Best Braid?

[Josh Smith]

Hi Folks,

 

What in your opinion is the best braided line of 2014?

 

I have preferred SpiderWire Stealth and Berkely Fireline (fused stuff, I think).

 

Looking in the Walmart the other day, I noticed some stuff that seemed a lot smoother than either; I think it was Power Pro but don't recall.

 

Does the smooth stuff have any advantages?  Disadvantages?  I'd think that the rougher the line, the less likely the knot is to slip.

 

Given each of my rod/reel combos (except for the ultralight spinning setup) will cast 40 yards accurately with a 1/2oz weight and further with anything over 1/2oz on the MH rods, I'm wondering if switching would be worth it.

 

And if so, switch to which, and why? 

 

Thank you,

 

Josh

[Catch and Grease]

I like power pro super 8 slick.

The smooth braids allow you to pull wind knots out very easily and they aren't as noisy when casting. Whether or not that's worth a few extra bucks is up to you, I don't have any problem with knot strength with super slick.

[roadwarrior]

I have been very impressed with the Tuf-Line Tournament 8.

 

http://www.tuf-line.com/products_TUF-Lines_26.html

[FSUMF333]

Can't go wrong with the suffix 832 or performance braids. I made the switch & don't know why I ever used anything else.

[fishballer06]

I'm not a fan of the normal PowerPro. The PowerPro Slick 8 isn't too bad though. 

 

I'll give my vote to Suffix 832 though, for best braid overall. 

[robster80]

sunline fx2 froggin and flippin. tried a few braids this year and this is what im stickin with

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Sufix 832 is the best braid overall.

[einscodek]

..based on what?

Im using both and I find both are comparable

832 seems to wear its teflon off quicker maybe that explains the color fade so quick

but both lines haul fish

slick 8's coating lasting a bit longer I find

both give u a few extra yards on the cast and a few decibels quieter

[thehooligan]

Ive tried almost everything besides the daiwa samurai & sunline, my favorite for performance and price has been sufix performance braid. I regularly use the sufix or power pro, whatevers on sale... 

[PersicoTrotaVA]

I usually use power pro for flipping and pitching and I use Vicious braid for my spinning tackle.  I just got some 65 lb Vicious to try for flippin.  I'll let you know how it works out. 

[FishTank]

So far Power Pro has been my favorite.

[robster80]

whatever u do stay away from mccoys. i love their copoly but their braid should be pulled off the shelves. one 30 minute outing it lost nearly all its color and i had small shreds of braid all inside my reel

[SirSnookalot]

I like power pro super 8 slick.

The smooth braids allow you to pull wind knots out very easily and they aren't as noisy when casting. Whether or not that's worth a few extra bucks is up to you, I don't have any problem with knot strength with super slick.

I agree about pulling wind knots thru, other than that it really doesn't make any difference to me.  I use a knot that works well with braid so pull thru isn't a concern, putting a bead on the tag end is a good idea.

[buzzed bait]

such a marginal difference for me over suffix or power pro, but i usually find better deals on power pro so that's what i use the majority of the time.  noise and color fading are not even on my radar in terms of issues with braid.  and for me they both suck equally in terms of abrasion so you just have to check your line and re-tie as needed.  but for solid hooksets on single hook applications, you can't beat braid in my opinion

[iabass8]

Ive tried almost everything besides the daiwa samurai & sunline, my favorite for performance and price has been sufix performance braid. I regularly use the sufix or power pro, whatevers on sale... 

 

x2.

 

The only braid i've used that I hated was that tuffline spool that was gave out for 5$ last year. Otherwise I couldn't care as I only use braid for a couple techniques. 

[thehooligan]

x2.

 

The only braid i've used that I hated was that tuffline spool that was gave out for 5$ last year. Otherwise I couldn't care as I only use braid for a couple techniques. 

 

Haha, thats the worst braid ive ever used, stuff was horrible !!

[Catch and Grease]

The only braid I've really not liked was spiderwire... That stuff is horrible.

[Josh Smith]

Grease,

What is it about Spiderwire you dislike? It is one of my favorites.

Josh

[5fishlimit]

Seaguar smackdown really impressed me.

[Catch and Grease]

Grease,

What is it about Spiderwire you dislike? It is one of my favorites.

Josh

It just falls apart, it frays horribly from normal use and breaks very easily.

[Josh Smith]

It just falls apart, it frays horribly from normal use and breaks very easily.

 

Weird.  That's not my experience at all.  Well, the ends fray, I guess, if you don't melt them, but I sort of want them to fray a bit for some uses. 

 

Which version did you try?

 

Josh

[jbw252]

Sufix 832 - it's the first braid I used based on all of the good feedback. So far, it's great.

[Catch and Grease]

Weird. That's not my experience at all. Well, the ends fray, I guess, if you don't melt them, but I sort of want them to fray a bit for some uses.

Which version did you try?

Josh

I dont remember the type but it was spiderwire brand, wasn't the stealth though because I've never tried that one.

It wasn't the first few feet getting frayed ethier, its the entire line. I still have it spooled on a spinning reel and it seems to get wore out just coming through the guides and light grass. And my guides arent fraying it.

EDIT: Jesus, there were so many typos in that post, I fixed em'

[Darren.]

Hi Folks,

 

What in your opinion is the best braided line of 2014?

 

I have preferred SpiderWire Stealth and Berkely Fireline (fused stuff, I think).

 

Looking in the Walmart the other day, I noticed some stuff that seemed a lot smoother than either; I think it was Power Pro but don't recall.

 

Does the smooth stuff have any advantages?  Disadvantages?  I'd think that the rougher the line, the less likely the knot is to slip.

 

Given each of my rod/reel combos (except for the ultralight spinning setup) will cast 40 yards accurately with a 1/2oz weight and further with anything over 1/2oz on the MH rods, I'm wondering if switching would be worth it.

 

And if so, switch to which, and why? 

 

Thank you,

 

Josh

 

Josh, the best braid is the one YOU like the best.

 

Given most of it is pricey, you may not try many brands.

 

For me, I settled on regular Power Pro (in yellow), over several others I've tried.

 

It is all dependent on how you fish and such.

[Master Bait'r]

Sufix 832 is the best braid overall.

See I found 832 to be extremely unstable and I didn't like it. The coating and color wear off almost instantly and then it's completely different. PP feels softer, more limp and more sort of silky & cloth-like, but it's abrasion resistance was poor IME. Also it was almost white after one day. I don't like that.

I've moved away from coated braids to non coated- namely SX1 & FX2- they're more stable, more color fast and don't seem to be any different a month into usage than it is right out of the package. 832 a week on the spool is nothing like 832 when it's new and I don't like degradation I can see over the course of a day. It freaks me out.

Next braid I'm buying though will be the Toray/Bawo in 55#. Simply because it is reportedly much quieter, which I would like to have on my froggin' rod as it has recoils and can be a bit noisy. Otherwise I absolutely LOVE SX1 & FX2. Outstanding lines!!