Braided Line Recommendation

I'm an old school mono guy. Always have been. However, I have been fishing out of a kayak lately and I'm losing a few fish due to boat movement. I fish out of a Hobie Pro Angler 14, which is heavy in the kayak world, but it still gives a little on the hookset. This boat movement along with the natural stretch from the mono has resulted in a few lost fish (a couple of nice ones too!). So, its time for me to try braided line.

I did some reading on braid, but there is a ton of info out there (its a bit overwhelming) and much of what I'm seeing is clearly an advertisement disguised as an article. Saying this, I thought I'd ask yall for some help.

My primary rods are a 6-6 and 7-0 medium heavy, both fitted with Shimano DC 151's. I currently use 10lb and 12lb test mono. Knowing this, I hope you can help steer me in the right direction with the following questions:

1) What the best braid for my situation (brand, color, and test)?
2) How long of a leader is customary?
3) What is a good leader choice?

I'm not on a budget, I just want a good line that will cast well and hold a leader knot well.

Also, before anyone suggest that I use a longer rod... I cast a lot from a sitting position and the shorter rods allow me to be more accurate. I realize I'm giving up some hookest with the shorter rods... but I pick up more fish than I lose by being more accurate.

Thank you in advance for your advice!

I’m using Vicious 50lb no-fade braid moss green and it’s been the best casting braid that I’ve used and I usually use seaugur tatsu 15lb for a leader a couple feet in length tied to the braid with a FG knot

If you are using it as a “all-around” line, I’d look into PowerPros new 12 carrier braid. It’s supposedly “rounder” and fishes more like mono...with close to zero stretch. As for leader? I’d use something in fluorocarbon that has a slightly smaller diameter than the chosen braid weight. Say 30-50lb braid with 10-12lb leader. The length? Depends on the rod. I’d not make it longer than the length of the rod tip to reel level wind opening. Using a Alberto knot to attach the leader results in a minimal knot size, but it will still hang in the spool, so that’s my reasoning for the leader length. Also, this length will allow for cut-offs and reties, without having to retie the leader in the yak.

You have the right idea going to braid mainline from a kayak. From a kayak, you don’t have a lot of leverage on the hookset—braid mainline helps a lot

Use 5-10 yards of the mono already on the reel as backing. 3turns down 3turns up crazy/improved Alberto for the connection to braid mainline knot
40-50lb Power Pro mainline to 1/8th of an inch top of spool
7 turns down 7 turns up crazy/improved Alberto to 7 feet of leader
Pline CXX and Maxima Ultragreen in 12-15lb test for leader material

Tried several fluoros as leader, but too finicky for me to use unless on a very very clear lake.

I still have several spools of 65 # Lynch Line I use. NO STIFFNESS at all, but if the wind is blowing, you will get a bow in your line. GREAT stuff, if you can find it and the wind isn't blowing. One of the very FIRST braids. I use McCoys Mean Green as leader material. Anywhere from 10 to 20# test. I also tie a modified Improved Clench knot. 11 times around and back thru the hole twice. No breaks in several years with that. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

I’m using the Daiwa J 8 and I really like it. I hated the 4 strand braid that I was using. 8 strand is way smoother. I kayak fish sometimes also really helped jig fishing. I run a 6’ 20lb fluorocarbon leader when in clear water. Good luck

I'm a big fan of P-line TCB braid, usually 30 lb. test. TCB stands for Teflon Coated Braid. Very smooth, limp, and have never had a problem with it. I use a 3 ft. leader of 15 lb. P-line CX Premium blue/fluorescent copolymer. Main line and leader are joined with a uni to uni knot. The lakes I fish have fairly low visibility and these line diameters are not a problem.

The daiwa samurai is probably the best braid out there, only bummer is it only comes in green. I use the Daiwa j 8 in yellow or floro green when I want line I can see.

Thanks for the advice guys. This helps a lot.

Fins Windtamer has all but eliminated wind knots for me. I am braid to leader on everything from my Ned Rig to my swimbaits. I use the Lefty Kreh knot exclusively and have never had a braid to leader failure. You can tie it in 10 seconds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDxGy3Nld2g

Powerpro Maxcuatro is the best there is IMHO. Unfortunately the most expensive there is as well. 25%thinner by poundage than other brands including regular power pro. Does have a little texture but I dont hardly notice. All I use and will never go back to anything else.

You don't say what you are fishing with your two rods. If you are fishing moving baits, I would go with 20lb Sufix braid with about 3' of leader. If you are fishing deep cranks.. use Floro in 10lb or 12lb.. If you are fishing square bills that run shallow.. you can still use Mono for that leader. If one of your rods is used for a frog, or pitching of flipping.. 30 to 50lb braid in a dark color is appropriate, and depending on the water color, you don't have to use a leader at all. Hackney doesn't use a leader and does just fine. I have been pitching a creature bait on a shakey head jig using 15lb Sufix 832 in high viz yellow without a leader and gotten bitten a lot! I use an Alberto not for connecting braid to leader.. really easy to tie and is really strong.
Good luck
BD

Agree on the leader but it isnt worth trying to argue with everyone. Ive fished YELLOW braid in clear water for small mouth and got bit just as much as before my leader broke off. I do still generally use a leader though on my shakey head spinning rod etc as I like the sinking of the floro and having a little stretch.

I like Suffix 832

Diawa J Braid 8 strand...smooth as glass, strong as steel, and lasts even through the nicks and tough stuff.

For me...20 or 30 lbPower pro Quattro on heavier spinning reels...12lb. Berkeley Nanofil on light wt spinning reels...60 lb Sunline FX2 braid (green and blue) for flipping, buzzbaits and frogs( this line cuts through grass and pad stems when fighting fish)..

Googan Braid to Googan Floro. Leader should be at least a foot for every foot in water clarity.

Prior to about a month ago I'd have been on here singing the praises of Power Pro and how great its been for me. Snapped 65 lb braid on the hookset at least a dozen times recently. Thought I had a bad spool so I stripped everything and bought some new... exact same thing happened. Partner bought a new spool and had the same thing happen to him... all bought from different stores. Talking at weigh in 3 other anglers chimed in that they have had the same issues with Power Pro this year. I found an old spool with enough on it to string both my braid rods for now, but I'm also looking for a new braid. No idea what Power Pro has done but I cant go back to em... cost me to much money in lost fish and I now have ZERO confidence in it. I only use braid for heavy cover applications so castability doesn't make a difference to me.. will check on a few of the brands previously mentioned.

Is that a “Googan rule of thumb “?

Brah

I am a big Daiwa Samurai fan but I have been extremely impressed with the Sunline FX2 for froggin. this past year.

So which is better, Daiwa J Braid or Daiwa Samurai?

Forget the J braid.. tried the X8 in that hi-vis green and it completely turned one of my reels green after only a day.

Gave the X4 moss green a try on a Concept C, and my white reel is now dark green. [censored] that stuff.

Fins Windtamer all day long if you want good braid, or Suffix 832.

Samurai is not smooth, I use it on bait casters.

J braid is ultra smooth I use it on my spinning reels.

Samurai is the better of the two in my experience. Both are great but I prefer Samurai out of those two. Price wise Samurai costs more as well.

I cannot provide feedback on which is better...once I used J-braid I quit looking.

I'll be honest....if Mark Perry is recommending Samurai, I'd listen. He's clued me into more things than I care to admit.

Well, I made the switch to 30lb Suffix 832 with a 12lb mono leader.

It worked great... I hooked up 5 out of 6 hits this afternoon/evening. Largest was was only 17", but my hook-up ratio definitely improved. Thanks for all of the help!

i don't understand using braid with a leader...what is the leader for if you're using 30lb braid and 10lb leader???

The theory is the same justification for using floro for any application.. its not visible in water vs the higher visibility of braided line. There are other reasons.. all having to do with the features of floro line. I use leader on my drop shot rig, my deep crank rig, and I have used it on a shakey head jig.. but I have had success without it as well, with yellow Suffix 832, so I think there is room for discussion about whether leader makes a difference.

With braid as the mainline you get the benefits of improved line strength in small diameter, no line memory/doesn’t kink or coil, long casts, improved bite detection sensitivity, improved strength of hookset. Braid lasts a long time (don’t have to keep retying it or respooling it to keep it fresh).

With the leader, you get benefits of reduced line visibility near the lure and line stretchiness/forgiveness when the fish is close to the boat making its final surges/runs

+1

Use what Jean Wilson uses. Her track record is pretty impressive from her Jackson 'yak

Ok I tested out Samurai braid this past weekend and I really like it. I like it better then the Daiwa J braid.

Another vote for Suffix 832 here. 40-50lb test.

You asked for color as well...Lo-vis green

What is lo-vis green? I know that is what they call it but how exactly is it low -vis when the fish can easily see a watermelon colored worm.

Vicious 40 lb. no fade is amazing. Diameter is only .009. Casts great and has a round profile, so it doesn't dig in. It really doesn't fade, but that's just a bonus. It's pricey but you can find it for under $25 on ebay.