An Apology To Roadwarrior

[.ghoti.]

I spooled up one reel with #12 Tatsu just before the Bass resource RoadTrip. Big-O can attest to the fact that I had to re-tie that setup more times than I counted. The line was frayed to the point I could easily break it by hand. I cut off and re-tied at least a dozen times in one day before I put that rod and reel away, in disgust.

At the Soiree that evening I told Kent Tatsu was just about the worst line I had ever used.

I had a few suggestions. One was a damaged rod guide. Not really possible because the fraying all occurred in the 24" or so of line tied to the bait; a t-rigged cuttail worm. I checked the guides with a q-tip anyway. No damage found.

Then it was suggested that the weight was fraying the line. Sounded like a viable theory to me. To test that, I switched baits. Put the weight, bead and hook that were the suspected offenders on different rod, spooled with #12 XL, and put the bait from that rod, an Evo Shake2 jighead and space monkey, on the Tatsu loaded rod. Had the same results, Tatsu seriously frayed, and that useless, stretchy, non-abrasion resistant XL held up just fine, fishing the same cover and conditions. Thus my conclusion, and comment to Kent, that Tatsu produced a vacuum.

Last weekend, I fished my first tournament in 20 years or so. decided to respool that reel, because I really like the combo. Stripped off the bad Tatsu, then discovered I didn't have enough #12 of any kind, except Tatsu to refill the reel. So I spooled up the Tatsu and went fishing. The results couldn't have been more different.

Good casting, no handling problems, and very good slack line sensitivity, which was crucial on this day. And no fraying problems even fishing rocks, wood, concrete and weeds.

So, I have to change my mind, somewhat.

This is very good line.

But, what happened on my first try? DId I get a bad spool? Happens occasionally. Did I get a spool with a bad bunch on line in the middle? I suppose that could happen. Here's my point. Should either thing even be a possibility in a spool of line that costs 50 bucks for 200 yards? For me, the jury is still out.

[Teal]

Takes a big man to apologize. Glad you gave it a fees tests and ultimately another chance.

[hmongkidBee]

It's very good that you realized it.  I, myself, have used the 6lb and 8lb tatsu and I can attest to its sensitivity that FAR surpasses other flourocarbon lines that I've tried.  I've pulled fish from cover with the 6lb tatsu so I know for sure this line can stand up to abuse.  Also, best casting flourocarbon line out there by far.

[tomustang]

For the price I'd at least tell the manufacturer and see if they'll compensate.

[roadwarrior]

Ouh Grasshopper...

 

So strange this would come up today, but posted last night.

 

When Gary was having this trouble I had no idea of what created the issue.

"Bad spool" was the first suspect, but that seemed unlikely with the QC in place

at Seaguar, especially for their premier line. 

 

Perhaps a broken guide? No.

Something in the reel?  No.

Spooling?  No.

 

Well, I just didn't have a clue...until yesterday. Coincidence or have we entered The Twilight Zone?

 

I don't generally post up all my stupid mistakes unless it relates to a question and helps someone.

I never even considered revealing this one, but I have found another suspect in the case. 

 

We had strong winds yesterday so I rigged up a Keitech Swing Impact Fat with a 3/4 oz swimbait jig head. 

The combo was G.Loomis MBR842C/ Core 50MG/ Tatsu #12. The lure is very aerodynamic and will generally

cast 40 yards or more, especially with the wind, My casts petered out at 20-25 yards.

 

First off, check the cast control. Fine. Next, off with cap to check the brakes. Maybe I had set them all on, I had

made some adjustments when I lent these out at the RoadTrip. Nope, two on. Now the plot thickens. Something

must be wrong with the reel. Floogeritis? Nope.

 

Next I start walking off the line. OMG! 

 

Starting about 15 yards in, the Tatsu looks like it has gone 10 rounds with a potato peeler. The line is not cut,

but finely shredded. Has to be a broken guide...Nope. 

 

As I inspect the rod I'm shocked and embarrassed to admit, I missed a guide. Not entirely though. My line was 

threaded through the frame support on the 5th guide down. It really cannot be distinguished without close

inspection. Functionally, the line still went through, but beat up BIG TIME!

 

So, maybe this mystery is solved or maybe not. But either way this is a plausible cause. I believe the

culprit has been identified and apprehended. As Captain Renault would say, "Round up the usual

suspects". User error may be in play.

 

 

 

[smalljaw67]

I think a lot of bad spools of Tatsu were released, they same issue of frayed line has come up time and time again and don't take my word for it, go to Tackle Warehouse and take a look, it is the only line constanly offered on sale in every lb test they carry, the reason is the stuff has a reputation of having every 2nd or 3rd spool some gets as being really bad. A guy in our club swore by it until he got 4 spools that were giving him fits, there is something wrong somewhere but it is true, very good line when it is right but really bad when it isn't but by the looks of things you really take a chance on buying it.

[Dyerbassman]

Way too costly to be worried about line fraying, IMO.

[J Francho]

You'd see freayed line when spooling up, not buying that it came from the factory that way.  In just about every instance I've seen, where line was chewed up in the middle, someone missed an eyelet when threading line through the guides.  And I mean pretty much EVERY time.  I did it myself a few weeks ago.

[Hyrule Bass]

i dont care how good of a line its said to be, at $50 for 200 yards they can keep it....

[Mr_Scrogg]

Nice info, I'll be sure to double check the threading.

[J Francho]

i dont care how good of a line its said to be, at $50 for 200 yards they can keep it....

 

First, it's $40, not 50.  Second, it's often on sale for $30.  The fact that I've had Seaguar fluoro on a few reels for three years now is testament that you get what you pay for.  Still can't swallw that big a pill?  Try Invisx, it's also excellent, and goes for around $17 a spool.

[.ghoti.]

Gents, I thought about missing a guide and threading the line through the foot of the guide. I knew to check that, because I have done it. Sorry to have to admit that, but we all make mistakes, That, however, was not the problem in this case. If it were, the line would have been frayed along the length of the casts, not just the last two feet. The first six inches in front of the weight were frayed the worst, and that piece of line never comes in contact with a guide.

I think I will read the comments on TW. Thanks for that tip.

[derekxec]

ive gotten bad spools of line from the factory a few times...havent tried seaguar but ive had bad spools from stren, ande, berkley, powerpro and spiderwire

 

they all were weird looking on the spool when i first opened them and broke easily without being spooled up

 

for the powerpro and spiderwire they looked very normal no frays or anything but i always pull some off the spool before i spool up and test it to see if it breaks by hand or not and inspect it real quick to make sure it looks ok...well when i pulled it by hand a small amount(i was doing to 50lb powerpro and cant remember what test spiderwire) but it broke very easily so i pulled more off the spool and the same thing happened through about 3/4 of the spool

 

remember now this line was just opened and was pulled out of the package and the line never went through a cutter or touched the outside of the spool etc and was never put on a reel etc...only happened with 2 spools of pp and one of spiderwire(i didnt use spiderwire very long) but it did happen

[Brian Needham]

Tatsu has exceeded my expectations.....as I have ran it all year thus far.

 

slack line ability to feel "ticks" is awesome

memory is low, of course you should always use a line conditioner (I prefer KVD by the gallon) 

stretch is not a factor

knot strength is amazing

abrasion resistance is phenomenal

 

plus I don't think you will find another FC smaller per #

 

and when compared to other high quality FC line the cost is on par.

On par you say? GASP! .........

 

#12 200yd tatsu = $40 ($28 at tw right now)

#12 164yd Shooter= $35 but only 164 yards

In fact, if you are not using backing you are WASTING money in this day and age. I use tatsu and get 3 or 4 reels out of each spool. as I only use 50-65yards per reel, which equals $$$$ saved.

 

so lets say a guy has 8 rods, two reels with 10, 12, 15, 20 pound FC respectively ..... for under $200 bucks you can be set up with line ALL YEAR, Jan-dec and probably still have some left as the Tatsu simply last longer.

 

JMO, take it as you will.

[J Francho]

Probably why I don't shop there.  I've never seen it for more than $40 where I shop.

[Brian Needham]

Probably why I don't shop there.  I've never seen it for more than $40 where I shop.

 DO TELL WHERE!!!

 

what # are you using?

I thought $45- $47 was standard for #20..... I really cant remember how much I paid though. I try to buy mine on a 20% off sales and such.

 

the $28 right now is hard to beat or no?

 

 

 

EDIT: I see you were refering to BPS.

 

also who orders from BPS nowadays anyway? high on product and shipping.