Snapping Braid

I have had problems over the past few years when fishing with braid,  when i get snagged up i try several times to pull it off then i try whip the tip to try to release it from the snag , most times the braid snaps up near the surface, or occasionaly snaps above my 2 mt double,   snapping down the bottom i cant be sure that the double may have snagged but up on the surface is annoying especially when your in 60 mts.  i have had the problem on several different rods and lines which i have changed to ensure its not damaged and mostly on 15,20 25 kg braid ????


uncle's picture

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Date Joined: 10/02/07

thats weird

Wed, 2010-07-07 20:22

normally its bloody hard to snap and gos at the bottom

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hlokk's picture

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Date Joined: 04/04/08

Not sure exactly what you

Wed, 2010-07-07 20:33

Not sure exactly what you mean by 'whipping the tip'. Is it snapping when you arent trying to? Perhaps the method has something to do with it?

I've had two types of braid snap not at the bimini, so either really cheap braid or one varivas braid (but damn smooth braid, so i think it just ties really good biminis). Which brands are you using atm?

Another way to do it is to tying your leader to your line with a decent knot, as at least you'll get your leader back (i use a bimini-gt knot-uni knot)

just dhu it's picture

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hlokk, i have tried about 4

Wed, 2010-07-07 20:46

hlokk, i have tried about 4 different braids, the last two where recomended by other members and were not cheap, breaking down the bottom is hard to tell why but on the surface ??   whipping the rod , similar to jigging , back of and release tension on line for a short while and quickly raise tip to release snag, but not agressively

Alan James's picture

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Date Joined: 30/06/09

If Bottom Bouncing

Wed, 2010-07-07 20:55

Use a lighter line between your sinker and the trace so that if you snag up only the sinker will be lost.  Alternatively ensure the trace is less than the bs of the braid.

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Faulkner Family's picture

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Date Joined: 11/03/08

maybe at some stage the line

Wed, 2010-07-07 21:21

maybe at some stage the line has come in contact with a sharp edge of your boat while fishing and has caused a fray which will be weaker than the rest. braid will snap at knots and that may be in the tying or using too heavier mono shock leader

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grayzeee's picture

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Date Joined: 09/07/09

if i get caught up on the

Wed, 2010-07-07 22:14

if i get caught up on the bottom and its stuck good

i give it some slack and drive boat around so pulling from opposite side.

if all else fails , i keep rod straight , aiming it at snag , and pull so rod isn't loaded up.

(if that still fails , wrap around cleat)

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Date Joined: 21/02/08

I always thought that if you

Wed, 2010-07-07 22:22

I always thought that if you were snapping braid off, widning it around the largest diameter object was the best, its more likely to snap at the knot.

 

So recently on a friends boat out in ~100m, we wind it around the release weight mega handline and the fscking thing snaps at the handline!

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SHizz's picture

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http://www.tackletester.com/?

Thu, 2010-07-08 01:06

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Check your guides.

Thu, 2010-07-08 07:36

...but as you have used several different rods this may not be the case. But damage can be done by winding the swivel into the top guide all the time, add a bit of tension and it doesn't take much!!

We generally drive back up and around when someone is snagged. It doesn't take long and I can't remember the last time we lost a rig.

cudbfishn's picture

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you shouldnt whip braid like

Thu, 2010-07-08 08:12

you shouldnt whip braid like that. because of its properties with no stretch it will "pop".

You can demo it with your own hands. wrap some braid around 2 objects, ie sinkers and pull them apart quickly with both hands, it will ping. it is very easy to "pop" 150lb braid. but if you pull them slowly apart i bet you wont snap it.

When you whip it through your rod guides it could be weakening it up near your rod, because that it where it is bending through 90 degreese, as well as rod guides etc.

carnarvonite's picture

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Cheap braid

Thu, 2010-07-08 15:00

Got some off ebay and that is what was happening, get a good bite and bury the hooks only to have it snap near the rod tip. All runners and tip in good condition, fixed it by chucking all the cheap stuff in the bin.

When snagged, drive the boat back up untill your line is straight up and down then let it go loose and jerk it a few times, usually comes off first time.

Andy Mac's picture

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Check your guides

Thu, 2010-07-08 15:24

To do it get one of your missus's nylon stockings (or your own if you are so inclined) Kiss 

and drag it through the eyes of your rod. if there is the slightest nick in the guide it will catch on the nylon.

 

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if i get snagged with braid

Fri, 2010-07-09 14:10

if i get snagged with braid , i wind up as much line as i can so my rod is bent right over n n flick it to free spool n let it unwind really quickly without gettin tangled . I find it acts as a lacky band effect n usually unhooks , if not i aim my rod straight at the snag n pull it up . or do as above drive the boat around but sometimes its just gunna happen

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Mitta79's picture

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Date Joined: 16/12/06

Broom handle

Sat, 2010-07-10 00:30

Cut a small piece of broom handle about 30cm, sand it so that it is nice and smooth. Wrap your braid around it a at least 5 times and hang on to both ends. This works a treat!

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Mitta79

Feral's picture

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just make your sinker line

Sat, 2010-07-10 01:05

just make your sinker line lighter than your braid and its all fixed .. unless you snag a hook into the bottom .. in that case your stuffed and about to lose a bit of line :)

wazzbat's picture

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Try This One!

Sat, 2010-07-10 06:32

I found the best way to unsnag when using braid is to aim your rod downwards directly at the snag and put your hand around your reel tighthly so it can't unwind.  The pressure form the drift is normally enough to free you.  Doing it this way, you should never snap the line at the rod.  If it is going to snap, it will do so at the bottom.  I was told this trick a few years ago and has never failed for me since!  In saying that though - I normally have a go at driving around the snag first depending who is in the boat, frequency of snagging etc.

If the drift is not enough, you would obviously have to drive away from the snag.

 

Give it a go next time - Good Luck!

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Paul G's picture

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Mick I to do what you do

Sat, 2010-07-10 07:27

Mick I to do what you do lift and lower the rod tip with sharp jerks and have no problems with snapping. The best way which works 90% of the time is to drive the boat back past the snagged line so you are pulling from the opposite direction you were drifting then I give it a few jerks and it usually comes free. If not tie it to back of the boat and put her in gear ,now this is a good way to snap brad.

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Seaquest's picture

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I like to free spool my reel

Sat, 2010-07-10 08:15

I like to free spool my reel the instant I'm snagged. Let the line out for 30 seconds and create a belly in the line. Then lock up the drag and let the boat do the rest. Works most of the time but you have to get it into freespool straight away.

Using a lighter trace to your sinker as Feral said is a good back up.

I mostly use Berkley whiplash for bottom bashing. Thin, strong and reasonable priced. Can't recall ever snapping it near the surface on a snag.