Response from Seaguar on Tatsu vs Blue Label

[txchaser]

I was curious to see what Seaguar had to say about Tatsu as a leader, so I sent them an email.

Quote

I understand from some of the literature that Tatsu and the leader products are made with the same process. I fish with both blue label as a leader, and have started using more tatsu. If I were to use tatsu in the same pound tests as blue label, how would it perform differently as a leader?

 

Here's what they said:

Quote

Great question.  Blue Label and Tatsu are both similar in the fact they are both double structure fluorocarbon products.  However, the big difference is, Tatsu is a mainline design for casting, while Blue Label is design for leader.  This means Tatsu would not offer the knot strength/ impact strength in short pieces like Blue label would.

It isn't a super-precise response, but I thought it was worth sharing anyway.

[A-Jay]

Thanks for sharing that.

I have not ventured into the Blue Label - yet.

I do wish however, that Seaguar had completed the "This means Tatsu would not offer the knot strength/ impact strength in short pieces like Blue label would." statement with Why.

What are the possible reasons for this ?

I use Tatsu as a mainline & a leader because I have faith in the knot strength; as much as I can for FC anyway.  

Could it be that the Blue Label is over tested; meaning stronger than it's rated ?

Could it mean that the Blue Label stretches more and that Tatsu less, making it more shock absorbent ?

Could it be that it's only December and I'm all ready going bat **** crazy ?

Only my hair dresser knows for sure.

A-Jay

 

[Boomstick]

I actually have not used Tatsu yet, but the Blue Label has been my go to leader line for quite some time. Blue Label is also very low stretch where Tatsu from what I gather has quite a bit more stretch.

[roadwarrior]

Seaguar has raised the bar.  The new standard is Gold Label.

Thinner, softer and stronger.

 

https://seaguar.com/saltwater/new-lines/gold-label-25

 

 

 

 

[jbrew73]

Better than tatsu or better than blue label?

[roadwarrior]

Gold Label is 25 yards of leader line.

[GReb]

Some of these companies have so many different line and leader options it will make your head spin. It would be nice if they provided more documentation on each product and how it differs from others in their line. Saying a leader line is a better leader than a main line is not all that helpful. Why? What properties make it different? Show us lab results

[Boomstick]

26 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Seaguar has raised the bar.  The new standard is Gold Label.

Thinner, softer and stronger.

I haven't tried gold label because the only time I regularly use leaders these days is for finesse fishing and gold label starts at higher test line.

[roadwarrior]

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Seaguar_Gold_Label_Fluorocarbon_Leader_Line_25yd/descpage-SEAG.html

 

TW is not showing #4, but that is available, too.

[txchaser]

Just from handling in person the Tatsu is much more limp at the same diameter. A total guess, but perhaps there's something about the same process that makes it more limp means impact strength is lower.

 

I have the same "but why" question @A-Jay - I can build some convoluted story in my head about the stretch in tatsu allowing the material to take the stress of impact at some more gradual rate so it might have a different effect, but I'm way outside of my comfort zone with the physics of elasticity and elongation when combined with the rate the load was applied to a knot. Plus it's mostly some conjectural BS I made up. Probably some BS they made up too.

 

My inside voice is telling me 'just test it, you have it all laying around' but that inside voice makes lots of projects that never move high enough on the list to get done.

 

 

 

[FishTank]

I was wondering about this a few days ago and ended up ordering some Gold Label and some Tatsu.  We will see how they compare when spring gets here. 

 

 

[jbrew73]

My take is a very supple line like tatsu has poor shock strength so you need a “long” piece of it to absorb the load.  Leader material is stiffer and has higher shock strength so you can get by with a shorter length.  It is always a game of give and take with fishing line offerings.  

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, jbrew73 said:

My take is a very supple line like tatsu has poor shock strength so you need a “long” piece of it to absorb the load.  Leader material is stiffer and has higher shock strength so you can get by with a shorter length.  It is always a game of give and take with fishing line offerings.  

 

That has been my thought.  I have been using pretty much whatever I have had left over of 12lb line from a filler spool as leader.   I have used several different lines but not Tatsu and found lines like Invizx to be too soft.  Abrazx on the hand has worked great except the knots can get tricky. 

[Bandersnatch]

7 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Thanks for sharing that.

I have not ventured into the Blue Label - yet.

I do wish however, that Seaguar had completed the "This means Tatsu would not offer the knot strength/ impact strength in short pieces like Blue label would." statement with Why.

What are the possible reasons for this ?

I use Tatsu as a mainline & a leader because I have faith in the knot strength; as much as I can for FC anyway.  

Could it be that the Blue Label is over tested; meaning stronger than it's rated ?

Could it mean that the Blue Label stretches more and that Tatsu less, making it more shock absorbent ?

Could it be that it's only December and I'm all ready going bat **** crazy ?

Only my hair dresser knows for sure.

A-Jay

Were all going crazy, send help! 

[Michigander]

At an expo I talked to a... Line Engineer (?) for Hitena and we discussed this a bit. He said that when they extrude FC, there's basically three sections of the roll.

 

The first section, the most pure, is cut off for leaders and has excellent shock impact strength in short lengths and the thinnest diameter per pound test but is too rigid for mainline use.

 

The second section, which has a wider diameter has more impurities and requires longer lengths to be strong but is excellent as a mainline.

 

The last section has the most impurities, the widest diameter, and is sold as the budget line offering or sold in bulk to other companies as it lacks the best qualities of the first two sections.

 

That's what he told me anyway, but he knows more about the molecular structure of flourocarbon than I ever will. So that seemed to be a reasonable explanation to me.

[Glenn]

Well, that might be true for other brands, but Seaguar makes their own fluorocarbon resin designed specifically for fishing line. They invented fluorocarbon fishing line.  They make their own line. So they control the quality end-to-end. They're the only fluorocarbon line manufacturer that does this. 

 

Other line manufacturers purchase the resin from 3rd parties.

[WRB]

I spooled up 2 reels with 12 lb Tatsu and will try agian leaving 1 reel with 12 lb Sunline Shooter my base line.

Will be on the water jig fishing the 9th and will report my evaluation.

Tom

[Johnbt]

"Seaguar Gold Label is designed to exceed the expectations of the most demanding saltwater anglers."

 

I'll be sure to tell the guys on the Point at Cape Hatteras. The ones throwing 8 ounces of lead plus a chunk of mullet out into the dark as far as they can for trophy red drum. 

 

I love those retail marketing folks.    

 

edited to add a pic of the all tackle world record red drum/channel bass/redfish/etc caught at Avon, about 8 miles north of The Point near the Hatteras lighthouse. It took him an hour to get it on the beach. 11/7/84.

94 pounds 2 oz. 

 

(My wife wants to go down for the week after Christmas. Twist my arm.)

 

 

 

Edited December 5, 2020 by Johnbt

[NoShoes]

I’ve been using tatsu as a leader for months. Muuuuuch cheaper than blue label. Performed great. 

[J Francho]

I use Tatsu and Invisx as mainline. I typically use Blue Label leader, but I have some 8# Gold Label to try out this winter on DD steelhead. If it works on them, it'll be fine for bass. 

[Maxximus Redneckus]

So as are rods lures  reels and line ..now lets throw in 4 diff lines for one reel...one for a great knot to the reel lets says 10 yrds of line for a reel knot 20$ speciality line 100 yrds of main line 50$ 10 more yrds of a non stretch  line 30$ and lets add a tippet of 3 ft 10$...now we sll set nothing gets away LOL

[roadwarrior]

I only add leader if I am spooling braided mainline. 

[Michigander]

10 hours ago, Maxximus Redneckus said:

So as are rods lures  reels and line ..now lets throw in 4 diff lines for one reel...one for a great knot to the reel lets says 10 yrds of line for a reel knot 20$ speciality line 100 yrds of main line 50$ 10 more yrds of a non stretch  line 30$ and lets add a tippet of 3 ft 10$...now we sll set nothing gets away LOL

You forgot about backer line. ?

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Ive used a good amount of flagship leader materials and Blue Label has consistently been the strongest, thinnest, most abrasive resistant and over all best.  I really like Shinsei and HD Carbon but Blue Label is on another level as far as abrasion resistance goes.  I caught dozens of flounder and over 70 taylor blues in 5hrs tying directly to a 1/2oz Kastmaster with 8lb BL.  Didn't lose a tin and retied only once the entire time.  The other factor that makes it so good is that the 10lb and under seems to get bit as much as 4 or 6lb Sunline, Pline, or other Seaguar FCs I've used, (besides Gold Label havent used it yet.

Honestly you dont need it if your not fishing super clear water or arent going after trophy fish and need every advantage.  Its probably wouldnt be great for a running line.  It can be stiff especially in the higher lb tests.  

[Boomstick]

On 12/4/2020 at 5:27 PM, roadwarrior said:

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Seaguar_Gold_Label_Fluorocarbon_Leader_Line_25yd/descpage-SEAG.html

 

TW is not showing #4, but that is available, too.

Oh odd, I've only seen it in higher strengths, that's good to know