Tell Me About Superlines

wintermute

wintermute

Joined
Oct 18, 2007
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I use mono for everything - saltwater and freshwater. Maybe 10 years ago, a local bait & tackle shop owner did me a "favor" by putting some type of superline on one of my conventional reels (that I happen to use for surfcasting). When I casted out the first time, my thumb on the spool got sliced deep.

So, what am I missing? Is there anything out there that's as simple to use as mono?
 
I still use mono. Ive tried the braids and Fireline, mono just works better for me. Braid cuts my index finger while setting the hook. Theres no stretch and it slices through flesh like a serrated knife . Its the way I hold my line and Im not changing my grip. Braids are thinner but more visible. Usually a leader of fluorocarbon or mono is used.I dont want to tie the extra knots for a leader. Ive had knots come undone with braid , so I started using super glue on the knots which was another step I didnt like. After a year of experimenting with them I went back exclusively to mono.


Im happy with mono. Suffix Elite has a lot of qualities I like. But others love braid and Fireline . The one area of braid I did like was fishing soft plastics on a Carolina rig. But once again , I always cut my finger on hook sets. If it sliced your thumb once it will again.

Another thing about no stretch lines. If your tight lining your rod better be secured because it doesnt take much of a tug to yank a rod and reel in the water with braids.:o
 
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The biggest advantage to me, in using braid, is that you can use smaller reels for heavier line. Take 50lb braid for example. It's similar in diameter to 12lb mono.

Most of the smaller low profile baitcasting reels for bass fishing will hold 125-150 yds of 12lb mono or 50lb braid. A baitcasting reel that will hold 150yds of 50lb mono is MUCH larger, along the lines of an Abu Garcia 7000 series.

It makes an even bigger difference with spinning reels. I have a couple of Daiwa Regal 3500 reels spooled with 40lb Stren SuperBraid. It's similar in diameter to 14lb mono. I have approx. 170 yds of 40lb line on those reels, in a smaller, relatively light package. A spinning reel that will hold 170yd of 40lb mono is HUGE.

I like the fact that braid has little or no memory. I don't have a problem with knots slipping, but I've learned that if you use a doubled line for your knots, they won't slip. I'll be the first to admit though, that if I could get mono with diameters/strengths similar to braid and with no memory, I'd go back to mono in a heartbeat.
 
Mono has the old traditional feel that I still like for panfish and steelhead and such, but I love the sensitivity you get from a superline. You can feel your spinnerbait hit every piece of weed.
 
Braid has ups and downs. The upsides are thinner diameter for stronger lines. I run 50# mono on my baitcaster (which takes 12lb mono). If you want stretch in line, you have to attach a shock leader of mono, but it's great for hooksets. You don't have to do much. It frays kind of easily and if you're using a pole rated for 12lb line and a drag that goes up to 20lb, you're kind of screwed. The weakest link in your setup then is your rod and reel, instead of the line. I use mono on my spinning reels and braid on my baitcaster.
 
I have used the Tuff Line and Spyderwire for salmon and pike fishing. The strength and sensitivity are a plus for those applications. However, I feel that they are more likely to spook fish in really clear water, unless you are running a decent leader.

If you have some vintage rods/reels, be careful about using the superlines. One of my older rod/reel combos sustained disabling damage from the abrasion that a superline put on it. I haven't had problems with gear purchased in the last decade.

DancesWithKnives
 
wintermute said:
You sold me on staying with mono - no fuss, no muss.
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Had you wet the line on the conven reel your thumb would have been good.I use mono mostly for the striper but if you do any New England ground fishin Cod and such fireline is hard to beat less lead less bow more feel. Tog i always use the fire line the feel you get makes it a differant game so if you Tog get the braid on your old jigmaster you will love it
 
suzuki, that's why you have a drag on your reel.
The drag should slip before any component can fail, whether it is rod, reel or line.

I've switched to braid and not looked back.
Saltwater, freshwater you name it.
Once you get used to it, fishing with mono is like fishing with pasta.

I do use a mono leader to provide a weak link incase I get snagged.
I can break 15-20 mono and not leave a big long piece of cut line in the water or trees.
And yes the drag will slip before that breaks.

A word of caution, braid will cut you like a steak knife, so when popping of a snagged lure, I wrap my line around a stick, dowel or something similar and pull on it with a gloved hand.

Palomar knot is the one to use when tying direct.
Alberto or uni to uni knot to attach leaders.

I haven't had braid fray in any of my LMB fishing and I'm the guy throwing in the nasty places that everyone else walks by.

YMMV and all that jazz...

It's just around the corner :D :D :D
 
Ebbtide said:
suzuki, that's why you have a drag on your reel.
The drag should slip before any component can fail, whether it is rod, reel or line.

I've switched to braid and not looked back.
Saltwater, freshwater you name it.
Once you get used to it, fishing with mono is like fishing with pasta.

I do use a mono leader to provide a weak link incase I get snagged.
I can break 15-20 mono and not leave a big long piece of cut line in the water or trees.
And yes the drag will slip before that breaks.

A word of caution, braid will cut you like a steak knife, so when popping of a snagged lure, I wrap my line around a stick, dowel or something similar and pull on it with a gloved hand.

Palomar knot is the one to use when tying direct.
Alberto or uni to uni knot to attach leaders.

I haven't had braid fray in any of my LMB fishing and I'm the guy throwing in the nasty places that everyone else walks by.

YMMV and all that jazz...

It's just around the corner :D :D :D
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Around the corner heck! I went this past Saturday. :D Caught 15 largemouth in 3 hours, most were little spuds from stocking last year, but 5 of them were 12"-15". Used a 6'6" med action Garcia spinning rod with a Shimano Slade 2500 and 14lb Stren Superbraid Gold. 12" clear 14lb test leader and a 1/4oz chrome Roostertail was deadly.:thumbup:
 
Ebbtide said:
suzuki, that's why you have a drag on your reel.
The drag should slip before any component can fail, whether it is rod, reel or line.
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I understand that. But what i was saying is, since you wind up the same diameter line on your reel, you don't get to use the line to it's full potential. If you hook into a rock at the bottom of the water and your rod and reel can't handle the pressure, you have to cut the line. It gives your peace of mind, but it also can give you P.I.T.A. situations.
 
Damn all of you people who get to fish all year round. Today was the first day it hit 50.
 
ever since i switched from mono to braid i never looked back..i tried using some 10lb mono and the memory on it was horrible i forgot how stiff and just clunky the mono felt..i use 10lb power pro with a 20ft lead of fluorocarbon when fishing for perch..most times i just roll straight braid if i dont feel llike attaching the lead..usually for perch i will only run a lead of fluorocarbon. bass, pike, walley, cats, carp, gills and all others i just use braid. a buddy of mine will take some kind of tape and wrap which ever finger he is using so he doesn't cut it or whatever, he doesnt want to sacrifice his love and performance of braid just for a few lil cuts, so he tapes his fingers. that could be an option if ya wanna try it.

i've got the itch, as soon as the lakes thaw enough to get around i am taking the boat out to get some of those crappies.
 
What about casting distance? I had the original Spiderwire. Water would get into the strands and spray out against the guides causing shorter distances. Maybe that has been improved.
 
T
moosehead905 said:
a buddy of mine will take some kind of tape and wrap which ever finger he is using so he doesn't cut it or whatever, he doesnt want to sacrifice his love and performance of braid just for a few lil cuts, so he tapes his fingers. that could be an option if ya wanna try it.
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My cuts were not little.

On the retrieve , I hold the rod in front of the reel with the line running between the thumb and forefinger. It gives me better contact with lure. Tape would impede the sensitivity. I dont let go when setting the hook.It works for me. Two of my fishing pals , have adopted the same technique and they cut themselves too.
 
The finish seems to be harder and more slippery on more recently produced superbraids. I get excellent casting distance.

I agree you have to be very careful to avoid cuts.

DancesWithKnives
 
Ended up picking up Fireline Crystal 4 lb. for my ultralight spinning set up. Let me see if I got this right.

Tie 25 yards of 4lb. mono to the spool using an arbor knot. Tie the mono to the Fireline using a Surgeon's knot. Tie the swivel to the Fireline using the Palomar knot.

Correct?

I figure I wouldn't really need a leader because I have such a flexible rod.
 
I use the fluoro hybrids, which I find to be a good medium between zero stretch lines and mono. I like braids, too, primarily because of their no-memory properties and that they last a really long time on the reel. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that we ONLY had mono to use (except big game fishing of course), and no one had problems catching fish with it.
 
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