Carolina Rig with Braid Mainline?

[d-nort]

Does anyone use braid for their mainline when Carolina rigging? I tried it a little last year and really liked it, but realized you have to have the drag set perfect so you don't snap the leader during hooksets . So far I still prefer mono.

Is braid a good idea for c-rigs?

'04 Blazer/ 250 Hammer!

[borderbasser]

Most people I know fish braid on the leader... with that being said; I fish it on the main line too, but I haven't caught a fish on a carolina rig in years

[20_lb_sack]

The carolina rig was my number two set-up when I lived in Florida, right after the spinnerbait.

[dowhatta]

I tried Fireline on just about everything for a little while, but I've actually reverted back to mono for most of my fishing. My Carolina and Texas rig rods both get 17-lb. flourocarbon, but the rest is all mono.
About the only thing I still have fireline on is my spinning rods (using 8lb.), and that's to avoid line twist issues. Now that we're getting into frogging season, I'll probably have fireline back on my frog rod for working the lily pads and slop.

[kensafishin]

I use 50lb braid and florocarbon for the leader.Better hooksets and very little stretch.

[Papa Tom]

Dave... have used braids in the past for c-rig main with a mono leader. Because of the lack of stretch, you can set the hook from long distance, and the sensitivity is terrific. Only negative I ever had was that it wore so quickly in the rocks. Because of that, I went back to Big Game. If I were in a different environment, I'd probably go back to braid on the main. I wondered, but never tried, if Rockhopper or Lindy rig sinkers would have prevented some of that.

[srode]

I always use 30lb power pro on the main line, and 20lb flouro on the leader. Never had a problem with breaking the leader or mainline unless it got snagged or worn on rocks/fences etc and didn't inspect/retie. Sweeping the hookset instead of snapping it might help if you're breaking the leader on hookset.

[AveryF]

I use 30# Power Pro with either a 12# or 14# monofilament leader and, like Popa Tom said, the sensitivity and hooksetting power from long distances is awesome. Another thing that I've noticed from the increased sensitivity is that I can't remember the last time I gut-hooked a fish, no matter how aggressive they might be. It does take some getting used to using a sweeping-type hookset as Steve suggested, instead of raring back and really trying to "cross their eyes" like you have to do with monofilament, but it really makes a world of difference.

A couple of other things that really helped was to back off the drag just a little and to drop down one step in either rod power or action, i.e. use either a medium power, fast-action or medium-heavy power, medium-action rod instead of a medium-heavy, fast-action one.

I throw a Carolina-rig a lot in the summer months and really benefited by switching weights from the traditional egg sinkers to cylindrical shaped finesse weights. They don't get hung up nearly as often and line fraying, for me anyway, is pretty much eliminated. I suppose you could further reduce line fraying if you need to by using tungsten weights but I have a hard time convincing myself that I need to pay $2 or $3 for a weight when what I'm doing now is working so well.

[d-nort]

Thanks for the help guys...

[Kerry201pro]

I use braid on the main line and mono on leader. It gives great sensativitey.