Braid for the first time…..

[charlie_the_tuna]

So I figure I’ll uni to uni some fluorocarbon to the braid. About 5 to 10 yards worth. Should I tie on 20, or 30 pound fluoro? This will most likely be my bluefish, Spanish and bonito rod. Maybe some smallish dolphin if we can find.

[SkunkBoat]

I don't use more than a rod length of mono as a leader on spinning gear.
A long mono topshot kills the benefit of braid...the long smooth casts.

Lately I have been using a barrel swivel and 2 or 3ft of mono if I use a leader.
Problem can be winding the swivel into the top eye and also too much dangling on the cast. But it makes tying and replacing the leader so easy.
Braid gets Palomar to swivel, Mono gets clinch knot to swivel

Uni to Uni splice rarely works going from mono to braid because the diameters are too different and the braid slips when you try to draw it tight.

Doubled Albright is easiest for me. In that case I make it one rod length since it will wind thru the top guide.

I don't drink the flouro koolaid. Mono catches just as many fish and ties knots better and is way cheaper.


If I didn't say it before, use a Palomar to tie braid to hardware. If you can't use that then use a Palomar...or you could substitute that with a Palomar knot.

[charlie_the_tuna]

My main reason behind loading up with a good length of fluoro is for when the albies show up. I’m gonna dedicate my life to targeting them.
As far as uni to uni, I always use it for braid to mono for my boy’s gear. I do like the Albright, although I’ve never used one.

[SkunkBoat]

Originally Posted by charlie_the_tuna

My main reason behind loading up with a good length of fluoro is for when the albies show up. I’m gonna dedicate my life to targeting them.
As far as uni to uni, I always use it for braid to mono for my boy’s gear. I do like the Albright, although I’ve never used one.

Albright can be tied much faster.

for Albies I tie a 1/4 oz or 3/8 oz jig head(with a 4" Fin-S body) directly to the braid with a palomar. Cast far, Crank fast.
I use the same for stripers at the dock and fluke in shallow water. Caught some dolphin on it too.
You lose some to bluefish.

[scook]

I don’t know anything about the kind of fishing you guys do, but a couple of things: 1) Spare is right about being careful not to wrap the braid around your hand or finger to yank a snag - I almost got a bad cut all the way around a finger that way. Braid (if we’re using the same stuff) doesn’t stretch, so setting the hook is different - no softening of the set like with nylon.

[phatdaddy]

Best knot to tie is the one you can tie

Skunks right on the diameter difference being an issue. When that happens, I use a spider hitch to double the braid. This is primarily on trolling rigs when going from 80 lb braid to 60 lb mono.

As far as mono vs flouro, probably not any difference. Lotta fish been pulled over the rail on plain old Ande

[Giorgio]

Hey Charlie, you asked a question, I gave my response, so what does how much money I don't have, have to do with what you asked?

[spareparts]

I go against the grain a bit on my selections and choices. I use heavier braid and a lower rating flouro leader. Flouro is a bit more cut resistant on oyster shells than braid, and you can tie any knot you want to on it. If I get hung up or broken off, Id rather break off the leader and have 5 ft of leader in the waters than 20+ feet of braid floating around. I use the uni knot and have no issues with it feeding thru my eyelets reeling in, I do let it out past the eye to cast though. It cinches down tight on my leader of if i tie direct to a lure. Aas far as I can remember, I've not had a unit know come loose since I started tieing them. BTW, Charlie, don't ever grab the braid and try to hand line it, it will cut you bad, If you have to pull directly on the line to get something unsnagged, keep a wooden dowel or billy bat around to wrap the braid one and pull on the stick. That line will hurt you