The Truth About Braided Lines
by Jim Saric
The new polyethylene braided fishing are touted as revolutionized fishing. Having fished with several braided extensively, I thought I would pass on some ideas on their true use and limitations.
When utilized in the proper situations, these new line definitely will put more fish in the boat. Used improperly, however, they may actually hamper fishing success.
I have used DuPont Kevlar extensively and am amazed at many of its properties. Kevlar is made of a tightly woven braid consisting of 4-12 strands called "carriers." Each of these carriers is composed of 134 smaller Kevlar fibers. Kevlar, like most of the other braided lines, has almost no stretch and an incredibly thin diameter. For example 70-pound Kevlar has the diameter of 17-pound monofilament.
Kevlar also has incredible strength, giving it incredible hooksetting power, increased sensitivity, and the ability to increase line capacity on many reels.
Tackle Adjustments
Probably the biggest adjustment to fishing with the new braided lines is the need to consider the increased shock on the rod, reel, and hooks at the time of the hookset.
My friend Joe Bucher did some experimenting on hooksetting power. He had someone hold a scale and tied 50-pound Magnathin to it. He then stood a cast length away from a scale and set the hook. The scale consistently read between 12 and 15 pounds on the hookset.
He did the same experiment using 70-pound Kevlar and found the scale read between 30 and 34 pounds. This clearly shows that hooksetting power is nearly doubled. It also shows how much more stress is put on your fishing equipment.
You can make a simple few tackle adjustments that will make the line more effective.
First replace any thin-wire hooks with heavier, extra-strong ones. I have noticed that when musky and pike fishing the hooks bent almost immediately on the hookset and I lost several fish. I changed to heavier Mustad hooks and immediately boated more fish.
Rod selection is also important. A slightly softer rod tip is necessary. The advantage of a no-stretch line is increased feel, the disadvantage is that mistakes are magnified. If the line has no stretch and the rod tip is not bent when a fish is at boatside, the fish gains greater leverage and has a better chance of getting off.
Select a rod with a softer tip to accommodate for the loss of stretch. Also set your reel with a slightly reduced drag to avoid the hook pulling free during a last-second power run from a big fish.
Finally, tie a proper knot and re-tie whenever the line begins to fray. This is a good policy with any line, but it's especially important with braided line. Luckily, any fray in these new braided lines is quite apparent.
Applications
I have found that the new braided lines are outstanding when musky fishing with jerkbaits. They really increase the diving or gliding action of these baits with little work from the rod tip. You have more control of the jerkbait and can detect strikes much quicker, which results in more muskies boated.
When fishing large crankbaits around cover, the low-stretch line makes it much easier to work the lure around weeds, rocks, or wood. The increased sensitivity also helped greatly when night fishing. You can feel every vibration of the crankbait or the blade spinning on a bucktail, and you can detect strikes more easily.
When walleye fishing, the braided line worked very well when fishing with bottom bouncers. Attach the Kevlar to a bottom bouncer and then attach a spinner rig or some other live-bait combination.
If you are concerned about the color of the braided lines, take a marker and color the lower two feet black. This works for several hours and can increase confidence.
Braided lines are not the answer for all fishing situations. When using finesse techniques in clear water I still prefer low-visibility lines such as Magnathin to make a presentation look as natural as possible. There are also times when jig fishing where it is more important to "see" the strikes and determine when the jig is on bottom. This is when I use a high-visibility line such as Stren.
The new braided lines are indeed a revolution in fishing lines, but they have their time and place. They are an advanced tool that can help when applied correctly.
