I want to try out some of the new style braided fishing string. I've only ever used monofilament but it seems some of the advantages of the braided lines would be worthwhile. I guess they have a thinner diameter for a given test rating and less stretch.

I will be fishing along a river with water about 15' deep - sometimes with a good current. I usually use a drop shot rig or slip sinker and either a crawler or minnow for bait. We mostly just catch smallmouth off the pier. The water is very clear - Lake Michigan. I want something cheap and easy to use. Let's just say I'm "economically disadvantaged".

How do you cut the braided super-lines? Aren't they made of Kevlar or such? Will my fingernail clippers cut it?

What kind of knot to you need to use with braided lines? I only know how to tie an improved clinch knot so I suppose I'll need to learn a new one.

Any particular brands or types of braided line you can recommend? The choices seem overwhelming to me when I visit the fishin strang section at the sporting goods store.

Sufix 832 I use it for a lot of stuff these days.

I use powerline and it is tough stuff, thin, casts easily, but you have to cut it with scissors or very sharp knife only.

Jim

Any of them will do some a a little bit thinner than others. When I say little bit I mean very little. Some claim to be oval but don't worry about all the hype. A fisherman's knot works just fine. I prefer a good set of small sharp scissors to k\cut it. I would only use it on a spinning reel. If you ever see a backlash on a level wind you'll understand. If you get hung uo point the rod at it tighten up grab the spool and pull straight back so you don't cut into the rod guides.

I like J braid or fire line at times I'll a a low stretch mono leader to the jig I'm fishing for walleye's.
As for a knot I use a Palomar knot the best tool I have for cutting it is a clippers I picked up at a local tackle shop I can't remember the brand name. Catch a bunch and share pictures !
Allan

I use fireline for walleye in winter. Makes feeling those lite taps easier. Only bad thing I found about braid is if it’s below freezing it will freeze after it a absorbs water which happens fairly quick depending on temps. Then I switch over to mono.

I don't like Spider Wire. Lots of people recommended this brand to me so I bought a spool. Nothing but frustrations. If the hook got caught on something like a branch or a rock the line would fray. I do my fishing from banks

I like Fireline.

powerpro 60lbs all I use but I also only catfish on rivers here in Illinois. the pec the rock and the big river.

Power pro here but have a couple reels spooled with suffix on trial.

Power Pro has worked well for me but I usually splice a mono leader on to the end for live bait rigging. As far as knots go just double your line for the improved clinch knot and for splicing the mono just take an improved clinch knot leaving the loop open, pass the other line through the loop and make another improved clinch knot over that line and draw them down carefully. Both of these connections I have described are as strong as any you will find. A very sharp knife cuts this stuff as scissors and clippers often leave a ragged cut (maybe mine are dull).

I’ve used power pro for many years, I love it.

Suffix 832. I normally fish a lot of finesse type rigs - senkos, ned rig, drop shot - so I also have a 6 foot fluorocarbon leader tied on.

What ever is cheapest.

Jerry Brown is the best braid out there. Don’t know if it’s available in quantities or poundage your looking for

I have used PowerPro for years and love it for the sensitivity and zero stretch.
One problem is the knots you need to use with it. A Palomar knot, or if you are making a braid to mono leader you will use a uni-knot.
Remember that due to the thin diameter of the line you cant just grab it like mono and pull, it WILL cut you!!

20lb power pro for me.

A uni knot with braid will hold about 50% of the strength. An Albright will hold about 65%. A Bimini twist will hold anywhere from 60%_100% depending on how many twist. There are other knots used with braid but these are the knots I use when tying mainlines to leaders with braid mono and wire. For what it’s worth your drag should be set at strike to 20-25% of the line breaking strength and at full 35%. For my trolling outfits I join braid to mono with Bimini twist and then loop to loop connection. For my jogging and smaller spinning rods we connect with Albright knots. Uni to uni work but the Albright is smaller and stronger and goes through the guides better.

I always lost a lot of fish with braided over mono, usually right at the boat. Especially Trout and Salmon due to the fleshy mouth I guess. I know some people get along good with it, I never could.

I have and do use spiderwire for my catfishing rigs. Im sure there is as good or better probably cheaper out there. I like knowing whatever i hook into i can hold, i run 50lb test. I can get more line at a higher test than heavy mono on my small spooled openface reels. However if you hook a log...then you will have to hope the hook straightens or breaks, or the knot breaks.