I never did like that you just can't seem to get that line drag feel with braid. In some spots I like to keep my line out of the water while in others I like to use the line drag to keep my gear moving along. Good points Todd!

Mono for me all the way!

Todd and I have had this debate in person numerous times. If you want larger diameter for the current to push around, use heavier braid. Why not use 80 pound mono if more diameter is better?

Except the ones you don’t know you had. Had to know what you don’t know. I think John Ashcroft said something like that but more convoluted.

+1 again on stams beleifs and ideas....I've converted countless people to braid for good reason. It's better.

The way I see it, it couldn't hurt your chances. More sensitivity = more fish! For those who dont agree, why upgrade your rod to better graphite if it doesn't make a difference?

Mono in smaller rivers is ok, but the more line, the more drag, the harder fishing gets!!

OK, this is good.
Why not outlaw braid in rivers that have a median flow of 10,000 CFS or less ?
There.
Now we can all be happy.


Edit:
Could go a little lower but 10 is a nice round number....

Those who break fish off when setting the hook drift fishing braid should be fishing with the bassmasters! I don't know of anyone who has broke braid off anywhere in a hole. Your leader will break way before the braid. Both ways work fine its just use what you feel confident in. You can always try it and go back if you don't like the feel of braid.

The question I'm questioning is do you agree with that statement.

Yes.

Tried it and loved it......................................

for 1 fish.

The 2nd fish took off and barely touched a rock and "tink" buhbye!

The funny thing for me is the reason most people don't like mono is the very reason I do love it for drift fishing. I like the fact it stretches and is of a thicker diameter (especailly concerning hardware). Not to mention the abrasion resistance as noted above. And I've used PP since the day it came out for plugs and bottom fish so I am very familiar with it. For those in power boats I can see the benifits but for those on the bank I cannot. I also agree it is the right line for float fishing.




The problem with that is when I catch a squirrel I want the damn line to break instead of dragging my drifter three holes back up to the damn tree!

this is trully a

use what you want geez!

i've seen fish missed with braid too. watched a salmon raise up to the eggs and drift back chewing on eggs. guess what? the guy never felt the bite.

nobody nails every bite.

we have the sharpest hooks ever, we use the most sensetive graphite rods ever, we spool on the best mono/braid on our sweet smooth reels. we still fail to nail every fish that bites.

eventually the operator of the rod must be on his game to trully sink the hooks. for example, how many times have the daydream warm sunny day bite occured and was missed? to many to count i'd say.

braid/mono, cripes! load up and go fishing.

I've used both and am presently back on a mono kick....simply because it does what I want it to do.....for now.
I also have reels spooled with braid for when I want a different feel....for a while.
Braid has more "sensitivities" than mono....freezing weather was mentioned, as was abrasion (although that seems to be more a factor of fishing around sharp rocks....not found everywhere), there is also "tip wrap" especially in windy conditions that is a pain and could result in a broken off rod tip, and you have never experienced a back-lash until you do with braid....lovely stuff (carry a small tool to fish out the braid....you'll need it), braid has zero memory, zero...which sounds good, but can make some simple operations with mono a pain with braid. Braid, IMO, is excellent for limber, "noodle type" rods, and no good whatsoever for rods with backbone and a fast tip as the strikes and fight can be jolting and snap light leaders (no stretch means NO stretch).
Braid is the ideal flossing line....salt water jig line....float line magnifico...long casting, high current..perfect.
But I do love my mono, too.

I am slightly in shock. I posted a similar question about 2 years ago and the overwhelming response was mono for drift fishing. Seems braid has won over quite a few people since then. I think it has taken awhile for braid to become mainstream because those that remained faithful to mono hated fishing next to someone with braid and so they talks it down. I've noticed down here that I am hearing less of "get that braid outta here" yells from the mono faithful, as more guys switch to braid they are just plain outnumbered.

Curious...anyone have issues with braid cutting grooves in rod guides, or is that really a fallacy when it comes to high end rods?

I am one of the guys Rottenchum has converted. When you are sidedrifting out of a boat all day, the amount of time your gear is in the water while using braid vs mono is fairly signifigant. When using 30lb pp and 10 or 12 lb leader you almost always end up with the same swivel at the end of the day as you started out with. The only downfall I have seen is that I am now a dredge for every piece of derelict mono that people have left in the water. I actually have to devote time into collecting and throwing away all the mono I pull into the boat after a day of sidedrifting.

Mono is for leaders.....Nothing more!

Braid on every rod I own.

Just remember to fish a little looser drag.

I use both, but not in Rotten’s boat, I got tired of him yelling at me about my mono the entire time we were fishing. I think that's how he converts people.

Actually more and more of my reels have braid on them now, one big reason is because I have stacks of reels that may not get used that often, so every time one was put into service I needed to change the line on it. Its not bad, but I was buying bulk rolls and then throwing them out long before I used them up. With braid it can sit for years and still be perfect when I need it.

I think braided line makes sense for some applications. It's good for float fishing....the line floats, easy to mend, etc. I think it has some attributes for pullin' plugs, mainly a cure for the sudden plug break-off syndrome. But for drift fishing? Hmmmm....

I used to use braided line (for float fishin') but there were some things I absolutely hated about it. I hated how after you snag up and break off it digs, and I mean really digs, into the line on the spool. And I hated how easily it wraps around your tip...recipe for disaster, IMO.

Obviously drift fishing and fishing hardware are different animals, but are you guys using it for hardware too? It seems like it would cause the spinner/spoon to sink way too fast and find far more rocks than fish.

I also don't know how you don't break more rods using braid. Especially when you're loading 30 lb. test on say, an 1141 rated for 4-8 lb. test. I wouldn't think Lamiglass would replace a broken 1141 if/when you tell them it was loaded with 30 lb. Power Pro....they are not made for that kind of line strength, that's why rods have line ratings.

Ike

Cameron...good point...it is fun to clean the river up a bit with the stuff too...you can rip a lot of old gear off the bottom in a days fishing...and Jody loves to drift with braid so he can yard in 3lb white fish while side drifting for steelhead.

I've seen more people break rods with mono, and well, actually none with braid, but then the vast majority of people have always used mono, so I'm sure its just a numbers thing. But why would anyone put that much pressure on a rod, I've never figured it out. I have friends that I've watched break rods pulling on fish, snags or whatever and the main reason is they just don't know to not high stick it (or don't know they're doing it), keep the rod down and it won't break.

I never let anyone try to get my line un-snagged, even when I'm running the boat I won't hand it off. I see too many people push the rod way past the limit and don't even know it.

You could fish 80lb braid and never break an 1141 if you fish it correctly.

Jody...and gang...here ya go...one of the largest whitefish that the Sky has to offer and it was landed on Power Pro.