Fireline / braid / whatever

[ianf]

 
Hi guys, I would appreciate some technical input.
I am fishing with a Berley Air 9 foot rod , Shimano Sustain reel,
for light tackle fishing (shad, blacktail, bronze bream, etc)

Now comes the confession time: -
1) I am still using nylon (I can see people cringing)
2) I know I need to change, but being an old dinasaur am not
sure what to change to.

Please advise on fireline / braid/ whatever you think I should
have on my reel.

Your opinions and advice are appreciated.

Ian F

[Capt. Hook]

Stay with your mono, that is my advice.

[steve m]

Hi

What size is the Sustain? as this will affect the braid you choose to put on...

I personally would put 10lb fire line on or mabe 14lb depending on the size reel...
10lb fireline doesnot break at 10lb i can garentee you that!!!
other good braids are apparently jigman,saltiga,power pro,suffix etc

I have fireline on my stradic 2500 in 6lb and was fishing for chokka with it and something picked up my chokka jig just before it was on the bottom and i fought it for +-40min before i straightend the chokka jigs hooks!

I also have the 10lb fire line on my slade 4000 and also like it...

ive also used p-line braid in 10lb and found it to be very nice but hate how the colour comes off so much onto your hands,reel,rod etc but otherwise it was great!

I also have mustad braid in 19lb but have found it to throw lots of wind knots which is a problem i havent had with the fire line!

hope it helps!
steve

[Tommo]

Hi IanF
By the sounds of things you are using this outfit for "scratching" in the rocks with bait, judging by the species that you are targeting. I would tend to agree with what Fishing Adventures says about sticking to mono. The braid has advantages which best lend themselves to casting lures, but with the type of fishing that you are looking at mono would make more sense.
The ideal is to have a spare spool, with one filled with braid and one with nylon. Then you are covered for all options.
If your Sustain reel is a 5000, then you may want to go for braid in the region of 30lb for your spinning. If it is a 4000 then go for 20lb. All braids have different properties, so it depends on you, but I have personally found that the best value for money and all round toughness is with the Power Pro braid.

I hope that is helpful to you. 

[Toppie]

Hi IanF,

I tend to agree with FA & Tommo. If those are the fish you are targeting then no need to go overboard.

We tend to always argue,...but what if...  Well those what if's cost us a lot of money and the manufacturers and retailers lap it up.

If you want to do serious spinning you will get better casting distance with braid, and if you are going to target fast and strong pelagics, by all means go for 20lb Whiplash or Fireline. Otherwise and depending the size of your Sustain, even consider the more economical brands at around 10lbs strain.

I use 10lbs on my Berkley Air 9XH dropshot rod, and when targeting serious pelagics 40lbs Wiplash on my Saltist 4500 spinning reel with a heavier 4-6 oz spinning rod.

[Rods]

Howzit Ian. I've got 20lb Spiderwire EZ braid on my Symetre 4000. Throws a 2oz spoon a mile and I've yet to get a windknot. Must confess I havent caught anything memorable but at R200 for 300 yards I must say, so far so good. I'm happy with it.

[ianf]

Thanks for all the advice.

The reel is a Shimano Sustain 5000 FB. (the one with the gold
heel.......and the frustratingly small screws to take it off).

It does come with 2 spools, so I will leave one with nylon
(Daiwa Tournament 9kg....the rocks are sharp in the Transkei
so anything lighter tends to get broken off too easily). The
other will be getting some braid / fireline on, because I do enjoy
throwing out a spoon and the occasional plug.

I will visit Mia's in Woodmead sometime next week an have a
look at what they have. Fortunately they are not too far from
where I work.

[ianf]

Thanks for the advise everybody. I went out and got some
Spiderwire yesterday. Will put it on as soon as I can locate
one of my sons to give me a hand.

What knot should I be doing to tie the the braid to the spool?

[WalkersKiller]

Braid would be a good option, but personally I would stick with Mono!

[Poenskop]

What knot should I be doing to tie the the braid to the spool?

I normally only use a uni knot. I don't know if it is the correct knot though.

[REEFMAN]

ARBOR KNOT. Then tape the first wrap around the spool to stop it from slipping.

[ianf]

Braid would be a good option, but personally I would stick with Mono!

The reel has 2 spools. One spool with mono, one with braid.

[ianf]

ARBOR KNOT. Then tape the first wrap around the spool to stop it from slipping.

Thanks Tony, I assume will find it on the site somewhere
and NO, don't tell where it is, let me look!!! (OK tell me if it's
not there)

[jaenswart]

Seriously, I would stay with mono unless you have a good reason to swop, like casting distance or bite feel.

[ianf]

I will still use the nylon for scratching, but will use the braid
for throwing spoons and plugs. Well, that's the plan for now.
I have not fished with braid before, so I will try it out, and
re-consider my strategy after I return from the coast.

Should I have some sort of finger protection when casting braid
with a coffee grinder (it looks like it could take my finger off if I
am not careful) ?

[Jakes]

I will still use the nylon for scratching, but will use the braid
for throwing spoons and plugs. Well, that's the plan for now.
I have not fished with braid before, so I will try it out, and
re-consider my strategy after I return from the coast.

Should I have some sort of finger protection when casting braid
with a coffee grinder (it looks like it could take my finger off if I
am not careful) ?

You can get a bionic finger if you really want to but I just grip it with the tip of my finger, works for me but does hurt after a while. Check out this link on BM's website for more info ...
 
http://www.basilmanning.co.za/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&category_id=168&product_id=2604&Itemid=29
 
Jakes

[ianf]

Thanks for the info. The bionic finger looks interesting.
I am going down to Kenton on Sea for 5 days, and will also
be fishing with my big Assassin / Saltiga, so I will try with my
finger, and see how it goes. I will do some spinning and if my
finger starts taking strain, then I will get a bionic finger when I
get back.

Only 8 days to go!!!!!!

[Jakes]

Thanks for the info. The bionic finger looks interesting.
I am going down to Kenton on Sea for 5 days, and will also
be fishing with my big Assassin / Saltiga, so I will try with my
finger, and see how it goes. I will do some spinning and if my
finger starts taking strain, then I will get a bionic finger when I
get back.

Only 8 days to go!!!!!!

Lucky fish !!! (excuse the pun ...  ) ... Enjoy and safe travels

[REEFMAN]

I will still use the nylon for scratching, but will use the braid
for throwing spoons and plugs. Well, that's the plan for now.
I have not fished with braid before, so I will try it out, and
re-consider my strategy after I return from the coast.

Should I have some sort of finger protection when casting braid
with a coffee grinder (it looks like it could take my finger off if I
am not careful) ?

Or you can do what I do... I hate casting braid off my finger, so I make the leader long enough to fit onto the spool - that way I'm casting nylon off my finger. Join the braid to the leader with a 7 turn Uni in the braid to a fig 8 in the nylon.
I have not heard any good reports about the Bionic finger....

[Rods]

Or you can do what I do... I hate casting braid off my finger, so I make the leader long enough to fit onto the spool - that way I'm casting nylon off my finger. Join the braid to the leader with a 7 turn Uni in the braid to a fig 8 in the nylon.I have not heard any good reports about the Bionic finger....

Howzit Reefs.  Does this give a small enough knot that it does not hamper the cast?