Seaguar Smackdown Issue, user error, bad spool, or freak accident

[Firstoutfisher]

A week ago I spooled up some 10lb flash green seaguar smackdown on my new spinning combo. I spent a couple days testing different leader connection knots. I noticed right away that when tying knots the braid seemed to seperate, where you could see very fine individual strands. Usually close to where the knot was being tied. I thought to myself it must be an isolated thing and cut away that section of braid and moved on.

 

After I finally got a setup I was happy with I went out and fished the combo over two days for about an hour at a time. The line was very slick and limp and cast like an absolute dream. I went out tonight just to a little cove of open water to test some new topwater baits I got. I made a handful of casts, my lure got hit but I didn't hook up. I quickly reeled back in to cast to the same spot and as I casted my lure went flying through the air.

 

Upon inspecting my rod, reel and line for damage I noticed the braid appeared to be coming undone. The individual strands were seperated and it was coiling on itself, like the outside of a shoelace when it bunches up and separated from its cores. I would say a good 10 meters of line had come undone like this and bunched up on my third guide. I cut away the seemingly ruined section of line and went for a very cold swim to retrieve my lure. After I got home I inspected the line more closely and the section that came unraveled was a very pale green, almost a greenish off white compared to the fluro green on the rest of my spool. Prior to this the line was bright green like the rest of it.

 

A quick google search and I found another user that had a similar issue on bass resource except with stealth gray. Looks like that user also purchased their line from tacklewarehouse. Mine obviously wasn't from the same batch but it has me wondering. Did I just get a spool of line from a bad batch? Did I do something incorrectly that could have caused this? Or was it just a freak accident? 

 

I'm not sure but I do know one thing, as nice as this line casts,feels and looks I have zero confidence in the line that is spooled on my reel right now. I am going to contact seaguar customer service and tacklewarehouse and see what they say. I doubt I will be able to get a replacement spool since I purchased it during black friday last year, lol. Anyway just wanted to throw this here to see if anyone else has had a similar experience. Or maybe troubleshoot what I could have possibly done wrong.

 

I tried my best to photograph a section of line next to the spool to illustrate what I am talking about but its almost impossible to see in the picture. Also attached a picture of the label so you can see it is indeed legitimate  seaguar line.

[jimmyjoe]

  A couple of years ago, I had a spool of Daiwa J-braid that did the same thing, only worse.  I have no idea how to avoid it, because I have no idea what causes it.   ?                 jj

 

[Firstoutfisher]

22 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

  A couple of years ago, I had a spool of Daiwa J-braid that did the same thing, only worse.  I have no idea how to avoid it, because I have no idea what causes it.   ?                 jj

 

Careful, my other line if choice is J braid grand, was just about to buy a spool of it to replace this. ?

[WRB]

Seaguar is a top quality product so it’s a anomaly to get bad product. Not trying to disparage Smack Down braid but I didn’t have good experience with it. The fact I rarely use braid I went with Smack Down for strike indications using spinning tackle for 5” Senko this spring. Took it off and replaced with Fins Sling Braid, smaller diameter per lb test and very good knot strength.

Tom

[JustJames]

Maybe you don’t use enough wraps on your connection knot?

All braid with multiple strand will show sign at the end line. Depends on how tight it weaves or fused, some braid I can separate strand way above that and most will show sign of frayed after good used.  

with such small and slick line I will use extra wraps on the knot.

I use double uni knot, most of 10lb braid I use 6-8 wraps pull really tight before trim the line. Power Pro super slick and Nanofil will get more wraps since it smoother than other line.

Jbraid I don’t like it in small diameter (10-15lb) a lot of tip wrap, harder to deal with wind knot and more buoyancy than other. Never have experience with Smackdown, but I like Sufix 832 and PP original as my go to for smaller braid.

[Firstoutfisher]

On 10/23/2021 at 10:25 AM, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Maybe you don’t use enough wraps on your connection knot?

All braid with multiple strand will show sign at the end line. Depends on how tight it weaves or fused, some braid I can separate strand way above that and most will show sign of frayed after good used.  

with such small and slick line I will use extra wraps on the knot.

I use double uni knot, most of 10lb braid I use 6-8 wraps pull really tight before trim the line. Power Pro super slick and Nanofil will get more wraps since it smoother than other line.

Jbraid I don’t like it in small diameter (10-15lb) a lot of tip wrap, harder to deal with wind knot and more buoyancy than other. Never have experience with Smackdown, but I like Sufix 832 and PP original as my go to for smaller braid.

I don't believe it is related to my leader knot whatsoever because where the problem occured was nowhere near my leader knot and leader knot was intact. 

Just an update,didn't hear back from seaguar or tacklewarehouse either one. I am assuming maybe because theyre extremely busy or because it has been so long since I placed my order. 

 

Anyway before stripping the brand new line off my reel I decided to retie a lure, this time I tied direct to braid with a palomar knot. I could immediately see the change in color of the line near my knot and upon further inspection with out even casting it I could see the individual strands seperating 1-2" above my knot. After about 30 minutes of casting the exactly same thing happened. The line came unraveled and bunched up and caused a huge mess. 

 

Never have had any issues with any of the other braids I have used. I am sure this is quality line and I just got a bad batch but it left a sour taste in my mouth and I will be going back to daiwa braid or switching to something else.