[Dave Irving]

I thought it might be interesting for the membership to review some of the braids we use. Let everyone know which you think are good, bad or rubbish and why

A couple to start you off

Berkley Fireline Crystal 14lb, Ok it is white, not crystal clear. Has a relatively large diameter compared with others out there. It is a fused line rather than a true braid, so this means it has more stiffness than other braids. Good knot strength (I have bent out trebles with this stuff so it might be stronger than the stated 14lb), Casts easily, and is reasonably priced. 8/10 for me

Powerline PowerShot, Blue colour, I got the 20lb stuff, and it is THIN, having said that, it knots well, casts well. And having let it to friend to try (who doesn't fish much) so seems to be user friendily. Not as tightly braided as the X8 japanese braids, Only down side is it isn't cheap, but it is 9/10 for me.

Varivas PowerMax, grey colour, again tried the 20lb, seems slighty thinner than the powershot, it is a very tightly braided line, coated as well it seems. Casts Great, a little more backbone than the powershot in the wind which helps. Although I haven't had any problems, it seems that a few other anglers have found it very easily cut. Which is a concern fishing on rocky/reefy marks. Good for clean ground, but not cheap. So far 9/10 for me

PowerPro, I have tried this in 10lb, for light lure work, knots well, casts well, and cheaper than most (if you hunt around online for it) For the use I am putting it to 10/10 so far.

Obviously one man meat and all that, just because I got on with the above braids - I am not sure everyone will, So opinions Gentlemen Please

 

[Nick Phillips]

I thought it might be interesting for the membership to review some of the braids we use. Let everyone know which you think are good, bad or rubbish and why

A couple to start you off

Berkley Fireline Crystal 14lb, Ok it is white, not crystal clear. Has a relatively large diameter compared with others out there. It is a fused line rather than a true braid, so this means it has more stiffness than other braids. Good knot strength (I have bent out trebles with this stuff so it might be stronger than the stated 14lb), Casts easily, and is reasonably priced. 8/10 for me

Powerline PowerShot, Blue colour, I got the 20lb stuff, and it is THIN, having said that, it knots well, casts well. And having let it to friend to try (who doesn't fish much) so seems to be user friendily. Not as tightly braided as the X8 japanese braids, Only down side is it isn't cheap, but it is 9/10 for me.

Varivas PowerMax, grey colour, again tried the 20lb, seems slighty thinner than the powershot, it is a very tightly braided line, coated as well it seems. Casts Great, a little more backbone than the powershot in the wind which helps. Although I haven't had any problems, it seems that a few other anglers have found it very easily cut. Which is a concern fishing on rocky/reefy marks. Good for clean ground, but not cheap. So far 9/10 for me

PowerPro, I have tried this in 10lb, for light lure work, knots well, casts well, and cheaper than most (if you hunt around online for it) For the use I am putting it to 10/10 so far.

Obviously one man meat and all that, just because I got on with the above braids - I am not sure everyone will, So opinions Gentlemen Please

I have tried lots over the years and most have been total rubbish,some unusable.
I use PP in the .23 and .28 diameter and would give it 10/10 for everything.
I have also used extensively Berkely Fireline mainly in the 10-14lbs range,I also rate this as brilliant for an older style fused type line and have never had any problems.The older it gets the better it is in my opinion.
The worst line I have used (total sh*it) would be Berkley Whiplash in the 20 and 30lbs sizes.
I found that these lines were total rubbish,I burnt mine.
I say it as I find it,its the only way.
Anyone that wants to use braid that hasn't tried PP should do so.

 

[Simon L]

Powerline PowerShot, Blue colour, I got the 20lb stuff, and it is THIN, having said that, it knots well, casts well. And having let it to friend to try (who doesn't fish much) so seems to be user friendily. Not as tightly braided as the X8 japanese braids, Only down side is it isn't cheap, but it is 9/10 for me.

I use the Powershot in the 'Orange', and have a spool of Blue as back-up. Love it. Absolutely, love it.

Love the 'green' Varivas stuff too.

 

[Gary A]

Powerpro I've tried in both 20 & 30lb BS, and have liked both as my first trials with braid.

I've recently received (as the free gift with a Sea angler subscription) a 300yd spool of Berkely whiplash crystal (0.1mm), I've tried it twice so far and it seems pretty good as well.

Hope this helps

Gary

 

[Mick Ward]

Power Pro is still my favourite cheap braid, its tough, knots well, only fluffs up when conditions or the anglers is cr*p. I have abused PP for used, had my accidents with it, sometimes an explosion just happens, its a phanoninom!!

Fire Line 14lb Smoke was my favourite line for donkeys years, I really loved the stuff but then again I used to work in a shop that sold it so I got it for nothing really. Unlike Nick Phillips I would say iys cr*p when old, but amazing when new, which is weird that the two of us find that different! I personall found once it started to lose its coating and go fluffy it would absorb water and could pull sufrace lures under the water, probably on days where the wind and sea was making surface fishing awkward anyway, but it defo made lures like spooks sink under.

Sakura Bass Braid id basicall a slightly smoother Power Pro, and it lasts an eternity, Nelson had a spool on for two seaqsons! And remember he goes alot. I would say its very much like PP but not as coarse, smoother, great with lighter lures.

Powerline Casting Bass. Same as Power Pro but tougher, this stuff is great if you fish in really sharp snaggy ground, I would suggest a mono leader though, this stuff is coarse, but tough. If any of you have ever felt Cortland braid it feels very simular to that.

Powerline Powershot; I like it, it can be very volitile so its best kept for special occasions, maybe on your second reel when going light light light or something. Its super smooth and I think cheap for 8 strand, oh and it is Japanese.

 

[Ben Field]

Yamatoyo.

Haven't been using it for long enough to give a full on review but so far I'm very, very impressed. Thin, limp, I've had zero problems with wind knots etc etc.

 

[Nick Phillips]

Power Pro is still my favourite cheap braid, its tough, knots well, only fluffs up when conditions or the anglers is cr*p. I have abused PP for used, had my accidents with it, sometimes an explosion just happens, its a phanoninom!!

Fire Line 14lb Smoke was my favourite line for donkeys years, I really loved the stuff but then again I used to work in a shop that sold it so I got it for nothing really. Unlike Nick Phillips I would say iys cr*p when old, but amazing when new, which is weird that the two of us find that different! I personall found once it started to lose its coating and go fluffy it would absorb water and could pull sufrace lures under the water, probably on days where the wind and sea was making surface fishing awkward anyway, but it defo made lures like spooks sink under.

Sakura Bass Braid id basicall a slightly smoother Power Pro, and it lasts an eternity, Nelson had a spool on for two seaqsons! And remember he goes alot. I would say its very much like PP but not as coarse, smoother, great with lighter lures.

Powerline Casting Bass. Same as Power Pro but tougher, this stuff is great if you fish in really sharp snaggy ground, I would suggest a mono leader though, this stuff is coarse, but tough. If any of you have ever felt Cortland braid it feels very simular to that.

Powerline Powershot; I like it, it can be very volitile so its best kept for special occasions, maybe on your second reel when going light light light or something. Its super smooth and I think cheap for 8 strand, oh and it is Japanese.

Mick I think the difference of opinion on the Fireline is probably due to the fact that I mostly used the FL in freshwater and not on surface lures etc.
I still have some 'old' FL 10lbs in the smoke/white on a Shimano Spirex2500 and 2000 size that I use up in Scotland with small crankbaits etc.
I have also known some Barbell anglers that sware by the stuff especially when its fluffy and worn in etc
I have thought of trying one of the latest 8 strand braids but the thought of a 'braid explosian' fills me with horror and it just dosn't happen to me with PP.
I may drop down to .19 15lbs though and drop the leader to 15lbs.

 

[Mick Ward]

Totally do it if I were you Nick, 0.19 is more than enough and so is a 15lb mono leader. Thats basically what I will be using as my main stay this season, well maybe the Sakura braid rather than the PP as Shimano are being their usual greedy selves with the PP, they make selling their stuff so hard for a retailer.

 

[Simon L]

Powerline Powershot; I like it, it can be very volitile so its best kept for special occasions.

Suprised to hear you say that. Mine has been impecably behaved, not an issue at all.

 

[Mick Ward]

Powerline Powershot; I like it, it can be very volitile so its best kept for special occasions.

Suprised to hear you say that. Mine has been impecably behaved, not an issue at all.

Its generally been good to me too, I had a bad experience one day when I was struggling, changing from softy, top water, shallow runner, back to softy, deep runner.....boooom!!!! I was headless chicken fishing, casting at everything.

 

[Alex Jordan]

Can we make this a sticky? - Dave you may have to be chief post organiser and edit into your top original post?

Sufix Toughline XP - A good cheap tropical line for jigging and popping, casts well, knots well - not coated
Jerry Brown Line One Solid - A midrange non coated braid for midrange applications - knots well, casts well
Jerry Brown Line One Hollow - A midrange hollow non coated braid - I rate this fairly highly for popping (neat spliced loops for leaders!) casts well!
Varivas GT Max - High performance popping line - casts very very well
Varivas GT Max SMP - The rolls royce of popping braids - costs an arm and a leg but oh so worth it!
YGK Jiggerman - THE jigging line costs alot and colour coded every 10m

I tend to use Red PP 20lb for my UK bassing lure fishing ... looking to drop down to 15lb in 2010 ...

 

[Mick Ward]

How much is the YGK stuff Alex? Its just that I will be selling it next year.

 

[Keith White]

I like PP but it is 'thick' for it's BS.

Sakura, very good

Fireline, was great when new, very, very strong. Sucks compared to newer lines.

Spiderwire ? rubbish imho

Dynon3000: very thick, rubbish coating. Ok, for wrasse fishing when new.

Orvis Dyneema: Was, in it's day, excellent. Now very dated but it still is in great condition.

I had some non branded south african stuff that is simply awesome. A friend brought it back 2 years ago
and it is 40kg, but only around .23mm

Berkely whiplash: thin, casts well, not very abrasion resistant. Still think it has a place though.

Recently, been trialling Yamatoyo: so far, excellent. Blue but so far, I like it.

Loads more to try though.

 

[Mark Sleep]

Ouchhhhhhh

DAIWA MORETHAN BRANZINO 8BRAID 16lb #0.8

£75 for 210m! Gimick or genuine worth the money stuff?

 

[Nick Phillips]

I will be looking at putting some new braid on my new Branzino shortly.
I have been using PP .23 and .28 ,mainly the .23 in the green colour,I can cast it all day working any type of plugs/lures and not have a single problem.
I have thought of trying the new 8 strand braids to get a thinner diameter but I'm not at all convinced that I can have the same confidence in using it without having a few problems etc.
I like the heavy breaking strains because I can usually get back my plugs without any problems and as where I mainly fish the marks are usually shallow,this can be a problem.
I am very very tempted to stick with the PP in the .23 20lbs size. :rollineyes: :rollineyes: :rollineyes:

 

[Ben Field]

If you can get hold of any Nick, will definitely (again) recommend the Yamatoyo. Having used PP forever, I wasn't expecting it to be so fine and easy to fish. Maybe ask Mick? I've been using the 25lb and casting plugs down to about 5g a long, long way considering it's strength. Not a single noticeable sign of wear and supple as you like - but not a single wind knot! Couldn't be more impressed right now. I even like the blue colour. :muttley:

 

[Tim Griffin]

I have used the Fireline Smoke on a small baitcaster and have had issues with overruns but I think this is down to me and the reel rather than the line. I did find it very stiff though. I have used Whiplash Crystal for the last season and found it excellent in every way. Due to a couple of "accidents" I now only have about 65m on the reel so I am about to load up with 20lb Power Pro in red based on all the recommendations it has received. If it goes as well as the Whiplash Crystal I'll be chuffed.

 

[Dr.Thomas k]

anyone using Sufix performance braid or the ice fuse one? Just saw an good offer for 6lb performance 300yds in orange or yellow.
Wanna have some line with ultra thin diameter for LRF but it should be gvfm.

Cheers
Thomas

 

[Retired]

I'm slightly interested in the Sufix but the postage looks prohibitive....

 

[Andrew Walker]

Varivas Sea Bass in 20lb has been 'reasonable' for me. I did eventually waist a reel full due to wind knots but that could have been me and/or the reel. I went for the same again and 20 trips later - no problems. Its thin and knots well so I guess 8 /10. I have used PP for some years for piking and it is thick compared to more modern stuff but its bullet proof. You really cant go wrong with the stuff. I also have used the YGK Pink in 1.0 for half a season and its superb. No wind knots, it knots well and it IS THIN! 10/10. I have not used any others but the the three braids I have used have really been very good.