Braided line at Lake Mead

cruizer · Post by **cruizer** » Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:23 pm

I'm fishing the Open. I like fishing braid with a flour carbon leader. Is this okay?

tunaman · Post by **tunaman** » Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:32 pm

Well, if you must it should be OK. Be sure to use a long leader, as the water is extremely clear. Also consider your presentation - if you're worming or jigging it will have an effect on the rate of fall.

Braid works great there for spooks, buzzbaits and other top waters, but again the clear water gives them a chance to see the line and may possibly cost a bite.

Your best bet IMHO is to use straight flourocarbon or mono, depending on the technique you're fishing, as it just helps to mask the trick.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!

Roger

EDIT - thanks for reminding me Jim... I also wanted to bring up the fact that you must have be proficient with your splice and use a connection you have absolute faith in, as you don't want to be breaking off fish and getting on the bad side of your Pro! EVERY fish at the US Open is money... can't afford to dump any at all on tournament days!

jimmy87 · Post by **jimmy87** » Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:43 pm

have to agree with Tunaman. I like green maxima in clear water lakes. Its been catching fish for me in the clearest waters for YEARS. In 20 foot visablilty kind of water.
rocks cut braided line better than a razor blade. consider that as well.
also you have to deal with the braid to mono/fluro connection.
I been using the albright knot now but has to be perfect.

witch knot are you using?

meadbasser · Post by **meadbasser** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:22 am

Hey Cruizer, Mead is my home lake and I have never used braid on it. I feel you cannot feel the faint bite on braided line IMHO. I agree with the others here with regards to the sharp rocks in Mead. I use (double polymar knot,) fluorocarbon for my drop shots and crank baits in the # 8 and 12 lb range and use (double polymar knot,) Mono # 10-15LB for my topwater as well as for my spinnerbaits. I rarely get line breakage, and the only reason I do is because I did not check the line due to contact with the sharp rocks and the many Quagga mussels that are everywhere. These lines and knots have worked well for me all these years. Those tough bass on Mead will see that braid a mile off because of the water clarity, and besides, trust me you will not have time to join braid to your other lines at the Open.The more cast you make, the better chance you will get a bite. Don’t waste your time at the Open. The other commentators are correct, each bass caught is worth their weight in Gold at the Open, and so you have to be very careful in how you use your fishing lines. Use mono and carbon and you won’t go wrong. Beware of the Quagga mussels as these shells will cut your lines in no time. Check and recheck your lines every 5th cast, so those fish don’t get a chance to break off! Good luck in the Open my friend.

cruizer · Post by **cruizer** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 7:47 am

Thanks for the info guys.

Oldschool · Post by **Oldschool** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 8:53 am

Quagga's cut FC line just as fast as braid, abrasion resistant premium mono seems to work best.
Haven't fished Mead with NanoFil yet, the 8 lb is 0.006 diameter, same as 4 lb mono or FC. Conventional wisdom tells us to use transparent line in clear water. NanoFil is opaque white out of the box and the 8 lb works good in clear water... without a leader. It will be interesting to see how this line performs at the Open this year.
My advice; take the tackle you have confidence in and ask your pro what line to use, where he plans to fish.
Tom