Braid / mono question.

I,ve been using a pair of shimano aero gt 6010 original baitrunners with ten lb mono on a lake but feel the need for a bit more distance. I,ve never had the need to spool up with braid in the past only cause has been hooklengths.
If I were to spool up with braid of a similar bs/ dia does anyone have an idea of how much extra distance will be gained with large method feeders.
I, ve been looking at some big pit reel option but if I can gain the extra distance from braid then I can use that route first . If no good then I will go for the big pits.

Using braid will give you more distance but its difficult to say how much as different anglers have different capabilities even with the same tackle.

If you are going to braid I would up the breaking strain from 10lb mono to at least 15lbs braid which will still be significantly thinner than 10lb mono which is about 0.30mm diameter if using sensor for instance, I would also look at using a shock leader as braid with its lack of stretch has very little shock absorption qualities, give it a go on one reel and see if its worth putting it on the other one.

I have used both mono and braid, braid will give you better bite indication in my experience you will only get a minimal extra distance. Is it worth paying treble the cost for braid for and extra few yards?
If you think so go for it… but remember that 10lbs braid is thinner then 10lbs mono so you will have to back up your spool or and add the extra yards of braid
The benefits of braid is there’s no stretch, its thinner, better bite indication,
The down side is its cost more to spool a reel, if you don’t tie correct knot the can slip, and it can cut into you hand or finger if pulling out of a snag

chrissh said:

in my experience you will only get a minimal extra distance. Is it worth paying treble the cost for braid for and extra few yards?

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As I said the amount of increase in terms of distance will be down to the individual and their casting abilities, my middle lad has always outcast me using the same tackle (mine)

As far as knots go I have when using braid always used a grinner (double for joining a leader) as long as the care that should be given to any knot is taken I have never had a problem.

Also check the fishery rules some have bans on braid. No point spending money only to find you can’t use it.

chrissh said:

I have used both mono and braid, braid will give you better bite indication in my experience you will only get a minimal extra distance. Is it worth paying treble the cost for braid for and extra few yards?
If you think so go for it… but remember that 10lbs braid is thinner then 10lbs mono so you will have to back up your spool or and add the extra yards of braid
The benefits of braid is there’s no stretch, its thinner, better bite indication,
The down side is its cost more to spool a reel, if you don’t tie correct knot the can slip, and it can cut into you hand or finger if pulling out of a snag

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In addition, other downsides; If you’re looking at 80-100 yds in a side wind expect a big bow to be ‘blown out’. I couldn’t stand the noise of the braid hissing through the rings on the retrieve. Unless you have first class rings then expect wear on prolonged use. It’s a sod to sink if there is scum on the lake. As well as cutting your fingers its capable of doing serious damage to weeded fish, is like cheese wire. Tried it for distance fishing but it’s not for me.

Maybe worth trying lighter mono before paying for expensive braid.

If you have a branch of Boyes nr you there selling two hundred metres of twenty pound breaking strain braid. I've been using it on my feeder rod this winter and I'm quite pleased with it, good bite indication, and it casts well, 0.13 mm in diameter so it's very thin.?

---------- Post added at 18:05 ---------- Previous post was at 18:04 ----------

And I should have mentioned it's only nine pounds a spool.

have used it this winter (braid, that is) for distance feeder work on the Thames and have found that the reduced diameter compared to mono means i can use less lead to hold bottom-the bites show up like a seaside pinball joint, which i am sure has caught me more fish. Playing wise, its a bit weird to start with but easy enough to adjust to. A definite plus all round.

Thank all, lots of food for thought there. Seth, never heard of boyes, is it a tackle dealer or some other merchandiser ?.

For a bit of extra distance I can recommend the silicon lubricant sold to carp anglers. I found that it gave around 10 per cent more distance. I can't remember the name of the stuff sold in tackle shops, I've used that but an alternative is Wickes plumbers silicon which is £6 or so, it comes in a blue and white container and works out much cheaper than the tackle shop stuff.

I suggest that a shock leader is used with braid.

It's like a general store they sell all kinds of things, clothing, diy, decorating, you name it sell it.
Don't know were you are in Yorkshire but there's one in Skipton and they have a website that will give you your nearest shop.
There banksticks are very good value too.

BOYES - For Good Value!

flightliner said:

Thank all, lots of food for thought there. Seth, never heard of boyes, is it a tackle dealer or some other merchandiser ?.

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Boyes is a bit like Woolworths used to be. They sell Fladen and Matt Hayes stuff. Mostly junk but there are a few useful bits. Decent stainless steel rod rest cheaply. Pellets etc.
The braid I have used for sink and draw. Very reasonable price BUT the grey colour faded out to a white colour very quickly in use.

I guess you get what you pay for.

What are you fishing for flight ? ...is it Carp sized or Roach sized ?

I ask as can you just go with thinner mono ? ...if you using thicker than needed line just to save snapping off on the cast then you could try adding a shock leader.

I dont think braid will make a massive difference and if its just a few extra yards you need then maybe fine tuning what you already have will do it. Line lubricants will add a few extra yards and obviously having your spools filled right up as well, ...although I imagine your already doing that.

If all else fails pick the days when the winds behind you !

I occasionally fish a water for tench, its big , I think pressure is telling and catches are not what they were.
I can normally get some 60/65 metres that was normally sufficient but catches now suggest a change of tack.
Not only that but One angler I know went in with three • five tc rods with big pits and braid , big method feeders too.
He let rip and almost hit midwater that is almost out of bounds to me with my kit in the main and he went on to catch well.
I dont really want to go in with such heavy rods (I do have them )which is why I ask my original question.
I'm thinking of the application of lube to mono to start with then braid with shock leader if I cant get the extra distance, big pits as a last resort.
Any other tips from long time braid/long casting anglers other than the fingerstall ?.

Just a thought: Flightliner - be careful with your shock leader knot. Use a tournament type knot which is tapered. It does not happen so much now but dodgy shock leader knots have been known to knock the liners out of rod rings. (try saying that fast!).

flightliner said:

I dont really want to go in with such heavy rods (I do have them )which is why I ask my original question.
I'm thinking of the application of lube to mono to start with then braid with shock leader if I cant get the extra distance, big pits as a last resort.
Any other tips from long time braid/long casting anglers other than the fingerstall ?.

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Take up sea fishing.
Choose a different water.
Bait Boat.

I use an 08 braid for bream/skimmers, it's about 8lbs. The knot I use for connecting my leader is an Albright knot, a very tidy knot which slips through the rings very easily. I've never had the knot fail.

If I was thinking of casting so far/hard and was going to use braid i'd use at least 25lb and loose the shock leader.
When I fished for bass I used a beach caster combined with a multiplier and fished 25lb braid straight through, I didn't used a shock leader and I was using 2 ounce to 6 ounce leads.

flightliner said:

I occasionally fish a water for tench, its big , I think pressure is telling and catches are not what they were.
I can normally get some 60/65 metres that was normally sufficient but catches now suggest a change of tack.
Not only that but One angler I know went in with three • five tc rods with big pits and braid , big method feeders too.
He let rip and almost hit midwater that is almost out of bounds to me with my kit in the main and he went on to catch well.
I dont really want to go in with such heavy rods (I do have them )which is why I ask my original question.
I'm thinking of the application of lube to mono to start with then braid with shock leader if I cant get the extra distance, big pits as a last resort.
Any other tips from long time braid/long casting anglers other than the fingerstall ?.

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I've yet to see any mention of the rods you are actually using. My experience has been that a well chosen rod, matched well to the weight being cast, makes more difference to casting range than reels or line choices. This is coming from someone that is a fan of braid for certain applications.

There's little doubt that bigger reels (longer spools with greater diameters) and lower diameter lines (inc braid) can give some advantage, but not as much as the rod. Unfortunately, an individual's casting style also has a significant impact on which rod might be most suitable for them. Not all x lb TC rods are equal when it comes to casting distances. The action of the rod plays a significant part. However, you certainly don't need a 3.5lb test curve rod to achieve distances well in excess of 65 yards.

The biggest issue is that specialist long range rods for the smaller species aren't that common. There's plenty of barbel rods and Avon rods of similar TC to that which might be desireable. However, just because the TC seems right doesn't mean the action is. Some of such rods will be better than others for long range stillwater fishing. Many are a lot less than ideal.

From the mainstream manufacturers, I can think of two relatively recent rods that really fit the bill for long range fishing for the smaller species. The first is the discontinued Shimano Purist Brench. The other is the discontinued Drennan Specialist Tench & Bream. Both tend to be hard to get hold of on the second hand market. Regardless of how well they sold, or not, when current, owners don't tend to let go of them when they have them.

I bought and used the Shimano Purist Brench for a trip targeting big roach on a large stillwater. I'd previously recommended a friend, who is a venue regular, have a look at this rod. Quite a few of the regulars have ended up with them. Coupled with Shimano 4000D baitrunners and 8lb mono I was approaching the 100 yard mark. I'm sure that with mini big pit reels, or the new large spool (X-Aero) small baitrunners I could exceed 100 yards fairly easily.

I suspect that Drennan are well aware of the secondary market for their Specialist Tench & Bream rod. They've just released a MK2 version to the market.

This old thread might be of some interest.