BRAID SLIPPING

BRAID SLIPPING

MOST braid “slipping” issues are NOT knot related.

The overwhelming majority of problems people experience with braid come from improper tension during spooling.

When braid is wound onto a reel without enough tension, it:

• Compresses under load
• Digs into itself
• Shifts on the spool
• Creates sudden “slips” that feel like knot failure

What’s happening is the line stack collapsing, not the knot giving up.

• Properly spooled braid should be:
• Packed on under heavy, controlled tension
• Laid evenly across the spool
• Tight enough that it cannot be compressed by hand

HOW TO CHECK YOUR BRAID TENSION

You can test this in seconds:

Press Test

• Press your thumb firmly into the braid on the spool.
• If it dents or sinks in, it’s too loose.

Pull Test

• Pull line off by hand while watching the spool.
• If wraps shift, collapse, or dig in — tension was insufficient.

Hook & Load Test

• Hook the line to a solid object and apply steady pressure.
• Properly spooled braid stays smooth and stable.
• Poorly spooled braid will bury or slip instantly.

If it fails any of these tests, the issue isn’t your knot — it’s how the line was installed.

TAKE AWAY

Knots matter, yes.

But tension matters first.

If your reel wasn’t spooled right, no knot in the world is going to save it.