I would think that braid would tend to float and leave a little slack belly in your line while drift fishing. Can you get braid that sinks?

I saw my dad's rod snap above the handle when setting the hook on 50 lb braid float set up this winter. He still brought the chrome winterun in by hand in the heavy current.

Last summer we were drifting mono and he tried setting the hook real hard and got a bird's nest. There were 7 summeruns in the hole and I wanted to get some pics of him hooking one. He told me to cast and I let the steelhead take it before setting the hook and landing it. Never seen him so PO'd and he's the best steelheader I've ever fished with.

Once we saw a summer take my bait and I set the hook too soon out of it's mouth. I like to feel them take it and then set it. It probably costs me winter fish that mouth the bait. I don't have quick reactions.