  I now like a braid that sinks a bit.

 

I have been using Almight.  it is neutral density.  

 

I just started using Almight one of my BFS set ups and it is really good. It's one of those "you don't know until you try it" things.  I will give it some time and see how it goes long term.  I paid $10 for it at a JDM site so I thought why not at that price. 

On 8/10/2024 at 3:55 AM, dodgeguy said:

Vicious No Fade Braid is the best braid out there. 

Really like this braid too.