Fixed Spool and Braid

[magpies]

Talking to some Yorkshire anglers this week they seemed to favour fixed spool reels and braid, often with long rods. Anyone using that approach up here? What are the pro's and con's ?
As an ex coarse match angler we used braid all the time for feeder fishing and casting distance and bite registration were much improved.
Is it worth making the switch?
As always any advice much appreciated.

[berwickboy]

Braid and fixed spools.

I use 65lbs Berkley Crystal braid straight through with my apollo mk2 14ft. Perfect, long casts, no shockleader and really good abrasion resistance. Excellent bit detection. I use crystal cause at on 0.17mm thickness for 65lbs it cuts through the tide and the kelp and flys like a bird off the reel. BUT: make sure the reel has fantastic line lay, I use a Penn 750, I know slated for reliability on this website, but for line lay perfect and fast retrive that is perfect for rough ground.
Note Crystal is very good, others braid I have found to be pants. I use 30lb crystal on the mag multiplier too and thats bril, but you have to make a fast cross spool wind to make sure that it doesnt bed in to the spool.

[lambengland]

It only really works with softer rods otherwise you will bounce fish off and bend hooks etc due to no stretch in braid..

With that said, it is only good in my opinion for fairly clean ground

Also, braid of the same breaking strain as mono will have a lot less abrasion reaistance and what would usually be a small nick in the mono will be half way through the braid

The bonus is that, as you said, casting is generally increased with braid compared to same strength mono as you have less wind resistance. Same goes for the waves, generally speaking you will catch less of the current

One thing i would consider myself would be using high breaking strain braid straight through say 50-70lb.. You will be able to fit plenty on say a slosh30 or bigpit fixed spool.. I would use rotten bottom otherwise pulling out of snags will be very very tough and braid is damned expensive... The only problem then is the possibility of bouncing fish off etc as i said above.. I would maybe use a shockleader to compensate this a little

[CHUKKA]

Talking to some Yorkshire anglers this week they seemed to favour fixed spool reels and braid, often with long rods. Anyone using that approach up here? What are the pro's and con's ?
As an ex coarse match angler we used braid all the time for feeder fishing and casting distance and bite registration were much improved.
Is it worth making the switch?
As always any advice much appreciated.

I've been there and tried it after fishing with some of the scarborough lads. Great for bite detection but that's about it. For short casting then its great but for distance casting its a pain in the ass. I used a Penn affinity 16fter but suffered from crackoffs, wind knots etc and has been said lots of lost fish. I think it's something that takes time to get used to and learn, its like starting off again. Personally i wouldn't bother.

Its also very anti social especially in crowded areas or in matches, you will cut through lines and must keep an eye on your rod at all times, any slack line can end up in a ball or wrapped around kelp.

Even using 30-40lb braid distance will be down on a decent cast with a multiplier. If you were to use 20lb braid then distances will be similar to say 15-18lb mono, but i found distance was always down as i was holding back in fear of a crackoff.

You will need to invest in a decent high end fixed spool too, cheap ones just don't cut it.

[kopite2k06]

Im not naming names but there is a very good match fisherman who does just that. Big rod and braid on the fixxy normally loaded with snake whites and crab mind

[lambengland]

I think it is a very good approach but not for the rough, only clean ground

[Swilsonstu@aol.com]

been using it for years short, far always with fixed spool - 65lb straight through or 30lb with an 80lb shocker(braid) - no problems. excellent on heavy ground especially for huss - hook-ups improved some 2/300%. as for crack-offs and wind knots, find the optimum line level - sorted! give it a try. good luck.

[CHUKKA]

Im not naming names but there is a very good match fisherman who does just that. Big rod and braid on the fixxy normally loaded with snake whites and crab mind

Lots of good matchmen who use braid and a lot more who don't!

Most however have tried it!

Fish don't give a damn what tackle your using but do give a damn about your bait and how its put on the plate!

Imo its good for certain styles of fishing, scratching etc but I think you need to try and see if it suits you and your regular fishing style and make up your own opinion.

[john/r]

Lots of good matchmen who use braid and a lot more who don't!

Most however have tried it!

Fish don't give a damn what tackle your using but do give a damn about your bait and how its put on the plate!

Imo its good for certain styles of fishing, scratching etc but I think you need to try and see if it suits you and your regular fishing style and make up your own opinion.

good bit of advice.

[magpies]

Ta lads, gonna give it a go and have got myself a Penn 8000. I guess it's necessary to wear a finger guard for casting ?

[john/r]

Ta lads, gonna give it a go and have got myself a Penn 8000. I guess it's necessary to wear a finger guard for casting ?

there is a little gadget you call a breakaway canon someone else may be able to enlighten you better than me but i think they are for holding line when casting with fixed spools.