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Braided line has become more popular in recent years and great for many types of fishing situations. Now on the market there are a variety of strengths, diameters, colours and coatings. If you're new to using braids it can be confusing where to start. This guide will cover all the different types of braid that can be used alongside different reels and for different situations. Â
WHAT IS FISHING BRAID?
Braid is a strong type of line which can be used for mainlines and hooklengths. It is created from small lengths of fibre which is very strong, allowing it to have a great breaking strain while maintaining a low diameter.Â
Braid also has little to no stretch or memory, unlike monofilament and fluorocarbon lines. Due to the no stretch qualities it makes braid the best line for bite indication. Braid is also great for fishing close to snags as it has a high abrasion resistance.Â
BREAKING STRAIN AND DIAMETER
Just like other lines, you will want to match the breaking strain to the size of fish you're targeting. If you are fishing for small species then a low breaking strain will work just fine. However, if you are fishing for larger species like Carp then choosing a breaking strain of over 20lb will be great.
The diameter of braid you use will depend on the type of fishing you are doing and the size of fish you're aiming for. Typically braids with a wider diameter will have a higher breaking strain, sink faster and will be heavier. For distance casting then a lower diameter braid would be better suited.
Also when using braid with a higher diameter it's important to take into consideration the depth of the reels spool you are using. A deeper spool will allow for wider diameter braid or longer lengths of low diameter braid.
BEST KNOT TO USE WITH BRAID
Knots are an important part of any rig and an incorrectly tied knot could result in the loss of a fish. A popular knot for fishing with mono is the clinch knot. However, while using a braided line the tag end can pull back through itself with pressure. So it's best to stay away from that knot. For braided lines one of the best strong and easy knots to tie is the palomar knot.Â
WHEN SHOULD I USE BRAID?Â
Braid has a variety of uses and other than personal preference it will outperform mono and fluoro in some situations. For example when using both a marker or spod rod then braid is the best mainline option. Due to the super low stretch of braid the feel while using a marker rod is a lot more responsive and is easier to detect the environment of the lakebed. Also for Spodding, braid is really strong and great for casting out heavy spods or spombs. If you would like to know more about spodding check out our Spods vs Spombs guide.
WHAT IS COATED BRAID?
Coated Braid is a popular material used within the carp fishing industry. A commonly used coated braid is the Korda Dark matter. However, coated braid would not work as a mainline and is primarily used for hook lengths. The coating of the braid can be stripped back in certain parts allowing for supple points on the line. For a more in depth guide on hooklink materials and coated braid check out our Guide to Hooklength Materials.
POPULAR BRAIDS FOR MAINLINES
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FOX SUBMERGE
A great option for mainline braid is Fox’s Submerge. The dark camo colour helps blend into the lakebed and stay out of sight. The braid is also supple allowing it to be really fast sinking. The braid is available in three sizes, 25lb and 0.16mm, 40lb and 0.20mm, 55lb and 0.30mm.Â
Key Features:
- Fast Sinking
- Supple
- High abrasion resistance
- Dark Camo
- Zero stretch
KORDA SLR SPOD / MARKER BRAID
This braid from Korda has been designed specifically for spod and marker rods. The design allows a heavy spod to be casted long distances. The zero stretch allows a better feel of the lakebed while using a marker rod.
Key Features:
- Long casting Braid
- Supple
- Low stretch
- Low diameter
- 300m spool
RIDGEMONKEY DESCEND BRAIDÂ
 
This new braid from RidgeMonkey has been designed for super fast sinking. The braid is available in 20b and 30lb and also with a spool length of 300m or 1000m. The Descend braid is also low diameter while still maintaining excellent abrasion resistance making a great all round braid.
Key Features:
- Super fast sinking
- Low Stretch
- Low diameter
- High Abrasion resistance
