4lb braid question

[bulldogs195461]

ok i bit the bullet and got lighter braid on my bream/flatty outfit thanks for all the advice.but now im just wondering is that strong enough(yes im a worrier)im landbased ,the guy at the tackle shop said my 8lb leader would probally break before my 4lb braid if i got a decent size fish.is this good advice,.regards john.oh i mostly use bait but am real keen to try plastics with it to.

[Jeremy]

so do a test for yourself to find out how strong it is.....

[Blythy]

It's probably a safe bet, depends on the braid brand, for example 4lb fireline crystal breaks at about 11lb while 8lb Vanish breaks at just under 9lb just tie a good double in the braid to join to the leader. there is a post on the site the has the breaking for a lot of different lines, it well worth a look at.

[bulldogs195461]

ok,i got 4lb fireline in a fluro colour am, my leader is 8lb stealth platypus.so im hoping that would be strong enough.

[Benben86]

I have never broken my braid line. I always have broken the leader. Even with 80 pound leader on 30 pound braid. Knots are the biggest weakness braid though.

[alleycat]

Ive caught 70cm snapper on 1.5kg braid so you will be right, just watch your knot on your leader, i use a uni to uni, tie the uni with your leader first and pull it tight as this takes the strain off when you pull it together..

[bulldogs195461]

i use a double uni knot,i learnt off here.seems to work ok.

[Benben86]

albright seems to work ok and piss easy to tie

[devocean]

If you are worried about breakages get some Sunline FC Sniper flurocarbon- this stuff in my opinion is completely bomb proof and very tough. I had the same problem went down to 4lb to increase my flathead and bream hookups but was worried about jack and barra hookups on such light gear. I was put onto this leader and so far it has done the job on some great fish including jacks and barra in tight timber. I won't use anything else anymore.

[bulldogs195461]

devocean and can i ask did you have any problems with the bream n flatties on 4lb?i wont be chasing barra etc

[Apollo]

I have now landed 20 odd barra to 87cm on 4lb fireline, so as said above, it won't be your issue unless you get rubbed against something. This is when the light braid has a big weakness.

Go for it and enjoy.

Steve

[Peter4]

Bulldogs,

We regularly use 4lb crystal fireline and 6lb nitlon leader when breamin' in Moreton Bay. Never had a line breakage other than being rubbed off against structure or bitten off by toothy creatures.

Have landed bream to 30cm, tailor to 44cm, flathead to 59cm, trevally to 35cm, snapper to 35cm and heaps of smaller species (moses perch, pike, whiptails etc)

We also use a double uni knot to attach the leader....

More important than the line class you are using is the drag setting on your reel. The correct setting will allow bigger fish to run without putting too much pressure on line or knots...

Regs

Pete & Kyle

[bulldogs195461]

ok all,thanks.seems its all ok,.peter4 your right i have to get use to setting that drag lol.but seems most people use 4lb on there light gear with no problems.

[devocean]

Bulldog the stuff is awesome and my hook up rate has increased dramatically after using it. It really is a quality leader. I wasnt chasing barra or jacks with it but occassionally the bigger fish e.g jacks and barra taking a liking to the 3inch gulps and have a go. No one likes to lose a metre barra any time and if they play nice they can be caught on light stuff.

I wish they made it heavier then 20lb as I would use it on all application if I could

[devocean]

Didnt make myself clear- I am only using this stuff as leader. Most 4lb braid is probably rated to at leat 6 or 8 so you will be right with a good brand like tuff line or Fins. For the fish you are after it is more about the leader anyway.

[NAGG]

Keep in mind that there is 4lb braid (tournament) which breaks at less than 4lb (ie: Daiwa sensor tournament) or there is 4lb braids ..... which just seems to be a nominated number - often breaking at 6,7 or 8lb (ie ; Fireline)
If you want 4lb ...... ask yourself why ?
For my way of thinking .....it boils down to diameter ( thinner is best)

therefore go for the thinnest 4lb rated raid that you can find ....... then match it with a leader that will do the job .

Regards

Chris