Story by Hunter Sales | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Using the proper line for each technique is one of the most important factors in translating bites into fish catches. I’ve debated this topic with many other anglers over the years and tried almost every type of line in every situation. I have never been one to take common knowledge as truth, but after years of fishing, I feel confident in the way that I utilize both braid and fluorocarbon in my approaches. Let’s dive into when you should use each one.
For starters let’s discuss the distinguishing attributes of each line type. Braid has zero stretch and is comprised of multiple strands of rope-type material. It has incredible strength when compared to similar diameter lines of different material. For baitcaster purposes, I use two types of braided line: Seaguar Smackdown and Seaguar TactX. Smackdown is an 8-strand braid and TactX is a 4-strand braid. These attributes will apply across all brands of braided lines.
A line with fewer strands is coarser and louder coming through the guides. A 4-strand braid doesn’t cast as far as a braid with more strands, but it is superior in cutting through vegetation and is generally more manageable. I use the TactX braid any time I’m around vegetation and in situations where line management gets difficult due to high winds, light baits, etc. I use Smackdown braid when casting distance is the most important factor.
Fluorocarbon is invisible in the water and has better abrasion resistance as well as more stretch than braid. I primarily use Seaguar InvizX and Seaguar Tatsu. Tatsu is a more supple line with less memory and less stretch. While InvizX performs great in all situations, I really like Tatsu for bottom contact baits and for throwing lighter lures.
Taking these attributes into account, let’s talk about when fluorocarbon excels over braid and vice-versa. When frogging, punching grass, or in 99% of topwater situations, I choose braid. Frogging requires braided line due to the thick diameter of hooks and the need for a line that floats. Braid helps immensely when punching grass due to the lines ability to cut through grass after the hookset. In topwater situations when making long casts, I always choose braid due to its excellent castability. Those are all easy choices in my mind.
A little more controversial may be my choice of line when throwing a buzzbait, punching trash mats, or flipping around wood and sparse grass. I believe that throwing a buzzbait around any cover other than thick grass calls for fluorocarbon. The line’s stretch gives the fish a much better chance of getting the bait, the hole that gets cut in the fish’s mouth is smaller, the bait skips better, lasts longer, and fouls less. I upsize my rod a little bit when throwing a buzzbait on fluorocarbon, to a 7-foot-3 heavy action St. Croix Physyx to help with the hookset on the end of a long cast.
Today’s hooks are so sharp that penetration isn’t a real issue even at the end of a cast with the right rod. When I’m punching trash mats, I again call for 20- or 25-pound fluorocarbon due to the line’s abrasion resistance and how it comes over the wood. Braid tends to cut into the wood due to its small diameter, and I’ve lost many fish by not being able to get my line off a small branch.
Fluorocarbon seems to slide over this cover much better. When flipping wood cover or sparse grass, I stay with fluorocarbon as well. I believe I get more bites, the line is quieter, and the line’s stretch gives me just a little buffer between detecting the bite and setting the hook. I don’t necessarily have the scientific data to back up this argument, but there’s no doubt in my mind that these setups put more of my bites into the boat.
Let this article guide you through the dilemma of when to use braid versus fluorocarbon, but also to serve as a reminder to try things for yourself! Take the information that you read, watch, or discuss with friends into consideration and then test it for yourself. Everyone’s hookset, reaction time, and rod action is different. Line is a great tool that can be manipulated to achieve whatever result you need.
Hunter Sales – Angler Profile
