That's My Story

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING – THE OTHER SIDE OF BRAIDED LINE

Originally published the week of July 8, 2008 in Western Outdoor News

Years ago when braided spectra lines first came out I made a trip to down here to Baja. This was in the early 90’s, long before I had moved down here to La Paz.

I had spooled my reels with this new “miracle” line and was on my first trip using the new-fangled stuff. I was anxious to put it to the test and had read up on all the wonders it would accomplish towards my fishing.

As we rolled out to sea that first day, I was setting up my gear there on the deck and I happened to cut off a tag-end piece of spectra. I laid it on the rigging table next to me figuring to throw it away with the rest of my debris when I was done.

The Mexican deckhand came to sit with me and watch me rig up. He absent-mindedly picked up the piece of spectra and started to use it to floss his teeth!

Now, if you’re familiar at all with braided line, you know how abrasive this stuff can be. It’s virtually indestructible and is made of the same stuff they make bullet-proof vests. Saw it back and forth on a piece of wood or metal and you can almost cut through it. You can only imagine what it might do to a set of teeth and gums!

Back in the day, my command of Spanish consisted of being able to place an order at Taco Bell. I did my frantic darndest to explain via hand gestures, grimaces and enough mime technique to make Marcel Marceau proud to the deckhand that this piece of string was “no bueno!”

He looked at the innocent piece of string and me and back at the string. He uttered some profanity about the stuck-up gringo who wouldn’t let him use a simple piece of string to clean his teeth. He got up and walked away.

I felt like an idiot too. But I couldn’t let him saw through his gums and probably into his skull!

Well, in more than a decade of use now, spectra line has become more widespread and can be found universally even to the simplest panga captain. It’s well-known for it’s low stretch, incredible strength and low diameter, allowing anglers to pack on lots of extra yardage into small reels.

However, as more anglers are using it, I see a lot of improper use of it as well down here.
For one, too much of a good thing is a bit wasteful. For instance, packing a trolling reel with 1500 yards of the smaller diameter braided line, just “because you can” is pretty expensive. Besides, how often do you honestly get deeper than say, 200 or 300 yards in any spool?

Further, unless you’re on a party boat, which is rare here in Baja, or a long range San Diego type vessel, most fishing craft can follow or back down on a hard-charging fish. Short of a huge marlin or really giant tuna, the majority of sport-caught fish down here aren’t going that far before you turn them or they finish their runs.

Better to use the braided line as backing then “top-shotting” (splicing) regular monofilament on top of the braid. I see quite a few anglers coming down fishing straight braid with no top shot. East Coast anglers are fond of it. I’ve never heard a definitive reason. But I can give you my two-cent against it.

To begin, if you’re fishing live bait, braided line is a lot more visible than mono. Additionally, the braid, especially when wet, is heavier than mono. If you’re using a small live bait like a Mexican sardine, it won’t fish as well. It won’t swim as well. Your whole bait presentation is off diminishing your fish-catching abilities.

Pragmatically with braid, if the line loops, it has a greater tendency to tangle and get into knots that are ridiculous to untie. This is unlike mono which has a more springy nature to it. Get into a knot with braid and chances are you’ll have to cut that expensive bit of string, which often requires special cutters. Your normal dikes won’t work.

Finally, let’s talk gear and personal safety. Braid cuts! It will saw into the fiberglass or wood gunwale of a boat. It will wear a groove into the guides on your rod. In a bite with everyone bent, your braid line will slice very neatly into your buddy’s mono cutting off his fish and earning you a physical or verbal punch in the nose.

When you or your captain or deckhand tries to grab the line to get a hold of a hot fish or trying to release a fish, tension-filled braided line also cuts very neatly through fingers and hands. It’s a bit like grabbing a moving hack-saw blade.

Admittedly, there are a few applications where straight braided line is recommended. However, in most applications I’ve seen down here, pop a few hundred yards of mono on top of your braid and save the money and frustration.

That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.