Power Pro is TERRIBLE!

[Chaz Hickcox]

Ok, so I have a Quantum Surge Baitcaster (It's basically the same thing as a burst but is coated with salt water anti-erosion stuff).  Its one of the burner 7:1 reels and it has been making me mad as heck for the last few months.  I cleaned the heck out of it, oiled everything, but could not get it to run smooth.  I usually use braid, and on this one I had 50# Power Pro for use in heavy cover and grass.  Anyways, I was out yesterday and lost a couple of really nice fish (one was a 24+ inch Chain Pickerel noted for being about twice the size of my Minn Kota lower unit) because I just couldn't get a good hook set due to friction.  I thought the friction was in the reel and was ready to trash the darn thing when I, for some reason, had pulled the line from by the reel in.  at that moment I felt the exact amount of friction I thought the reel was giving me.  I immediately ran my fingers up the line and felt how rough the Power Pro was.  I have Spider Wire on my other rod and felt that too.  The Power Pro felt like a band saw, whereas the spider wire is smooth and silky.  That's when I went back to the marina to see if they had any spider wire.  They didn't (only carried Power Pro Braid) so I bought some Trilene 100% Fluoro.  As soon as I had the line changed and the Quantum back in the water it ran smooth as silk, like my older Quantum.  Who would have thought line would make a difference.  Another bass landed with the Fluoro and I could tell that the friction really kicked my butt.  So, in short, if you're gonna buy braid Spider wire is the way to go.

[J Francho]

That's a new one....friction.  Where?

[Chaz Hickcox]

In the eyes of the rod apparently.  Here's a weird note though.  The rod is a Berkley Lighting Rod made specifically for superlines.  It's fine with the spiderwire.

[NewAngler]

Great. Another braid thread. In before the lock.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Once the Spiderwire gives you "friction" whatever that means, switch it Suffix and you'll be fine.  Please try to describe what you're talking about, is the line digging in and causing resistance or is it a lack of friction and is slipping?

[moby bass]

I had a problem with braid slipping on the spool.  I was not using backing and I did not have a piece of tape on the first wrap of braid on the spool. You would think that with hundreds

of wraps on the spool that would be enough friction to allow a good hookset.  Nope. The whole wad slipped and turned on the spool.

[A-Jay]

Ok, so I have a Quantum Surge Baitcaster (It's basically the same thing as a burst but is coated with salt water anti-erosion stuff). Its one of the burner 7:1 reels and it has been making me mad as heck for the last few months. I cleaned the heck out of it, oiled everything, but could not get it to run smooth. I usually use braid, and on this one I had 50# Power Pro for use in heavy cover and grass. Anyways, I was out yesterday and lost a couple of really nice fish (one was a 24+ inch Chain Pickerel noted for being about twice the size of my Minn Kota lower unit) because I just couldn't get a good hook set due to friction. I thought the friction was in the reel and was ready to trash the darn thing when I, for some reason, had pulled the line from by the reel in. at that moment I felt the exact amount of friction I thought the reel was giving me. I immediately ran my fingers up the line and felt how rough the Power Pro was. I have Spider Wire on my other rod and felt that too. The Power Pro felt like a band saw, whereas the spider wire is smooth and silky. That's when I went back to the marina to see if they had any spider wire. They didn't (only carried Power Pro Braid) so I bought some Trilene 100% Fluoro. As soon as I had the line changed and the Quantum back in the water it ran smooth as silk, like my older Quantum. Who would have thought line would make a difference. Another bass landed with the Fluoro and I could tell that the friction really kicked my butt. So, in short, if you're gonna buy braid Spider wire is the way to go.

Friction ~ Really ? I've been a faithful Power Pro user since it came out in 1997 I think. This is the first and only time I have ever heard of this strange friction phenomenon.

Sounds bad.

A-Jay

[Chaz Hickcox]

Friction - A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies or substances in contact.

Friction also means: Fr = [ch956]N

"like a bandsaw"  basically it was some serious work with the highspeed reel just to keep a constant pace with the spinner.  Much the same as if you were to drive down the road with your e-brake partially on.  Therefore making it difficult to quickly take up slack and ultimately allowing said lost fish to move faster towards me than I was reeling in, which in turn disallowed me to keep the line taught and subsequently ended in thrown hooks.  It's a different situation than you probably have been in.  "Friction" is a B*&^ my friend BigRick.  The lack thereof would be described as slipping not a friction problem.

[dave]

Complaining about the ultra sensitivity of Power Pro because it was acting like, well, Power Pro? :

Couldn't get a good hook set because of the friction?

I am cornfused.

[Chaz Hickcox]

Ok, so I have a Quantum Surge Baitcaster (It's basically the same thing as a burst but is coated with salt water anti-erosion stuff). Its one of the burner 7:1 reels and it has been making me mad as heck for the last few months. I cleaned the heck out of it, oiled everything, but could not get it to run smooth. I usually use braid, and on this one I had 50# Power Pro for use in heavy cover and grass. Anyways, I was out yesterday and lost a couple of really nice fish (one was a 24+ inch Chain Pickerel noted for being about twice the size of my Minn Kota lower unit) because I just couldn't get a good hook set due to friction. I thought the friction was in the reel and was ready to trash the darn thing when I, for some reason, had pulled the line from by the reel in. at that moment I felt the exact amount of friction I thought the reel was giving me. I immediately ran my fingers up the line and felt how rough the Power Pro was. I have Spider Wire on my other rod and felt that too. The Power Pro felt like a band saw, whereas the spider wire is smooth and silky. That's when I went back to the marina to see if they had any spider wire. They didn't (only carried Power Pro Braid) so I bought some Trilene 100% Fluoro. As soon as I had the line changed and the Quantum back in the water it ran smooth as silk, like my older Quantum. Who would have thought line would make a difference. Another bass landed with the Fluoro and I could tell that the friction really kicked my butt. So, in short, if you're gonna buy braid Spider wire is the way to go.

Friction ~ Really ? I've been a faithful Power Pro user since it came out in 1997 I think. This is the first and only time I have ever heard of this strange friction phenomenon.

Sounds bad.

A-Jay

Never heard of it either so that's why I posted this.

[Chaz Hickcox]

Complaining about the ultra sensitivity of Power Pro because it was acting like, well, Power Pro? :

Couldn't get a good hook set because of the friction?

I am cornfused.

Been using braid since 1999, I think I know what I am doing with the ultra sensitivity. Now Power Pro is new to me and its the roughest braid I've ever touched. I've used Stren, Berkley, Spiderwire, Suffix, etc... without said issue. Like I also said, I initially thought it was the reel. It could have been bad line because I spooled it in November, but I have only used it for this last month since the water became water again.

[Wayne P.]

I agree with suicidenemesis. I don't use that rough line either and I have been using superlines since the introduction of the Kelvar (pre-Spiderwire).

[Chaz Hickcox]

I agree with suicidenemesis. I don't use that rough line either and I have been using superlines since the introduction of the Kelvar (pre-Spiderwire).

Thanks Wayne.  Some people just know too much I guess, huh?

[21farms]

once, i was fishing with this guy that was fishing with braid and he was having the worst time of it. he was swearing at his line and cursing the day he bought braid. i finally had him hand his rod and reel to me and, sure enough, it acted funny with me too...sorta like the way you're describing. upon closer inspection, i discovered that when he was threading the line through the guides, he missed one of the eyes and, instead, ran the line under the eye through the guideframe. after fixing that, everything was fine. is there a possibility that's what happened with you? i've used many different brands of braid and don't see how what you described could be the fault of the line.

[mntreeman]

Snoopy, I think you pegged it!  Friction happens when the line is not running true or is hung up or is catching on something.  Check all the guides plus the flow of the line from the reel to the top guide.

[jaym137]

Are you sure your spool wasn't slipping because it was not attached to backing, or taped securely to reel spool? Although power pro isn't my favorite braid, many guys use it with no problems. If it frays excessively a bad guide may be to blame or if it was breaking easily same thing. But reeling in and not taking in enough line sounds like line slipping on the spool which would usually be caused by a drag too loose or braid slipping around the spool. Since you didn't have the problem with the Flourocarbon it's not a faulty reel. Flouro and mono don't slip like braid. Also line test and diameter come into play...if line test or diameter of braid is too small for a particular reel that can cause some difficulty casting, digging into spool and wind knots. Those are the only things I can think of that might cause what you described.

[Redsyn]

Are you sure your spool wasn't slipping because it was not attached to backing, or taped securely to reel spool? Although power pro isn't my favorite braid, many guys use it with no problems. If it frays excessively a bad guide may be to blame or if it was breaking easily same thing. But reeling in and not taking in enough line sounds like line slipping on the spool which would usually be caused by a drag too loose or braid slipping around the spool. Since you didn't have the problem with the Flourocarbon it's not a faulty reel. Flouro and mono don't slip like braid. Also line test and diameter come into play...if line test or diameter of braid is too small for a particular reel that can cause some difficulty casting, digging into spool and wind knots. Those are the only things I can think of that might cause what you described.

That was what I was thinking. If anything braid will help to make a better hookset.

[islandbass]

I know what friction is, but how exactly did it kick your butt? Also, any possible or visible signs of friction I would imagine would most likely come from the guides and the braid starts to sing during a fight. I am asking to get to bottom of your issue because it has definitely piqued my curiosity. However I'm having a hard time visualizing this friction and can't seem to get out of my head the braid slipping around the spool.

I take it that the rough feel is probably your fingers feeling the individual strands wrapped about each other. You got point there, but it hasn't been a show stopper for me personally.

Based on your experience in using braid, I would assume that  you employed either a bit of mono backing or something else to prevent the braid from slipping around the spool so I'll rule that out. Your mystery is definitely afoot!

[Grey Wolf]

S-T-R-A-N-G-E.

[trevor]

sure the line wasnt wrapped on something? like around the rod in between guides? if not, you got BIG TIME FLUKE power pro.

[DINK WHISPERER]

Should have used the new Fireline Braid.....................no probs

[bweave09]

I have some 50 pound Tuf Line because I'm too cheap for anything else, but I have always heard good things about Power Pro. I use 10 pound on a little 2' rod I have that I bought in Myrtle Beach...works like a charm.

[northern basser]

I just started using power pro.  I've been a firm believer in mono for many years.  There are three reasons I decided to try something new.  1-people raving about the "new" styles of braid.  2- I was sick of my spinning reels getting twisted line from my occasional river fishing.  I don't use my baitcasters when I'm river fishing so that wasn't an issue.  3- the excellent strength to line dia. that braid offers.  So far I've only expirienced one thing that I don't care for.  The noise it makes going through the guides.  Also, a person needs to be aware of the lack of stretch.  If your not used to it you can really "over set" the hook.  Otherwise,  I would have to say it impresses me.  More sensitivity, great strength,  less backlashes with my bait casters, less birds nests,  and lastly no twisted line.  So far so good.  Only time will tell if it completely convinces me.  Everyone has their preferences and opinions, techniques etc....  and thats the way it should be!!

[cart7t]

I know what you mean about the friction with power pro.

Since I started using it a few years ago I've grown my biceps into 20" Pythons just from cranking with that stuff all season.

[BassThumb]

once, i was fishing with this guy that was fishing with braid and he was having the worst time of it. he was swearing at his line and cursing the day he bought braid. i finally had him hand his rod and reel to me and, sure enough, it acted funny with me too...sorta like the way you're describing. upon closer inspection, i discovered that when he was threading the line through the guides, he missed one of the eyes and, instead, ran the line under the eye through the guideframe. after fixing that, everything was fine. is there a possibility that's what happened with you? i've used many different brands of braid and don't see how what you described could be the fault of the line.

Good thinking.  I've done that, and I was thoroughly confused for a few casts.

PowerPro does create some extra friction for a few hours until you break it in.  It's a little rough straight off the spool, but a terrific line overall.