I end up putting a wrap of tape on the crease of my pinky where the line always cuts in for knots.. You do need to protect your skin from braid a lot more then mono.
IMO PP is worth it. I found fireline to work ok but seems too thick for the # test, also I think it is not a round line (or at least the line I used wasn't round). I like the thin-ness feature of PP.
PP is great for casting distance... and even better for bottom fishing from a boat. I can fish 100' of water with a 2-3 oz sinker in a good drift and my line is almost straight down. The mono fishermen next to me has an 8 oz weight and his line is a mile away from the boat. Then there is the stretch and feel factor and is lasts much longer and is much better in cold weather then mono...no question about it braid is better for many types of fishing. Also I love the squeeeling sound it makes as it screems thru SIC guides.
The only problems I see with braid is that
1) tangles are harder to fix
2) cuts in hands
3) It is not as abraisve resistant as mono
4) you need the right reel to fish it else it is a nightmare.
Last summer I loaded the same reel with PP, fireline, stren braid, and cortland braid. Fished a couple days with each. For me I liked PP.
Also did a rock test....under tension ran it accross a rock, not super scientific but as uniform as I could...mono lasts the longest before breaking. Braid cuts the soonest. Good mono is pretty abraision resistant. I have heard there is a new braid that is very abrisive resistant but I have not tried it.
I think PP made some improvements last year...no more mystery breakoffs but I did snap a couple lures off due to my own screw-ups. Set up on the right reel I have had less problems with PP then mono. Your mileage may vary
If you fish less then 30# PP you are taking really thin line. It casts like you snaped off the plug but it cuts. 50# + is not that bad and casts like 14# mono I found. Some of my lighter spinners have 15-30# PP and it is like casting a line with almost hair-like thickness.
Getting back on topic...What I would like to know is what is your favorite conv reel (stock from the factory with no mods) (cost no object) just for surfcasting?
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