Best braid for finesse fishing

[Glenn]

See the bite! Hi-Vis Smackdown Flash Green lets you see line movement and detect subtle bites.

 

[Glenn]

I fixed the misprint.  Thanks for pointing that out guys!

[MickD]

Hitena Pureline 21 pound test, casts like most 10's.  Pricey but lasts a long time and is troublefree.  I use it for bones and barracuda plus SMB.  Will be using their 15 on another reel just for bass/walleye when the other braid on it is ready for replacement.

[Steve S]

Love Smackdown in hi vis in the 15lb. What people will notice is that smackdown is much thinner than other brands in the same pound test. I have the 15lb smackdown on a 2500 Daiwa Exceller and it performs pretty much flawlessly. I have rarely gotten a wind knot with this line. 

[roadwarrior]

[Bluebasser86]

10 hours ago, Steve S said:

Love Smackdown in hi vis in the 15lb. What people will notice is that smackdown is much thinner than other brands in the same pound test. I have the 15lb smackdown on a 2500 Daiwa Exceller and it performs pretty much flawlessly. I have rarely gotten a wind knot with this line. 

I actually went with 20lb because the stuff is so thin. Got a brand new spool of 20lb Flash Green to put on as soon as things aren't so frosty around here.

[roadwarrior]

https://seaguar.com/saltwater/new-lines/smackdown-stealth-gray

 

[The Bassman]

21 hours ago, MickD said:

Hitena Pureline 21 pound test, casts like most 10's.  

That's because it is. At .162mm it's pretty much everybody's USDM 10 lb. I'm sure it's real smooth but at better than 35.00 for 120m, I'll pass.

[MickD]

42 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

That's because it is. At .162mm it's pretty much everybody's USDM 10 lb. I'm sure it's real smooth but at better than 35.00 for 120m, I'll pass.

One reel is going into its 3rd year now.  Looks like new.  For my fishing cycle it's not that expensive.

[The Bassman]

1 hour ago, MickD said:

One reel is going into its 3rd year now.  Looks like new.  For my fishing cycle it's not that expensive.

That's really impressive. Does seem to reinforce the cost vs. value argument. I fish braid straight/no leader so over time it gets shortened. Wouldn't be such a good deal for me.

[detroit1]

RW is freaking me out.

[Columbia Craw]

Thanks for having a sense of humor Glenn and yes, Smackdown is great stuff.  I have 30. 40 and 65 in grey for casting rod application and 12 green  on one of my spinning reels.                                                                  

[Michigander]

I have no complaints about Smackdown. It's been taking over my reels for the past year and a half. I bought some Hitena braid to try out this year too. I'm kinda hoping, for my wallet's sake, that it isn't  head and shoulders above Smackdown, lol.

[NHBull]

3 minutes ago, Michigander said:

I have no complaints about Smackdown. It's been taking over my reels for the past year and a half. I bought some Hitena braid to try out this year too. I'm kinda hoping, for my wallet's sake, that it isn't  head and shoulders above Smackdown, lol.

I have been using pureline and it's awesome!  Several years old and still going good. I love the pink

[Michigander]

7 minutes ago, NHBull said:

I have been using pureline and it's awesome!  Several years old and still going good. I love the pink

Other than sticker shock, I haven't met anyone that doesn't have good things to say about the Hitena. I'm scared and excited.

[NHBull]

8 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Other than sticker shock, I haven't met anyone that doesn't have good things to say about the Hitena. I'm scared and excited.

Early on they had pony (75m) spools that were great with backing and not terribly expensive.  It also helps that I buy for a school club and save a little

[Michigander]

4 minutes ago, NHBull said:

Early on they had pony (75m) spools that were great with backing and not terribly expensive.  It also helps that I buy for a school club and save a little

Wow, yes that would be awesome. I got to chat with their actual design engineer in January at The Ultimate Fishing Show in Novi, MI. Hitena has some really fascinating stuff going on.

[Bandersnatch]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned 12lb his vis yellow sunline sx1. I really like it. I'm interested to know if anyone has compared the 12lb sx1 to the 15lb smackdown 

[ResoKP]

How's Smackdown 65# for punching heavy cover?

 

I noticed the diameter is actually thicker than Sufix 832 in 50# and 65#

 

Any benefits to Smackdown over 832?

 

Have had no issues with 832 but I'm always open to trying out new things

[Bandersnatch]

31 minutes ago, ResoKP said:

How's Smackdown 65# for punching heavy cover?

 

I noticed the diameter is actually thicker than Sufix 832 in 50# and 65#

 

Any benefits to Smackdown over 832?

 

Have had no issues with 832 but I'm always open to trying out new things

I love it for casting distance, not a fan of the color for straight braid. 

[TBAG]

Ok, so I've never used braid on any of my finesse spinning reels. Right now I only have two, one for weightless Senkos (4" and 5") and one for Ned rigs. Both have 6lb Yo-zuri Hybrid spooled on them, and I really have no complaints other than visibility.

 

I don't like using a leader and probably never will.

 

I'd like to try some braid on my Senko reel, specifically the flash green. If you were a newbie to braid on a spinning reel and only really fishing a Senko (weightless or wacky rigged) would you go with 15lb or 20lb?

[ChrisD46]

On 2/5/2020 at 12:25 AM, Chief250 said:

I'm surprised nobody mentioned 12lb his vis yellow subline sx1. I really like it. I'm interested to know if anyone has compared the 12lb sx1 to the 15lb smackdown 

*SX1 #12 lb. is a great finesse braid line !

The Power Pro Hi - Viz Yellow checks most boxes for me plus I can find locally :

 

#8 lb. PP   Hi - Viz Yellow (Ned Rig)

#10 lb. PP   Hi - Viz Yellow (drop shot , shaky head )

#15 lb. PP   Hi - Viz Yellow (MH shaky head set up , compact jigs on a spinning set up)

[Derek1]

59 minutes ago, TBAG said:

Ok, so I've never used braid on any of my finesse spinning reels. Right now I only have two, one for weightless Senkos (4" and 5") and one for Ned rigs. Both have 6lb Yo-zuri Hybrid spooled on them, and I really have no complaints other than visibility.

 

I don't like using a leader and probably never will.

 

I'd like to try some braid on my Senko reel, specifically the flash green. If you were a newbie to braid on a spinning reel and only really fishing a Senko (weightless or wacky rigged) would you go with 15lb or 20lb?

I think either is fine. I use 20 because I have big hands and fingers. The 20 is easier to tie, believe it or not. 

[TBAG]

1 minute ago, Derek1 said:

I think either is fine. I use 20 because I have big hands and fingers. The 20 is easier to tie, believe it or not. 

 

Thanks, this just helped make my decision. 20lb it is......

[Derek1]

2 hours ago, TBAG said:

 

Thanks, this just helped make my decision. 20lb it is......

I believe the 20 is a 6 pound diameter