Braided Line

SerengetiGuide

SerengetiGuide

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,

I've been doing a lot of research over the past few days about what braided line to go with this year. I know the mono and fluoro I"ll go with is P Line for sure, but for braided I'm caught between TuffLine and Spider. Just curious as to what you guys use and if you like it, we've used both before and this past season were with 100lb Tuff, but I'm also thinking of downsizing to 65lb Tuff XP as that has break point of just about 80lbs, so would be equivalent of using the 80lb test of normal braid with a lot less diameter which is a big deal as tides can really flow in some spots...suggestions from the many brilliant minds on here?!?! ;)

Thanks,
David
 
Also, am kind of worried with 65lb test that if one of my guests hooks into a 200+ hali it won't hold up...Our 80 and 100lb test did very well this year for that...
 
I don't think you would have any problem with the 65lb , I've used 50 lb although that might be a bit light.
If you're fishing deep in any kind of current the thinner line has way less drag in the water.
If the reel drag is set properly, most people would have a hard time breaking the line.
Power pro is another option ?
 
I use 50# tuff line on my downrigger rods. Never had a main line break since and have been fishing it the last two seasons. I run about 30' of 40lb mono off the end which I change about 3 or 4 times a season.
 
Ya...halibut/ling gear. I definitely want to keep my diameter as low as possible, Japanese lines like Varivas has the best diameter to strength ratio out there, but its expensive as hell, $120 for 600ft, so I ruled that out pretty quick :D
 
I did alot of research on braided lines when I was having problems on the Fraser river during sockeye. its a 25lb power pro braid that kept on snapping on me, even when i geared down to an 8 lb leader. To wrap up this part of the story, I solved the problem with using a new knot, and the spool was getting a little old so i re-spooled with the same line and havent had any problems. To continue...

In regards to my research, which included more or less going through a dozen or so fishing forum, much like this one, and reading up on all peoples first hand experiences with the braids on the market, I found that the Suffix brand (by Rapala-quickly becoming my brand of choice for many things) was by far the line that anglers were using most. It typically carrys more carrier strands (the indiv. lines that make up the braid) than competing braids (suffix 8 to others 5 or 6). the result is a softer line that is easier to cast spool and reel. Easier on the eyes. The only downside I found was when folks were fishing calmer waters with wind, casting, and the soft line would get a little windswept as they cast.

If I wasnt so damn cheap I would have re-spooled with that. Maybe not cheap, I just don't like to waste things, and the power pro still caught plenty of fish.

To further the topic, I geared up my tuna rod with 150lb Power Pro as well (because at Army Navy heavy lines were in short supply), but this was made over the other choice of 130lb tuffline. Reason being i felt the tuffline was almost twice as thick, as well it is a flat braid compaired to the powerpro rounder style, which i prefer.

Food for thought...
 
I think I have narrowed it down to Power Pro or Tuffline XP (thinner than classic tuffline), Power pro has advantage if I decide to go to 80lb test line as smaller diameter, but they have same diameter for 65lb test line...tricky decision, but any other suggestions are more than welcome. :) Also like that they both come in various colors as this willmake undoing tangles a lot quicker, meaning more rod time in the water for guests.
 
Dave-- I use PowerPro 80# with 60lb Ande leader. I have had no problems with it, but I do agree that smaller diameter would be better at depths over 250ft and if I anchored fro butts (which I dont).

It has to be a challenge, however, when you put an inexperienced angler into a big fish, and he has no idea how to handle it!!
 
Hi David

well i been messing with braid for prob for 15 yrs all though for different species

also look out for if its still about Berkley whiplash used it an awful lot for casting shock leaders and it stood up well to that

iam starting to run 100lb power pro and by passing the leader as i use longer rods 11' + and
(redone for salmon re-whipped carp rods which are 12' and i have a 13' to build up ) so a lot more bend in the rod so to say.

use double over nail knots or whipping knots if you get any slipping but even std polamor holds up not to bad, you can even super glue them but be careful....lol

and i 'll post up a pic or two of how to join heavy mono to braid or use what you trust
if your running level winds then dont worry if its flat oval or round

fixed spool reels really want to find a round section as for casting it needs to be wetted... as dry braid will produce wind knots
ie it comes off faster off the spool than going through the eyes then ends up wrapping it self usually around the butt eye.

also flat braid is more suspect to line twist

and if anyone does suffer from line twist

check out a gadget called the spin doctor used in carp fishing just for taking line twist out.


regards for now
time to do some pics and knots....lol
 
ok i'll try explain but iam way better at doing demo's

start off by doing two pass through with you mono leader line

pull it down until you get the figure of 8 don't pull it down tight yet

next step take your braid and pass it through the figure of eight in and out so when you pull the braid it go's straight see the piccy


then using a tapestry needle do a nail knot on the braid around the mono

then pull knots up using flat nose pliers don't forget lube knots with a bit of ....lol

and there you go? 50lb mono to 100lb braid

have fun
hope the pics explain things

photos 011.jpg photos 013.jpg photos 015.jpg photos 017.jpg photos 018.jpg

see next post for finished knot pics
 
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photos 019.jpg photos 020.jpg photos 022.jpg photos 024.jpg

hope these explain
tight lines All

John
 
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Suffix 832 is by far the best quality. It is a super braid, which is perfectly round so it will not bind up like tuff line and other braids. It also has Gore Tex in it, so repels water keeping your reel dry. Your decision will really come down to price point.
 
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Don't actually use leader tied in, have downrigger hook snap tied onto end of mainline. With all my jigs and spreaders I then crimp 150lb mono for about 2 or 3 ft (depending on jig) making loop that the snap "snaps" around. Makes it super quick and easy to change gear when changing which species I'm after. Just got super tired of having to retie and cut line when changing over jigs. But I do use 80lb mono for backing for a couple hundred feet on a couple of my reels so you get larger retrieval, so may still use that instead of the swivels I have holding them together now
 
I used Power Pro 80# for years without any issues. I did however change last year to 65# Power Pro last year due to availability and it worked great as well. I think I'll stay with the 65# unless threre is an issue and I agree with others that you will be hard pressed to break it any easier than 80# unless there is a major foul up? IMO
 
holmes said:
here's a tip, u can thread your DR clip line through a wine cork or foam float so if you do happen to lose the clip overboard it will float ;):)....holmes*
Click to expand...

Yep, been der dun dat after losing many clips out of sheer stupidity. Dink float material works good too and is cheaper...unless you like to drink lots of wine.:eek:
 
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