I'm intrigued by RPetzhold's use of braid and certainly sympathise with the 'Yeah, but how do you BREAK IT? question, too.

RPetzold: presumably you are joining the braid to mono in one of two ways -- directly via some sort of knot (please specify) or tying off to a swivel, running a long leader (how long?) and fixing the float along the leader.

I experimented with 14lb Fireline drift fishing this spring and came to several conclusions:

1. The no-stretch, high visibility and thin diameter helped me miss fewer takes. (Questionable whether the no-stretch feature helps land more fish once you have him hooked, but that's a separate topic and more to do with backing off the drag than any fault of the line.)

2. Knot strength in joining the braid to the leader was very poor unless I tied some elaborate knots [e.g. a bimini in the braid, then an 'Australia' (double) Albright between leader and double, and then superglued that contraption]. Worked fine in the lodge the night before (and takes about 5-6 minutes once you get the hang of it), but on the river it is nearly impossible to duplicate with cold fingers in any reasonable amount of time. The alternative easy-to-tie knots (e.g. a Spider Hitch for a double) break at much lower ratings.

Therefore, I'm very interested in knots people use with braid (though 50lb main line means a granny is still probably stronger than the leader!).

3. 'Occasionally' (hah! See my nickname) I'd hook bottom and have to break off. Even 14lb Fireline breaks above 20lbs (or course, steelhead leaders break at 10lbs or so but for saltwater fishing I run 14lb Fireline to a 40-60lb mono or flurocarbon shock leader), but the thin diameter can cut you even through gloves.

Rather than risk cutting my neoprene gloves (or hands), I carry a 6" cardboard fax roll with two V-shaped notches cut out of each end, and the roll itself wrapped in vinyl tape. When snagged, I whip out the home made line breaker and give the line 6 wraps lengthwise. The line bites into the cardboard at the Vee's meaning it slips less (making cardboard better than wood in this case). Breaking off is then easier on the gloves/ hands, not to mention the rod and reel.

Anyway, after a couple of days with Fireline I went back to 10lb Maxima UG as the mainline and 8-10 lb Maxima UG or Chameleon as the leader. Works great.

But now that I have a float rod the idea of having a highly visible floating line to mend is becoming increasingly attractive . . . especially the idea of boondogging w/ jigs some of the marginal holding water on my favorite river.

[This message has been edited by Snagly (edited 11-30-1999).]