Seaguar sent me two spools of their new Rippin Mono to try; a spool of 10, and a spool of 12. I'm a mono user for everything but trout fishing. I use fluoro for trout. I use braid for emergency repairs. I despise braid for fishing. Ive used Trilene XL for years. When they "improved" it a couple of years back, I went on a quest to find a replacement, so I was happy to give this new line a shot. I spooled up one casting reel with 10, and another with 12, before driving south to visit Kent.
The line is very smooth, round and clear, and seemed very supple while spooling. I treated it with KVD while spooling, and used it the next day. I use two knots for casting gear. Palomar and SD jam knots. Tied three of each, in both pound test line, and in every case, the line broke before the knot. Excellent knot strength for this line. Being very familiar with Trilene, I can say without a doubt, this new line has less stretch. It casts as well as the old Trilene, and has little better sensitivity. It is very limp in the water, maybe even better than the old Trilene, and that is exactly what I have been looking for. It is also much harder for me to see in the water. I have no idea if the fish can see it any less. (The next time you have a Bass agree to an interview, ask him what lines he can or can't see, then post his answers. I would be very interested to see what he had to say)
Compared to my old favorite line, Rippin Mono has better knot strength, better sensitivity, less stretch, maybe a bit better slack line behavior, and less visibility in the water. I have finally found my new line. If you're a mono user, give this stuff a shot. You will be impressed. I'm impressed enough I have ordered enough of this line, in various strengths to fill up half of my casting reels, and will be using them all this year. If it performs all year like it has so far, I'll be sold, and will be using this line for almost everything.
Available in 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 20 pound test, in 200 yard spools, for $11-$15. Not the cheapest mono out there, but it performs well enough to justify the price.
