River ledgering - mono or braid

[chesters1]

Could braid vs mono be the angling version of brexit

Edited September 25, 2019 by chesters1

[BoldBear]

15 lb braid has an incredibly thin diameter which should be perfect for dink fishing.

Yes but if you use 15lb braid for a dink then:

 

(1) all the skill of playing and landing a fish has gone and you might as well just use a net to catch them.

 

(2) Ive seen Braid cut through the lips of larger Carp and also a Barbel when its been too thin and been handled a too hard; and both of these fish have leathery lips; which is one of the reasons that using it has been banned in a lot of places.

 

Thats just two of the many reasons why I myself no longer like using braid as a mainline.

 

Keith

Edited September 25, 2019 by BoldBear

[Phone]

All,

 

My first sentence in the last post was WRONG - I am NOT a fan of braid. Exactly opposite of what I wrote.

 

I will fish mono until I don't fish anymore. I have confidence I know what I'm doing with mono.

 

I agree with BoldBear, I too have seen fish damaged by the cutting effect of braid. In the US that's not a big deal. For the most part, our fish are not caught over and over. Nevertheless it is an issue - sort of a "tree hugger" issue - they are fish.

 

As for netting fish vs 15 lb line. I also agree - I prefer a level playing field. But "level" is defined by culture. Most "uppity" waters in the US you would be tared and feathered for chumming (unfair advantage) or shuffling whilst trotting (especially trout and salmon).

 

Phone

 

Do dink fishermen ever really concern themselves with the occasional missed fish because of line breaking strength? I thought it was an issue of line visibility. Of course if that were the case every dink fisherman would use fluorocarbon??

[Ken L]

I've caught a lot of big fish on braid, including lots of carp in the 30 to 50lb range and I've never once seen a fish cut by braid. I'm certainly not saying that it can't happen but I haven't seen it - but then, I don't use poker rods or brutalise fish.

[Tigger]

 

I've never seen fish cut with braid either but like you Ken, i'm not saying it doesn't happen, chances are it probably has, I just haven't witnessed it is all.

[Ken L]

Just got some new 20lb braid to go on a little baitrunner. It's very, very thin and comparatively stiff - not something I would use as a hooklength but good for minimising wind knots.

Best I've found for hooklengths is some 1st generation) 18lb (I think I said 15 earlier) 8 strand that I picked up in Singapore. Super soft with a nice tight weave, cryptic colour and superb knot performance.

[Phone]

All,

 

In my case braid damage can be found most frequently on long line, trot lines and on fish without scales. Not saying it is a bad thing but it is a injury caused by braid.

 

Phone

[BoldBear]

Ive got nothing against using Braid hooklengths at all; I nearly allways use Braid hooklengths when Im Carp fishing without the Braid causing me any problems at all; but I wouldnt use both a Braid mainline and a Braid hooklength together; which then has very little give; even more so if I were using a 3lb tc fast taper Carp rod and having to pile on the pressure during the fight. Thats just asking for trouble with cut lips and other Braid damage (caused by the cheesewire effect of the fine Braid).

 

Keith

Edited September 30, 2019 by BoldBear