Article by Sue Foster
“Do I need a new surf reel? My buddy can cast further than I can?”
First of all, make sure there is something wrong with your old reel! Some people think they need a new reel just because they can’t cast as far as their buddy. Sometimes it’s not the reel, but the line! Old line can become brittle and stiff. A spool that is not full will also slow your cast down. Your buddy may be using a Spectra line such as Power Pro that has a thin diameter. A 30 lb. test Power Pro braid has the equivalent diameter of 8 lb. test monofilament line. This will help you cast a lot further than the traditional 20 lb. test monofilament. It’s more expensive for sure, but worth the money if you are looking for a long cast!
Spectra lines such as PowerPro are very strong and have no stretch. Since they have no stretch, you can break an old or inexpensive reel if you crank down the drag and expect that old piece of metal to take the entire brunt of your fishing experience. It’s not just the fish on the other end! If you pull on a snag with all your might and use the rod or reel as a wench, you can break either one. When you use a type of Spectra line such as PowerPro, it’s best to wrap the line around a glove or rag and pull the line itself rather than pull against the rod or reel. On a boat, anglers wrap the line around the cleat when they get hung up. PLEASE be careful when using braid because it can cut you. It is so strong it was originally used to make bulletproof vests. I have sold it for folks to use on a cheese cutter.
If you are a surf fisherman, buy a finger guard to protect your index finger since it can cut you when you cast hard. I have also used black electrical tape in a pinch.
Since braided line has no stretch, it is easier to pull out of snags then monofilament, so even though you have to be more careful, it is easier to get out of snags. (I wouldn’t suggest it for young children though. Fill their reels with monofilament. )
“I’m going to fill my reel with braid!”
Look at your old reel carefully before deciding to fill it with braid. If it is old and the spool or body is made out of plastic, I wouldn’t do it. If the line roller is rusty or has a groove in the metal roller, don’t do it. If the drag doesn’t work properly, I would stick to monofilament. If the reel came out of the $19.99 special barrel, you probably don’t want to do it, unless you don’t care if the reel only lasts as long as a few fishing trips.
Sometimes the braid line costs more than the reel itself. If the reel craps out, save the spool and you can run the line on a new reel! Braid also lasts longer than monofilament. After a couple of years, you can crank it onto another spool so the line will be reversed. The top of the spool will now be at the bottom of another spool, so the line on top will be unused. If you are spooling line yourself, it’s always easier to have your reel mounted on a rod and have someone hold the spool with pressure while the other person cranks!
Now, this is VERY important. We see this all the time. If you have a reel that does not have a special “braid ready spool”, you do not want to tie the braid directly onto the spool unless you tape it down with electrical tape. At our stores, we always wind on some monofilament backing and then tie into the braid line with a uni-knot to tie the two lines together. This knot is strong enough to fight a fish if you get down to it. Backing your spool with monofilament fills up your spool part way to keep your cost down, and most importantly, it keeps your line from spinning on your spool. If you tie braid directly to a “non-braid” ready spool, you can take your fingers and spin the whole spool of line around and around! When this happens, you can’t fish right because your line is all loose on your spool and you think that you really hate this new braided line!
The thinner the braided line, the smaller the diameter and the further you can cast, but remember, 20 lb. test Power Pro braid is the equivalent of 6 lb. monofilament, so you may need your reading glasses to tie a knot!
The other nice feature about braided line is that it really cuts through the water and you need less sinker weight to hold bottom! I use a uni knot to tie my swivels on to the braided line. I find it easier than the improved clinch knot because you don’t have to see the last loop to pull the tag end through. Uni knots can be done by “feel” once you get good at them!!!
Last but not least, not all braids are abrasion resistant. If you are doing things like tautog fishing in structure, it is best to tie a mono or fluorocarbon leader onto the braid line. I use a uni knot to tie two lines together for that too! If you can’t do that, use a black barrel swivel. When I’m surf fishing, I don’t worry about a mono leader, I just make sure I tie my snap swivel on securely, but if I’m fishing with lures, I typically use a mono or fluorocarbon leader.
There are all kinds of brands of braided line. At our stores, we sell regular PowerPro and we also sell PowerPro Super8Slick. The Super8Slick has a smoother surface design which reduces the line friction as it moves through your guides. It is smooth as silk and more expensive, but makes no noise when going through the guides and seems to be more abrasion resistant. I personally like it a lot.
If you have never used braid, I would try a 100 yards on one of your favorite reels before investing a lot of money. Some people just don’t like it. It’s all personal preference. You do get a different “feel.” You can feel the nibbles better, but the “no stretch” feature takes a little getting used to. It’s strong and tough, and occasionally it can cut your finger, so use it with care! And remember; don’t use your rod as a wench to pull your rig out of a snag!
Good fishing….
Sue Foster is an outdoor writer and co-owner of Oyster Bay Tackle in Ocean City, MD and Fenwick Tackle in Fenwick, DE.