berkley lines - what's the difference?

[Guest avid]

The top three berkley lines seem to be xl, xt, and big game.

what makes berkely big game different from XL or XT.  I am particularly interested in the amount of stretch each one seems to have.

[dodgeguy]

from what i have read big game has less stretch than either of the other 2.xl is stretchy and limp and good on spinning rods.big game is underated and generally breaks way above it's rated pound test.big game stinks on spinning.it's great on casting rods.it's highly abrasion resistant.i used it for 2 seasons and liked it.i am considering going back to it because it is less visible than braid.

[Catt]

It hard to find a comparison test that is not bias; Berkley will not say which is better in any way shape or form.

[jdw174]

If I remember correctly, XL is the most limp of the three and the best on spinning reels.  XT is somewhat stiffer and more abraision resistant.  BigGame is the strongest of the lot.  Lots of people use that for flipping or working the really thick stuff.

[Raul]

I have used the 3 Avid:

XL.- limp, low memory, casts beautifully, it stretches but doesn 't withstand abrassion, not good for places where there 's lots of rocks and timber.

XT.- as long as you don 't go over 12 pounds is quite limp but over 12 lbs it begins to behave like wire ( lots of memory ), casts very well, stretches a lot less than XL, very abrassion resistant good for places where there 's lots of rocks and timber.

Big Game.- it 's not a freshwater line, it 's original purpose is for saltwater purpose, 10 pounds is limp, 12 pounds it 's a lot less limp, over 12 lbs it becomes a wire, casts like XT, very abrassion resistant, low stretch.

[HomersTomaco]

Dodgeguy is wrong here. Big Game is designed for BIG fish.  It had a lot of stretch to absorb shock from big fish strikes and unpredictable runs, ie saltwater, salmon steelhead etc.  Remember stretch isn't necessarily a bad thing is lines depending on what your using it for.

mktrout

[dodgeguy]

this article proves it does not have a lot of stretch for a mono line.

http://pages.videotron.com/fishing/estretch.htm

[HomersTomaco]

actually all this proves is some guy wrote something on a website. Do you want me to post a chart on the web too? I can have it up in 3 minutes with whatever I want it to say.  The whole concept behind big game is to absorb shock from big fish.

[cart7t]

actually all this proves is some guy wrote something on a website. Do you want me to post a chart on the web too? I can have it up in 3 minutes with whatever I want it to say.  The whole concept behind big game is to absorb shock from big fish.

Actually it looks like he took the time to actually test all those lines.  His methodology seems pretty fair and consistant across the board.  What I found interesting was that the fusion style lines stretched the least.  

I have no idea what his experience is in testing procedures but he seems to have created a pretty decent chart for comparison. I would've love to have seen a second chart with the stretch factor after the lines had soaked in water.  That page is bookmarked.

[dodgeguy]

actually all this proves is some guy wrote something on a website. Do you want me to post a chart on the web too? I can have it up in 3 minutes with whatever I want it to say. The whole concept behind big game is to absorb shock from big fish.

absorbing shock without breaking doesn't mean it has to stretch like a rubberband.you post up opinions all the time without a shread of proof.at least this study was done with a total explanation of how it was done and how the conclusions were drawn.if you want to dispute the conclusions then do a study and post it.