Bass is a fish that has become an obsession for many anglers. This smart, yet curious fish reached big popularity in the fishing world. Especially in the USA. There are plenty of subspecies of this fish and to catch some of them with the regular spinning gear requires a couple of tricks. In this article, we’ll try to find an answer for anglers who are not sure if they should use a braid or mono when they want to catch a striped bass. One of the bigger bass species.
The Basics of Braid and Mono
What is Braid?
Braided lines are among the most popular lines used in modern fishing. Braid users prefer this type of line because the stretch factor is lesser than mono, offers great strength, and resolves one big concern for saltwater anglers. Due to its thin diameter, a lot of braid can fit on small reel spools. So instead of carrying big spinning reels, anglers can use small class reels and have just as much main line on them.
When it comes to materials, the braids are made either from Dacron, Spectra, or micro-Dyneema. The same goes when a braid for stripers is in question. All of these are synthetic materials.
What is Mono?
Mono or Monofilament in its full name is another popular type of fishing line. It’s made of plastic (mostly nylon) and it consists of one single fiber. One of the biggest benefits of monofilament is that it is highly abrasion resistant. It’s cheap to be made so you can purchase it for less money. That is another reason why many anglers prefer it.
Pros and Cons of Braid for Striped Bass Fishing
Benefits of Braid
- Thin diameter thus more line on the casting reel
- Less stretching thus better bite indication
- Extremely high breaking strength
Drawbacks of Braid
- 40 – 50# braid and 50-60# braid can be very expensive if you are buying renowned brands
- Knots may not be as good as they are with Mono
- Easy to spot by bass in clean water
Pros and Cons of Mono for Striped Bass Fishing
Benefits of Mono
- Impeccable knot break strength
- Almost invisible, even in just a few feet of water. This makes it an excellent choice when fishing for a fish such as striped bass
- Cheaper than braid, even the lines in the 30-50lb test range
Drawbacks of Mono
- Not the best choice for deeper water because it absorbs it and this leads to decreased sensitivity. Sometimes, it can even result in loose knots and you can only imagine the feeling of losing a prize fish due to something like that
- Thick diameter, especially when it comes to heavy mono means you’ll have less line on the reel
- Stretchy material means that you may not feel the bait as good as you would like
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Braid and Mono for Striped Bass
Fishing Conditions
Rain, sunny weather, or heavy wind are just some of the conditions you should consider when making a choice between braid or mono for striped bass. Wind means that there will be waves on the water and wind knots are possible. In that case, I would go with mono because it’s easier to maneuver with it when it’s windy.
Casting Distance
Use braid for distance. Plain and simple. If you are looking to cast your lure far from the shore or your row boat go with a braid. Keep in mind that you’ll need beefy spinning rods and reels if you plan to cast heavy lures. Lure weights such as sinkers are also a viable option to help you cast even further.
Line Visibility
This is one of the biggest concerns for every angler trying to catch bass. Can they see the line? While the answer is yes, they can which makes mono a better choice automatically. Today we have color braids that can blend in with the environment just as well as mono.
Knot Strength and Resistance to Abrasion
If you are fishing in a body of water with plenty of hidden obstacles beneath, choose mono. It has higher abrasion resistance and you are less likely to break your line. Knot break strength also goes in favor of mono, but braid is not a bad choice either.
Personal Preference and Experience
Ultimately, it’s all about this. If you had a bad experience with either braid or mono, it’s normal that you’ll prefer one over the other. In case you enjoyed your fishing while using one of these two, just go with it. One of the most common angler errors is doing something just because someone said you should.
Go with your feeling and listen to your gut. There were numerous times when I had a better experience just by doing what I thought was a good idea at that point. Instead of using a different approach that was recommended by someone.
The Best Applications of Braid for Striped Bass
Surf Fishing for Striped Bass
If your choice for stripers is Atlantic, and that is where you fish for them, then surf fishing is the best choice. Braid will give you plenty of casting distance.
Deep Water Fishing for Striped Bass
Another method that you’ll most likely use in the Atlantic is deep-water fishing. This is where braid should excel because it won’t stretch as much as mono upon bait and you can be sure that know will remain rock solid. In other words, your prize fish won’t fall off once you hook it. Just make sure you are using a barbed hook that doesn’t have any rust on it.
In case you do have a problem with rust, learn how to keep fishing hooks from rusting.
Trolling for Striped Bass
Some people say that mono for trolling is a must, but I disagree on this one. You can perform successful trolling with braid. As long as your trolling gear is set the right way. But, this is a topic for another article.
The Best Applications of Mono for Striped Bass
Bait Fishing for Striped Bass
One of my favorite methods of fishing is one with live bait. Since striped bass doesn’t have pointy teeth, you can use mono without any concern that fish can snap it.
Anglers can benefit from using monofilament lines when trolling for hard-hitting gamefish or when using advanced fishing techniques around rough objects like docks and boulder fields.
Light Tackle Fishing for Striped Bass
Catching striped bass on poppers is a real thrill. So whether you are using pencil poppers, micro poppers, or something else. Jigging them on top of the water will be easier with mono.
Fishing in Clear Water
As we already pointed out. Fishing in clear water is better with mono because cautious fish such as bass won’t spot it as easily as it would spot coated braid.
In conclusion, the braid versus mono choice for striped bass fishing ultimately depends on the specific situation and technique being used. Braid is ideal for casting techniques such as surf fishing and deep-water fishing in the Atlantic, providing excellent casting distance and minimal stretch. It is also suitable for trolling when the gear is properly set up.
On the other hand, mono is preferable for bait fishing, light tackle fishing with poppers, and fishing in clear water where a more stealthy approach is needed. Ultimately, understanding the advantages of each line type and how they align with your fishing style and environment will help you make the best choice for targeting striped bass.
So grab your spinning rod and get out there on the water, maybe the next big striper awaits you to put it in your trophy picture portfolio!