Thats a fair point, mono is simpler to use, and less expensive if you are having to replace it regularly. It also, as you say, is more forgiving on the fish if you're not experienced at letting the rod and drag do its job.
End of the day either will work fine, I know lots of very good lure fishermen who use mono, its just my personal preference is braid.
Daiwa AWB's are lovely rods, I've got a match version built on an amorphous base blank (bit better bite detection). No problems with fish emptying spools here unfortunately
. For casting I'm using Century rods mainly, Carbon Metal Express and Kompressor WR300, though I've got a Zziplex Primo FT too. Reels are all Abu, 6500 ct's and Ultra mags of various types, all mag braked. I'm not going to list the kit I use for fishing, I'd be here all day!
I'm off to a big casting competition next week in the UK, all the best casters in the world will be there and my distances will look pitiful next to them at 250-260m. South Africa has had some very good casters in its time too, even has a technique named after it.
