Braids, braids, braids - so much confusion???

[Oldbritguy]

I'm getting really confused when looking to upgrade my reels and lines this year. In particular with the huge variety of 'braid' lines out there. Last time I bought any line was a few years ago ( fruit farming leaves little time for serious bass fishing). At that time there were only two varieties just out on the market: Spiderwire and Fireline. Now there are literally dozens of brands, and varieties on the shelves.

Are there any definitive and honest reviews of braid lines: characteristics, performance, price, etc. etc. that would help a dumbo like me to make a suitable choice for various uses and conditons? I can't afford to buy them all, and dont have the time to experiment, either.

Would appreciate any help here. . .

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

I have used a variety of braids and my preference is Power Pro in green, usually 20-30 lb. Some prefer higher test but I have not seen a need for it myself yet.

there was a write up in Bassmaster a month or two ago but I cannot find it online... i will get back to you with that link if/when I find it.

[Big Bait Fishing]

i use Spectra lines ( i know they are supposedly classified the same as dyneema ) and really like Power pro , Izorline spectrex , and P-line spectra braid . they just hold up better and don't bleed color on to everything as some do . if you only want to have to purchase just one braid and want a very good one , get some power pro in 30 lb. and you should be good . if you plan on using it for heavy cover , try 50 lb. , for fishing water with some grass and wood structure , the 30 lb. braid should suffice . i actually use 30 lb. for frog fishing !!! hope this helped ....

[bwell]

I use Power Pro myself...

I started out using 30# on my baitcasters, and all that did was dig into the spool, and lost some lures that way...  I went up to 50-65# and I havent has that problem since...  If I were you I would go 50-65# for any baitcaster setup, and 20# for spinning.

[trevor]

Power Pro, or even better Jerry Brown Line One

[Marty]

Braided lines are not alone as far as offering fishermen a daunting choice. I'm not aware of reviews of the type you're looking for.

Most braids share some properties, such as small diameter, little to no stretch, great abrasion resistance to wood and weeds and little to no twist. And, of course, you can do price comparisons on any retailer's site that handles numerous brands.

I'd advise you to search or scan this sub-forum for braid threads, see what people are saying and buy something that generates mostly positive comments. In the end the choice will be somewhat arbitrary, as, unfortunately, Consumer Reports doesn't do fishing products.

I use Power Pro. That was an arbitrary choice, but I've stuck with it because it does what I want it to do. The only other one I've tried is Tuf-Line XP and that handled terribly on my spinning equipment.

[Bassin for Walleye]

I really like the PowerPro braid. It is very strong, sensitive, I can't say anything bad about it. Well okay, there is one problem I had. The line I had was a whole summer old and was loosing it's color and I had a crankbait on my spinning rod trying to get it as far away from shore as possible and I really gave the rod a snap and my line fell slack to the water and my lure was just about to the other side of the river  > . I believe it was either 12-15 pound test but never had a problem until I snapped the line so hard. I have 30 pound on one of my baitcaster and have never had that problem so just be careful with the lighter line.

[eyedabassman]

You can't go wrong with Sufix or Power Pro!!

[swilly78]

suffix performance braid 30# for my casting rigs.  Power pro 20# for my spinning rigs.

[dodgeguy]

http://tackletour.com/reviewpremiumbraidroundup.html

powerpro is outdated.there are a bunch of braids out that blow it away.i personally like fireline braid (not fused fireline).

[Hammer 4]

Well, I'm the odd one..I use Diawa Samuri braid..have tried others. The thing that sets the samuri apart, is it is Very limp, but strong. There's no wax on this line, and it cast's a mile, well not really, but further than any other line I've tried. The 55lb has the same diameter as 10 lb mono. And a simple palomar knot works great. Cost's a bit more than others, except maybe Blackwater, but well worth it imho.

[David P]

I use Power Pro myself...

I started out using 30# on my baitcasters, and all that did was dig into the spool, and lost some lures that way... I went up to 50-65# and I havent has that problem since... If I were you I would go 50-65# for any baitcaster setup, and 20# for spinning.

This is what I try to tell a lot of people happens, but many guys seem to not care.

Not only is digging into the spool an issue, but if 50lb braid is equal to 12lb mono (which is still pretty thin) why not give yourself that extra strength. I personally use 65 and 80 and don't use 50 at all anymore, but I can't see why there is a use for below 50 aside from on spinning gear. There is no memory no matter what size you go to, my 80lb braid has less memory then 6lb fluorocarbon.

If fish are line shy, then use an 8lb fluoro leader on your 50lb braid.

 

Just make sure when you put braided line on, you put backing ( Some guys like thicker electrical tape stuff ) I prefer to just spool on a few layers of 12-15lb mono then tie that to the braid and spool it up.

[roadwarrior]

Well, if you fish where you occasionally need

to be able to break your line, 50/12 is a much

better choice!

8-)

[Fishing Rhino]

I read the reviews two years ago.  Sufix was rated the highest at BPS, according to customer reviews.

Expensive, but what the heck,  until I got a few more combos.  I tried the spiderwire, and it was ok.  Not quite as nice as the Sufix, but it worked.

Last year I tried the PowerPro, and really liked it.  it seemed quieter going through the guides, but what cinched it for me was the colors.

10 pound test - red, 15 pound test - yellow, twenty pound test - green. 

[rubba bubba]

http://tackletour.com/reviewpremiumbraidroundup.html

They used the Alberto knot for their fluoro leader - sweet.

[fishinflip415]

You can't go wrong with Sufix or Power Pro!!

Yup can't go wrong with either of these! 8-)

[bear7625]

Every year I would try a different braid for fear of missing out on a better product. Since I started using PowerPro, I stopped searching.

[RedhookRR]

So does Fireline Fuse suck that bad?

[Marty]

So does Fireline Fuse suck that bad?

That was my first superline. The only thing I didn't care for was that I couldn't get the casting distance with my spinning reel that I thought I should. The line just didn't flow off the spool as smoothly as I thought it should.

Otherwise, it was fine. Never had any breakage and it was great at abrasion resistance.

[esoxangler]

I have used power pro for awhile now and really like it. However, I will spool up at least one reel with Fireline braid, just to do a comparison. As far as digging into a spool, I have never had an issue, but that might be because I always put on a mono backer first, then the braid.

[David P]

I've been looking for a white braid to replace my Power Pro, maybe I'll give the Izorline stuff a try.

[RoLo]

I've used PowerPro for a couple seasons, and really liked it....that is, until I didn't like it anymore (bad batch).

I've tried Sufix, but wasn't happy with the way it handles.

Today we use nothing but Berkley Fireline Tracer Braid, it's all I'd ever ask of a line and more.

I prefer 30-lb test for most chores, which is only 0.002" thicker than 20-lb braid.

It's as thin as 8-lb nylon mono, yet it's not prone to wind-knots or line-burrowing

and is more abrasion-resistant than lighter braid.

Roger

[DINK WHISPERER]

FireLine braid is by far the best braid right now. I have tried just about all of them too.

[Hammer 4]

Dink, have you tried Diawa Samuri braid..?

[BassThumb]

I had a bad batch of scuffed up Fireline Braid last year. It was scuffed every 5 yards as if I had a cracked guide. I'll give it a try again this year because I like the smoothness over PowerPro, and that it's quieter going thru the guides. There's nothing wrong with PowerPro though, it's terrific line, but like anything, someday it will be surpassed in quality. I caught and landed a 50-52" muskie on the 15/4 two years ago while fishing smallies on the Mississippi, so I'm sold on PP for life. ;D