Lines & Braids

Why Braid Wins Afloat

Braid is the standard for boat fishing because of its thin diameter and lack of stretch — you feel bites a hundred feet down and you hold bottom with less lead. It does need a decent length of heavier mono or fluorocarbon leader, both for abrasion and to give a bit of cushion at the boat when a fish makes a last dive. Keep an eye on the first few yards for wear after fishing rough ground or wrecks, and re-tie your leader knot regularly rather than trusting last month’s.