Berkley Fireline was one of the first widely available braided lines for bass fishing. Anglers were drawn to its strength, small diameter, and abrasion resistance, all the better than other lines offered. Its latest version — Fireline Ultra 8 — further distances itself from the pack.
Fireline Ultra 8 is made by twisting and thermally bonding eight strands of Dyneema® PE fibers, twice the number used in the original Fireline. The additional fibers make it rounder and smoother, allowing it to move through your rod’s line guides faster and quieter.
Fireline Ultra 8 is exceptionally strong and thin. The latter means your reel’s spool will hold more than other brands or materials of the same pound test. I found it to be highly abrasion-resistant. Berkley claims it’s four times more abrasion resistant than the original Fireline.
While Fireline Ultra 8 seems stiff out of the package, it becomes soft and flexible when wet. It delivers on Berkley’s promise of 10-percent longer casts. And if you make a lousy cast — and I’m prone to doing just that — it seems less likely to jump off your reel’s spool and create an unmanageable mess.
Fireline Ultra 8 works in many fishing situations, and it’s affordable — $19.99 to $199.99, depending on line strength and spool size — compared to other braided lines. It’s available in two colors — crystal and smoke — and 125-, 300- and 1,500-yard spools. You can choose from a wide range of break strengths: 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 14-, 17-, 20- or 30-pound test.