04-03-2019, 04:12 PM
Your observations are pretty solid. Can't say anything about the line to line because I rarely do that unless I'm tying it to fly line, but the other aspects, I can add to.
Distance -
When braid is new and the eyelets on the rod are clean and smooth, I've noticed really good distance. I've noticed that it doesn't take very long (a few trips for me) for that micro braid to "micro fray". The tiny, almost microscopic hairlike strands that extend beyond the core of the main line can stick to each other on the spool.
Once that starts (it only takes a little bit of use), casting distance is reduced more and more. A hard cast can actually cause a knot to form on the spool as line tries to shoot, but grabs other coils and pulls them into others, making loops that cinch tightly and cause a real mess.
Floating -
I've found this to be both annoying and advantageous, depending on the place and way I'm fishing.
Pros: If I'm jigging in water that's only 20ft or less, I can use that floating line as an indicator of sorts. Getting used to the way it looks as the jig sinks (the bead at the point it submerges moves back toward the rod) allows me to quickly notice when that jig stops moving (bottom or bite) and react from a visual cue instead of the delay in feeling a hit, then reacting.
Cons: In deeper water, it's just tedious to try and watch that line for a longer sink, plus the surface tension of the water causes the jig/lure to travel back toward the rod more than usual, instead of a more preferred downward motion.
Opening the bale helps to keep "travel-back" at bay, but you are less likely to notice a strike on the drop.
Durability -
My personal observations show braid as being super tough at first, but quickly losing integrity once it reaches a certain point in its (short) life.
Different diameters and brands have a different life cycle, but at some point, the line seems to turn brittle and start snapping. It's never good to have a hookset turn into a break-off, or a cast for that matter. I've seen this more with braid than mono.
Take regular Fireline for example: it's thin and, to me, it looks kind of flat instead of round. After some use, pinching the line together to get through a hook eye (palomar knot) usually exposes strands that are visible.
Fireline Crystal seems to be a bit better and rounder than the normal variety, or at least, that's what I've noted. Still, there's a huge difference between 4lb Crystal and 6lb Crystal in strength, shape, and performance.
I'll take the 6 if I'm buying braid, but I'd still prefer mono. The fish seem to bite my stuff more on mono as well (just not lately LOL).
In the end, I'm not a big fan of braid.
[signature]
Distance -
When braid is new and the eyelets on the rod are clean and smooth, I've noticed really good distance. I've noticed that it doesn't take very long (a few trips for me) for that micro braid to "micro fray". The tiny, almost microscopic hairlike strands that extend beyond the core of the main line can stick to each other on the spool.
Once that starts (it only takes a little bit of use), casting distance is reduced more and more. A hard cast can actually cause a knot to form on the spool as line tries to shoot, but grabs other coils and pulls them into others, making loops that cinch tightly and cause a real mess.
Floating -
I've found this to be both annoying and advantageous, depending on the place and way I'm fishing.
Pros: If I'm jigging in water that's only 20ft or less, I can use that floating line as an indicator of sorts. Getting used to the way it looks as the jig sinks (the bead at the point it submerges moves back toward the rod) allows me to quickly notice when that jig stops moving (bottom or bite) and react from a visual cue instead of the delay in feeling a hit, then reacting.
Cons: In deeper water, it's just tedious to try and watch that line for a longer sink, plus the surface tension of the water causes the jig/lure to travel back toward the rod more than usual, instead of a more preferred downward motion.
Opening the bale helps to keep "travel-back" at bay, but you are less likely to notice a strike on the drop.
Durability -
My personal observations show braid as being super tough at first, but quickly losing integrity once it reaches a certain point in its (short) life.
Different diameters and brands have a different life cycle, but at some point, the line seems to turn brittle and start snapping. It's never good to have a hookset turn into a break-off, or a cast for that matter. I've seen this more with braid than mono.
Take regular Fireline for example: it's thin and, to me, it looks kind of flat instead of round. After some use, pinching the line together to get through a hook eye (palomar knot) usually exposes strands that are visible.
Fireline Crystal seems to be a bit better and rounder than the normal variety, or at least, that's what I've noted. Still, there's a huge difference between 4lb Crystal and 6lb Crystal in strength, shape, and performance.
I'll take the 6 if I'm buying braid, but I'd still prefer mono. The fish seem to bite my stuff more on mono as well (just not lately LOL).
In the end, I'm not a big fan of braid.
[signature]