Trilene XL

[Bud]

    Went fishing with a friend and forum member who had both of his BC spooled with Trilene XL in 14 #.  On one occasion he hung a big Catfish and it broke off.  The line broke not the knot.  On the other occasion he hung a bass about 5 or 6 pound and again the line broke not the knot.   This was new line put on the reel the night before.  The Hook set was not a Bill Dance hookset and the reel drag was set correct and the line just gave away.

     I have caught several  hundred fish both bass and other spices and never had my line break with Yo-Zuri in 6# or my Sunline Defier in 12#.   I have had knots break but not the main line.

     Their are several members who use Trilene XL and love it.  I just wonder what happen to the line???  Other than something being wrong with the line.   Anyone care to give a guess ?????  

[roadwarrior]

Nylon monofilament can get "old" even when it's brand new.

The most probable answer is that it was a bad batch of line which Berkley is notorious for among many (all) product lines.

Another possibility is that there is a nick in one of the rod guides. These will cut a line, particularly if it happens to be the tip top.

[RoLo]

Another possibility is that there is a nick in one of the rod guides. These will cut a line, particularly if it happens to be the tip top.

That's an excellent possibility!

Nothing can insult a fisherman (again & again) like a little ding in the bottom edge of the tip-top guide :-[

Roger

[Marty]

Either a bad batch or something weakening the line that he isn't aware of. I've used Trilene XL in various sizes for 35 years and have never experienced breakage problems.

[Triton9]

i have know lots of people that have this problem with trilene in general.  i just think its not as much of a quality line, thats why after i used all the trilene lines and had the same problem, i never used trilene again.

[FishTank]

I have also used Trilene for years and it has been, up to the past year or two, very reliable.  But for some reason the past three spools have been breaking.  I had some 8, 10 and I think it was 14 lb and all three had various problems.  I ended up pitching them.   I have been using P-Line Flouclear but I since I have been using Trilene for so long I might try it again.  I might try the new stuff (Maxx) they got.   I think it's supposed to be a combination of XL and XT.  Has anybody used this yet?

[Craw]

I'm not looking to step on anyone's toes here, having said that...I prefer Trilene in XT or Big Game. The XL has not been good to me and I find that it is less resistant to abrasion than any line I've ever used. It does however, handle beautifully on spinning gear. The XT and Big Game are for my baitcasting equipment only and I wouldn't recommend them for spinning.

If the friend in question does have a problem with his tip guide then he will continue to have problem after problem until this is remedied. I would check each guide with the Q-Tip test. Also, He might want to check the reels line guide on the level wind for nicks and abrasions, this also can cause similar problems.

[FishTank]

OK I play dumb.  What's the Q tip test?

[patbfishing123]

For all of my baitcastors 12 # Trilene has been the only line i have ever used and will ever use, i have never had a problem with it.  It is strong and holds the best knot that ive have seen.  I used to use only spinning reels and I used various lines such as stren and eagle claw, but trilene is by far the best I have used.  GOOD LUCK!

[mike bat]

i have used it in the past and really liked it .... but i had some trouble with break offs i also was usein 14lb .... so i asked around and found out they switched the fourilma .... and the new one was said to be not as strong as the old ... since then i switched to xt and really like xt .... but if i need that limp mono ill go red cast every time ,,, to me it is xl but red

[RoLo]

OK I play dumb. What's the Q tip test?

Run a Q-Tip swab through the guide, and you can easily feel

a slight ding or knick as the cotton will hang-up on any bad spot.

Roger