Hey tumater. I don't use a shock leader but I used to cut my finger casting method with braid. My solution is to tighten up my drag to prevent any slippage of the braid and also sometimes I wrap my casting finger in duct tape which I have handy to mark distances in my reel. I know you've moved to the shock leader, but if you ever find your finger on the braid again, this might help you to cast.

Yes Nick you are spot on about tightening up the drag before you cast.I only learned this recently after to many finger slices.Even with Mono leader it still is important I have found.With the drag tight you can get away with about 80% casting effort on 50lb powerpro or 40lb.The 30lb stuff is pretty thin though. This tightening up of the drag before casting is why I would like to get a quick drag system like on the new diawa windcast Z reels.I think I could live without baitrunner function.Sometimes I find nicks on my leader and I cut them off while fishing and go with an old leather glove but would like to get a real fingerstall.Even with a rod that is a little wimpy for method fishing I feel like I can really lay into it and get good distance.I feel the aerodynamics of the method is the real limiting factor.I have been experimenting with missile shaped method.Anyone used braid on the diawa windcast Z reels? I think Keith uses emblems or another diawa.My house will be up for sell soon and if all goes well I would like a new reel for braid.I know a lot of guys like the shimanos.

I have a windcast on my marker rod and I have to admit that it's not bad but it's not my favorite, I really don't like how flimsy it feels for how much it costs, especially the handle. I used to have a set of Daiwa Emcast Plus 5000s as my main reels(now my backups) that I absolutely love. They are true workhorses and they cast pretty well, especially with braid. You can also easily convert them to QD without paying for the expensive caps and stuff, i'll find the video but it's super simple and they lock up tight with a half a turn of drag. Right now i'm using Daiwa Tournament S5000T's and they are absolutely flawless, true workhorses, but they are just expensive. You get what you pay for on most of these reels.

As far as spooling up I do exactly what Shane(UKCarper) does. There's really no need for any more than 300 yards of braid to be on your reels, it's just a waste of money. I use 20lb mono for backing, easier using less of a large diameter line than more of something like 8lb with a tiny diameter. Also, as mentioned already, there's seriously no need to use braid more than 30lb. If you're breaking 30lb braid off on fish you've got bad line, bad knots, or some other problem.

Yea 30lb is overkill strenghtwise. I think the video you are talking about is the one with the spring removal trick maybe.My only reason to upgrade really would be for more distance. Do you think the tapered spool on the windcast helps with distance? It looks like the emcast doesnt have a tapered spool by looking at the pictures.Also there is the crosscast X which has 2 less ball bearings than the Z a slightly different handle and retails for $119.It still has 5 ball bearings.

I was a great fan of PP until, I found the Suffix 832.
The 832 is light years ahead of the PP, but it still has the main problem of braid "slow sinking!"
I found myself recently going back to nylon on some occasions.
1. Heavy side winds
2. Any heavy winds on large lakes.

I have found the Bass pro line to be very good and cheap, also in timber I use the Rod Hutchinson's Saber Skyline in the heavier breaking strains.

A good trick
4500 emblem pro spools 300 yards 40 braid
5000 emblem pro spools 300 yards 50 braid
5500 emblem pro spools 300 yards 65 braid

Rich i thought nylon catches side wind easier? I still have not decided to make the switch yet, i really have few complaints with the Trilene Big Game in 12 lb test, but i thought braid might be something to consider.

Hi Stephen, We use 65lb Power Pro on the main river due to the rocky bottom, and other snags, we use 50 lb Whiplash Pro in the bays where you have sandy or soft clay bottom. Whiplash pro is much softer and gives you an extra 15/20 yards on the cast.. Pour water.on the line before a cast, it helps if braid is kept wet.i see one of your guys here casts 150yards, that's impressive, with a 4 oz zip and the 50lb braid and a pva stick, I hit around 100yards, it's always mono for me in the UK, have had many 40's on 12lb mono, but then they don't try to drag you into the water like CAnadian carp do.

I don't feel nylon catches the wind more than braid, the main thing to do is put a finger on your spool the second that your rig hits the water. I use lots of pack baits that break very quickly and I can't allow any movement once the rig hits the bottom.

People use heavier braid for abrasion resistance not for a straight line pull. I have never found the need to drop below 40 lbs.

Once I started pulling in Carp>35, Buffs>40, Cats>40, etc, I've been using 65lb Power Pro on the main line and have never looked back. I have zero problems with distance casting on my Shimano Thunnus reels.

I just ordered 1500 yards of PP 30#. Should I use a backer AND a shock leader?

If my PP is 30#, what # test mono should I have on my shock leader?

A minimum of 20lb Ted.The 30lb powerpro is very thin and may bite into your shock leader a bit more than the 40lb or 50lb powerpro, ,and possibly reduce the knot strength.I have yet to break at the knot powerpro tied to 20lb big game on the cast tied with a double nail knot using my baiting neddle.It takes time to really perfect the knot but it has small diameter and great strength and durability.I have used all power pro with this knot.If you use the powerpro on an okuma reel I think you will have more wind knots than some of the top of the line reels.I still get them about every other outing.so I like the 40lb for easy knot removal.Definitely use a backer if you care about money, if not don't, at least 150-200yards powerpro fror good results.

I use big game as my backing. 20lb so it takes less of it to fill the spool than using a ton of light line

You don't need a shock leader. Seriously. If you are worried about casting just remember to absolutely lock down your drag before you cast. If you still have issues, wrap your finger in electrical tape or buy a finger stall. I fish at 130 yards out quite often casting 4oz leads and I never use a stall, just prevent the line from slipping and you should be good.

I really don't like having a weak link between the leadcore and the main line. If anything breaks, i'd much rather my hooklink break than anything else, especially in snags where the fish may be trailing with the whole rig, lead and all, plus a load of shock leader that may catch on something and tether the fish there.

I just do braid straight to a leadcore leader connected to my rig. Braid takes playing the fish light on the drag in order not to pull hooks but just be careful and don't lock up, let the fish run

Lock up the drag like Austin says and you could get away without leader but leader will allow you to play the fish with a bit more tension if therre are snags around.If you get soft skin from method packing and get cuts use the finger stall.I have lost about 20 X more fish to snags than broken leader.The leader takes more effort to tie the knots and reduces casting distance about 8% and reduces feel of the bottom on lead hitting it on cast a bit.But when the fish are close to you that extra bit of stretch prevides more cushion.and also helps even at long distance especially when the big ones are headed for a snag, and you have to tighten down the drag to stop them.

Play the fish with the rod. If you are getting good hook holds, braid should be fine. I can really put tension on a fish with braid, more so than mono because there's no stretch. I use mono too, but I always feel sort of helpless, especially at long range, because the fish has the ability to move 5-6 feet even when i'm putting as much pressure as I can on it, which could mean the difference between the fish hitting a snag and putting the fish on the bank

With a 15' to 30' mono leader like I and Keith use the stretch is in inches not feet like using mono mainline.With mono mainline the stretch is in feet.Those inches allow a great cushion to stop the fish without a hookpull.