Gliss Monotex Line ~ A Brief Review

[A-Jay]

 Spent 8 hours on the water today fishing the Gliss 40 lb green; first time with it.

Threw a 3/8 oz SK Rage Blade with a Lake Fork Boot Tail Live Magic Shad trailer - All Day.

Had to, they kept biting it. 

 

 I opted for a short section of wire rather than the usual mono as we were fishing in Pikeasaurus land.  Caught plenty of Bass & Pike.  Without getting ahead of myself – this line exceeded my expectations.

 

Underlined below are the advertised characteristic of the line and the reasons for my purchase.  Below each are my opinions in regard to these claims.  Please keep in mind this was only after one day – but it’s not bad.

 

Thin & Slick composition provides incredible casting distance.

 I Completely Agree !  Super thin for 40lb and casting distance was great.

Zero stretch provides ultimate sensitivity.

I Completely agree again ~ Will not say The Most sensitive ever – but definitely able to feel everything I wanted to; how & if the bait was working correctly or fouled with weed and of course strike detection was killer.  Remember this was a moving bait.

Thinner than braid with comparable strength for superior management.

Already covered the diameter deal and the Management aspects were very good – trouble free. At least for today; which was pretty windy & quite gusty.  Keep in mind that blade bait / trailer combo cast fairly well anyway but even still I was impressed.

Zero line twist makes Gliss more managable on spinning reel applications.

Have not spooled up a spinning reel yet – but I will be soon enough – with a smaller class Gliss line.

Soft form provides increased castability and distance.

Already covered.

 

Additional comments; regardless of how it’s advertised or what “class of line’ this product is placed in, to me it’s a braid.  But it just may be the best casting & most manageable braid I’ve fished.

 

Questions yet to be answered or addressed:

What is the Abrasion resistance like ?  Don't know - this lake is all soft vegetation, but I'd expect it to be like most braids - OK on wood but poor on rock or anything similar.

 

How long does it last ?  At least one day  . . . . btw - there was NO COLOR loss at all during the spooling process - meaning my hands & reel didn't turn green.  

 

As for comparing it to nylon, I will say there is not a comparison. For today, on this lake, Gliss was Better in every way, shape, form & fashion.    I will be fishing it next time in a place with no Pike (only beast SMB) so I’ll be back to using a mono leader.  And we’ll see how that goes.  I’m expecting the goodness to continue.

 

Hope this helps

 

A-Jay 

[MarkH024]

Nice review Ajay. Thanks for the input.

[A-Jay]

Nice review Ajay. Thanks for the input.

 

Thanks & You're Welcome.

 

Sweet Avatar btw . . .

 

A-Jay

[MarkH024]

What knot were you using?

[Penguino]

What knot were you using?

Yeah, how does it hold knots compared to nanofil or fireline?

[Darren.]

Nice, A-Jay.

 

Have you used 8-strand braid like PP SS8?

And if so, comparison?

[Todd2]

My bait monkey thanks you.

[A-Jay]

My Braids of choice are the 832 & PP - this is a little different in that it's thinner, more manageable & casts further. I've also used Daiwa Samurai Braided Line.  Gliss is similar in diameter and smoothness but not as limp as the Samurai making the gliss more manageable.

 

As for the knot used - I use a Uni-knot almost exclusively... for EVERYTHING.  This line ties great and that knot works perfectly.  It's also the recommended knot on the Line's packaging.  

 

And I said "almost exclusively" because I came up with my own braid to leader knot last year and that works well too.  But that's a story for another time.

 

Something else I thought of just now. I can not speak as to this lines ability to absorb serious & sudden short line shock - like a big hook set while flipping or even pitching.  I was using a composite rod all day there was none of that.  Also this "40 lb" test Gliss is really thin and I still prefer something beefier for heavy hand to hand combat.

 

A-Jay

[Preytorien]

Well, I just bought some of the "24lb" line. Seems that it'd be pretty thin, good for finesse plastics maybe.

 

We'll see! 

[A-Jay]

Well, I just bought some of the "24lb" line. Seems that it'd be pretty thin, good for finesse plastics maybe.

 

We'll see! 

 

Do you think that size is right for a spinning reel application or would the next size down be a better choice?

 

A-Jay

[Preytorien]

Do you think that size is right for a spinning reel application or would the next size down be a better choice?

 

A-Jay

 

Well, I found a few different places that listed the diameters, but Tackle Warehouse - probably pretty accurate, shows 24lb Gliss being .007in, and Sufix 832 10lb, (my current line on this reel) is shown as a diameter of .008in, so it's a tad bit smaller with a higher rated breaking strength. Are my numbers off?

 

Gliss - http://www.***.com/Gliss_Supersmooth_Monotex_Line/descpage-GSM.html

 

832 - http://www.***.com/Sufix_832_Braid_Lo-Vis_Green/descpage-S83B.html

[A-Jay]

Well, I found a few different places that listed the diameters, but Tackle Warehouse - probably pretty accurate, shows 24lb Gliss being .007in, and Sufix 832 10lb, (my current line on this reel) is shown as a diameter of .008in, so it's a tad bit smaller with a higher rated breaking strength. Are my numbers off?

 

Gliss - http://www.***.com/Gliss_Supersmooth_Monotex_Line/descpage-GSM.html

 

832 - http://www.***.com/Sufix_832_Braid_Lo-Vis_Green/descpage-S83B.html

 

Looks about right to me too.  

 

I'm thinking that's what I'll be going with right there.

 

Thanks

 

A-Jay

[Preytorien]

If it's truly 24 breaking strength, or even a bit below that, and the line performs well, then it might be a game-changer. I'd be using it mostly as a finesse line and in a small river here for smallmouth, this could be a new go-to line for me.

 

That'd make this year a year of change for me as I've been making a slow transition to Maxcuatro braid (great stuff)

[A-Jay]

If it's truly 24 breaking strength, or even a bit below that, and the line performs well, then it might be a game-changer. I'd be using it mostly as a finesse line and in a small river here for smallmouth, this could be a new go-to line for me.

 

That'd make this year a year of change for me as I've been making a slow transition to Maxcuatro braid (great stuff)

 

I hear that - I like what I've seen so far.

 

And when I'm using it in a finesse spinning application, I'll always be using a mono leader that's never close to even 15 lb test so I'd expect the leader or knot to fail well before the braid main line.

 

A-Jay

[Preytorien]

A-Jay gave his excellent in-depth review which prompted me to go ahead, bite the bullet and try Gliss for myself. While my review probably won't be as thorough, and I'm probably not fishing the same way A-Jay would be, I'll offer my insights to it as well. 

 

A few points first....

 

1. You'll notice the spool is very small, like a small sample of Trilene. But it's because the line is so thin. Besides, I think the smaller spool may help alleviate the line springing off the spool. 

 

2. The line feels like nice waxy dental floss. At first when spooling I thought I'd have white wax all over my fingers, but it didn't budge. I don't think it's so much a coating as just how the line inherently feels

 

3. When you cast/retrieve, there's almost no sound. This is a nice alternative coming from every reel in my arsenal being either straight braid or braid + leader. This stuff is silent. 

 

As for on the water....

 

1. The casting distance is unbelievable. Even weightless soft plastics launch with ease. I didn't try cranks or jigs since this was a grass heavy lake and I was using a spinning/finesse setup. 

 

2. The sensitivity is on par with the best of braids. I use exlusively Sufix 832 and PP Maxcuatro. This is every bit as sensitive.

 

3. There truly is little/no stretch. Being not a braid I was skeptical of this claim but as the evening wore on, more and more characteristics of this line felt like braid, even though it wasn't truly braid.

 

4. Line manageability was right up there with braid. I fished in about 10-12mph wind all night, and no twist knots or tangles of any kind. It performed here much better than I had hoped. 

 

I bought the 24lb Gliss, in a 150yd spool in Translucent. It looks white on the reel. Matched my Stradic nicely. I pulled in several very nice 3+lb fish through grass and never had a break off, knot slip (see below), or fray. I know on other forums they list fraying as a negative, and to be honest I'm not fishing this over mussel beds or rocks, mostly in grass lakes. So I noticed no fray. 

 

One thing, and this is CRITICAL. I almost always use a San Diego Jam knot or Palomar knot. On this line you MUST use a Palomar, or more recommended a Double Palomar. The line is slick feeling, and I lost 2 lures (cheap ones thank goodness) due to my SDJ simply slipping out. I used a Double Palomar the rest of the evening....not a hint of slip. USE A PALOMAR.

 

I'm sure A-Jay can add some stuff to all this.

 

Overall, I'm very very impressed. It does everything it claims to do, and it's not very expensive (15). Buy some, give it a try, and let us know.

[Master Bait'r]

The bait monkey hath spoken... In German no less!

[A-Jay]

A-Jay gave his excellent in-depth review which prompted me to go ahead, bite the bullet and try Gliss for myself. While my review probably won't be as thorough, and I'm probably not fishing the same way A-Jay would be, I'll offer my insights to it as well. 

 

A few points first....

 

1. You'll notice the spool is very small, like a small sample of Trilene. But it's because the line is so thin. Besides, I think the smaller spool may help alleviate the line springing off the spool. 

 

2. The line feels like nice waxy dental floss. At first when spooling I thought I'd have white wax all over my fingers, but it didn't budge. I don't think it's so much a coating as just how the line inherently feels

 

3. When you cast/retrieve, there's almost no sound. This is a nice alternative coming from every reel in my arsenal being either straight braid or braid + leader. This stuff is silent. 

 

As for on the water....

 

1. The casting distance is unbelievable. Even weightless soft plastics launch with ease. I didn't try cranks or jigs since this was a grass heavy lake and I was using a spinning/finesse setup. 

 

2. The sensitivity is on par with the best of braids. I use exlusively Sufix 832 and PP Maxcuatro. This is every bit as sensitive.

 

3. There truly is little/no stretch. Being not a braid I was skeptical of this claim but as the evening wore on, more and more characteristics of this line felt like braid, even though it wasn't truly braid.

 

4. Line manageability was right up there with braid. I fished in about 10-12mph wind all night, and no twist knots or tangles of any kind. It performed here much better than I had hoped. 

 

I bought the 24lb Gliss, in a 150yd spool in Translucent. It looks white on the reel. Matched my Stradic nicely. I pulled in several very nice 3+lb fish through grass and never had a break off, knot slip (see below), or fray. I know on other forums they list fraying as a negative, and to be honest I'm not fishing this over mussel beds or rocks, mostly in grass lakes. So I noticed no fray. 

 

One thing, and this is CRITICAL. I almost always use a San Diego Jam knot or Palomar knot. On this line you MUST use a Palomar, or more recommended a Double Palomar. The line is slick feeling, and I lost 2 lures (cheap ones thank goodness) due to my SDJ simply slipping out. I used a Double Palomar the rest of the evening....not a hint of slip. USE A PALOMAR.

 

I'm sure A-Jay can add some stuff to all this.

 

Overall, I'm very very impressed. It does everything it claims to do, and it's not very expensive (15). Buy some, give it a try, and let us know.

FullSizeRender.jpg

 

X2 ~

 

Nothing that I can or need add to that post - covers everything I'd want to know before purchasing Gliss and you've made a strong case too.  Makes me want to buy & try it.

 

Wait - I already did. . . . . .

 

Nice job

 

A-Jay

[OkobojiEagle]

Diameter claims have been hard to nail down... I'd like to know how the Gliss 8lb and 12lb line compares to original fused Fireline in 6lb and 10lb.  Nanofil's biggest fault is its lack of shock strength... how is the shock strength of the smaller diameter Gliss lines?

 

 

oe

[A-Jay]

Diameter claims have been hard to nail down... I'd like to know how the Gliss 8lb and 12lb line compares to original fused Fireline in 6lb and 10lb.  Nanofil's biggest fault is its lack of shock strength... how is the shock strength of the smaller diameter Gliss lines?

 

 

oe

 

 The only resemblance Gliss has with the lines mentioned above is that it's not Nylon.

 I've used nanofil & fireline.  Both had a few strong & many weak points in my mind.

 Gliss has all the strong points and so far, very few, if any, of the weak.  

 

I've only used the "40lb" Gliss - so I can not address how the smaller tests compare.

 

But what I can tell you is that the diameter is about HALF of what standard and most current braids are.

As mentioned, the manageability is very good, the casting is very good but that super small diameter may not be the best for flipping the slop.  Also the "Advantage" of long casts may not be needed for up-close presentations.

 

I'm not claiming that this is the line to end all lines, but I've been sorely disappointed by many I've tried and this one is NOT on that list. 

 

I ordered a few spools of the smaller diameter Gliss to try out in spinning gear applications, we'll see how that goes. Expecting good things.

 

A-Jay

[WPCfishing]

I used the 40 yesterday on a bait caster. The uni knot with 7 wraps holds well.

[fishindad]

A big shout out to A-Jay and Preytorian for the detailed reviews of this new line. I also use 832 (and uni to uni) almost exclusively so I hope my results will be similar. Will order some when I get home from work today!

[Preytorien]

I used the 40 yesterday on a bait caster. The uni knot with 7 wraps holds well.

 

I would expect a larger diameter to do better with alternative knots. But for the 24lb I've been using, it seems knots that wrap around themselves are prone to slippage. 

 

From the packaging I have, the diameters listed on TW are accurate. The line is VERY thin. I've never used Fireline or Nanofil, but this is much thinner than comparable braid. 

 

A-Jay you're going to like this on spinning....I'm confident.

 

A couple things I still want to test are:

 

1. Actual breaking strength. The weights I use aren't at my house, so I need to get them. 

 

2. A more long-term test to decide on it's toughness and resistance to fraying

 

3. What it's like for me on my casting reels (I'm already impressed with spinning)

 

4. I'd like to test out a line to leader connection. The package only recommends one, a Double Uni, but I'd like to try an Alberto knot with this since that's my leader knot of choice

 

5. Long term test to determine colorfastness

 

6. Just keep using it to see what other issues, positive or negative, that I can observe. 

 

If this is to become one of my go-to lines, I'll put it through it's paces before I start switching out other reels.

 

To add on to what A-Jay said, this is currently a line I'm only considering for finesse tactics, so I'm not sure what advantages or disadvantages would be present for flipping or frogging, where you need immense strength and toughness. To be honest I almost never flip, but I do a fair amount of frogging. It's something I'll explore in the future though you can bet on it. 

[Master Bait'r]

I have a question- how does the waxy coating do with double palomars?  It's all I'd use on fused line like that and the waxy coating on 832 really turns me off, as it is really grabby when tying knots ilke the DP- also I don't like how it wears off and then the line is completely different either.  Looking forward to seeing how this line works out longer-term, especially concerning that coating.    

[Preytorien]

I have a question- how does the waxy coating do with double palomars?  It's all I'd use on fused line like that and the waxy coating on 832 really turns me off, as it is really grabby when tying knots ilke the DP- also I don't like how it wears off and then the line is completely different either.  Looking forward to seeing how this line works out longer-term, especially concerning that coating.    

 

I'm not totally sure that it's a coating. It FEELS like it, but it seems its more of just how the line feels. In spooling as well as tying knots, I didn't notice any loss of that wax feel. It made knots easier to cinch down in my opinion, especially a double palomar, which on some braids is a hard ask.

[dolomieu]

I've read other reviews that that report very poor knot strength for Gliss, even with the recommended knots. The 18lb line, in particular, was breaking around 8.5 lbs at most.

 

I would love to see someone else repeat the strength tests.