Seaguar Smackdown Vs. Power Pro Slick 8 Vs. Brand X For Line Dig In Issues?

[Roadblock]

I'm somewhat new to using braid. I just got my first baitcaster this year and I started with Power Pro Slick 8 in 20 pound.

 

I've gotten casting down (I think anyway) to a point where I can go out for a day, cast a couple hundred times and either get no backlash OR maybe only it one or two in a fishing trip. I know it's going to happen sometimes but I'm getting the hang of these bait-casters and braid!

 

The big issue I still seem to have is line dig in. I get this A LOT! I cast and my line digs in bring my cast to an instant halt sometimes!

 

I guess I just figured it was a result of the line getting loose so I find myself pulling all of the line off my spool, holding it tight and re-winding it often.

 

Someone suggested that I try Seagaur Smackdown braid instead of Slick 8. I was told that his line has almost completely eliminated their dig in and it seem to almost eliminate backlash too.

 

I did a quick Google search and found a review that also suggests that this line almost never digs in.

 

Anyone use this line that can agree with this? Are there any other lines anyone would recommend? I like the way the Slick 8 feels but this dig in crap is annoying!

[fishguy613]

Try upping to 30lb braid the larger diameter of the line will dig in much less. People will say they use 20lb on casting gear but 30 is the lowest I'd go

[BassinLou]

Your issue with your braid digging in, is not limited to brands. Any brand you would have used in this situation would dig in. Lighter braids are very, very thin. Once you catch a decent fish or get hung up on something and you really load the reel up, the braid will  dig into itself. I have pretty much settled on fishing with 40lb braid and higher for this reason. Others have had success fishing 20lb braid on B/C's but I suspect the incidence of line digging is higher than what's said. 

[new2BC4bass]

30# braid isn't always trouble free either.  Last reel I bought came with 30# 832 Ghost.  Spool was slowing down way too fast.  Let my friend try it and his opinion was that the line was digging in.  I have used 40# Sufix Performance with no noticeable digging in.  It was the minimum suggested a few years ago.  I am aware there are people fishing today using 15# braid with no problems....so they say...but I won't be one of them going that light with braid on a casting reel.  For me braid has a specific purpose with baitcast reels and that isn't for everyday fishing.  I much prefer mono for normal fishing circumstances.  Different strokes for different folks. 

[Dwight Hottle]

I have used the smackdown and like it. It will help you with digin issues as will the suggestion to up the poundage. This new line is smaller in diameter than the others for any particular test. Buy one next size bigger than what you are currently using by stated diameter size.

[Megastink]

Here is the cure for line dig: make a VERY long cast, peel off an extra 20 yards of line, place a loop of black electrical tape around the spool, reel your line in ON TOP of the tape. Your line can't dig in deeper than the tape (only a few layers).

Enjoy.

[21farms]

personally, i think your reel has more to do with line digging than the line itself. some reels have narrow spools and a slow wormgear ratio under the line guide which will lay the line down at narrow angles to maximize how much line the spool will hold...but, that's also a recipe for line digging. other reels, particularly those with relatively wide spools (think shimano 200E-series) lay the line down at broad angles and you get more of a cross-wrapping effect which doesn't allow the line to dig in as much. just something to think about before switching lines...

[Hogsticker]

Norm is spot on with his assessment. To answer your original question, I've recently started using Smackdown and I do feel it's a little less prone to digging issues in the lighter, thinner tests.

[Roadblock]

Should I have mentioned what type of reel and rod I'm using? Maybe it doesn't matter?

 

I'm running a 2014 Shimano Curado 200I on a 7" St Croix Avid X Medium Fast and a Curado 201I on a St. Croix 7" Eyecon Medium-Heavy Moderate. I switch hands sometimes depending on what I'm fishing for. I'm right handed and I feel like I had more cranking control with the right hand reel and more rod control with the left hand reel so I run both depending my mood. 

 

Same issue on both rigs. Sometimes when I cast it just wants to bite in. 

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I will play around.

[War Eagle 44]

 

 

Same issue on both rigs. Sometimes when I cast it just wants to bite in. 

 

 

 

 

What your describing sounds more like a backlash than line dig in to me, though of course I can't be sure not actually being there. I fish 30# braid (S8S currently) on my Curado 51E without line digging issues. It's very very important that you spool the braid on with a good amount of tension, this has helped in my personal fishing tremendously.

[ChrisD46]

Your issue with your braid digging in, is not limited to brands. Any brand you would have used in this situation would dig in. Lighter braids are very, very thin. Once you catch a decent fish or get hung up on something and you really load the reel up, the braid will  dig into itself. I have pretty much settled on fishing with 40lb braid and higher for this reason. Others have had success fishing 20lb braid on B/C's but I suspect the incidence of line digging is higher than what's said. 

Power Pro , Sufix , etc. 40lb. braid is the same diameter as 10lb. mono which for years and years has been the defacto lowest lb. test that most bait casters cared to use (12lb. mono has been the standard)  . If you want to use lower than 40lb. braid - just skip the baitcaster all together and go straight to <20lb. braid and a spinning reel . * Gary Yamamoto wrote an article detailing his switch to lower weight braid and spinning reels - basically saving his baitcasting set ups for :  Carolina Rigs , Crank Baits , Big Swim Baits , Pitching &  Flipping heavier soft baits and jigs ... Everything else is now spinning (mostly with braid) using a Co-Poly leader  & braid to match top water applications or FC leader & braid to match sub surface applications .

[AMAC]

Yea def go up in diameter and use the 20 for spinning tackle. 8 strand braid in the bigger sizes shouldnt dig too bad. Next time out make your longest cast pull off another 20' and put some tape on the spool till you really get the hang of it...when casting with braid I normally use 50# seaguar smackdown with topwaters and swimjigs....

[hatrix]

All braid digs somewhat. When your originally spool your reel you want it rock hard on there. Backing off your drag will also make a huge difference on digging. Any time I use braid any more no matter the diameter after I catch a fish or do a decent hook set you shod expect it to jerk a little on the next cast. But what 21farms said is actually spot on and the biggest digging on casting gear. They actually make some reels that sorta cross the wraps so there is not place for the braid to slip in. I wouldn't really go less then 30 on casting gear personally as that is 8# diameter.