Gene wrote:" In your opinion:
Which type of line is less likely to make a birdnest?
Which type of line will cast the farthest?"

Gene,

I personally am a power pro fan. I have used it on both baitcaster and
spinning reels. Using the power pro 12 LB. test on a Calcutta reel last
year I pulled in a 45 LB black drum that ran back and forth across the
oyster reef for 30 minute fight. I released the fish and rebaited with
another live shrimp and hooked up with a 33 LB. bull red over the same reef.
After another 20 minute fight, I boated the fish took a picture and released
it. I then looked at my line near the hook and it was just about to break
from the rubbing against the oyster reef. Despite how frayed it got, I
still did not lose the fish. I feel that if I was using mono, I would have
lost the redfish.

I believe that birdnest problems comes from not setting the reel correctly
to the lure weight. The rest of the problems are usually operator error.

I never checked to see which cast the farthest since I am usually fishing
within 30 yards of where I want to cast.

Another tip when using braid line is to either back the reel with mono or
tape the line to the reel after you make your knot. Braided line is very
slippery and will not bite into the reel. This will cause the line to spin
around the reel instead of reeling in. Also make sure that the line is on
tight. Braid line must be reeled tight in order to prevent casting
problems.

When setting the hook, a slight lift of the rod tip is usually all it takes
to set the hook. I fish Carolina rig a lot with live bait. When I get a
hit, I usually wait to set the hook. A few seconds late, The fish comes
back and starts to swim off with the bait and that is when I set the hook.



As I stated before, I have several friends that are guides and they all
prefer Trilene Big Game. They state that it is the most abrasion resistant
of the mono. Most guides in this area carry spinning reels only. Mono is
cheaper then braided. More cost means less profit. It is not unusual for
the guide to have to pop the line several times a trip. So if he has to
keep replacing braid line before it time due to hang up then he is losing
more money with braided then mono.

Sarge