Can't cast P Line

[JimW]

I need some advice, help, or just tell me it's trash. I bought some 20pound P-Line on the reccommendation of a friend who has been fishing a long time. I also bought a 7'6" heavy fast rod and an Abu Garcia 5500 Pro Rocket. I spooled the reel with the P-Line and I cannot cast it without a backlash every time. Now granted I have not used a bait caster in a long time, but, I had the spool brake(drag) set to the max and only a 1/2 ounce weight for a practice plug. I also have three other bait casters and they cast just fine, an abu garcia 5000(2) and an abu garcia black max.   Is there something I'm missing?  The P-Line is a copolymer line. I'm thinking just trash it a use something else, a smother braid or just plain mono. Thoughts?

[WRB]

What type of P-Line?

 

[FishDewd]

Definitely don't trash it, it's a good line. Personally I don't have luck with baitcasters with anything other than braid, but a lot of that could have to do with memory. If you have your brake all the way and it's still jumping off, that sounds like the likely issue if it's happening at the beginning of the cast. That spool of p-line is pretty big compared to the small diameter of the BC spool. So it may just be a matter of needing to spool it tighter and letting it sit for a bit before you use it. I need to try that one day actually since I've had the same issue with mono/CP/FC lines on baitcasters. I really only use p-line on my spinning set-ups though, and for that purpose it's excellent. I normally dunk the spool in some warm water for few minutes though to help reduce the memory then it never gives me an issue. Just be sure to regrease your washers before fishing if you do that. Not sure I would do that with a baitcaster though cause of the spool bearings. Others may chime in with thoughts on that.

[CroakHunter]

1/2 ounce total weight is fairly light for a 7'6 heavy rod and 20lb copoly imo. 

[ratherbfishin1]

I had that same problem with p-line 20lb on one of my lower end lews. I have no idea why but it is now a big spool of line that i use as leaders when using braid.  I think part of it has to do with all the line memory the line has and the thicker line diameter like FishDewd said above.  Good Luck!

[J Francho]

Keep it, and use it for heavier baits.  I'd be throwing a half ounce bait on 12# line. Lastly, Any line benefots vastly from pretreating with KVD L&L.

[Chance_Taker4]

I used P-Line Fluoroclear and it was utter junk. I don't mind CX or CXX if it was the only thing available but their Fluoro is trash.

[LAO162]

New Rod, New Reel, New Line, light casting weight...  Bunch of variables.  Have you tried different combinations yet?  For example, the new HEAVY rod may not be loading enough to cast the 1/2 oz weight.  Also, give KVD Line & Lure a chance before tossing the P-Line.

 

Granted, I don't have a lot of patience to do all of the experimenting myself, but I'm also too cheap to throw line in the trash without making sure it is really the line and not me 

[JimW]

3 hours ago, WRB said:

What type of P-Line?

 

Thanks for your response. The line is P-Line CXX X-tra Strong Copolymer in 20 pound test.

Thanks for answering, I tried 1 ounce as well. Same result.

8 minutes ago, LAO162 said:

New Rod, New Reel, New Line, light casting weight...  Bunch of variables.  Have you tried different combinations yet?  For example, the new HEAVY rod may not be loading enough to cast the 1/2 oz weight.  Also, give KVD Line & Lure a chance before tossing the P-Line.

 

Granted, I don't have a lot of patience to do all of the experimenting myself, but I'm also too cheap to throw line in the trash without making sure it is really the line and not me 

Thank you sir. I have tried some other combinations, braid, larger weight and such. May just be me. 

[Angry John]

3 hours ago, Chance_Taker4 said:

I used P-Line Fluoroclear and it was utter junk. I don't mind CX or CXX if it was the only thing available but their Fluoro is trash.

There flouo is wonderful, flouroclear is possibly the worst line ever except Berkeley vanish.

4 minutes ago, JimW said:

Thanks for your response. The line is P-Line CXX X-tra Strong Copolymer in 20 pound test.

Thanks for answering, I tried 1 ounce as well. Same result.

Cxx has some very strong memory and guys like it for swim baits in that size at and over 2 oz.  It's not the easiest handling line for sure.

[LadiMopar]

I too tried the P-line (can't remember the specifics except it was fluoro) and no matter what I tied on to it I got a back lash...on a spinning reel no less. Could not seem to soften the memory so it hit the recycle bin at BPS. It wasn't worth the grief IMHO.

 

Went back to my tried and true Ande Tournament Green mono for the spinning gear....braid on the baitcasters.

[LonnieP]

P-line CXX has a lot of memory. Try some CX, that should cast a lot better for you. I use P-line CX and tactical fluorocarbon and they both cast just as good as trilene XL

[DogBone_384]

1 hour ago, Angry John said:

There flouo is wonderful, flouroclear is possibly the worst line ever except Berkeley vanish.

Cxx has some very strong memory and guys like it for swim baits in that size at and over 2 oz.  It's not the easiest handling line for sure.

Even on a baitcast reel?

[burrows]

Like @roadwarrior would say pline cxx has the memory of an elephant!

[Czorn]

Drag and spool break are way different.

 

[Angry John]

34 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

Even on a baitcast reel?

Which part?

Pine 100% is amazing in 6 lb on a spinning reel and 10-15 are great on a bait caster.  Handles just like sniper imo.  

Cxx is like weed Wacker cord one every reel I have used it on.  Only on large baits like Huddleston 68 and larger baits is it worth messing with and still I prefer 20 lb yhb.

 

Pine flouroclear sucks in 6 and 10 pound and after trying those I had enough and moved on.

[burrows]

Cxx has it’s purpose it’s a good copoly for Baitcasters strong stuff. CX is good all purpose line for those who don’t want to mess with braid it also has very little memory. 

[JimW]

Many thanks everyone for your replies, advice and reccomendations. 

[JimW]

Update on the P-Line problem. I re-spooled the reel with Power Pro 30 pound braid, problem solved. Thanks for all the advice.