Trilene XL

[Wurming67]

I use to use Maxima years ago and it got tougher to find so I switched to Berkley big game and it reminded me alot of it,had great results from it,it does have a lot of memory but no big deal just trim it,it's cheap enough,but I love the strength  of it.

So for some odd reason I wanted to try trilene XL I enjoyed the castabilty of it and even the sensitivity of it buttttt today I was out using it and i had my best fish of the year break off I was mad but I was like maybe the line was frayed from the other fish I caught so I cut some off re tied it and a few fish later a nice 3lber broke off,so needless to say I just finished respooling my reels back to big game.(problem solved/lesson learned)

[NYWayfarer]

2 minutes ago, Wurming67 said:

I switched to Berkley big game and it reminded me alot of it,had great results from it,it does have a lot of memory but no big deal just trim it,it's cheap enough,

I switched from Trilene XL to Big Game. I agree that it has lots of memory. A few squirts of KVD line and lure or Reel Snot takes care of that. 

[Wurming67]

2 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

I switched from Trilene XL to Big Game. I agree that it has lots of memory. A few squirts of KVD line and lure or Reel Snot takes care of that. 

Thanks I'll try that

[new2BC4bass]

Personally don't understand why XL was breaking.  In the past (loooonng ago) I have landed 35 lb. carp and 20 lb. catfish on 8# and 10 lb. carp on 4# XL.  Trilene XL is all I used in those days.  I use several different brands of mono and co-polymers nowadays, but only because I wanted to try new lines.  Not because XL was failing me.

 

I can suggest you try Silver Thread AN40, Sunline Super Natural, McCoy Mean Green and Sufix Elite for lines with less memory than Big Game.  Buy lines of same diameter to get the same breaking strength.  If using 12# Big Game (.014 diameter), then buy 14# AN40 (.014 diameter).  Breaking strength should be very similar.  However, since these lines are a bit softer (thus less memory) they probably won't have the abrasion resistance of Big Game.  Where I fish abrasion is not a problem so these other lines work well for me.  I do use 8# and 12# Big Game on some reels.

[islandbass]

Maybe it was from a bad batch or a nick/wear higher up the line. 

 

Since I don’t like to leave things to chance before I retie, I check the next 20’ or so of line above for wear. Cutting off and re-tying is moot if somewhere above that point is a nick or bad spot. 

 

Sorry you lost those fish. It’s always a crappy feeling. 

[Hulkster]

I used to use XL all the time but starting having problems with strength/break offs. Im pretty sure when they updated it a few years ago (its even softer) maybe it lost some strength I don't know.

 

so I switched to the Sufix lines, I like Siege the best. its like Big Game (strong, abrasion resistant) but much more limp. I even using 8 and 10 pound test on 3000 size shimano spinning reels. No issues whatsoever.

[NorthernBasser]

Been using XL for YEARS, and I've never had a breakoff. And I've fished it in some heavy cover (14lb). Of course I'll regularly check for nicks, etc. I wonder if you got a bad/old spool? 

[new2BC4bass]

55 minutes ago, Hulkster said:

I used to use XL all the time but starting having problems with strength/break offs. Im pretty sure when they updated it a few years ago (its even softer) maybe it lost some strength I don't know.

 

so I switched to the Sufix lines, I like Siege the best. its like Big Game (strong, abrasion resistant) but much more limp. I even using 8 and 10 pound test on 3000 size shimano spinning reels. No issues whatsoever.

I use Siege on several of my baitcast reels.  I really like the Neon Tangerine. 

[Wurming67]

Once something like that happens losing a big fish on a certain line all confidence is gone if I kept it on I would be thinking about it every cast my.mind can't handle that ?

[Wurming67]

I was at Walmart grocery shopping with wife this morning picked up a spool of power pro 50lb for my weighted texas rigged baits and 20 lb for the wife's spinning reel,gonna give it a shot  tomorrow morning, I havent used braid since they first came out with it and I was snapping rods and cooking reels I'm sure it's changed alot since than, see what happens tomorrow ?

[Boomstick]

I have found that Trilene XL probably has just as much memory as Big Game, but the difference is 12lb big game is .35mm where Trilene XL 12lb is .33mm, so calling them both 12lb is misleading. XL might break around 12lb, but I can tell you for a fact that I've had 12lb Big Game withstand over 20lbs of pressure before.

 

Unless you are using really light line, I would recommend Trilene XT or better yet Sufix Siege line. They are strong and have much less memory.

[Wurming67]

4 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

I have found that Trilene XL probably has just as much memory as Big Game, but the difference is 12lb big game is .35mm where Trilene XL 12lb is .33mm, so calling them both 12lb is misleading. XL might break around 12lb, but I can tell you for a fact that I've had 12lb Big Game withstand over 20lbs of pressure before.

 

Unless you are using really light line, I would recommend Trilene XT or better yet Sufix Siege line. They are strong and have much less memory.

Probably my fault going so light, I fish alot of grass here in Florida

I'll probably end up putting braid on all my reels besides my senko 

[J.Vincent]

I haven't fished with Trilene XL in probably 20 years, because I rarely find myself in a fishing situation where the qualities of XL would be beneficial. I think on a light spinning or medium spinning outfit in open water, XL may be a descent choice but otherwise there are better and more advanced products in the Berkley Lineup.

[Boomstick]

On 4/15/2018 at 1:03 PM, Active_Outdoors said:

I haven't fished with Trilene XL in probably 20 years, because I rarely find myself in a fishing situation where the qualities of XL would be beneficial.

I pretty much stopped fishing it too for the same reasons. The only times I may consider it is for a finesse presentation, (which I normally use flurocarbon for leaders anyway so it's a moot point) but I would go with 8lb line as a leader where I will normally use 6lb with other lines. I will also use XL in 4lb on ultra light trout gear.

 

I personally do not believe XL has any benefits or reason to be on casting gear. I tried that once too, and found the memory made it pretty much unmanageable, plus tying baits on a windy day was quite the challenge due to the loops in the line. I've had better luck with other lines. Finally, I broke off oh something that shouldn't have and went home and respooled that reel with 12lb Big Game which handled better than 14lb XT.

[OnthePotomac]

Trilene XL 17lb  is my go to line for spinner baits, blade baits and top waters.  I know it can handle a 20lb snakehead since they hit like a freight train.  Love the Potomac surprises.  Never brakes  with last year's spool.  I use the Palomar knot with it.

[flatcreek]

16 hours ago, Wurming67 said:

I use to use Maxima years ago and it got tougher to find so I switched to Berkley big game and it reminded me alot of it,had great results from it,it does have a lot of memory but no big deal just trim it,it's cheap enough,but I love the strength  of it.

So for some odd reason I wanted to try trilene XL I enjoyed the castabilty of it and even the sensitivity of it buttttt today I was out using it and i had my best fish of the year break off I was mad but I was like maybe the line was frayed from the other fish I caught so I cut some off re tied it and a few fish later a nice 3lber broke off,so needless to say I just finished respooling my reels back to big game.(problem solved/lesson learned)

I boated a 29 pnd flathead 3 weeks ago fishing a club tourney on 12pnd Big Game. made me sick after I turned the beast knowing it wasn't a bass.I squirt the kvd stuff on it every now and then and keep fishing it.The memory is not that bad to me,getting 35 to 40 yds on a cast works for me.For the price and quality I see no reason to change.

[Tywithay]

With proper drag settings and good knots, I don't believe I've snapped off any line in the last 5 years or so. Trilene XL has been no exception. I've got everything from 8lb to 20lb on a variety of reels and it has held up well. 

[optimator]

Trilene XL is what I started bass fishing with about 35 years ago. Then once when the store was out I tried Ande. I stuck with it ever since. The last couple of seasons I've been using Siege for my 8 & 10 lb needs. But for my 12 lb and heavier mono's I've stuck with Ande.

[DRT]

I have fished xl for years on both casting and spinning gear. It’s been a good line and I can’t say I’ve had much trouble with break offs or anything like that, but it is a very soft line. Lately I’ve wanted a little more abrasion resistance, so on the recommendation of others on here I tried sufix siege on my casting rig. I must say that I’m very impressed with it.  It seems to be a stronger, more abrasion resistant line but still has great cast ability. I highly recommend it. 

[Hulkster]

Sufix Siege is the best mono I have ever used. I like it so much I even use it on my spinning rigs. still casts great.

[JawjaBoy]

I still use XL on a few spinning reels and I do use 17# on baitcasters occasionally.  For the most part though, I've gone mostly to XT for mono on my baitcasters.  It handles very well and still has good shock and abrasion resistance.  I REALLY liked the Big Game Supreme until they discontinued it.  It had the handling of XT with the sheer toughness of Big Game. 

[Wurming67]

I just used braid today for the first time since it came out and it made a big difference imho, it was more sensitive,casted great but I can see why guys use line conditioner,but the biggest thing I noticed was my hooksets we're right on,the  power of the line really penetrated the hook I was noticing with mono the stretch from it I was missing some fish so I think I'm gonna keep using it,but I can see using big game for my spinner bait, buzzbait,rattle trap though  I might give fluorcarbon a try on senko setup.Thanks for all the suggestions for using braid made a huge difference today.

[waymont]

That's a drag losing that fish and your confidence in the XL line.

I have been using it from 4-14lb test for 30+ years and have never had one issue with it.

It is possible to get a bad spool I guess.

[Wurming67]

31 minutes ago, waymont said:

That's a drag losing that fish and your confidence in the XL line.

I have been using it from 4-14lb test for 30+ years and have never had one issue with it.

It is possible to get a bad spool I guess.

I'm sure it happens

[gim]

XL casts nice and its reasonably priced but it has very little abrasive resistance.  If there's anything sharp around (dock, wood, rock, etc), it can break.  Its generally fine in a more open-water presentation if you don't mind using line that stretches.  Just my 2 cents based on use over the years.