The Secrets To Using Braid
by Jim Carlson
Colleen Carlson has changed her spinning rod line to Power Pro!
I have received numerous inquires on how I use Power Pro Braid on my bait caster and spinning reels. I am going to go into great detail on how I rig and apply it, and hopefully this will help you get the most out of your use of braid. Most people try a “one shoe fits all” approach when they try to use braid line, which usually ends in unsatisfactory performance. I use braid line exclusively on all my reels for the following reasons:
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it lasts for years
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has no memory
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is great for cold conditions
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has no give
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you can feel everything
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does not retain line twist (somehow it absorbs it in the line)
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10 pound test Power Pro on a spinning rod will cast a mile, will not twist and gives you a solid hook set at any distance.
See the “how-to” table below for recommended applications.
Leaders
I use a 6-foot fluorocarbon leader on most of my rods to minimize visibility. The fluorocarbon is heaver then water, and sinks faster then other lines. This helps baits like Senkos fall naturally when using braid line, which tends to float until wet. I have done extensive testing with different lines using a scale. The knot joining the braid to the leader is the weak point. Great stress is placed on this connection during hook sets and when you pull off snags. All mono and most fluorocarbon leaders tested failed before their advertised breaking point. CXC P-Line Fluorocarbon leader was the only line that did not fail prematurely during my testing. I recommend you retie this knot before each tournament and if you find yourself using one rod for most of the day, you may want to retie the knot on your lunch break.
How-To Application Table
| Baits | Rod | Power Pro | Leader (CXC P-Line) | Leader Knot (Retie Before Each Trip) | Terminal Knot |
| Jigs, Silver Buddies, Big Worms in Heavy Cover | 7’ M or MH | 30 lb | 20 lb | Double Uni with doubled-up Power PRo | Uni (Fig 1) Use Snell on Worm Hooks (Fig 3) |
| 5” Senkos, Worms, Flukes, Pegged Plastics, Jerkbaits, Spinnerbaits | 7’6” to 7’ M | 30 lb | 15 lb | Double Uni (Fig 2) | Uni (Fig 1) Use Snell on Worm Hooks (Fig 3) |
| 3” Senkos, small worms, jr brush hogs, crankbaits, small jigs, large topwaters | 6’6” to 6’ M | 30 lb | 12 lb (no leader for topwater) | Double Uni (Fig 2, Set drag on low side) | Uni (Fig 1) Use Snell on Worm Hooks (Fig 3) |
| Finesse worms, small topwaters, drop shot rigs, shakey heads, small crankbaits | Spinning, 7’, 6’6”, or 6’ M or MH | 10 lb | 10 lb (no leader for topwater) | Double Uni (Fig 2, Set drag on low side) | Uni (Fig 1) Use Snell on Worm Hooks (Fig 3) |
Braid Tips
When installing braid on a reel, it is best to start with mono and add your braid to the end with a double uni knot. Remember you only need about 75 yards of braid. Braid lasts for years and you only need to change the leaders after hard use. I use the Green Moss color Power Pro. There are other colors are available, and all of them will bleach out in the sun and look frayed, but the line is still good. You can restore the color of your braid if you like with a permanent marker.
Set your drag on a low setting to compensate for the lack of stretch with this setup. This is a must when using 12 and 10 pound test leaders. I would not use a heavy action rod unless you are using big hooks in very deep cover.
If you are going to try one setup, try the spinning rod setup. Remember to use a mono backing, and do not overfill the spool.
Good Luck!
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
