The Biggest Baitcasting Reel MISTAKE (When Using Braided Line) (2024)

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Martin Epperly

3 months ago

Yep you will run into issues with thin line, even on spinning reels. Wind knots tend to happen more with thin line on spinning reels, but casting distance is much better with thin line. With bait casters, the spool is what lets the line out, as opposed to a spinning reel where the line has to unravel itself. So you can get away with thicker line on bait casters without affecting casting distance much.

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Fredrick Johnson

8 months ago

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Jamesnn

8 months ago

On bait casters why waste braid on totally using it, or where I have seen put a token amount of mono on, then braid? Why not fill it with mono, last 50-65 yard with braid.

You do have to shuffle it.

I have 2 old reels for this. First just taping the braid on, loading 65 yards, then fill with mono.

I then transfer it to an old saltwater reel, then to another, now the mono is on top. I simply attach it to the bait casters and wind it on, mono, then braid.

If an average cast is 30 yards or so, seems silly to waste braid that is just never used.

I add a 30 LB mono leader of about 15 feet, to the 40 lb braid, like fly fishing I may step down smaller diameters if needed with the leader.

I am just not trying to cast 100 yards plus with a bait caster.

Basically I only use 40/30 pounds for hang ups.

It’s always ideal to fill a good amount of the spool with mono and then the rest with braid. I would say at least 75yds of braid – that way if you do hook into something decent and it pulls drag you have some extra braid to be pulled out. You never really want to have to fight a fish with your mono backing out.

Braid lasts much longer than mono and doesn’t stretch. The longevity of braid makes it cheaper than mono too.

Guest

GPCobb

1 year ago

It all fairness, this article was published in 2020

I appreciate the feedback! Light line and casting is great, no question about that, but landing a fish in a reasonable amount of time you will have that thin line digging into the spool like a hot knife in butter. Also, beginners transitioning over to bait casters will have a much more difficult time than those who are more familiar with bait casting reels. Highly suggest watching the video!

Now put that line on a reel that isn’t designed for BFS fishing and throw some heavy lures and see what happens. The problem isn’t the article not being “up to speed” the problem is you’re comparing apples to oranges.

Just shows that you’ve never brought in a nice fish that peels drag, and tried to cast right after…

Guest

Daniel Fonvielle

1 year ago

Thanks for sharing the info Daniel!

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Mat

2 years ago

Hey Luke,

I have a question regarding the FG Knot for Braid to Mono Leader. I’ve seen your recommendation that the FG Knot is preferred/recommended for tying a braided line to a stronger mono/fluoro leader. Is “stronger” referring to line rating (eg. 15 lb braid to 20 lb mono) or line diameter (eg. 30 lb PowerPro with 0.28 mm line diameter to 20 lb mono with 0.45 mm line diameter)? I use a baitcasting reel so I am limited to minimum diameter of my main line. I generally do not like going much smaller than 30 lb braid (30-40 lb is my sweet spot for castability as well as preventing the line from digging into the spool). I usually use 20 lb mono leader. Would the FG knot be appropriate in this situation or would I be better off using something like the Doubled-Over Double Uni Knot? Thanks so much for all the help and educational fishing info you all provide.

God Bless!

Reply to Mat

Albright is easier, never had one pull through with 12-15 wrapps

Reply to Mat

Guest

andy

2 years ago

I would maybe bump down to 30lb braid. It is still plenty strong for surf fishing but a little thinner so it doesn’t catch in the current like a heavier braid would.

Guest

E L

2 years ago

Reply to E L

Thank you for the great feedback and info!

Member

Bob Shepard

3 years ago

As a general recommendation–20 pound braid or higher–I tend to agree. I would though further clarify.

I select 10-pound braid for my baitcasters because of: 1) casting distance, 2) incredible strength for pulling fish out of cover, and 3) its nimbleness, i.e. does not interfere with bait action (watch a live shrimp hooked with 10 pound braid vs 15-pound fluorocarbon.) 10-pound braid is not problem free, but one can learn to manage the problems.

Take snap-offs–the line breaks while the bait is in flight to splash down–as an example. Snap-offs occur when line is no longer flowing freely off the spool because of 1) reel backlashes, or more rarely, 2) the line is buried deeply into the spool. Snap-offs will encourage one to learn how to tune the system to avoid backlashes. It also encourages one to recognize conditions that lead to line burying itself in the spool and taking corrective action by manually stripping line off the spool before making the next cast.

Snap-offs always result in loss of bait, which can get expensive.

Can one experience a backlash without actually having the line break? Yes. It is highly correlated with weight of the bait. I have found snap-offs do not occur when using 10-pound braid and a bait weight of 1/4-ounce. Similarly, a 1/2-ounce weight requires 20-pound braid and a 1-ounce weight requires 40-pound braid. This rule of thumb has worked for me 90% of the time.

But one other word of caution. I have noticed braid frays over time with repeated in-flight stoppages, no matter the braid line strength. The fray is typically midway between the reel and bait and is only found while retrieving the bait. It is easily repaired with a double uni knot, but if unnoticed will result in line breakage during the next battle.

One has to want to fish with braid in order to tolerate its imperfections, and 10-pound is particularly difficult to master on a baitcaster throwing light weight baits. Some are up for the challenge.

Thank you for the excellent info Bob!

10 lb. and under is the most fun, adjust your reel for it, enjoy the fight. As Andy says when you can skip a baitcaster out of sight under a dock it don’t get much better than this.

Member

Thom Ray

3 years ago