Berkley Fireline and Nanofil

[CybrSlydr]

Just making a thread as I'm going out tomorrow with my brother to do some fishing.  I was down to my 12lb Trilene XT and very little of it and some Stren flourocast.  So, I went to Dunhams's Sports at the mall and picked up some 8lb Flame Green Fireline and some 12lb Nanofil. 

 

I really had to be careful as they had some very old looking Fireline in the cardboard packages that, when I opened (and I'm glad I did), there was staining around the adhesive strip holding the end of the line on.  Like it was so old that the adhesive ran and just stained the entire spool near the patch.  Yikes.  I ended up going for a newer looking version in a blister pack instead.

 

Now, I know I've talked of my disappointment with Nanofil in a previous thread - it cast like nobody's business, but the knots kept slipping.  I tried the "Nanofil Knot" as it said, but no go.  Lost a lot of lures. 

 

However, I've learned a new knot - the Uni.  So, I decided to give Nanofil another shot.  I would have gone with 8lb again but they only had two 4lb and one 12lb. 

 

I've spooled up the Fireline first though - since it's something I've not used before.  I also put about a 5ft leader of the Stren flourocast tied on with a double-uni and tied that to a nice double-lock snap (going to be using cranks so ease of switching out is a priority) with a palomar. 

 

Fingers crossed folks, we'll see what happens tomorrow!

[dwh4784]

I think you'll be pleased with the Fireline, although I've never seen that "flame green" around here. I like the "smoke" (black) color in 14lb, for years and years we always colored the end of our Spiderwire with a black Sharpie so the black color out of the box just makes sense. 

[CybrSlydr]

1 minute ago, dwh4784 said:

I think you'll be pleased with the Fireline, although I've never seen that "flame green" around here. I like the "smoke" (black) color in 14lb, for years and years we always colored the end of our Spiderwire with a black Sharpie so the black color out of the box just makes sense. 

 

Well, I figured since I'd be putting the leader on anyway that the color of the line wasn't that important - besides, it'll offer a bit more contrast with the water and make it easier to see strikes when I Ned Rig or something similar.

[dwh4784]

Sounds like it is a hi-vis green color? Yeah with a leader it wouldn't matter, and same as you I use PowerPro hi-vis yellow with a leader to detect strikes on weightless plastics. I just wanted to say that I was really impressed with Fireline in general (casting distance, memory, strength) just hadn't seen that color.

[CybrSlydr]

4 minutes ago, dwh4784 said:

Sounds like it is a hi-vis green color? Yeah with a leader it wouldn't matter, and same as you I use PowerPro hi-vis yellow with a leader to detect strikes on weightless plastics. I just wanted to say that I was really impressed with Fireline in general (casting distance, memory, strength) just hadn't seen that color.

 

Honestly, I think "Flame Green" is just their fancy name for Chartreuse.  lol

 

 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

1 hour ago, CybrSlydr said:

Just making a thread as I'm going out tomorrow with my brother to do some fishing.  I was down to my 12lb Trilene XT and very little of it and some Stren flourocast.  So, I went to Dunhams's Sports at the mall and picked up some 8lb Flame Green Fireline and some 12lb Nanofil. 

 

I really had to be careful as they had some very old looking Fireline in the cardboard packages that, when I opened (and I'm glad I did), there was staining around the adhesive strip holding the end of the line on.  Like it was so old that the adhesive ran and just stained the entire spool near the patch.  Yikes.  I ended up going for a newer looking version in a blister pack instead.

 

Now, I know I've talked of my disappointment with Nanofil in a previous thread - it cast like nobody's business, but the knots kept slipping.  I tried the "Nanofil Knot" as it said, but no go.  Lost a lot of lures. 

 

However, I've learned a new knot - the Uni.  So, I decided to give Nanofil another shot.  I would have gone with 8lb again but they only had two 4lb and one 12lb. 

 

I've spooled up the Fireline first though - since it's something I've not used before.  I also put about a 5ft leader of the Stren flourocast tied on with a double-uni and tied that to a nice double-lock snap (going to be using cranks so ease of switching out is a priority) with a palomar. 

 

Fingers crossed folks, we'll see what happens tomorrow!

 

When you tie the uni knot--- first double the line over about a foot---then pass line through eye of hook twice--now tie a 6 turn uni knot---wet line cinch. This knot is waaaay better than the suggested nanoknot/double palomar.

[dwh4784]

I missed the part about the uni knot. Assuming you mean a uni/uni leader knot. Personally, this last year was my first time ever using leaders and I used that knot exclusively. Not a single slip or breakage. You just really have to take it slow and make sure the wraps all line up correctly. Not much different than a clinch knot really. 

 

For all my lure/hook knots I use a polomar knot. Same deal though (and even more so I think) you have to watch how the line lies. I've finished plenty of knots only to cut them off and re-tie if I saw something I didn't like.

[CybrSlydr]

34 minutes ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

 

When you tie the uni knot--- first double the line over about a foot---then pass line through eye of hook twice--now tie a 6 turn uni knot---wet line cinch. This knot is waaaay better than the suggested nanoknot/double palomar.

Thanks for the tip - I'll give that a go when I need to re-tie.

[Bluebasser86]

Uni/Uni knot is a good knot that is simple to tie, but it's a little bigger when finished so it might be an issue if you have micro or nano guides. I use that as well as the Alberto knot, which I tied a majority of the time last year, mainly due to the fact that it is much more streamlined and goes through the guides easier. 

[fishnkamp]

I use 14 pound FireLine (6 pound test mono equivalent in diameter) in that Flame Green color all the time on my spinning reels. I know it will feel sorta stiff when you first spool it up. Do not let that bother you, it softens up almost as soon as it hits the water.  I love the stuff. I also tie on a 4 foot leader almost all of the time. I always use either P Line CXX in 10 pound test or 8 pound P Line Halo for my leaders. They are tied together with a double uni knot and I have yet to have a leader knot fail. I fish here on the off color tidal water of the Chesapeake Bay as well as in the deep gin clear lakes in Tennessee. That setup has flat out worked for me and my wife every time. 

[Crestliner2008]

I have 5 reels filled with Fireline Crystal. From 2# test up to 10# test. Used in conjunction with a 3' or 4' fluorocarbon leader, it performs flawlessly (for me anyway). The white-ish color is easy for these old eyes to see.

 

I will not go back to Nanofil regardless of what kind of knot finally turns out to work. Fireline works with all knots.

[CybrSlydr]

You guys were right - I'm very happy with the combination of the Fireline and the flourocast.  Worked flawlessly today!  Not a single knot slipped.

[DaileyLimit]

I've never had any problems using the uni knot on fire line. It's the only know it use on that line. 

[roadwarrior]

Well, with so many options I think there are several lines that are a MUCH better choice.

I have some Nanofil that I will give to the first member that sends me a PM with their address.

For the second and third respondents I have some other lines you can have for free. Most are full,

never been opened and some have had one spooling removed. Tell me if you DO NOT want braid.

 

[CybrSlydr]

As someone shore-bound, casting distance is of utmost importance to us.  For that, we are willing to compromise a bit on knot security.

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, CybrSlydr said:

As someone shore-bound, casting distance is of utmost importance to us.  For that, we are willing to compromise a bit on knot security.

 

Why?

 

My knots never slip and very rarely fail. 

 

Take this to the bank: If it ain't perfect, it ain't good enough.

 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

2 hours ago, CybrSlydr said:

As someone shore-bound, casting distance is of utmost importance to us.  For that, we are willing to compromise a bit on knot security.

With the knot I mentioned 6# nanofil holds to 9pounds and my .006 8# nanofil holds to 12pounds thats very good knot strength for any line. For a comparison my .006 15# test Kanzen braid breaks at 11pounds. My 40# Gliss breaks at 24# waaaay less than rated. Im quite confident in my knot I use with nanofil. I use many many different brands/types of line if nano didnt perform for me I wouldnt continue to use it.

[CybrSlydr]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

 

Why?

 

My knots never slip and very rarely fail. 

 

Take this to the bank: If it ain't perfect, it ain't good enough.

 

Because if the fish are 75ft away and I can only cast 60ft, that's a lot of thrashing around for nothing - and we're tired of nothing.

 

I can double-up on a knot or something and make it work - you can't do that with fish standing on dry land.