Thread: Is Braid frowned upon?

Hey guys, I only make couple of trips to the pier every year. I do a lot of fishing in the marsh in Louisiana. All my rigs are lined with braid. It seemed like last year I was on the pier and over heard some folks fussing around the Octi about people using braid.

Braid just gets tangled more often and worse than mono, especially if you are free-lining a live LY with a large belly in your line, and double 'specially on a windy day. Not so much chunkin' and reelin' with a lure and a taut line.

When a lot of people are free-lining on the octi, tangles are quite frequent when somebody hooks a king. If part of the tangle is braid (not the hooked up line) the probability of a lost fish goes up. I have braid backing on a couple of my smaller reels (with a topshot of mono) to increase yardage, but the braid only comes off if a fish makes a run and the line is tight.

To free-line an LY it takes less than two hundred feet of mono on top.

Edit: Tangles also happen when the danged LYs start swimming around each other.

Like frednic said... at times its less than optimal, but it does have its place as to when it should be used.

no need to change line out just to fish the pier occasionally.. Be mindful and respectful.. the times i caused a tangle with a man that had a fish on I cut my line to prevent him loosing his fish. I may not be the best fisherman, but i'm not going to cause another man to loose his catch because of my googaness...

Everybody tangles. Braid tangles worse, more often, and it's more difficult to straighten out. That said, it's your choice which line you use. How you fish is your business, but try not to cross other people's lines and stay aware of where your bait is in relation to other baits in the water. But that applies to anyone, whether they're fishing mono or braid.

Straight braid setups can be a serious detriment out on the Octi when fishing Kings for the fore mentioned reasons, and as stated a long top shot of mono can make this less of an issue.
It can get really hectic and tangled up when more than one fish is on, when Reds or Jacks come through large tangles involving 3-5 or even more are common, sometimes referred to as Basket Weaving 101. If you've braid out you're cutting mono off.
It is just about considered courteous not to use braid when snobbling or freelining live bait.
Save it for pitching lures/jigs or maybe bottom fishing, and it'll be less likely to cause a problem.

I too will cut my line if I get wrapped with a person who has a fish on.
And vice versa, if you're not listening about how to get unwrapped I'll cut your line.
Boy has that caused some, errrr... mixed feelings at times.

Thanks for the answer. I figured that was about the case and wanted to be respectful and try to do what was best for all. I think I’ll just change one rig over to mono for free lining and leave the rest.

Originally Posted by Hayes

Thanks for the answer. I figured that was about the case and wanted to be respectful and try to do what was best for all. I think I’ll just change one rig over to mono for free lining and leave the rest.

No don't change a rig over... this is a perfect time to get a new rod and reel setup just for mono... thats the excuse i'd use on my wife... rofl....

I agree, and its justification to stop by J&M to browse.

I wished I was at J&M browsing right now.....

Originally Posted by justpata

I wished I was at J&M browsing right now.....

I know what you mean. I supplement my Social Security with a little self-employment and have been without a paycheck for a while. I'm expecting one pretty soon and J&M is high on my list. I want one of them 706s.