I'm getting back to baitcasting which I haven't done for a while. I used to use monofilament in the 12 to 14 lb range. I want to switch to the new braided lines but they are much thinner diameter. If I stay with the same diameter as the mono the braided lines are about 50 lb test which is way too heavy for the bass and pike fishing I intend to do. If I use 20 or 30 lb braid will I have problems with backlashes or having the line dig into itself on the spool?

Thanks for your help.

Depends on the reel. The thinner braids tend to be more willing to over spool.backlash...however if you have a really good reel that has better than average spool control, you can prevent quite a bit of it. The other is you learning to cast it....it's a different feel to cast and handling....for the average I use 35-40pd for local fishing and works very well....handles really good (PowerPro). 65 when out west on the rio grande for the big girls....you just have to develope a feel for which ever you choose....but a good reel makes a lot of diff up front.....I use Revo and they are great. Good luck!

I switched from mono to braid on my baitcasters a few years back. Yep I had the same question because thats what I used originally was 20 lb test mono. I can safely say I now use 20 lb test braid with absolutely no problems on all my baitcasters and spinning reels. It really casts nice and very sensitive. You can feel a lot more with braid. Plus it has little or no memory and does not stretch, so it is very consistent. It does sink though. There is a little technique to it and you have to get some casting time in on it to be totally comfortable. On baitcasters you need to adjust the spool tension so that when you press the thumb release, the bait slowly drops easy. Too loose and you will get more backlash and too tight you will restrict the cast distance. This is important. I use Power Pro dark green. When I crappie fish with spinning reels I use Power Pro yellow. One other important thing......I have never been able to use it on a closed face reel. It will bind up on the spool. Also get a small pair of scissors to cut it.

I find that I am more conscious of where I set my drag, and set them a little looser on reels with braid on them, this helps fight the digging in problem. I also spool them very tightly, using a spooling station and setting the tension so that I have to crank down on the drag to pull the line off the filler spool.

I also have found that I use more brakes when casting braid then mono, probably because of the thinner diameter. I've been using Pro Qualifiers and H20 Metals with braid and have actually noticed less back lashes with them with braid then with lighter mono line, go figure.

I also run 20 to 40lb braids, since I mainly fish salt water, I like the extra line capacity I get using braids over mono on low profile reels.

I have switch almost all of my freshwater reels to braid when re-spooling them I love it and after getting used to it have no problems at all, I love Sufix 832 green 50-65, saltwater I still use mono on most reels except my big ones then use a mono topshot.
PF hope your feeling better!

I am 95% braid on all my reels - BUT I got rid of all the powerpro braid that I had because power pro is VERY bad about digging into itself which can cause some nasty backlashes. I now only buy the power pro 8 super slick because it is a more rounded braid and I am not sure what that coating is but you absolutely can not hear it going throught the guides. Never digs into itself. I prefer using the 20 or 30 pound braid and kind of funny buy I am starting to like the timber brown color. I use the 65# for flipping and frogging. Like everyone else has already said, if you get your casting adj set right, it is just sweet all the way. Just my 2 cents worth.

Thanks for all your advice guys! I put some 30 lb braid on one of my reels and went to a nearby lake. It worked out really (reely?) well. It casts beautifully even with the cast control backed almost all the way off, just short of freespool. I think I'm going to like using braid; we'll see how the fish like it.

I use power pro red 50 lbs for my buzzbaits and frogs, and floro for everything else

Can't stand braid

I use 30# PowerPro on all my baitcasters and I haven't had any problems with increased backlashes. I tighten the spool to limit free spin and adjust the magnets. I adjust as needed for the weight of the lure, heavier lures get a slightly tighter spool and lighter lures get a slightly looser spool and everything works out well.

Braid is great for many things but there is definitely a learning curve to using it. It is really slippery so some knots don't work well. The palomar and double five turn uni work for me for terminal connections. If you want to use a mono leader, braid to mono knots can be challenging. I still have not found one that I'm completely satisfied with, and an online search will result in about fifty different knots. On my surf rigs, I use a swivel to connect braid to mono.

Other things: for identical line pound test
Braid is less abrasion resistant than mono
Braid floats, but lures tend to run deeper due to thinner diameter
Braid is less impact resistant because it doesn't stretch as much

Much of this is irrelevant if you are using 20 to 30 (or more) pound braid to make one-handed casts to fish that will not exceed the test of the line, but becomes much more important if you are going after bigger fish or using lighter pound test.

I love braid for what it is good at (sensitivity, casting distance), but hate the fish lost due to ignoring the downsides (knot holding, impact/abrasion resistance) which are consequences of its good qualities.

All these above are good comments. Used it, like it, but dont use much of it. Use it on my girls stuff because they get caught up a lot, and with 20lbs line they can usualy pull it free. As for me; the only rods I use it on is for cranking hogs out of reeds, pads, and brush on east texas lakes.