Line Reviews?

[N.Y. Yankee]

Looking at some online reviews of different lines for fun. I find it humorous that no matter what line you look at, you will see reviews ranging from "Greatest stuff I've ever used, I recommend it!" to "Worst crap I've ever tried! Had to throw away 3 brand new spools!" Other than this forum. Do you check gear reviews online or just try it for yourself to find out? I am mostly resigned to just coming here for the answers. I know anyone can write whatever they want on the internet, I get it, but every single thing is like that ?

[MN Fisher]

I find the people here to be much more 'honest' in their reviews. They're also much more detailed with the whys and wherefores. I've actually switched some of the lines I use based on detailed comments made here.

[jimmyjoe]

9 minutes ago, N.Y. Yankee said:

or just try it for yourself to find out?

 

   Yup, you hit the nail on the head.

   Basically, I don't trust reviews at all, whether they're good or bad. So I do what I did before the internet existed: I try it for myself and make my own decision. It's the only 100% tried-and-true method that there is. It works for line on this reel, on that reel, in the heat and in the cold, for short casters and long casters, on stiff rods and noodly rods. It works for spinning reels and for casting reels.

   And yes, it can get expensive.     $$$   ???   But if you take someone else's advice and find out that it doesn't work for you, you still spent the same amount of money anyway, didn't you?

   Sometimes the hard way is the easy way, and the easy way is the hard way.       jj

  

 

  

[Michigander]

He doesn't have a ton of line reviews but I enjoy the ones on the Tackle Advisors YouTube channel. Of the line I have used that he has reviewed, I found that I agreed with his assessment overall.

[RichF]

I find it difficult to find good reviews on anything.  Most people on youtube just read off the product details listed by the manufacturer.  That's not helpful at all.  With line in particular, I find it comical to see so many negative reviews on fluorocarbon, especially when so many of the reviewers clearly have no clue about the actual properties of it.  I would wager that over 75% of product failures are due to user error not the quality of the product itself.  I have found that it's just best to try things out for yourself.  

[roadwarrior]

20 minutes ago, RichF said:

I have found that it's just best to try things out for yourself.  

 

Well, I think most guys would like a starting point or comments from people

they trust. I'm using Tatsu, Smackdown and for treble hooks, Sunline Defier

Armilo. However, these are some suggestions for less expensive alternatives:

 

Fluorocarbon: AbrazX and InvizX

Copolymer: Yo-Zuri Hybrid, Izorline and P-Line

Monofilament:  Trilene XL

[Jigfishn10]

I'll have to agree with RW, find out from people you know and make your decision from there.

When I look at a product review I go immediately to the 1 & 2 star reviews...if anything for a good laugh.

I told this before but but wife wanted this vanity that came with a fixture and faucet, I went down to the 1 star review. That person rated it 1 star because she thought it just "slid into place". "I had to get a plumber to install it."

It's been in my bathroom for 4 years now and works great.

[RichF]

48 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Well, I think most guys would like a starting point or comments from people

they trust.

No doubt.  I'm just saying it's difficult to find solid reviews on product.  While I think BR is definitely one of the best places, you still see exactly what the OP talks about, sometimes.  Especially with line.  I think I've seen several folks say Berkley Vanish is trash, while others have praised it (or at least said it works fine).  Yo Zuri Hybrid as well.  Another example would be opposing reviews/comments on Quantum reels.  I ALWAYS try and hunt down as much info on products before I buy, especially since the vast majority of good stuff is never available for me to examine in person.  I'm just always left pretty dissatisfied by what I see, that's all.  

[J Francho]

Line is probably the most personal and deep rooted opinion you can form about fishing tackle.  I don't even bother telling people Tatsu is the best FC anymore.

[Big_Easy_Bassin]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

I find the people here to be much more 'honest' in their reviews. They're also much more detailed with the whys and wherefores. I've actually switched some of the lines I use based on detailed comments made here.

Definitely agree with @MN Fisher here. I always check the BR forums as a starting point. I feel like you get very “honest” when it comes to reviewing products. 
 

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

 

However, these are some suggestions for less expensive alternatives:

 

Fluorocarbon: AbrazX and InvizX

Copolymer: Yo-Zuri Hybrid, Izorline and P-Line

Monofilament:  Trilene XL

As usual, @roadwarrior has some great suggestions. I personally don’t use mono and I rarely use copolymers. I will use copoly (specifically Yo-Zuri Hybrid) when throwing topwater. It floats extremely well. I’ve used P-Line Flouroclear and it works well too. I normally go with 20# or 30# PowerPro with a 3-4ft leader in this situation. As far as less expensive flouro options, I have multiple reels currently spooled up with Yo-Zuri Top Knot. Best fluorocarbon for the money in my opinion. Seaguar Red Label is also a good less expensive option, but I feel like I get better castability out of the Top Knot. 

[waymont]

I would only read line reviews for a laugh. Everyone is so hyperbolic in reviews.

 

[Dens228]

I agree with the above........people seem to be the most extreme on here in their love or hate for a specific line type or brand.  Just look at the braid threads currently going on.  Somehow I've avoided all the problems that some say are unavoidable.   

I hate FC, I spent more time getting out of a casting mess than fishing.  I KNOW I didn't give it enough time......but I don't like it.   I would NEVER come on here and tell someone to not use FC because it will ALWAYS backlash.  I know that's not true.   

[GTN-NY]

I’m in the process of finding a braid and FC for the first time. I’ll admit I’m clueless so I read here a lot - according to my wife. 
I found this thread for best and worst FC. I read and took notes. I made a list of of every brand mentioned. Every time it was mentioned I put a mark next to it. Ones with most marks is my starting point

 

 

[roadwarrior]

Well, if you are using the fluorocarbon as a mainline,  I strongly recommend starting

with InvizX. This line is significantly more manageable than Red Label.  If it is just

being used as leader, the Red Label will be fine.

[NavyVet1204]

As per my thread that you have posted up there, I find the Seaguar Red Label to be very very good for its $14.99 price point. It was the second Flurocarbon that I ever tried and is amazing. My braid experience so far is very minimal. I’ve tried Power Pro and Spider wire...stealth I think it was. Both did really well for top water so I can’t really complain. There were a lot of good responses in that thread too.

 

edit: if you find yourself confused after awhile, just do what I did and buy a 150-200 yd spool of a braid and FC in the lb test that you want to try and see how it works. Ultimately you will find what works for you may not work for someone else and vice versa. 
@GTN

[Cigarguy]

I take reviews of most products with a grain of salt.  With fishing tackle it is with a bag of salt.   Too many people have a vested interest in promoting one product over another even to the point of purposely bashing another product. I respect those who come out and declare it.  With those people I am more inclined to at least listen to what they have to say. 

 

Most You Tube "reviews" are useless.  Just an unboxing while regurgitating the manufacturer's specs at best.

 

 

[RichF]

1 hour ago, Big_Easy_Bassin said:

I feel like you get very “honest” when it comes to reviewing products. 

Unfortunately, honest doesn't necessarily mean accurate.  I have no doubt that when someone on here says they had a bad experience with a particular line, they were being honest.  The problem is, there are too many other factors that could play into that "honest" review.  Experience, skill, equipment, defects in the product itself, etc.  For me, I need to take all those things into account before I could fully accept a product review or suggestion.  

[jimmyjoe]

1 minute ago, RichF said:

Unfortunately, honest doesn't necessarily mean accurate. 

 

   True. Very, very true.                         jj

[Mike L]

Just keep in mind, as in most things, especially in fishing line...

You get what you pay for. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[waymont]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

Red Label will be fine

I prefer Red label as a leader. The slightly stiffer line works better for me as a leader.

[WRB]

If I haven’t read anything current on line reviews. TT did a decent comparison between various brands of FC called line wars as I recall. TT didn’t evaluate by line diameter only advertised lb test and affects results. To me line diameter should be the baseline factor.

I like Sunline Shooter, Sniper and Armiilo products because they are reliable. Giving Tatsu another try to see if Knot and abrasion strength has improved.

Berkley Big Game is a low cost premium mono I used for decades after XT. Also recommend Maxima Ultra Green In 5 lb and 6 lb, strongest copolymer line available.

Line is your connection to the fish, choose wisely.

Tom

[Cigarguy]

I'm at the point that most any new fishing tackle is pretty good these days. It is not the tackle, it is me.  Line at the proper diameter these days are pretty darn good compared to 50 years ago.  We, as a species, have been catching fish for much longer than influencers have been around.

Edited February 5, 2021 by Cigarguy

[Big_Easy_Bassin]

48 minutes ago, RichF said:

Unfortunately, honest doesn't necessarily mean accurate.  I have no doubt that when someone on here says they had a bad experience with a particular line, they were being honest.  The problem is, there are too many other factors that could play into that "honest" review.  Experience, skill, equipment, defects in the product itself, etc.  For me, I need to take all those things into account before I could fully accept a product review or suggestion.  

Agreed

[BigAngus752]

It could be the most perfect fishing line ever created and I'd still manage to birdsnest it or break a knot.  I know this and take it into consideration when I review anything.  I try to subtract the idiot-factor from the review.  I suspect most people don't try.  That's why info from here is so much more valuable.  

[WRB]

The FC line that created real issues when introduced was Berkley Vanish, everyone has problems. Berkley replaced original Vanish with “improve” by going up in diameter per lb test. When Berkley came out with 100% FC they stayed with the 10% larger diameter per lb test then both Seaguar and Sunline. 

What amazed my is bass angler bought into “thick” line marketing.

Tom