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Up to this point, the braid that I've used has been either power pro or some inexpensive stuff from fleabay (eposeidon). However, when I use it on my smaller freshwater (current model Mitchell 300s) reels I can feel a lot of vibration that isn't there with mono. Anyone else notice anything like this?
Yes, you will feel everything with braid. Everything.
I tried it on bass fishing gear years ago, I didn't find it useful except for crankbaits, were the smaller diameter let me get better depth out of the crankbaits.
Other than that, I didn't think its worth the money for freshwater or inshore.
I like power pro 20 lb when I'm fishing topwater for stripers, especially when I'm casting from shore or rocks below the dams. I get more distance with each cast than with the 12 lb mono that I'd otherwise be using. Strangely, I don't feel the vibration on my larger reels (6000 series).
Fished braid for years when I bassed fish too. Cranks, chatter baits, spinnerbaits- you'll feel every little thing to the point you think the reel is falling apart. But the upside is you know for dang sure when I fish hits.
I have 3 Penn 3000 Battle II's that I use 20# Power Pro Super Slick 8 on them. They are mainly used for bubble rigs and smaller inshore fish. The braid does have a clunky feeling for the first 100 or so cast. Just like the extra line on the reel, never know what's going to hit and how far it might run.
J55 - extra line is the biggie. And line twists...I hate line twists. Pier etiquette says braids are the devel - but if I can pack a 100+ more yards of twice the test, it's a tough decision. It's also a cheaper alternative for us part-timers, since I can only fish a few times a year, the braid lasts forever. I rewind from one reel to the other once a year and BINGO - new line on top. And line twists...I hate line twists.
I feel it too. I use braid when I'm fishing creeks by myself and like the added distance I get over mono.
I never fish braid on piers for two reasons. I do it out of respect to other fishermen who may have a fish on that is taking a diagonal run that could cross my line to avoid the possibility that my braid could cut their mono. I also have found that when you have tourists show up that are clueless about where they are casting that it is quicker to clear a mono to mono bird nest then a braid to mono bird nest.
PS, I had to screw around with my Spinfisher SV3500 changing washers to get braid to spool correctly.
The only spinning reels I own without braid are my larger pier reels for kings etc. All my inshore and bass spinning reels are loaded with braid and a mono/fluorocarbon leader. I think this combo gives me the best possible combo of castability, strength, longevity, capacity, hook-setting ability, and invisibility (leader). Braid is absolutely awesome for topwater applications and for bottom-bouncing for trout,reds,and flounder. For a "moving" bait like a crankbait or jerkbait with trebles, mono/fluoro is probably a better option. I seem to lose more fish and get hung up much more with a crankbait on braid.
Braid is awesome for fishing a spinnerbait at night for smallmouth bass. I wonder how many fish I never felt using mono. Bass will often follow and "mouth" a bait without swimming away with it. The only thing you notice is the spinnerbait suddenly stops vibrating like a jackhammer. Sometimes the blade is fouled with a piece of debris or grass but a lot of times you snap the rod tip and it sets the hook. It works great bouncing a jig or finesse worm on deep water structure in the summer for bass. Sometimes you feel a hard strike and other times it's just a small tap. Braid lets you feel subtle strikes that you wouldn't feel with mono. I use prowerpro with a fluorocarbon leader for sheepshead. The convicts don't get away nearly as often.