[Keith White]

I think it might be pink ?

Seriously now....

I've probably tested about a grands worth of braids in the last 6 months. Some £25 a spool, some £75 and more.

I've learned alot about braids, how they work, their pro's and con's.

However, a few lines have been outstanding.

Yamatoyo SW PE #0.8 thru PE #2 = solid, reliable, hard wearing.

But, 0.8PE = 8lb

Power pro, a great, cheap reliable line but, in 8lb is like Yamatoyo PE 1.2 at 12lb. Same diameter but, you loose on casting distance and feel.

Morethan Sensor: Incredible, IF you can afford it.

Also tried, lots of varivas braids, rovex, powershot, untika, etc...some are great but, none outstanding.

But....

This pink YGK stuff is mental.

0.8 #PE that would be 8lb in old numbers is, wait for it....

12.1 lb

the PE #1.2 nearly 19lb compared to old numbers 12lb

to get close to describing this from a plugging standpoint as most of you don't fish jigs (yet).

PP at 15lb is at least 1/3rd thicker, 4lb lighter BS and casts I'd say, 20% less.

Paul B put us onto this stuff after taking the plunge in Nantes. He uses the PE # 1.5 at 22lb and often outcasts guys using older 10lb braids.

People don't often consider line to be important. Recent LRF and HRF exploits have totally addressed this issue and believe me, these newer braids are simply fantastic.

Treat those expensive rods and reels to something special kiddies.

Would you put remoulds on a Ferrari ?

 

[Simon L]

Where would we source it from Keith ?

 

[Keith White]

Like I said, Paul got his from Nantes.

I think a few places in Japan list it. I got a few spools from Shimreels but **** has just got a small order from Ultimate.
However:

I'm not sure that much, if any is left.

I was in earlier but it was flying out over the phone. 6 or 8 spools went to Ireland in the space of about 5 minutes.

I quickly grabbed 2 so, that doesn't leave alot...

I've got some YGK sinking yellow braid enroute from Japan too based upon what we have seen.
More specialist in application and Liam H has a spool and reports are so far, good.

I believe YGK is highly thought of.

Sunline too but getting it is a nightmare.

Maybe if a few guys pitch in for a Japanese order you could offset the carriage and duty ?

IMHO: Any serious plug/lure angler should really take note of these new super braids. They are awesome.

 

[Henry Gilbey]

Have heard very good things about that pink braid from Ultimate........

Might also be worth checking out the Daiwa Tournament 8 strand - been using the Varivas 8 strand for a couple of years now with no complaints - and been "playing" with a spool of the Daiwa 8 strand since I bought one of 20lb breaking strain on the way back from Nantes (evil, wicked St. Malo tackle shop !!).

Not sure how, and I have no figures to back it up, but the 20lb Daiwa 8 strand just feels even thinner than the Varivas 8 strand.

From what I can find out, and I am not sure about PE ratings, these are the diameters of the Daiwa 8 strand

20lb - 0.12mm
30lbs - 0.16mm
50lbs - 0.26mm
60lbs - 0.30mm
85lbs - 0.35mm (usually 15lb mono diameter)

Seems very good to me - again, can't prove it, but the 20lb Daiwa Tournament 8 strand I have been using just feels as if lures are flying further...........to the point where it's so thin that I wish I had bought a spool of the 30lb as well, just for fishing hard lures into the really heavy stuff.

Thanks for the info Keith - Ultimate just don't make or distribute garbage products, so I see no reason why their new pink braid is not awesome stuff.

I was shown a really effective and simple knot the other day for attaching these 8 strand braids especially to mono/fluoro leaders, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was called !! Will try and find out.....good eh ?

 

[Retired]

I have also bought some Tournament 8 on the same trip and found it OK but not as good as the YGK.

 

[wjmoree]

Done some testing myself and I absolutely agree on the YGK braids: I think they are very good value for the money in comparison to other, often more expensive Japanese brands like Varivas.

Even their Real Sports G-Soul PE (which is a ´simple´ 4-carrier… I’m not referring to the WX8), is in my opinion far superior to the in Europe so beloved Power Pro. The only ‘western’ braid I would dare to recommend nowadays, is the Stroft GTP wich I think can really stand the comparison with these Japanese braids (mind you: I’m still referring to 4-carriers only).

Recently also been testing the Sunline Cast Away, which is a (hybrid) 8-carrier, in 12 lbs (0.8 PE) and in 10 lbs (0.6PE) breaking strenghts, and I’m really starting to think that they’re very good value for the money as well.

And Keith, I think you are referring to the YGK WX8 Geso X (originally intended for eging I think) and indeed you can get them at Shimreels, but Samurai Tackle sells them as well:

http://samuraitackle.com/fishing/in...info&cPath=141_67_88_398_893&products_id=5649

 

[wjmoree]

Oh, I forgot: I've been testing their (YGK) fluoro as well lately (Nitlon Darm) and I'm perfectly happy with it... lost the urge for searching and testing other fluoro's.

 

[Nick Phillips]

Trouble is,I think that although having a mega thin line (braid) is an obvious advantage 'to me' I worry about those hideous wind knot problems that are associated with mega thin braids.
Are these super super braids practical ?
Can they be trusted ?
Can I forget its there on the spool and just 'use it'.
When on the water I dont want to even think about whether the next cast will be alright.
I still use PP and have just moved back to the .23 diameter in yellow,Isn't this braid thin enough ?
I am all for modern technology but am yet to be convinced that mega mega thin braids are needed,and also one of the reasons why some braids are mega expensive is because in relation to other brands etc they arnt yet producing that much of it.
I have seen PP advertised for £10 (cant remember where) for a 150 spool.
I may be totally wrong but maybee the thinner we go in braid diameter the potential for those nightmare problems we all dread increases massively.

 

[Henry Gilbey]

Nick - I am going to regret saying this, but I honestly can not remember ever having had a wind knot with these 8 strand braids............granted, I am underfilling my spools, but I always do that with braid anyway.

I don't know anything about the technicalities of it all, but this 8 strand stuff just seems to lift off the spool a bit differently when you cast. Again, might just be me, but the stuff works really well for me and my fishing..............as long as you put a decent knot to the leader.

I will admit that when I got my first ever spool of 20lb Varivas 8 strand, I actually did not use it for a few months because it freaked me out so much that a line that was so thin and "limp". Plucked up the courage so to speak and have never looked back. Each to their own though, of course.

Paul - would be really interested to hear your thoughts on the Daiwa 8 strand.

 

[Mark Sleep]

Have no input myself, but big thanks to the guys willing to test out these new products from their own pocket, makes it a lot easier for the rest of us to make the step. And I totally agree its worth spending the money for a decent line.

 

[Keith White]

Trouble is,I think that although having a mega thin line (braid) is an obvious advantage 'to me' I worry about those hideous wind knot problems that are associated with mega thin braids.

If laid properly and retrieved under some tension (most of you fish this way) no problem.
What we do with super thin 0.4 - 0.8 PE lines is every half dozen casts or retrieve change, we pinch the line just ahead of the spool whilst doing a quicker constant retrieve.

Are these super super braids practical ?

Oh yea. Plugging, Jig and SP fishing all on one spool.

Can they be trusted ?

Yes, they are no more susceptible to damage than any other braid. Crap abrasion and heavy shock resistance. The only one I know of that is outside those parameters is Sunline's castaway.

Can I forget its there on the spool and just 'use it'.

Considering we use these braids in total darkness I see no reason for people to not gain in leaps and bounds from the newer technology.

I still use PP and have just moved back to the .23 diameter in yellow,Isn't this braid thin enough ?

Let me be honest and brutal here. .23 braid would see you go biteless fishing HRF or most soft plastics other than direct retrieve or fishing too heavy. It's like tow rope compared to the new lines. Yes it's reliable but when power pro first came out, weren't questions similar to yours thrown at that class of braids ? Yet now, it's dated technology.

I am all for modern technology but am yet to be convinced that mega mega thin braids are needed,and also one of the reasons why some braids are mega expensive is because in relation to other brands etc they arnt yet producing that much of it.

You personally might not need it Nick. I'm just telling people that IF they want to fish OTD style HRF and LRF techniques and still have big plugging capability on one spool of line then this is the way to go. Until something better comes along.

I have seen PP advertised for £10 (cant remember where) for a 150 spool.

I still use PP, like it, always have but, it ain't YGK, nor does it share the capability.

I may be totally wrong but maybee the thinner we go in braid diameter the potential for those nightmare problems we all dread increases massively.

Initially, we did get problems but, like I've said, we've learned. Knots need to change, reels are too big (spools are too DEEP) wake up the British tackle market and recognise we DO NOT NEED mono backing. Why can't we have PE spools on British reels? Many problems associated with wind knotting would vanish if we had proper reels. We are finding the use of these super braids fantastic. This is the heads up, not a sales pitch. I won't profit in any way from what you all personally choose in the end.

 

[Keith White]

And Keith, I think you are referring to the YGK WX8 Geso X (originally intended for eging I think)

Yes.

Strange, but eging braids seem to be ahead of the curve. That sport is huge over there and drives much technology.

 

[Nick Phillips]

If laid properly and retrieved under some tension (most of you fish this way) no problem.
What we do with super thin 0.4 - 0.8 PE lines is every half dozen casts or retrieve change, we pinch the line just ahead of the spool whilst doing a quicker constant retrieve.



Oh yea. Plugging, Jig and SP fishing all on one spool.



Yes, they are no more susceptible to damage than any other braid. Crap abrasion and heavy shock resistance. The only one I know of that is outside those parameters is Sunline's castaway.



Considering we use these braids in total darkness I see no reason for people to not gain in leaps and bounds from the newer technology.




Let me be honest and brutal here. .23 braid would see you go biteless fishing HRF or most soft plastics other than direct retrieve or fishing too heavy. It's like tow rope compared to the new lines. Yes it's reliable but when power pro first came out, weren't questions similar to yours thrown at that class of braids ? Yet now, it's dated technology.



You personally might not need it Nick. I'm just telling people that IF they want to fish OTD style HRF and LRF techniques and still have big plugging capability on one spool of line then this is the way to go. Until something better comes along.



I still use PP, like it, always have but, it ain't YGK, nor does it share the capability.



Initially, we did get problems but, like I've said, we've learned. Knots need to change, reels are too big (spools are too DEEP) wake up the British tackle market and recognise we DO NOT NEED mono backing. Why can't we have PE spools on British reels? Many problems associated with wind knotting would vanish if we had proper reels. We are finding the use of these super braids fantastic. This is the heads up, not a sales pitch. I won't profit in any way from what you all personally choose in the end.

Great posting Keith and as always very informative.
Its ALL about having the confidence to "make the leap".
Spot on about the reels,big crude huge capacity reels are out,as we all know they were designed for mono fishing etc.

 

[Mark Sleep]

How much typically comes on a spool of this good stuff then? I would personally be happier if there was less than you currently get. I am starting to think 150yds of PP is overkill. Will it ever get to the point where we are using almost like a flyline of superduper braid, a short amount longer than a typical long cast, with another braid as 'backing'. I have been considering putting on 70m of really good braid, backed up with something like 30lb Fireline as backing.

 

[Nick Phillips]

How much typically comes on a spool of this good stuff then? I would personally be happier if there was less than you currently get. I am starting to think 150yds of PP is overkill. Will it ever get to the point where we are using almost like a flyline of superduper braid, a short amount longer than a typical long cast, with another braid as 'backing'. I have been considering putting on 70m of really good braid, backed up with something like 30lb Fireline as backing.

I think 150yds is too much,as most of it is wasted anyway.
These ultra modern spools that are totally designed for PE lines are very very shallow and wouldnt take any mono backing.

 

[Keith White]

120m on some of these YGK braids.

However:

Many top end braids are now available on 75 mtr spools.
I have a really nice Yamatoyo 75 meter shot of braid on a reel right now.

 

[Ben Field]

Paul - would be really interested to hear your thoughts on the Daiwa 8 strand.

Mmm, me too. I could understand if it's not quite up there, but be nice to hear how it compares with one of the best. For the price I've got zero complaints about the Daiwa Tournament so far - in 15, 20 and 35lb.

 

[Alex Jordan]

I have been testing bog standard Jerry Brown Solid 20lb (Made in the USA) as an alternative for PP - so far so good although want an 8 strand for my light and heavy rods - the YGK Jigman stuff is highly regarded in jigging circles so I have faith and its a pretty pink too!

Where are you sourcing your Daiwa braid you showed me Ben?

Edit
Forgot to add - I tend to fill with 200 - 300m braid because I use my 4000 reels in the tropics ... a recent incident with a Bluefin Trevally that made a mockery of me took 100m + in under 10s on high drag - nothing I could do ... 150m braid simply isn't enough ...

 

[Ben Field]

Where are you sourcing your Daiwa braid you showed me Ben?

They have it down to 20lb here mate: http://www.leslies-luton.co.uk/store/product/2209159/DAIWA-TOURNAMENT-8-BRAID-60lb-300m/

Although other UK shops will have it now as well. When you consider it's £35 for 300m it's insane value! I only really want 150m though. Weird that a product has come along where I'd pay the same for less! I bought mine in France though, and ordered an extra spool with an order from Poland before it became available here. Now it's hit the UK there's probably no need to go elsewhere. Its cheaper here than anywhere.

 

[pat connolly]

i asked at the ultimate stand in nantes about a good braid for sea trout and they showed me this ygk braid it looks the business.so at long last **** got it in and i cant wait to try it out i was hoping to have it for when the bass ban is finished and it looks like i will only 20 more days to wait.