Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum and wanted to say hello! I'm writing from Italy, where bass fishing is growing but still a bit behind compared to the U.S. I've been following BassResource for a while and finally decided to join.

I fish mostly from the bank in small lakes and rivers here, and I use baitcasting gear most of the time.

I have a question that I hope some of you can help with:
Does anyone here use braid directly to the hook (without a fluorocarbon leader) for techniques like Texas rig, finesse, or even wacky rig—not just for topwater?

I know the common advice is to use a fluorocarbon leader for better stealth and abrasion resistance, but I’m wondering if anyone here just uses straight braid, and what their experience has been.
Do you notice fewer bites? Does it really matter in stained or murky water?

Looking forward to learning more from you all and hopefully sharing a bit of the Italian bass fishing scene too!

Tight lines,

ALFRED

Absolutely!  I like fishing straight braid for finesse and power fishing the bottom and for topwater when I'm fishing in vegetation.

 

In general I use big game for wood and rock and sparce vegetation and braid for frogs and buzzbaits and backing on spinning rods.

 

If I was going to fish in Florida for a couple weeks in May, I might only use braid on everything.

 

Some people fish braid for everything all the time because they simply prefer it.

 

Some say fish can see it in clear water but I haven't found that to matter much.

I use straight 30# braid for T-rigs, jigs, flukes, etc. I don't fish a lot of finesse the dog days of summer when I can't buy a bite. Then I will use something like a light Carolina rig or s splitshot rig. Then I will tie on a mono leader. I should point out that the water here is stained nearly year round. Also, I don't fish around rocks much.

 

I also have a rod that I use for big topwaters like the Whopper Plopper and lipless cranks that I use braid on. I just set the drag pretty loose and play the fish, using my thumb for drag sometimes. Braid is not the right line for this setup, but it casts so further than mono, covering more water. That's what these baits are for.

Thanks for the reply!

I've always wondered how much fish actually see fluorocarbon, and if it really makes a difference in how many bites you get—or if it mostly affects our confidence more than the fish's willingness to bite.

Do you ever use fluorocarbon at all, or do you just stick to braid and mono for most of your fishing?

Also, I’m curious—what brands of braid do you like best? I’ve tried a few, but I’m still searching for one that holds up well without digging into itself on the spool.

Thanks again!

1 hour ago, CRACKSI said:

I’m still searching for one that holds up well without digging into itself on the spool.

This may be related to the diameter of the braid as much or more than the manufacturer. I’ve found that 40lb braid and above is less likely to dig into itself. 
 

3 hours ago, CRACKSI said:

hopefully sharing a bit of the Italian bass

 

I hope you do! Really enjoyed my time in Tuscany (mostly waaaay out in the countryside) and would love to get on some bass whenever I go back. Where are the hot spots and how do you fish for them?

2 hours ago, CRACKSI said:

Thanks for the reply!

I've always wondered how much fish actually see fluorocarbon, and if it really makes a difference in how many bites you get—or if it mostly affects our confidence more than the fish's willingness to bite.

Do you ever use fluorocarbon at all, or do you just stick to braid and mono for most of your fishing?

Also, I’m curious—what brands of braid do you like best? I’ve tried a few, but I’m still searching for one that holds up well without digging into itself on the spool.

Thanks again!

 

You mentioned that the braid is digging in on the spool. 
 

You need to take the braid off and do one of two things. Either take a strip of electrical tape and wrap it around the spool or put just enough mono or fluoro on the spool to cover the spool. Then you just tie the braid to the backing. That will fix digging and the braid spinning on the spool. 

 

Fluoro sinks much better but if you are fishing shallow then it’s probably not a big deal. Braid will have a bow in the line as it sinks.

 

I personally believe that that Fluoro has better sensitivity on slack line but with braid you can see the strike and line movement better on slack line.

 

 

 

 

 

4 hours ago, CRACKSI said:

Thanks for the reply!

I've always wondered how much fish actually see fluorocarbon, and if it really makes a difference in how many bites you get—or if it mostly affects our confidence more than the fish's willingness to bite.

Do you ever use fluorocarbon at all, or do you just stick to braid and mono for most of your fishing?

Also, I’m curious—what brands of braid do you like best? I’ve tried a few, but I’m still searching for one that holds up well without digging into itself on the spool.

Thanks again!

I gave fluoro a try and hated it. It's strictly braid or mono for me. But as I mentioned, I don't fish deep. I settled on PowerPro 30# for baitcasting and 20# for spinning gear. Except I use 50# for frogs in heavy cover. I LOVE the way braid sings when you set the hook or when a big fish is taking drag. 😉

pumpkin lizards comment above.  I am not sure how mono backing will stop braid from digging into the spool.  

 

and I can wait to see pics of Italian bass!!!

19 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

pumpkin lizards comment above.  I am not sure how mono backing will stop braid from digging into the spool.  

 

and I can wait to see pics of Italian bass!!!

It delivers the same effect as putting on electrical tape. You tie the braid to the moon. The braid just needs something to bite into so that it won’t dig and slip. I usually use mono because I can never find my electrical tape. 
 

 

47 minutes ago, Pumpkin Lizard said:

It delivers the same effect as putting on electrical tape. You tie the braid to the moon. The braid just needs something to bite into so that it won’t dig and slip. I usually use mono because I can never find my electrical tape. 
 

 

yes.  that part I get.  but the part about how the braid buries and bites into the top part of the spool, I dont.   I think the OP is talking about the braid being so thin it bites back into the spool.  

 

not about slipping on the spool. 

22 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

yes.  that part I get.  but the part about how the braid buries and bites into the top part of the spool, I dont.   I think the OP is talking about the braid being so thin it bites back into the spool.  

 

not about slipping on the spool. 

It fixes both issues as far as I know. Because I forgot to do it last season and it spun and dug in on one of mine. 

Welcome to the forum!!

I used to use braid only for everything for years.

I do use a flouro leader on some presentations.

We have stained, tannic water here in South Florida so I used 832 in their brown/green camo.

Good stuff! 30 lb on baitcasters, 15 on spinning. Arbor knot and tape on the spool, no dig, no slip. Make sure you apply tension when spooling reel.

I am playing with straight braid, no leaders, this year. So far no issues catching.

 

I will say that you have to spool the braid very tightly onto the spool. If the line starts getting a little loose from fishing slack line presentation, I will throw out a lure and retrieve it steadily to get the line tight on the spool again. 

 

Currently using thin 4 strand 15lb on spinning and 30lb on casting, both in Grey colour. 

Was straight braid on baitcaster for years, still do but have added a fluro leader for some clearer water applications. T-rigs, swim jigs, spinnerbait all are straight 30lb Power Pro green and hi-viz green Suffix 15lb on spinning with a fluro leader for finesse setups.

Howdy and welcome.

 

I use straight braid for texas rigs on spinning gear. I don't have any problems getting bit with it.

 

I got this guy a couple years ago on a texas rigged Zoom Fat Albert grub, on straight braid.

Sufix 832 Hi Vis Yellow.

15# for small baits.

30# for most everything.

40# for frogs.

The only exception to the braid is that I use thick (25#) mono for squarebills.

I use a sharpie to color 3 feet of the line (it's a mental thing).  My lakes are always dirty.

15 hours ago, Pumpkin Lizard said:

It fixes both issues as far as I know. Because I forgot to do it last season and it spun and dug in on one of mine. 

It doesn't have anything to do with the braid digging in. Slipping on the spool, yes.

29 minutes ago, rangerjockey said:

It doesn't have anything to do with the braid digging in. Slipping on the spool, yes.

The slipping causes the line to loosen which allows the line to dig in for sure.

Thanks so much to everyone for the kind and helpful replies—this forum is full of friendly and knowledgeable people, and I really appreciate it!

If any of you ever find yourselves in Italy, I’d be happy to share a fishing day with you. We’ve got some beautiful places for bass fishing here—like Lake Coghinas in Sardinia or Lake Bracciano near Rome in the Lazio region. The scenery is amazing, and the bass can be pretty fun too!

Tight lines to all, and thanks again for the warm welcome.

So from what you’re all saying, it seems like bass usually can’t see braid—or at least it doesn’t bother them enough to affect the bite, except maybe in rare situations.

Which makes me wonder… is the whole “fluorocarbon is invisible” thing actually overrated for our kind of fishing?

Personally, I don’t really like fluoro if it’s not truly necessary, I’d be happy to stick with braid most of the time.

What do you all think? Are there situations where fluorocarbon really shines, or is it more about angler confidence than fish behavior?

6 minutes ago, CRACKSI said:

Thanks so much to everyone for the kind and helpful replies—this forum is full of friendly and knowledgeable people, and I really appreciate it!

If any of you ever find yourselves in Italy, I’d be happy to share a fishing day with you. We’ve got some beautiful places for bass fishing here—like Lake Coghinas in Sardinia or Lake Bracciano near Rome in the Lazio region. The scenery is amazing, and the bass can be pretty fun too!

Tight lines to all, and thanks again for the warm welcome.

So from what you’re all saying, it seems like bass usually can’t see braid—or at least it doesn’t bother them enough to affect the bite, except maybe in rare situations.

Which makes me wonder… is the whole “fluorocarbon is invisible” thing actually overrated for our kind of fishing?

Personally, I don’t really like fluoro if it’s not truly necessary, I’d be happy to stick with braid most of the time.

What do you all think? Are there situations where fluorocarbon really shines, or is it more about angler confidence than fish behavior?

I think most of us get caught up in the over analysis trap. I know I do

 

But then I think, a bass will eat a crankbait or a jerkbait that has two - three metal treble hooks dangling from it or a plastic worm with a metal hook...yet we worry about line that is literally a fraction of a millimeter, the material of the line, the colour of the line, the refraction of light qualities of a type of line, etc.

 

We as Anglers are the ones getting caught by marketing hype and our own over analysis. For me personally, line type comes down to memory, stretch, and abrasion resistance. Then factoring in environmental conditions and rod action. I generally like braid and coploymer as it has a lot of the qualities I want in a line, including the cost factor. 

From the looks of the water you fish Fluro may be a benefit due to its better light refraction properties. The abrasion resistance of fluro is the greatest characteristic with better refraction quality are the main reasons to fish it. Additionally a “soaking bait” may benefit from the clearer line in clear water. The purpose of a fluro leader for many.

 

If you fish weeded waters it really doesn’t matter as fish see all kinds of water debris constantly and another thin, stringy line isn’t unusual.

 

Welcome to the site and it looks as though you have beautiful fishing environments. Nice Bass 👍🏼

56 minutes ago, CRACKSI said:

Thanks so much to everyone for the kind and helpful replies—this forum is full of friendly and knowledgeable people, and I really appreciate it!

If any of you ever find yourselves in Italy, I’d be happy to share a fishing day with you. We’ve got some beautiful places for bass fishing here—like Lake Coghinas in Sardinia or Lake Bracciano near Rome in the Lazio region. The scenery is amazing, and the bass can be pretty fun too!

Tight lines to all, and thanks again for the warm welcome.

So from what you’re all saying, it seems like bass usually can’t see braid—or at least it doesn’t bother them enough to affect the bite, except maybe in rare situations.

Which makes me wonder… is the whole “fluorocarbon is invisible” thing actually overrated for our kind of fishing?

Personally, I don’t really like fluoro if it’s not truly necessary, I’d be happy to stick with braid most of the time.

What do you all think? Are there situations where fluorocarbon really shines, or is it more about angler confidence than fish behavior?

The water you are in in that picture screams fluorocarbon to me. Or Braid to Fluorocarbon.

that is an awesome bass!!!  wow.

Welcome! From Fl.

With water as clear as what your in, why braid @ all??

I use braid allot with the vegetation here in Fl however braid is not a universal line.