I have a couple of my reels spooled with braid and I know the most common way to throw them around grass is with braid to rip free from the grass, now do guys attach a leader of some sort?

Or does it not matter since its a reaction bait anyway?

I'd recommend staying away from the braid all together and going to 17 or 20 lb fluorocarbon. The braid will cost you bites here.

Why do you say that?

Do you think they can see the line?

i was thinking if it was a visibility thing, I could just use a fluoro leader?

It's not going to be visibility. The only thing it could be is the sound of the braid or the fish throwing the bait.

Jack-
On braid you have a tendincy to pull the trap out of the fishes mouth on the initial strike. You need a little stretch or give in the line. With floro or mono, you have that little stretch that allows the bait to stay hooked up better.
But Jason is very correct, 17 to 20 lbs. floro or mono.

I'm not sure that it's so much that they see it, but I believe that they hear it or feel it. There is zero doubt in my mind that braided line will cost you bites on Lake Fork. I've seen it too many times with clients who bring braid. I'll loan them a reel with fluoro or mono and they'll start catching fish. And that goes for any technique - not just moving baits.

so with that said is the best method to maybe just tick the grass, or just burn it over the top?

I wouldnt want to rip it through with fluoro or mono.

thanks

IF you want a trap to run high in the water column, use heavier 20lb & up mono, lower in WC then use lighter mono, or light flourocarban, it definetly makes a difference at the depth they run.

It depends on the day. Some days you just want to tick it, but some days, you HAVE to rip it. The fluorocarbon allows you to rip it pretty easily because it has a lot less stretch than your average mono. If you're having problems ripping it with fluorocarbon, you might need to switch rods. I throw mine on a G. Loomis BCR893 which was designed for Senkos. It's a 7' 5" medium heavy rod with an extra fast tip. The soft tip keeps them from throwing the bait and the back bone this rod has allows me to rip the grass more easily. The length adds to my casting distance. I'm not saying you need to go buy an 893, I'm just giving and example of the type of rod I use for this technique.

Jason have you tried the CBR906 for traps??? Just curious. Thanks.

Yes, and I like the rod. But, I like the longer handle of the 893. The rods are very similar in action, but the 893 has a longer handle than the 906. Plus, once trap season is over, my 893 with GLX blank can do what it was designed to do and that's catching fish on a Senko!!!!

I did not like the 906 so I got rid of it. The handle was too short for me. I have an 864 which is also designed for senkos. Do you think it would have enough flex? What type of cover do you throw the 893 in? Is it more for lighter applications? take care.

randy

The 864 is one of my favorite rods, and I use it for just about everything, but it's a little stiffer than I like for throwing traps. I've tried it quite a bit and I have problems with fish pulling off. The 893 has a super soft, extra fast tip which gives perfectly to keep those fish buttoned up.

I throw the 893 and 864 in the same type of cover (i.e. grass and stumps), but I tend to throw a little lighter line on the 893 than the I do with the 864. And, I always use the 864 when I'm throwing a the bigger 6" and 7" stickbaits.

I have seen for a fact that at times braid will limit your bites with soft plastics but didn't know that it would also do that with moving baits, especially the trap since it is moving at a pretty fast pace.