By Louie Stout

Which braid should you choose?

If you’re like me, trying to discern differences in fishing lines is not only overwhelming at times, but also very confusing.

That’s why I called Brian Evans, marketing manager at Seaguar, a guy with whom I have known and shared a boat while bass fishing on the Niagara River a few years ago.

The big question in my mind, and probably in the mind of other weekend anglers, is what is the difference between 4 strand and 8 strand braid?

You can see the smoothness of 8-strand braid in this photo of Smackdown tied to a leader. (Seaguar photo)

Evans says you should think of 8 strand, such as Seaguar’s Smackdown, as a performance braid that is smooth, casts well and is thin. It’s ideal for finesse applications.

The four-strand braid, on the other hand, can be equated to the forerunners to performance braids. It’s very strong, sensitive and more textured than 8 strand. It’s best suited for pitching into grass or wood and for frogging.

Four-strand braid like this close-up of Seaguar TactX offer a more textured feel and more stiff which anglers prefer for frogging and flipping. (Seaguar photo)

Standard PowerPro, for example, is a popular 4-strand used for those techniques. Four strand also tends to be less costly.

“Eight tends to be very supple,” Evans added. “Some anglers like our 4 strand (Tactx) because it has more body and memory so it can be controlled better.”

Eight, he said, has thinner strands and therefore overall is thinner while four-strand braid tends to be thicker strands, hence more abrasion resistant, and some say, stronger.

“Anytime you’re tying braid directly to a lure, 4 strand can be more beneficial,” Evans explained.

He says 15-pound Smackdown is the perfect braid size for finesse fishing and drop-shotting. You might gain slightly more casting distance with 10 pound but 15 gives you better strength and all-round performance.

And what about wind knots?

“Thinner diameters and smaller sizes are more susceptible to wind knots; it’s like getting line twist in monofilament and the result of putting slack in a very thin line during the cast,” he described.

Regardless of your preferred brand, most line companies offer different price points. Why is one braid more expensive than another?

Evans said it depends upon the type of material used in braid. Those brands with spectrum fiber tend to be less expensive. Those with Polyethylene fiber cost a little more and perform better. Also braids that have been treated and coated to absorb coloring offer smoother casting and protection.

“Go to your local retailer and feel the different braids to see which one is better for your needs,” said Evans. “Some braids have a wax coating; you can tell by watching what happens when you bend it 90 degrees. If it holds the bend it has body and memory; if it hangs straight then it is limber and has less memory.”