conventional + braid digging issue
 

Im about ready to respool some conventional reels this weekend and want to stick with braid however the last spools were 30# fireline and it really dug into itself. This is a pretty annoying problem id like to correct for this year.

Is there a way to prevent this or is this a typical problem with braid and conventional?

Spool it on as tight as you can get it, overspool it slightly.

Go to a big field tie off your line off to a tree bench etc. Walk out til youre in your backing. Put a bend in the rod by pulling the line taught. Start reeling keeping your rod tip bent.

Or

If you've got a brave assistant have them hold the braid spool. While you crank the line on with the rod bent under load :bgi: its always fun when you speed up the braid spool gets hot and they drop it. :uhuh:

I upped to 50# to get a little more thickness in the braid to try and avoid the digging
I also will be going to the Football field after every outing to retighten that first several hundred yards.

Braids too thin. Try 50# or 65#, depending on the braid.

what do you guys use for braid in the 50 + range?

All my conv have 65PP. Tried to go down to 50 a few years ago, but it kept digging in.

65 PP. You need nothing else, no football fields, assistants, nothing.:wavey:

40 or 50 is for spinning.

It's 30 pound Fireline, Tony--it's already thicker than most 65# spun braids ;)

Tension is the key. I use one of those $30 Berkley portable line spoolers, and I put extra tension on the side of the line spool with my hand. My reels are wound as tight as most shops can do it on a machine.

Never had that problem and fished 65# power pro on the boat and from the surf for the past 3 or 4 seasons, I rarely use spinning and have never encountered the "internet famous" line digging.

:agree:

geesh, wasnt asking anyone to put the hate on for fireline :)

it was actually pretty good for my spinning stuff.

Fireline for spinning is great. Tried it on conventional, but like the pp better.

i think the problem is a lack of backing. Are you backing the braid with mono?

Same method I use, those are a great little tool for the money. I think the problem with Fireline is that it's flat, makes it easier to dig into itself. I love the stuff on my spinners, but on conventional I prefer a nice round braid like Cortland or Power Pro, which I believe both come from the same factory. Diameter of the braid only becomes an issue if you're trying to throw too much weight for the pound test you're using. I use 15# Stealth on an Abu 4600 for schoolies and it works fine, but the most I'm throwing is about an ounce. If you want to toss 3 ounces or more then you have to upsize the braid to at least 50#.

spool it up tight then let it ALL out behind the boat at about 5 knots and wind it on there again with the drag from the water. problem solved