Seaguar line review

[.ghoti.]

Seaguar sent me some their new Finesse Fluoro line to try. A spool of 5.2lb test, and a spool of 7.3. In talking with them, it was revealed that these are actual breaking strengths for these lines. Unlike say, Yozuri Hybrid, whose 6lb test line actually breaks at about 12 pounds.

 

now for a disclaimer. I am not a fan of fluorocarbon line. The only use I have for it is trout fishing. I use 4lb test Invizx, on the extra spools of two spinning reels, and only use these for trout trips.

 

Another disclaimer. I tried Tatsu twice. Kent gave me a couple of spools, so I filled two reels the night before one of our Bass Resource RoadTrips. I took four rods with me one day, fishing with Big O. Two with Tatsu, and two with Trilene XL. Tatsu frayed badly. The last 18" of line, the part that would come into contact with cover and or bottom composition, would last about 20 minutes before requiring retying. Trilene, fished in the same areas did not show any damage. After reporting this here, Seaguar sent me four new spools of Tatsu. Had the same issue. I gave those spools to Kent, and haven't used that line since.

 

Seaguar calls Tatsu a double structure line, with an inner core of harder line encased in a softer outer core. I believe it was the softer, outer coating that was being damaged while I was using it.

 

So, with more than a bit of skepticism, I tried the new Finesse Fluor, which is a similar, dual structure line. I primarily use casting gear for Bass fishing, but every now and then, spinning gear is required. I have two spinning combos tasked to bass fishing. An identical pair of Steez rods, with identical Daiwa 2004 size Certate reels. I spooled one of these with 7.3lb Finesse Fluoro, and took it along when I visited Kent last week. I tested some knots while still at home. Paloma, clinch and SD jam knots. I tied three of each and then broke them. The clinch knot broke at the knot all three times. The Palomar broke at the knot once, and the line broke twice. The line broke all three times with the SD jam knot. Pretty good performance for fluoro line. Excellent really, in my experience.

 

So I spent about two hours fishing this line. I had some other stuff to test on this trip as well. The line casts well, and is fairly limp when using a slack line bait like a Ned rig, which was what I had tied on most of the time. Also used an unweighted fluke and a light shakeyhead. I drug this line over everything I could if find. Rocks weeds, brush, etc. I was pleasantly surprised to find no signs of the fraying which had disappointed me so badly when using Tatsu.

 

Being a finesse line, it as only available in lower pound test ratings: 5.2, 6.2, 7.3 and 8.4. At 27 bucks for 150 yards, it is not a cheap line, but it's less than Tatsu, and outperforms in my experience. Ive ordered a spool of 8.4 to try on one of my finesse casting combos, and expect to like it for that as well as I like it for spinning gear. I'm saving the 5.2 for an upcoming White River trout expedition.

 

I am impressed enough that I will be leaving the 7.3 line on one spinning combo, and will use it for this year, just to see how it performs long term. This is the first fluorocarbon line I have been impressed with.

 

[Mike L]

Interesting, I use flouro on every setup I have except for punching and have used Seaguar the past few years but switched to Sunline products that I like much better. 

I don't use spinning gear at all for anything either but want to start. This will give me a good starting point. 

 

Good write up, Thanks

 

 

 

Mike

 

[Big Bait Fishing]

appreciate the honest review of the tatsu , good write up 

[J Francho]

It's so weird, that his experience with Tatsu could be the polar opposite of mine.  I won't anything else for finesse.  Well, I will be testing the finesse line, lol.

 

Great review, Gary. 

 

Line choice is a touchy subject, and there's quite a bit of emotion attached, and rightly so.  If a line lets you down - whether or not it's the line's fault - you're not going to trust it.  Ever.

[fishballer06]

Good review. I was wondering why the "odd" pound test on this line. Now I know, so thank you.

 

I picked up a spool of the new Tactical Seaguar in 15lb test that I'm curious to see how it performs. 

[Robert Riley]

7 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

Good review. I was wondering why the "odd" pound test on this line. Now I know, so thank you.

 

I picked up a spool of the new Tactical Seaguar in 15lb test that I'm curious to see how it performs. 

I was wondering the same, I'm curious to what the diameter is like in comparison. And do you mean the P-Line Tactical? In the black and white box?

[Dwight Hottle]

Nice review Gary. I have used tatsu in 15lb & 20lb and been real happy with it. 

[offsidewing]

Great review.  Sorry about your experience w/ Tatsu.  I fish it over rock piles, stumps, and docks and never an issue.  

[fishwizzard]

I tried the Finesse Floro in 8.4 on my finesse spinning reel.  I like it a lot, it handled and cast very well, and stayed limp and manageable even at below freezing temps.  

 

However, I did have an issue when I had to break off some snags on a later trip.  To get a Triline knot to break I had to pull pretty hard and most of the time the lie would break many feet from the knot, often in the dozens.  In addition, several feet of line would twisted at the break and need to be cut off.  

 

I like the line line enough to keep using it, but am going to fill my spool ~50-75% full of braid, then fill the floro on top.  This way I can keep the spool topped off with less waste and will leave me with enough braid to fish it with a leader to finish out a day.  

[JDNKC]

I swear by invisx and tatsu.  I got the new mono rippin and it has been really sweet so far. One of these days I want to try sniper, but I am so happy with Seagaur no reason to switch.  I will have to try the finesse.

[kickerfish1]

Nice write up. I have straigtened 3/0 and 4/0 hooks on texas rigged plastics while using Invisix and Tatsu. Never really an issue with excessive fraying from poor abrasion resistance. I would say you got a bad batch but it sounds like none of the Tatsu you used worked all that well.

[roadwarrior]

Great review!

 

Still, I have no idea why the Tatsu performed so poorly for you.

 

[Maico1]

Very good review and to be frank that was my same exact experience with Tatsu. With that said I have had no problems with 15lb test and did recently purchase a 10lb spool of Tatsu to try this season trying to be objective. But for me Sunline Shooter FC Sniper will be my go to FC.....

 

[fishballer06]

14 hours ago, Robert Riley said:

I was wondering the same, I'm curious to what the diameter is like in comparison. And do you mean the P-Line Tactical? In the black and white box?

Sorry, brain fart. Yes, P-Line Tactical. The diameter's are thicker whenever compared to Sniper FC.

[NHBull]

Thanks for taking  the time, I too am not a fan of strait FC, but it does have its place

[Bluebasser86]

On 3/1/2017 at 5:08 PM, Robert Riley said:

I was wondering the same, I'm curious to what the diameter is like in comparison. And do you mean the P-Line Tactical? In the black and white box?

I just spooled up some of the 5.2 on a 25 size Supreme XT and it was extremely thin. I left about 1/4 spool of the 4lb mono I had on the reel for backing, expecting to fill the reel with about half the spool of flouro. I ended up with the entire 150 yards on that little reel and it was about the perfect amount of line. 

 

I got a chance to fish with the 5.2 a bit this week swimming a grub and it performed very nicely.