Monofilament line=Dinosaur tackle?

[Flaptail]

Every kind of line type has some inherent defincies either in it's construction or it's use.

Braid for instance on a spinning reel, in my humble opinion, sucks for popping plugs on open still water like a beach, no problem in a waterway or inlet opening where there is enough current to keep the plug moving and thus tension on the line but in an open water situation like a long expanse of beach, that milisecond where there is a small amount of slack, your bound to have issues especially with a pencil popper that is zipping along waving it's head like a warning finger.

Barnacle covered rocks like those found at Cuttyhunk and the Elizabeths or the ledge and rock shores of Beavertail and Newport can be lethal to braid as well. The canal is different in that your rock issues are in close proximity to where your feet are planted, your most likely to have problems with kelp strands attached to the bottom rather than the rocks along it's steep banks.

Some braid brands need time to get to know. I had this problem with Power Pro but persistence paid off and now I know what I can do with it and what I cannot. I use Power Pro 80% of the time.

Also, some reels behave better with some brands of braid than others. I have a Cabo PT60 ( The poor man's VanStal) it absolutely hates power pro but lay on Fireline and it purrs like a kitten. Conversly on my conventionals I use nothing but Stealth by Spiderwire. The 50lb in the canal is just about perfect.

Once you get to know it's ideosyncrasies (spelling?) there is nothing like it though. Just like anything it's a learning curve to master.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

Every kind of line type has some inherent defincies either in it's construction or it's use.

Yes. The biggest benefit from using braid besides distance is the control/feel you get on a long cast. Your spool also depletes more slowly with lower diameter lines and gives you added distance. Fishing in close there's no benefit, IMO.
Mono works well when line stretch is minimized via short casts...I actually love it for fresh water.
As for braid being bad in rocks, I completly disagree. Its equal or better than mono of the same diameter, IMO. We're talking 40# power pro just for reference.

[numbskull]

I mostly fish with braid but on the rare occasion I hook anything decent I always wish I was using heavy mono. With single hooks it may not matter but with trebles, if you need to control where and how far the fish goes, using heavy pressure often pulls or straightens hooks.