BASSclary's P-Line CXX Review.

[BASSclary]

Info: 12# P-Line CXX Moss Green // BPS Carbonlite // Shimano Crucial 7' M/XF

Appearance - 7/10 : P-Line sure did a nice job making the packaging on the spool look good. The snazzy red and white P-Line logo, the very futuristic CXX stamp with the line going behind it really got my attention. They really nailed the style of being subtle, but with a little aggressiveness in the design. But what I want to know is who thought of moss green? I mean, I personally think this is the ugliest color line i've seen. Yes, I know CXX comes in different colors, but the only one most places seem to carry is Moss Green. Oh well.

First Impression - 8/10 : When I first got the line home, I took the line out of the box and soaked the spool in warm water based on a recommendation by J Francho to remove the slickness of the line. Once I took the line out of its nice little bath, I noticed it had a notch in it to hold the line like Seagaur of Sufix, and also had a Quality Inspected sticker to hold it in place. Although, I much prefer the Seaguar/Sufix design of it. The next thing I noticed was that the line was put on the spool very sloppily and poorly, worse than Trilene does. Needless to say in the first 4 ft I pulled out there was a small kink in the line already. I've been spoiled by the winding technology of brands like Seagaur and Sufix.

But that's not a big deal to me, just little preferences.

Spooling up/ First casts - 9.5/10 : Spooling up this line was by far very very pleasing. It layed on the spool very nicely for 12# line, and with a 1/4 ounce Practice casting plug, I was making effortless casts in the yard with the line going through the guides very smoothly and straight. No complaints from me here! So I decided to take it to the lake.

Initial Performance - 7/10 : I was thoroughly pleased with the initial performance of CXX. I gave it a good sensitivity test while light t-rigging around some fallen timber. Sensitivity was decent, it felt in-between Fluoro and mono, but closer to fluoro. For 8$ a spool, it was pretty good. The line was extremely abrasion resistant, I was fishing in some heavy timber, and not once broke off from abrazed line. The line seemed to blend in with the water well, but that can depend on your body of water. However, I did have some mysterious breakoffs I don't normally have. I was working a cranks over a dirt bottom and my line just broke. No pressure, no kink, and i didn't snag because my crank just floated right up. Lucky it was only about 20 ft. out so I snagged it with a Pop-R. Also, I lost a good jig because it randomly broke on a cast. I was constantly checking the line for nicks and abrasion, but didn't feel/see any, so I know it wasn't abrasion. I don't have a lot of lures, so un-explained break-offs are a big NO-NO. However, the line didn't develop much, if any, memory. All things considered, it was in my eyes, a decent line for the price.

Lasting Performance - 3/10 : After three days since the initial spooling up, I found this line to be unfishable. I even let the line soak in KVD L&L overnight, and when I got to the lake I was thoroughly disappointed. The line came off my spool like a Slinky and stayed that way all day, even when tossing a high resistance spinnerbait, and a crankbait. I tried to manage fishing for the next few hours, but it was very tough because I was limited in what baits I could throw with this slinky they call CXX. If I tried to throw anything under 3/4 ounce, even with the breaks all the way on, I would get backlashes, although they weren't bad enough to kink the line. Before I left the lake, I recycled it. This line was a waste of my time and money, because I would basically have to respool every fishing trip. While unraveling my spool, I noticed the line had almost, Bamboo-ish segments all the way to the spool. They weren't there when I spooled up my reel. Hmm, must have been me I guess :-?. The other thing that got me was that this time had LINE TWIST LIKE CRAZYY!!!! And im fishing this on a BAITCASTER?? :-? The twist was so bad, it was as if a kid just kept reeling on a spinning reel, while the drag was going out. It was horrible!

However, I may have gotten a bad spool when I got it at BPS, so I picked up another fresh spool, of the same 12#. However, I got the same results. Instant memory. I get less memory with Fluorocarbon line But, I tried to fish it up until today, when I've become fed up with this line and i've had enough of this line. I cut it all off and threw it in the recycling bin.

Conclusion : I will give this line a final score of 5/10. It was good for the first day of fishing, but after a couple days of sitting, it needs to be respooled. But, for the first day it had decent sensitivity and superb abrasion resistance. It has put a bad taste in my mouth for co-polymer lines, but I will try others like Yo-Zuri and Sunline Machine gun. I would take SpiderWire over this stuff. Overall, I've been let down by P-Line and I've been disappointed with CXX. I hope nobody else had this experience with CXX, But I wont be buying it again. I'm going back to Fluoro.

[Red]

I find this interesting.  I can't speak for 12lb but I have been using the 10lb for a couple months now with zero issues.  I have actually been quite impressed.  I use it on my crankin set up which is a 7' ML Excel with a Revo S-L.  This is the only set up I use without braid, and I will continue to use CXX until I have a reason not too.  Good stuff in my opinion.

Cliff

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I find this interesting. I can't speak for 12lb but I have been using the 10lb for a couple months now with zero issues. I have actually been quite impressed. I use it on my crankin set up which is a 7' ML Excel with a Revo S-L. This is the only set up I use without braid, and I will continue to use CXX until I have a reason not too. Good stuff in my opinion.

Cliff

I'm with you on this on Cliff.

I'd be willing to bet on user error as some of the issue. 

[B-Dozer]

Great review. I have read other reports stating how good P-Line is, went out and bought some, didn't like it at all. Maybe it's a quality control issue? Might be better in warmer temps.

[BASSclary]

Hmmm, Maybe it has something to do with cooler weather, because I hadn't tried it until about the beginning of October.

I was shocked at my results because I've heard great things about it.

[B-Dozer]

Could be the weather, I tried it in cooler weather when bass are finicky, and my biggest complaint was the slinky syndrome. But I also wonder about quality control. I had one spool of powerpro that had no strength at all. I generally like PP.  :-?

[BASSclary]

Maybe i'll try it again in the spring, when the weather starts to warm again.

[Grey Wolf]

Opinions are needed but you have to be smart enough to sift through the pro's and con's and make your own decision.

[Nibbles]

I suggest trying 10#.

I have it on one of my Alphas and I throw 1/4 oz jigs and 1/8 oz. shaky head rigs with it. In fact, I can skip 3/8 oz. arky heads all day with it without ever backlashing. 1/4 not as consistent, but still, the line performs quite well.

The 10# has a breaking strength of some 20+ lbs, so strength is not really an issue.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Personally, I am a huge fan of CXX, I feel that the positives out weigh the negatives.  There are some manageability issues but I never felt that it effected performance.  I find that about 6 long casts allow your line to get wet and relaxes the coiling.  I've used KVD L&L on it and absolutely hate it, it makes the line feel stiff and brittle when it drys.  The absolute brute strength of it makes it a very good line for me when fishing cranks and such in brush.  If you are picky about line management, you're gonna hate CXX, I find it no less manageable than BPS FC or Seaguar Red Label.

[grimlin]

12# test coils like a slinky? Try 17# test some day...LOL

I have 17# test on my heavy jig rod for around heavy weeds and timber.If there was a plug for the lake I bet I could sang that plug and drain the entire lake out.

P.S. you got to keep that line tight,You were letting the line wrap back up too loosely.Only reason why I'm saying this is because i notice on the end you started having problems with it.If you stretch out the line it a little bit it'll also help on the slinky problem you were having.

I also use 6# test on my spinning rig..it has performed flawlessly for me. I will definitely be using it again next year.

[B-Dozer]

Everybody has a different opinion, that's why they make so many different lines. If your into flyfishing, the line choices will make you dizzy

[BASSclary]

12# test coils like a slinky? Try 17# test some day...LOL

I have 17# test on my heavy jig rod for around heavy weeds and timber.If there was a plug for the lake I bet I could sang that plug and drain the entire lake out.

P.S. you got to keep that line tight,You were letting the line wrap back up too loosely.Only reason why I'm saying this is because i notice on the end you started having problems with it.If you stretch out the line it a little bit it'll also help on the slinky problem you were having.

I also use 6# test on my spinning rig..it has performed flawlessly for me. I will definitely be using it again next year.

I'll have to try that when the weather gets warmer.

[Craiger12]

Absolutely no issues with CXX on casting gear in 12lb or less. Pros by far outweigh the cons as far as I'm concerned.

[NorcalBassin]

Although my experience has been different than yours, I have to give you props for taking the time to write up such a detailed review. Nice job!

By the way... 6 weeks for 535 posts and that sweet spinnerbait.

;D ;D ;D

[fourbizz]

I use 30lb CXX on several of my casting rods. Wouldnt use anything else. I have tried dozens of other lines for these applications and hated them all. CXX is the deal.

[K_Mac]

CXX is my current favorite. It works well for me. My wife likes it as well.

[B-Dozer]

Maybe I had a bad spool, but BPS Fluorocarbon curled less for me :-?

[Slipknot6]

Not an argument here, but i've used 15lb cxx exclusively for all spinnerbaits and chatterbaits the last 2 years and i am in LOVE with it!  Will be trying 17lb for pitching this year.

[philsoreel]

BASSclary- I personally think it's a quality control issue. Other than the line twist I've had roughly the same problems with Fluoroclear and CXX on two occasions. I've bought several spools of each and had a "bad spool" of each. Both are decent lines but I feel like like CX Premium is their best line. I've yet to find a ***** in the armor of this line.

BTW- I agree, Moss Green looks like baby poop and snot mixed up and cured.

[trevor]

Personally, I am a huge fan of CXX, I feel that the positives out weigh the negatives. There are some manageability issues but I never felt that it effected performance. I find that about 6 long casts allow your line to get wet and relaxes the coiling. I've used KVD L&L on it and absolutely hate it, it makes the line feel stiff and brittle when it drys. The absolute brute strength of it makes it a very good line for me when fishing cranks and such in brush. If you are picky about line management, you're gonna hate CXX, I find it no less manageable than BPS FC or Seaguar Red Label.

Give Line Butter a try.

[BASSclary]

Next time I hit BPS ill see if they have any Line Butter

[philsoreel]

Personally, I am a huge fan of CXX, I feel that the positives out weigh the negatives. There are some manageability issues but I never felt that it effected performance. I find that about 6 long casts allow your line to get wet and relaxes the coiling. I've used KVD L&L on it and absolutely hate it, it makes the line feel stiff and brittle when it drys. The absolute brute strength of it makes it a very good line for me when fishing cranks and such in brush. If you are picky about line management, you're gonna hate CXX, I find it no less manageable than BPS FC or Seaguar Red Label.

Give Line Butter a try.

X2 By far superior to L&L in my book. I don't know the chemical make-up but I don't think it has any petroleum-based products like alot of other conditioners. Doesn't weaken the line.

[Fishes in trees]

I'm with BASSclary on this one.  Over the past few years I've tried several different weights of P Line (Mostly 17)  That stuff is wretched.  Kinks - backlashes easily - difficult to manage etc.  I was going to throw it away, but I've got a buddy whose wife is an arts & crafts geek and now she is using it to make mobiles.  Apparently it works OK for that purpose.

I don't know, maybe it just doesn't like me, but I got rid of every spool I had.

[roadwarrior]

Thanks for a very detailed and interesting report. I fished P-Line

for several years and encountered the same issues, especially with

higher pound test line in cold weather.

8-)