ASK THE EXPERTS
Dear Panel
I’m planning to change my main line from mono to braid, but need to know what the pros and cons are before I make this change. So far, all I know is that I will be able to cast a lot further. Is there anything else I should be aware of, and if so, can you please give me some advice. I want to be sure I am making the right decision.
James Charlton,
Norwich, Norfolk
Dear James
I’ll be totally honest with you James, I’m a mono angler where at all possible. I have used braid a handful of times and I must confess it was a very frightening experience!! Now I’m not dismissing the use of braid at all, in fact I know some very experienced carp anglers wouldn’t use anything else, it’s just I’ve never felt the need to use it as a main line. I suspect this will all change this year though, as I’ve joined a syndicate where in a couple of the swims you need to cast well over 140yds to get on the fish. The lads down there fish 14lb Berkeley Fireline straight through to the lead, which gives them the confidence that they won’t be cracking off on every cast. But the main point is that 14lb Fireline is as thin as cotton, yet extremely strong for its diameter, which in turn gives the anglers the extra distance they require to hit the spots.
I favour a good strong mono for 99% of my own fishing.
Getting back to you, James, there are several things worth looking at. The obvious point with braid is there is zero stretch in it, which is fine for fishing in or around snags, but this is where the frightening aspect comes into play; the fight from a carp on braid compared to mono is unreal. The feelings transmitted through the braid are magnified 50 times over those of mono. Personally, I really didn’t like the fight whilst using braid, and I suspect that is simply because I’m not used to it; I am terrified that the hook is going to pop out at any given second. Others will disagree and say they always feel in complete control throughout the fight. The main tip here would be to play the carp a bit more gingerly until you’re used to what you can, or cannot, get away with.
When I do have to use a braided main line, Fireline from Berkley is my number one choice.
The next thing I need to go through is the general day-to-day usage of braid. There’s no doubt that it’s far more sensitive than mono, so if you’re fishing for real cagey fish for line bites, then braid will suit that job perfectly. There are several brands of braid available James, but make sure that you buy a sinking braid, for obvious reasons. I can only really vouch for the Berkley range of braids, and you won’t go far wrong with any of them, whether they be floating or sinking. In fact, I’ve been using the Whiplash variety for a number of years now, as have a lot of my friends, and I know they wouldn’t use anything else.
A lovely dark winter common caught whilst using mono main line.
The next thing is the cost. Now I’m fully aware that to spool up three big pit reels with braid will be a costly exercise, so, considering all the points I’ve mentioned, take a close look at what the main reason is for wanting to change to braid. If it’s just so you can cast further, then you could go down the 8lb mono route with a shockleader, which would be a far cheaper way of increasing your distance. Or is it just because other guys on your lakes are using it, and you feel the need to try it? I would never tell anyone not to try something different, but if there is no logical or beneficial reason for doing so, then why change?
In summary James, because you can see that I’m not a massive fan of braided main lines, I will only use braid where it’s absolutely essential to gain extra yardage on my cast, and even then I’ll still not be 100% happy. However, I don’t dismiss its qualities for bite indication, cutting through weed, snag fishing, and direct contact with your quarry, but because I never bully my fish to the net, I actually like the fact that mono has plenty of stretch in it. Look at all the points raised, and if you still think you need to change, then I’m sure once you’ve got used to the way that braid performs, you’ll be as happy as I am using mono.
Good luck James.
Iain Macmillan
