Lines You Don't Hear Much About

[Capt.Bob]

For over 15 years Berkley Fireline was the only braid I would use, (and when others were introduced I tried em) because every other braid made was so poor when fishing rocks and timber, Walleye and Smallmouth terrain where I do most of my fishing. To this day no braid will take what Firline infused will, and I believe it is a little more sensitive, yes it frays but is not solid strands like braid so it doesn't loose it's strength like braid when it looks like a tattered rag. It's big drawback is the feel running through the eye's running thru the rod guides, it has the best knot strength of any line I have ever used, you can count on it breaking anywhere but the knot, why I learned to use a leader for everything, that is my fuse, even 20 lbs. mono will allways break before 20# Fireline when joined with an improved blood knot.

 

Spiderwire I have tried 2 or 3 different kinds of their braids, and will never ever buy it again.

 

Viscous Fluorocarbon I would never use to spool a real, and the only line they make I would use and I do and like it. Is there Elite leader line, I use there 100 and 130# for built up saltwater and musky leaders, their other lines I have been very disappointed in.

 

I have tried most every braid out their, until they came out with Sufix 832, I was using Fireline Crystal, the infused line is the toughest micro fiber line I have ever used but hated the feel of it running thru my guides, 832 eliminated this and was the only braid I ever used that would control abrasion well enough to warrant my change. Diawa Samuri would be the only other braid I would use because of its ability to resist abrasion also, but for the money, 832 does everything I want it to do.  

[webertime]

Maxima.

A friend and I were Carolina Rigging some very rocky and Zebra Mussely areas this past summer. 

I was using a Suffix Siege or Big Game leaders 15-17lbs and would break off or need replacing every 30 or so minutes.  He was running 20lb Maxima and the line had on nick in it by the end of the day.  He gave me a huge spool as thanks for being a good net man (he smoked the smallies in that tournament, while I replaced leaders).

[F14A-B]

I still love Tripple fish camo- escent ... Perlon, not nylon, I wish it was still easy to find... Very good mono, very easy on the pocketbook! I have not fished a worse line than Viscious anything.... Yo-Zuri is as strong a line as you will ever use in a nylon/ FC blend. Using 832 now.. But can't say much other than I like it and suffix orange flourescent braid too, again don't have to much time with braid, but so far Iam liking it for certain things. I like Silverthread quite well, it's also a good strong Co-poly that's soft and easy to use, similar to plines CX line, in it's handling ... Seaguar s Redlabel is decent for soft cover and often times available for $10 so, at that cost you can change out more, I picked up some seaguar leader material for braid use, it's really a hard line, I like that, going to be easy to keep break offs from rocks and fishes mouth down, at least that's my hope. Sufix monos are reasonable and good lines I think the camo line breaks to easy... Seems like these attempts at coloring monos weaken it. Not Tripple fish though, stren gold broke easy , I liked it for crappie fishing in timber though. Still have 900 yds. Of Berkley trimax in a photochromic 20 pd. it's a really strong line, I can see it good, but it's sorta oval shaped, not round, sorta annoying in its line lay on baitcasters. Gamakatsu line is very good as well, as it's probably made by Pline . I use 25 and it's pretty soft, but dang it's strong abrasion resistance is thru the roof, up there with Yo.....

[FrankW]

I tried SpiderWire Ultracast Fluoro-Braid with not the best results.

It is strong and holds the color really well. Probably holds the color better than any other braid I have tried. It does sink like advertised but I don't think it helped catch any more fish. The 20lb is bigger in diameter than 30lb Power Pro Super 8. I put the 20lb SpderWire on an Alpha and the line was just so noisy. I thought at first I had a problem with the Alpha as it didn't cast as far as I expected. I replaced the 20lb SpiderWire Fluoro-Braid with 30lb Power Pro Super 8 and the noise went away. My casting distance increased to what I was expecting.

I bought the Fluoro-Braid because it sinks and I thought that might be an advantage. It does sink and holds it color but that is the only good things I can say about it. There are much better braids available than this particular SpiderWire.

Frank