Braided line has become extremely popular for spinning reels and baitcasting because it is easier for anglers to feel baits, achieve sturdy hooksets, and pull fish out of heavy cover efficiently. While a braided line has many advantages over a regular monofilament and fluorocarbon line, often, anglers accuse it of being unreliable, which is not always true. Braided lines are robust and reliable, and they are suitable for bass fishing.
You can (and should) use a braided line for bass fishing to get a good, sturdy hookset. A braided line is excellent at pulling the bass out of the heavy cover before the fish gets tangled up in it. A reliable braided line plus useful fishing techniques ensure that anglers fish successfully.
Braided lines today come in better quality, more robust, and heavier. Read on to learn more about why you should use a braided line for bass fishing and how to use it.
Why You Should Use a Braided Line for Bass Fishing
You should use a braided line for bass fishing because it is suitable for clear water fishing. That is because a braided line can be an excellent primary line that you can attach to a leader of the fluorocarbon line of your choice. It would be best to use a leader with a braided line 90% of the time.
When fishing in stained water, then there is no need to tie a leader. A braided line has an excellent sensitivity level and can cast at a distance and provide strong support, thanks to its toughness. If you are doing bass fishing, you will want to use a braided line for these reasons:
- Small line diameter. You would see “20/6” on your braided line specifications, which means you are getting a 20lb line with the equivalent monofilament strength of a 6lb test line. Braided lines may be small in diameter, but when compared with mono and fluoro lines of the same diameter, braided lines are more robust.
- Longer casting distance. Thanks to advanced engineered fibers, braided lines are smooth and easy to handle. With braided lines’ small diameters too, they enable you to launch baits quickly.
- Strong and durable. You should use a braided line for bass fishing because the line is exceptional at fishing through heavy covers like rocks, mats, boat docks, wood, and more. You will also want to use a braided line to avoid retying often.
- Not stretchy/sensitive. Braided lines have no stretch, making it easier to set the hook faster and easier than with monofilament, and it will be easier for you to get bass out of thick cover. You can also quickly feel what your lure is doing or if you are getting bites.
If you are using a spinning or baitcasting rod, a braided line will be vital to you. That is because a braided line gives you better casting distance that will allow you to cover more water. You may be able to get more fish if you could cover more water.
What’s also great about using a braided line is even if you use a cheaper rod, the braided line will make the rod feel more expensive than it is. Although braided lines are more costly than monofilament and fluorocarbon lines, they are more long-lasting. You won’t have to spool lines on your reels often.
For bass fishing, a braided line will be ideal. There is no need to worry about the visible line when a fish is focusing on the bait. The fish usually would not be bothered by the visual line.
However, if you are trying to catch a bass studying the bait, you should worry about visibility. The good news is you can tie a leader of mono or fluorocarbon to solve the problem. Not only will the leader conceal the line, but it will buffer or absorb shock to keep fish attached when the battle is close to your boat.
Why Some People Don’t Want To Use a Braided Line
Many anglers do not want to switch to braided lines for the fear that braided lines will cost them a fortune, like the price of a new braided line or a new rod/reel. What they might not know is there is no need to buy new rods. The gear they already have is already right for a braided line.
What anglers can do is experiment with rods that are slightly softer for different categories. For example, instead of using medium-heavy, anglers can use medium rods instead. The cost of a new braided line should not be a problem, considering how much longer it will serve anglers down the line.
Some people also think that you can only use a braided line in murky water, but that is simply untrue. A braided line can help you fish in waters as deep as 20 to 40 feet, even with or without a leader. That said, it is safe to say that a braided line can be your all-purpose line.
How To Use a Braided Line for Bass Fishing
Braided lines have been around a long time, even longer than monofilament or fluorocarbon. Braided lines are strong and durable despite their small diameter and that they do not stretch. Due to braided lines’ features, they are very castable.
Braided lines are suitable for bass fishing. Sure, braided lines may be more visible to bass than monofilament and fluorocarbon, but they won’t be a problem in heavy cover or anywhere with low light. You could use Spiderwire braid for bass fishing and carry it in 3 line sizes: 10, 16, and 65lb test.
For spinning tackle, you could use the 10lbs Spiderwire. You could use the heavier sizes for casting gear. It is understandable if you refuse to use a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader with your heavy braid because chances are anything that could go wrong with an extra knot. You do not want that in the middle of your fishing.
When fishing for bass, the fish mustn’t see your fishing line. You will want a line color that is as difficult as possible for the bass to see, like a clear, fluorocarbon line. When using a braided line, the bass will be able to see any color you choose.
What you can do is attach a fluorocarbon line to the end of your braided line using the Alberto knot or the double uni knot. You also need to get the right color for your lure. The best color for your lure has to be a color that mimics local bait fish or what the bass eats to ensure the bass takes the bait.
It would help if you also considered the water condition when deciding what color to choose for your lure. If you are fishing bass in murky, muddy, or dark waters, you should choose a dark lure. As your lure enters greater depths, it will fade its color, just as how lines would.
With a braided line, you will be able to feel every cover your bass encounters. The braided line will also help you slice through vegetation in the water and pull serious weight out of the water.
Although there are some concerns regarding fishing around abrasive covers like wood and rocks, braided fishing lines are excellent for smallmouth bass fishing because of the lines’ casting ability, thin diameter, and incredible strength. Braided lines work well with largemouth bass, too.
Final Thoughts
You can use a braided line for bass fishing. Braided fishing lines are excellent for catching bass because they are strong and durable. Braided fishing lines may be more expensive than monofilament and fluorocarbon lines, but they do not often require spooling.