Seaguar Tatsu and Smack Down

[WRB]

After a few trips this year I agree Tatsu FC is excellent line.

Smack down not so good. Poor casting and sticky coming off the spool. Braid with leader deadens feedback compared to straight mono or FC. Getting rid of braid with leaders.

Tom

[diehardbassfishing]

Same here. I like the freedom from one less rigging complication. I believe you also made the (very good) point of stretch not being a very big problem with sensitivity using straight FC. Sure it has a lot more stretch than braid, but how much stretch occurs when dragging a 1/4 oz weighted T-rig along a lake bottom. Very very very little.

 

Now stretch around a hook-up is another story. It's a different discussion.

 

Yes - simply fishing with a spool full of FC is a very good option for more than one reason!

 

 

Karl

 

[Michigander]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

After a few trips this year I agree Tatsu FC is excellent line.

Smack down not so good. Poor casting and sticky coming off the spool. Braid with leader deadens feedback compared to straight mono or FC. Getting rid of braid with leaders.

Tom

Smackdown on a bait caster left much to be desired but it's excellent on a spinning reel in my opinion.

[Bluebasser86]

Sticky coming off the spool? That's the opposite of the experience I've had with it. It's very slick and explodes off the spool on the reels I have it on. It's great on spinning reels also. I don't use a leader on casting gear with braid ever though, not sure if that's causing any of the issues you're having.

[TcRoc]

I still haven't placed a order as I want to try some different braid, Currently using 15lb PP to leader for finesse spinning, 30lb 832 and 50lb PP on casting gear. It's like a coin toss lol, give Smackdown a try or Daiwa Samurai. I'm sure I'll end up trying both.

[Michigander]

10 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Sticky coming off the spool? That's the opposite of the experience I've had with it. It's very slick and explodes off the spool on the reels I have it on. It's great on spinning reels also. I don't use a leader on casting gear with braid ever though, not sure if that's causing any of the issues you're having.

I've experienced the stickiness too but only on a bait caster when pitching. The line sticks to itself and robs momentum from the pitch. 

[Glenn]

Strange. Never heard of this before.  Keri and I been using Smackdown for years on baitcasters - specifically for pitching - without any issues at all.  I have 100's of hours of video footage to prove it.

 

Not saying you're lying. But rather it may be something you're doing with it that's causing it. Maybe how/where it's stored, or using a certain type/brand of leader, or...?  

 

fyi, I don't use leader. So maybe that's why.

[jimmyjoe]

   Could this "stickiness" be caused by the particular diameter of line on the particular spool used? Perhaps it is the precourser to line dig-in, just not quite that bad.

   Just a thought.                     jj

[WRB]

The Sack Down was 20# bright green on 1000 and 2500 size Stractic spinning reels. Straight 5# UG copolymer cast about 25% further same rods and reels. What really surprised me was the lack of bottom contact feed back, couldn’t feel anything in a slight wind 20-30’ of water, 1/8-3/16 oz drop shot and slip shot rigs. Had to to 1/4-3/8 oz weights. I guess it takes more weight to straighten the line slack.

Tom

[Dens228]

I recently spooled two of my baitcasters with 30 lb smackdown.  I hadn't casted it yet so after readying this I went out in the yard and heaved away.  Long casts, short casts, pitched..........all with a 3/8 oz jig.  No perceived issues yet....seemed smooth as butter coming off the spool. 

[Diggy]

I need to try Tatsu. I am waiting for Academy to restock or the BPS sale to put it on another reel. I keep hearing how good it is. I have recently received 20lb shooter "marionette special" and 20lb sniper that I will be spooling up shortly. I can compare them and see what I like.

 

I used to be a hardcore braid guy, which is still on the majority of my reels, but I have fallen in love with straight fluoro on my bottom contact setups. I seem to get more feel/feedback when comparing higher end magnesium reels spooled with braid and fluoro on the same rod. I am just going up to higher poundage fluoro on certain reels.

[jimmyjoe]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

I guess it takes more weight to straighten the line slack.

 

   FWIW, that's exactly what I have found.                       jj

[Michigander]

8 hours ago, Glenn said:

Strange. Never heard of this before.  Keri and I been using Smackdown for years on baitcasters - specifically for pitching - without any issues at all.  I have 100's of hours of video footage to prove it.

 

Not saying you're lying. But rather it may be something you're doing with it that's causing it. Maybe how/where it's stored, or using a certain type/brand of leader, or...?  

 

fyi, I don't use leader. So maybe that's why.

I've noticed it with and without leader. Not sure what would be going on, don't have this issue with the other braids I use.

8 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Could this "stickiness" be caused by the particular diameter of line on the particular spool used? Perhaps it is the precourser to line dig-in, just not quite that bad.

   Just a thought.                     jj

Hard to say but possible. Noticed this with every pound test I've used 20, 30, 40, and 50.

[TcRoc]

Guess I'll find out just ordered some 30lb

[Glenn]

9 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Could this "stickiness" be caused by the particular diameter of line on the particular spool used? Perhaps it is the precourser to line dig-in, just not quite that bad.

   Just a thought.                     jj

 

Come to think of it, I do spool my line on really tight. I don't want to be able to dig my fingernail between the line on the spool.  So it's packed on there solid.

 

I've always done it that way, regardless of type of line or brand.  I learned a long time ago that it helped with casting as well as minimized backlashes.

 

Maybe that's the difference?  Just spitballing here.

[FishTank]

Tatsu has been the best line I have ever used.   

 

I like Smackdown but I have ton of Kanzen.  Smackdown is better but until I run out of the Kanzen I will just wait.  I did notice the stickiness of Smackdown but it was short lived.  After a little use, it was gone.  I have also noticed this with other braids as well. 

[WRB]

As you may recall I put Smack Down bright color to use with weightless 5” Senko to “see” the floating line move like a strike detector. The cast for this presentation were shorter target cast maybe 60’ at most. Smack Down worked good for that. The Senko bite wasn’t there the last outing so used for slip shot with 1/8 oz weight I always start with and 3/16 oz drop shat weight rig. Keep in mind I sold 90% of my tackle, rods and reels so back seating techniques are limited. 

The tight spooled line taught only works for 1 cast with spinning reels. Bait casting I do maintain line tension during the retrieve, can’t do that with a spinning reel and work the lure. Line goes back on the spinning with only the tension of the lure and weight adds, not much.

So my problem is keeping line tight would affect any braid. I didn’t have that sticky issue with Samurai droid years ago and took everyone’s advice Smack Down was great line.

I also never experienced poor casting with Fins 60 braid on a casting reel. 

I try casting and letting several more yards on line out and reeling the braid back on through a wet cotton rage and didn’t see any difference or dye come the line.

Tom

 

 

[Big Hands]

It's interesting to see the feedback here on Smackdown braid. I have only used it on one of my baitcasters (30# - Stealth Gray) and I intend to use it on others going forward instead of whatever they have on there now. I have tried Power Pro, J-Braid 8, and Sunline SX1 among others and the Smackdown has performed the best IMHO. I can really lay into it with the baitcaster and get a lot of distance with almost no issues. It is generally easily controlled with a little thumb action in the rare instance I need to use it. I just dab my thumb on it as it strikes the water and that's it.

 

I've not tried it with my spinning reels. My spinning reels all have either 10# or 12# braid though and not 20#. I have been thinking about trying 15# - Flash Green on a spinning reel to see if the extra diameter was 'good' or 'bad' for me. I could imagine the extra visibility being very useful on a spinning reel. I'll probably try the Flash Green on a baitcaster too.

 

I don't see myself using fluoro that is as expensive as Tatsu is on my spinning reels because I do a LOT of retying on dropshot rigs due to line damage and/or breakoffs. With braid, I only lose a short piece each time I retie because I'm not losing the length of the leader each time. I can use braid like that for probably a couple of seasons whereas I would have to respool more than once per season if my main line was also my leader. Probably three times per season if I fish the dropshot as much as I did last year.

 

I usually have two rigs (medium fast spinning rods with 2500 size reels) for dropshot fishing because I do it a lot. If I had to purchase that much Tatsu, it would easily be the most expensive line item of my consumable fishing expenses, and that would be for just two setups. 

 

That said, Tatsu might provide an excellent fishing experience, but I don't see myself stimulating their bottom line for that product because it just wouldn't be sustainable. . . . for me.

[Hammer 4]

The only thing I can add is, I have 50 lb smackdown in stealth gray on my frog rod. From the get go, it cast really well. After using Diawa Samurai braid for years, I felt little difference in performance as far as casting, ect goes. I do feel that the Samurai was a bit limper than the smackdown. 

[Bandersnatch]

Love me some 40lb smackdown. Tatsu is like a rubber band, to me 

[txchaser]

@WRB you might like Fins Sling Braid. Really tightly woven. For me it is noticeably better than every other braid I've tried, with the exception of Vicious no-fade, which feels on-par. 

[WRB]

I will give Smack Down another try when the air temps warm up. It was 34 f air temps/55 f water the last trip and shouldn’t see it that cold until next late fall.

Tom

 

[Dens228]

I also have some 12 lb Tatsu I'm going to try on one of my crankbait setups.  I tried FC a few years ago and hated it.  But I'm sure I tried something cheaper.  Maybe this will change my mind about FC. 

[roadwarrior]

Seaguar Smackdown and Tatsu are my favorites by far.

 

Smackdown is smooth and uniform. I use several different test lines 

and have never had an issue.

 

Tatsu is the best line I have ever fished, period.

[Dirtyeggroll]

On 3/5/2021 at 7:19 PM, Glenn said:

 

Come to think of it, I do spool my line on really tight. I don't want to be able to dig my fingernail between the line on the spool.  So it's packed on there solid.

 

I've always done it that way, regardless of type of line or brand.  I learned a long time ago that it helped with casting as well as minimized backlashes.

 

Maybe that's the difference?  Just spitballing here.

But that really only lasts for one cast. It doesn’t go back on the spool that tight reeling it in unless you have the drag cinched down and your reeling in a big rock. 
 

 

 

I know some here are going to scoff but I find that using line conditioner on braid makes a ton of difference!

 

agree about the slack line sensitivity of braid. It’s terrible!