Braid ?

[Persues]

Years ago I used to fish a lot of rough ground, prowling the kelp beds for big fish.

I often used to fish 60lb mono straight through. Casting isn't/wasn't an issue - the distances involved were easy enough. Pulling a decent fish (assuming you managed to hook into one) back through the kelp beds was the priority, hence the heavy gear.

More recently I have been wondering about fishing 60 or 80lb braid straight through with a 25lb trace, which ought to give a distance option if distance is required but should also give excellent rough ground performance.

My only experience with braid was using 25lb on my 8-12lb Ugly Stick, which was great fun. Never used it for shore work though.

Currently I'm fishing 30lb mainline for almost everything but I'll be dropping to 18lb for clean ground over the next couple of weeks on different reels.

Too heavy a braid to consider ?

Thoughts appreciated, other than the obvious difficulties in snapping 80lb braid in the event of a snag...

[IANG]

Braid

The only experience i have of casting with braid was dead baiting for pike,but i am sure braid for rock fishing would be fine.the only negatives i can see would be if you had to snap your trace when fast you would need to wrap the briad around a priest or piece of broom handle as the cutting potential of braid is lethal.Asyou said a mono 25lb trace would be fine.The only other thing to watch out for is the chance of a wind knot in the braid when casting which can be a pain to get out.I think 60lb bs would be fine,the only other thing i can say is you only get what you pay for in braid,berkley whiplash has always served me well and dont forget you can still bulk out your spool with mono.use a braid knot when connecting your trace link.GOOD HUNTING.

[mick dunn]

Coupef of months ago there was an articel in Sea Angler mag where a very good shore angler used nothing else. 50lb braid on fixed spool with long leader and he did very well.

[bandit]

Never used braid for fishing the kelp so can't comment on that side of things but 25lb trace? Fishing thick weed beds i wouldn't trust anything that light the last thing you want is you hook snood snapping. When bullying a fish through the rough stuff it gets well scrapped and scuffed best use 50lb or 60lb snoods, there's nothing worse than loseing a fish because your trace snaps

[Rocker]

I've started using 66lb power pro (same diameter as 16lb mono) with a 60lb shock /rubbing leader onto a 3 way swivel. Then make snoods and sinker drops from 50lb mono. So when I get snagged the end gear gives way! It's amazing how much gear you get back with braid! I've got mine on a sl20sh and just give it the beans same as mono, no worries! Two things though! You can bend vikings out just with the rod! So I've upgraded to sakumas. And forget putting too much effort into striking, if your snagged you WILL hurt yourself. Oh and set the drag on your reel to prevent losing fish!

[tatch]

Coupef of months ago there was an articel in Sea Angler mag where a very good shore angler used nothing else. 50lb braid on fixed spool with long leader and he did very well.

just saw that very article i think it was Paul med using the braid on filey Brigg theres some good advice on using braid on the world sea fishing forums a guy called crazyplums search crazyplums braid & you'll find loads of good advice on it