Do any of you gurus use braided line? Or is the stretch of mono needed to ensure you don't rip lips? I am asking because I am in south LA and the sac-a-lait will hit after I jig the cork and then slowly drag it under. Do I need braid in this situation if I'm missing fish?

I caught over 400 last year and want to catch more this year, just getting prepared. Thanks ahead of time for the replies.

Cbob, I converted from the 'dark green' side a few years ago and haven't used braid since. I feel it has a good place on the other side but, don't see the need with crappie...and that is not a universal sentiment.
Do I miss an occasional bite? Yep, sure do...but, don't blame it on the line..it's the line jerker...ME to blame. If you are paying attention to your equipment, I don't see why you need a non stretch line and prefer the give that mono gives us.

Use the braid line so you want have to mess with line memory and you will feel the slightest tap on braid.There is no way you will jerk the lips off a crappie I really dont know how they got that rep.Now go catch 800 that will make a good start.Ha Darrell

I use braid on some of my poles for the reasons DW mentioned and when I set the hook I try to turn em inside out, havent ripped any lips. The sides of the mouth may be soft, but the top of it is where you stick them most of the time and it can handle it!

Type of line may not matter. Keeping the slack out of the line and having a long rod (8ft+) to take up the slack quickly will help when fishing with a cork.

i have had braid on my long pole with a float for 15 or so years and it seems smooth to me ......the new braid on the pole with the reel seems smooth also .....i do fish a float some for crappie in farm ponds and i think some of the misses cant be avoided due to time lapse from fish hit to hook set,,,,,thats just my opinion
but then again i aint no guru either

I use braid line all the time and I set the hook with the same speed as if answering a phone. Has worked for me for years,

Reggie

I use 10# braid on all my poles (except dock shooter) with an 18" 12# mono leader. I've been known to set the hook a little fast and have never (to my knowledge) lost a crappie because of the braid. I like it because I don't have to mess with line memory or twists.

Guy is the mono leader to reduce visability of the braid?
Just curious. And why so strong braid and leader?

10# Fireline w/ 8# fluoro leader for me.

i use 30 and 40 lb braid with 8 lb leader. the thicker braid keeps it from wrapping around the end of the rod as much.

I also use braid with a leader. I attach the leader to the braid with a very small (#12) swivel. Lots easier than tying two lines together.

I'm not sure the leader helps get more strikes or not since I still catch a lot without it but why take a chance.

Thanks for all of the answers! I love this place. And the braid is being added today, with a leader. I really like that idea. Now I feel stupid because I always add a leader to my braid for the big green monsters, but never thought of it for slab bust'in. Appreciate all of the responses. Tight lines to all.

I don't know if the leader makes any difference to the fish or not, but it does to me (confidence).

With the combo that I use, I break off lots less jigs.

20# braid with a slip wt above a swivel and 6# mono leader works great. If you get hung up, nothing is lost except the hook or jig. Biggest issue with braid is getting it wrapped around the end of the rod. Biggest advantage is little if any memory.