Super Braids,The New Breed of Lines
by Skip DeBari
Author with a nice late season bass.
For the past three years, I have been using 10 to 20 pound Berkley Fireline with good results. It is composed of unbraided filaments that are fused together, it's much thinner and has far less stretch than mono. This allows it to cast much farther than mono and its thin diameter and limpness works very well with small lures. For example, 20 pound Fireline has the equivalent diameter of 8 pound mono and probably casts the same distance as 10 or 12 pound mono. During onshore blows, it cuts through the wind and waves better than mono, but the advantages are less apparent. It's great for fishing jigs in deep water. Low stretch means amazing sensitivity: you feel the plugs vibrations, the jig bouncing bottom, or the fish bumping your plug.
Braided line has other characteristics that are different than mono. I noticed when I first started using it, I lost a lot of fish on surface plugs. Perhaps I was afraid to strike hard or the lack of stretch was tearing the hooks out of the fish. On the Internet, I read the suggestion that because of the low stretch, fish may not be inhaling the plugs deeply enough. My hookup/landed ratio has improved as I have used braided lines. Maybe it is because I am getting more familiar with the properties of braids. Also, the low line stretch is rougher on terminal tackle, so reduce your drag with light hooks.
I've also noticed that due to lack of stretch, the drag can slip slightly when casting heavy three ounce lures, reducing casting distance. Using heavier braids (25 lb.+), with their heavier drag settings, may cure this. I've also found that wind resistant metal lipped plugs tend to foul more when casting into an onshore wind. Poppers seem to get jerked out of the water easier due to the lack of stretch, thus are harder to work. You need much less rod action to work a pencil popper and it's possible to use smaller pencil poppers with heavier tackle more easily. Some anglers tie 10 to 14 pound Fireline directly to their lures when fishing for false albacore, because it has low visibility for a solid color line due to its thin diameter.
Unlike mono, Fireline is unaffected by sunlight, and stands up to wear and tear better than mono. Unless abraded by rocks, a spool can last you all season, several times longer than mono. With use, some of the black color rubs off and the line gets " fuzzy looking" as it wears. Frays are harder to feel, but easier to see. Guide wear is worse than with mono, bit ceramic guides hold up well. The rougher surface of Fireline seems to pick up more debris on weedy days and stir up more bioluminescence at night. These are times when you may not want to use braids. Also, because of the difference in line diameters and limpness, droppers may tangle with the Fireline more often. A shorter or heavier dropper leader will help.
There have been mixed reports on braided line’s abrasion resistance, but I feel it's better than mono, particularly in heavier pound tests (abrasion resistance based on the same diameter, is much better in braids). Braids tangle far less often than mono, but if a wind knot tightens down, it's impossible to untie and the line will cut thru itself (always carry an extra spool). This may happen 2 or 3 times a year if you fish a lot. The new non-twist reels, or a manual bail will cut down on tangles. When casting, flip the bail over by hand after the cast to reduce the chance and wind knots. The line can dig into itself on the spool or tangle if not wound onto the reel tightly (onshore winds, light lures, slow moving live eels and the stop and go when working poppers can cause slack). If you should notice loose line coils, run the line thru your hand to add tension during the retrieve every few casts (a good idea with mono too).
Be sure to use mono backing under the Fire line. If wound directly on the spool, the Fireline will slide around the spool. I like to put 150 to 200 yards of Fireline on top of the mono, this leaves some room for break offs, and the connecting knot (positioned at the base of the spool) doesn't interfere with the cast. The best way to add the proper amount of backing is to wind the Fireline on first, fill the spool with mono backing, and reverse the line onto a second identical spool. You can then judge by eye, or mark the backing location on the spool the next time you replace your line. If you know how many yards of backing it takes to fill the whole spool, you can use this formula: # of yards of Fireline you want to put on, times the Fireline's equivalent to mono diameter (pound test), divided by the mono backing's diameter(pound test) = the Fireline’s equivalent in mono backing yardage. Subtract this from the total amount of mono it would take to fill the spool and you will have a good backing estimate (add some more backing, because thinner lines can pack down tighter).
EXAMPLE: if you know that your spool holds 200 yds of 30 lb. Mono when full, and you want to put 200 yds of 30 lb. Fireline (12 lb mono dia.) on the spool: 200 X 12, divided by 30 equals 80. Subtract 80 from 200 yards of mono and you have 120 yds of mono backing, I'd add another 10 yds of backing, because smaller diameters can fit closer together, thus taking up less equivalent space, so I would add 130 yds of backing under 200 yds of 30 lb fireline to fill the spool.
I use the Yucatan or no name knot to join the lines. I've tried variations of the blood knot, uni knot, surgeons knot and the Yucatan knot (haven't tried the albright or super glue) to tie the line to a mono leader. Because of the difference in diameter, it may take two or three attempts to get the knot right. My knots didn't holdup to the rigors of casting and needed to be retied often. Some of the angler's on the Internet may have found a good way to add a shock leader (which would add some stretch to the system), but I tie directly to a swivel + mono leader or to the lure with a palomar knot. Attached to metal, Fireline knots hold up better than knots in mono.
I have also had very good results using 25 lb. Cabela's Ripcord SI in place of 15 lb. mono, and I've heard some good reports on Magibraid and Whiplash brands too. For durability, casting distance and sensitivity, braids can't be beat!