Gliss Monotex Line ~ A Brief Review

[Penguino]

No problem guys. A-Jay got the ball rolling, and his review convinced me to try it out. So a big shout out to his excellent review. 

 

I've been using it for a while now. I feel like I've got a good handle on the goods and bads. The goods outweigh the bads, trust me.

 

Good...

Very long casting - it's literally shocking

Smooth and noiseless - a welcome thing since I seem to always end up using a 4 carrier braid 

Seems to be at/very close to rated weight specs

Inexpensive - $15 from Ardent and TW

No coating - notihng to rub off and cause discoloration

 

Bads...

Slick-ness of line means you have to find a strong and no slip knot. Fail to do this and it'll break your heart. I found a 10+ wrap SDJ or double Palomar to be the ones I don't have slippage with

Prone to fraying after several fish, I Just re-tie after every other fish. Again, fail to do this and your heart will ache and you'll probably say bad words  

 

Things I've not tried...

This line on a casting reel

This line + leader

This line for any kind of saltwater application

 

I'll keep updating as I find more details on this line. 

Just a few questions. Does it sink in the water, like a fluorocarbon, or does it sway in the wind like a braid when fishing weightless? Also, would you fish it in heavily weeded areas with no rocks or wood? Also, any wind knots?

[Preytorien]

It floats on the water like braid. It quite literally feels like dental floss, kind of slick like that. I even used white, since I mainly use it as a finesse on soft plastics, and it looks just like floss, kind of comical.

 

It's very thin, and thus is wispy so the wind will bow it like it would a braid, however, SINCE it's so thin it's able to cut the wind and I fish weightless (I usually fish weightless senkos and flukes) without any problems

 

I almost exclusively fish it in very weedy ponds. It doesn't have any issues. I'm using the 24lb and I've hauled in my fair share of salad along with fish. That said, I've fished over logs and over rocks in the river without breakoffs. But be mindful of fraying. Like with any other thin braid-like material, check it every so often.

 

I've not had one wind knot surprisingly I've fished Slick 8 for a few years, which I get a lot of wind knots on, but Gliss has given me no trouble. Even with jerking style retrieves that put varying loads on the line while wrapping it, I haven't had a single tangle, it's very very manageable.

 

On a side note, I fish a weird pond that's very weedy and shallow, and the fish here are unusually skittish, so I often use a finesse rod with a smaller (1/8oz) frog, and even when using topwater, where a decent hookset is needed to action-ize the hooks, the Gliss pulls very well since it has zero stretch, I get some great topwater hooksets.

[Steveo-1969]

Quick question.  Has anyone used a uni-to-uni with this line to connect a fluorocarbon leader?  I can tie this knot in my sleep and would like to hear feedback on how well it worked.

 

TIA

[Element22]

...

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.  

...

 

A-Jay

A-Jay seems to. Maybe he`ll tell if it still works perfectly.

[A-Jay]

Quick question.  Has anyone used a uni-to-uni with this line to connect a fluorocarbon leader?  I can tie this knot in my sleep and would like to hear feedback on how well it worked.

 

TIA

 

 

A-Jay seems to. Maybe he`ll tell if it still works perfectly.

 

The recommended knots that accompany the product are the uni-knot and the Palamar.  

 

Both  have worked  perfectly, displaying no slippage or unusual binding.

 

Please note - I use monofilament leader line and not fluorocarbon line.

 

A-Jay

[OkobojiEagle]

When casting with a SPINNING REEL, does Gliss line lay on the water like a loose slinky?

 

 

oe

 

 

still wondering...

 

 

oe

[Preytorien]

Nope. It's totally loose. You won't see any coiling. Looks just like braid

[OkobojiEagle]

Nope. It's totally loose. You won't see any coiling. Looks just like braid

 

 

Thanks

 

 

oe

[Steveo-1969]

The recommended knots that accompany the product are the uni-knot and the Palamar.  

 

Both  have worked  perfectly, displaying no slippage or unusual binding.

 

Please note - I use monofilament leader line and not fluorocarbon line.

 

A-Jay

 

Thanks A-Jay. I must have missed the part about using a uni-to-uni for main line to leader connection.

 

Couple more weeks and I'll be able to order some Gliss line for my spinning rod.  I'm very excited to try it out!

[Preytorien]

 

I'll admit I've not tried my spool of it for as long as most of those guys, but it seems to me that 99% of their problems (which I've not had yet), could be alleviated by using a mono/flouro leader. I'm still testing out some leader knots to ensure that slippage isn't observed, and it's been good so far. But I can attest that there was some fraying at the ends of mine, very close to the lure, so that's the reason I've added a leader. I fish some very rocky shallow river bottoms, I wouldn't want to lose fish from a frayed line.

[OkobojiEagle]

seems to me that 99% of their problems (which I've not had yet), could be alleviated by using a mono/flouro leader.

 

Your suggestion is a valid work-around to a noted short-coming.  It's the short-comings I'm looking for in product reviews.  On the strength of several reviews (yours' included), I'm trying two different diameters of this line and hope that it has more durability that NanoFil which it sounds very similar to.

 

 

oe

[Preytorien]

Your suggestion is a valid work-around to a noted short-coming.  It's the short-comings I'm looking for in product reviews.  On the strength of several reviews (yours' included), I'm trying two different diameters of this line and hope that it has more durability that NanoFil which it sounds very similar to.

 

 

oe

 

I did post one test I did about the abrasion resistance of the line, because I had heard Nanofil had its issues, and I found Gliss to probably be similar, where it lacked. My point was to make that while I'm not going to take the line off my reel, for the folks that consistently fish abrading conditions, a flouro/mono leader will probably be the only way you'll be confidently able to fish this line (or Nanofil, or most other braids) and have confidence that fraying won't break your heart.

That said, I've had fraying and abrading, and have not yet had a breakoff, so the line even when frayed seems very tough, but I'd rather eliminate the chance and use a leader, to which I do all the time anyways with other braids. 

 

Hope this helps.....like I said, I'm still not taking it off. The benefits of this line so far outweigh the apparent only flaw I've found yet in it. 

[1099gl]

I love the small diameter but I don't really want 24 pound test on my spinning reel, only problem is if you went any smaller it would be like tippet for trout fishing.

[Hollada]

I fish ultra clear smallie waters.   Does this line require a leader - or is the clear truly clear?

[A-Jay]

21 minutes ago, Hollada said:

I fish ultra clear smallie waters.   Does this line require a leader - or is the clear truly clear?

Gliss  line is a monotex which basically means the line is made up of extruded polyethylene fibers.  This results in strands of fiber fused together to form one monotextiled line. So it has the properties of braid in its strength and smaller diameters, but it casts better than braid because it doesn’t have a woven texture and it’s so incredibly limp.

All of that said, the "Translucent" version in my opinion, is not Fluorocarbon like clear if that's what you're asking.

One could make this comparison -  If Fluorocarbon is similar to a sheet of clear glass then Gliss line compares to a sheet of Frosted glass - not completely clear or transparent but clear enough to allow light to pass through; but you probably wouldn't walk into a sheet of it.

A-Jay

 

[Bluebasser86]

Bought a spool of 24lb Gliss to use on my Ned Rig rod about a month ago. After the last month of use, all I can think is, "Why did I wait so long to try this stuff?" Casting distance is amazing, incredibly thin, very similar to braid in a lot of other aspects. Leaders are no problem to tie and I've had no problems with fraying or knots slipping. Only issue is the wind catches it badly but it's the same way with other superlines in the wind. I'll be buying at least one more spool to do another rod with it. 

[OkobojiEagle]

My experience with Gliss appears to be somewhat different than many of the reports I've read.  Mid August I purchased two spools of Gliss, one that was labeled 11lb. and one that was labeled 19lb.  (I've read reviews of 12lb. and 18lb. so I assume those are the same diameters of Gliss, but the company can't come to a consensus about what to label the various strengths of their line.)  I spooled them onto two spinning reels and began using these two rod/reels exclusively fishing open water smallmouth from a boat and shallow walleye from a smooth bouldered shoreline.

Within a week of fishing the 11lb. line I concluded it was two "whispy" for my fishing and I removed it from my reel and replaced it with the spool of 6lb. fused Fireline I previously had on that reel. By whispy I mean it was so thin and light I couldn't see where it entered the water and it floated during a cast even on calm days.  I gave that spool to an angler on this board who wanted to try it for his crappie fishing.  I've never heard back from him about his experience with it.

The 19lb. version I continued to fish almost exclusively through Sept., Oct. and Nov.  It behaved very similarly to the 6lb. Fireline I'm very familiar with except the casting distance was initially improved.  As I got into Oct. I noticed the coating was wearing off and it began to fray.  By the end of Oct. I found and cut off significant abrasions, some 20' - 30' up the line.  On a couple of occasions I lost ~2lb. walleye to line breakage several feet above the terminal connection.  Along with the abrasions I noticed the line no longer out distanced the 6lb. Fireline when casting.  I ended my fishing season being disappointed with the 19lb. Gliss when comparing it to the 6lb. Fireline and will throw this well worn line away before spring.  I have never thrown any other PE line away because of wearing... even after several years of fishing it.

That's my story with Gliss.

(edit: the 19lb Gliss was always fished with a 6lb. mono-filament leader of 6' - 2' length)

oe

[A-Jay]

16 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

My experience with Gliss appears to be somewhat different than many of the reports I've read.  Mid August I purchased two spools of Gliss, one that was labeled 11lb. and one that was labeled 19lb.  (I've read reviews of 12lb. and 18lb. so I assume those are the same diameters of Gliss, but the company can't come to a consensus about what to label the various strengths of their line.)  I spooled them onto two spinning reels and began using these two rod/reels exclusively fishing open water smallmouth from a boat and shallow walleye from a smooth bouldered shoreline.

Within a week of fishing the 11lb. line I concluded it was two "whispy" for my fishing and I removed it from my reel and replaced it with the spool of 6lb. fused Fireline I previously had on that reel. By whispy I mean it was so thin and light I couldn't see where it entered the water and it floated during a cast even on calm days.  I gave that spool to an angler on this board who wanted to try it for his crappie fishing.  I've never heard back from him about his experience with it.

The 19lb. version I continued to fish almost exclusively through Sept., Oct. and Nov.  It behaved very similarly to the 6lb. Fireline I'm very familiar with except the casting distance was initially improved.  As I got into Oct. I noticed the coating was wearing off and it began to fray.  By the end of Oct. I found and cut off significant abrasions, some 20' - 30' up the line.  On a couple of occasions I lost ~2lb. walleye to line breakage several feet above the terminal connection.  Along with the abrasions I noticed the line no longer out distanced the 6lb. Fireline when casting.  I ended my fishing season being disappointed with the 19lb. Gliss when comparing it to the 6lb. Fireline and will throw this well worn line away before spring.  I have never thrown any other PE line away because of wearing... even after several years of fishing it.

That's my story with Gliss.

(edit: the 19lb Gliss was always fished with a 6lb. mono-filament leader of 6' - 2' length)

oe

Great Feedback

Thank you for sharing it.

A-Jay

[Retired@176]

On 12/27/2015 at 10:14 PM, A-Jay said:

Gliss  line is a monotex which basically means the line is made up of extruded polyethylene fibers.  This results in strands of fiber fused together to form one monotextiled line. So it has the properties of braid in its strength and smaller diameters, but it casts better than braid because it doesn’t have a woven texture and it’s so incredibly limp.

All of that said, the "Translucent" version in my opinion, is not Fluorocarbon like clear if that's what you're asking.

One could make this comparison -  If Fluorocarbon is similar to a sheet of clear glass then Gliss line compares to a sheet of Frosted glass - not completely clear or transparent but clear enough to allow light to pass through; but you probably wouldn't walk into a sheet of it.

A-Jay

 

and braid with trade names advertised as "Spectra or Dynema is woven extruded polyethylene fibers so Gliss (mono) is basically fused polyethylene fibers and thus has similar properties but it is not Fluro clear, well stated A-Jay

[Steveo-1969]

My experience with Gliss is similar to OkobojiEagle.  I've been using 24# on a spinning rod since September and initially I loved the casting distance.  But the coating is wearing off and the line has started to fray and the casting distance is now no better than I was getting with 10# Sufix 832.  I always tie on a FC leader, but I've had to cut off yards and yards to get to unfrayed line.  It was a nice experiment, but I'm going back to 832 when it's time to replace the line.

[Further North]

Great topic - I appreciate all the info.

I'm going to try 40# on a bait-casting rig, and 24# on a spinning rig.  I will most likely be running both with fluorocarbon or co-polymer leaders.

I have a couple of questions:

1. Has anyone tried the FG knot for tying on leaders with Gliss?
2. When the business end of the line gets frayed...has anyone tried the old trout fisherman's trick of pulling the line off, swapping ends and spooling it back on?

...are there any other updates?

[Bluebasser86]

I've been fishing it for a few months now and have had no breakage/fraying issues. I tied and Albright knot with mine and it's worked just fine. I've fished it quite a bit and caught a lot of fish with it in the time I've used it, mostly fishing a Ned Rig. I don't feel it would be a good option for casting gear, but that's just my opinion. 

[aquaholik]

Here is a work in progress. Since line diameter is hard to measure, we weighted a 10ft section instead. For spinning reel, you can bet almost 100% that the lighter the line weight, the further it will cast. There will be a difference with new slick super smooth line VS coarse and wiry line of the same diameter but generally, all braids get softer with use including stiff and wiry fireline so line weight should give a good idea of it's castability in spinning reel where line diameter is almost everything.

Line weight/ft will give you an idea of it's diameter, especially if you are have two line like Gliss 24lbs and Suffix 832 in 10lbs to compare. Yes, Gliss is indeed thinner, but it's also weaker. There's also FG knot test done for some of those line listed. Generally, FG knot is 80-90% depending on the braid. Softer braid like Gliss, Samurai Braid, J Braid, and Suffix 832 tends to do very well.

 

As far as fishing with Gliss 24lbs, I have no trouble with it's handling or strength, but I do agree that long term durability is questionable since it's so thin and the coating does wear off quickly and with that, a 10 to 20% drop in knot strength. I don't see it being a problem in fresh water fishing where the Fluro leader will be less than 15 lbs.

I spooled up a Stradic FK 4000 with it and went Pompano fishing with 25lbs Fluro leader and had no trouble landing 2 to 3 lbs Pompanos with drag set at 3lbs. Also no wind knot even in a fully spooled reel. I was casting 3/8 oz jig a good 60-65 yds and the line cuts thru the water/current well since it's so thin. It's sensitive like any super thin braid. 

 

[Felix77]

Just got a pack of 12lb Gliss to test out.  I didn't realize how small it was.  Definitely going to try on spinning gear to see how it works out.

[aquaholik]

1 hour ago, Felix77 said:

Just got a pack of 12lb Gliss to test out.  I didn't realize how small it was.  Definitely going to try on spinning gear to see how it works out.

That would probably be the thinnest braid you can get in the US market, probably thinner than Kanzen 10lbs which is already thinner than Power Pro 3lbs. Wouldn't surprise me if the knotted strength of Gliss 12 lbs is 5-8 lbs.