Pensacola Fishing Forum - View Single Post

lostkeytackle · 10-23-2008, 02:33 PM

When I had my tackle shop, I had customers that put the braid on the bottom and some that wanted it on the top. Either way, to tie the two together, I recommend a double uni-knot though make sure you tighten the mono side first. If you tighten the braid side first it holds so well you will never get the mono to tighten. Some folks recommend a small drop of super glue on the knot as well though I have never found it was necessary if the uni-knots are done correctly.

So to the question of top or bottom for the braid? If you are bottom fishing for grouper or snapper, the braid would go on the top. This is due to the extremely low stretch properties of the braid. If you are fishing in 200' of water with a tight drag, mono will still stretch 20-30' without any line being dragged out. This gives the bottom fish plenty of line to find a hole. With braid, no stretch and the fish does not have a chance to find the hole. Because of the expense of the braid, only put on 50% more than the depth you are fishing. If you are only fishing in 100' of water, you only need 150' of braid.

For trolling or surf fishing, you want a little stretch to help fight the fish or absorb the shock of that first hit. That is why you put the mono on top. How much? this is the compromise. I would put as much braid as I could on the reel and top it with about 100 yards of mono. Braid lasts a long time so if you get a problem with the mono you are replacing the less expensive mono and still have plenty of braid. This way the braid will pay for itself in a few years. Replacing only the mono each season.

Of course, every other year (or every year if you are rough on your reel), take the reel in to Tom at Outcast and let him go through it. You will be amazed at how much salt and water will be in the inside of your reel when the outside looks great.

Hope this helps.

10-23-2008, 02:33 PM	#10
lostkeytackle Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 94	RE: Spooling reels with Powerpro and mono When I had my tackle shop, I had customers that put the braid on the bottom and some that wanted it on the top. Either way, to tie the two together, I recommend a double uni-knot though make sure you tighten the mono side first. If you tighten the braid side first it holds so well you will never get the mono to tighten. Some folks recommend a small drop of super glue on the knot as well though I have never found it was necessary if the uni-knots are done correctly. So to the question of top or bottom for the braid? If you are bottom fishing for grouper or snapper, the braid would go on the top. This is due to the extremely low stretch properties of the braid. If you are fishing in 200' of water with a tight drag, mono will still stretch 20-30' without any line being dragged out. This gives the bottom fish plenty of line to find a hole. With braid, no stretch and the fish does not have a chance to find the hole. Because of the expense of the braid, only put on 50% more than the depth you are fishing. If you are only fishing in 100' of water, you only need 150' of braid. For trolling or surf fishing, you want a little stretch to help fight the fish or absorb the shock of that first hit. That is why you put the mono on top. How much? this is the compromise. I would put as much braid as I could on the reel and top it with about 100 yards of mono. Braid lasts a long time so if you get a problem with the mono you are replacing the less expensive mono and still have plenty of braid. This way the braid will pay for itself in a few years. Replacing only the mono each season. Of course, every other year (or every year if you are rough on your reel), take the reel in to Tom at Outcast and let him go through it. You will be amazed at how much salt and water will be in the inside of your reel when the outside looks great. Hope this helps.