line question: rocks, logs, etc.

D

DB731

Joined
Feb 10, 2013
Messages
8,955
Which type of line will do best against abrasion challenges, those other than teeth, gill-plates etc.?

Here are my choices:

1) Berkley IronSilk 20 lb 0.41 mm
2) Spiderwire EZ fluoro 15 lb 0.38 mm
3) Stren Fluorocast 17 lb 0.40 mm
4) Berkley Vanish 20 lb 0.40 mm
5) Berkley Trilene 20 lb 0.43 mm

All except #1 are listed as "100% fluorocarbon". On an unrelated note, I noticed when a fluoro line is advertised in terms of improved "castability" that its price goes down significantly compared to a fluoro of the same brand and of the same lb test that doesn't make such claims. I noticed this with two different brands. I would have expected the opposite. Speaking of brands, is Berkley considered superior to Stren and Spiderwire?



Thanks
 
I'd go with #1, if I reall you said you had problems with line fraying while using iron silk. I've ever had a problem with it though, the rest are pretty crappy especially the spiderwire EZ. I've used and took it off after an hour, it is terrible. The ironsilk is mono but will work in just about any situation other than wacky rigging if you are talking about bass fishing because it floats. The whole improved capability thing doesn't really mean anything it's just a way to help them sell. Lastly Berkley is not the best line out there, the ironsilk is good and though I haven't used it I have a friend who uses vanish and likes it. The trilene is garbage have used it before and it is pretty bad. Stern is decent haven't used it much but don't recall any problems and spiderwires mono and flouro seem to suck but there braid is pretty good. Braid may be another thing you could try, it has a high pound test but a smaller diameter compared to mono and flouro and will hold up good against rocks and trees. I use braid a lot the only time I don't is when I am cranking Sometimes or when I am wacky rigging.
 
Cool info. Thanks. It's kinda hard to find objective reviews of equipment, it's all about sales. So the hype about fluorocarbons is just hype sounds like? A friend of mine keeps recommending Trilene Big Game mono sold for 8.88 at WM, but I am still stuck with that knee-jerk reaction "if something is not expensive then it can't be that good".

Yup, I snapped a 20 lb Iron Silk when I tied a Palomar. I am now very aware of those date of manufacture codes as a result.

Are there some better brands out there I should take a look at? I have never used the Sufix or the Seaguar stuff for example.
 
Last edited:
I've tried most brands of line over the past 40 years or so and for freshwater fishing my line of choice is still the Stren Original clear blue: http://www.stren.com/stren-line-monofilament-stren-original/1347943.html Most of my fishing is in clear water streams, creeks, and lakes and I have never found fluorocarbon to have any advantages over my old standard line. Being able to see my line is very helpful to my style of fishing especially in smaller streams with lots of obstructions and cover. You haven't said what type of fishing you are doing or where. If fishing saltwater I almost always use braid with the only exception being Sufix Tritanium: http://www.rapala.com/sufix/monofilament/tritanium-plus/tritanium-plusand8482/Tritanium+Plus.html It may be best for you to try a few to see which you prefer.
 
DB731 said:
Cool info. Thanks. It's kinda hard to find objective reviews of equipment, it's all about sales. So the hype about fluorocarbons is just hype sounds like? A friend of mine keeps recommending Trilene Big Game mono sold for 8.88 at WM, but I am still stuck with that knee-jerk reaction "if something is not expensive then it can't be that good".

Yup, I snapped a 20 lb Iron Silk when I tied a Palomar. I am now very aware of those date of manufacture codes as a result.

Are there some better brands out there I should take a look at? I have never used the Sufix or the Seaguar stuff for example.
Click to expand...

fluoro does have its advantages, one would be that it does not stretch. there are applications were you would want to use fluoro or mono. the trilene big game stuff is pretty crappy, I use to have my catfish setups rigged with it. there are better brands out there, a few that come to mind are Pline, Sunline, Seaguar, and spiderwire ultimate mono.
 
Get the Trilene. XT or Big Game.
When it gets nicked trim it off. When the spool runs low fill it up again. It is certainly cheap enough.
If I were to use mono that's what I'd use. And what I do use for my leaders on the reels filled with braid.

When I used to fish with mono, I'd leave around half or so on the reel and put fresh on top of that.
Never a concern fishing for LMB and similar.

Back then I did try out the Berkley Vanish. Took it off after 2 outings and went back to Trilene XT or Big Game.
 
Not a fan of fluorcarbon line. I tried Vanish. Not scientific, but I suspect fluorocarbon is fluorocarbon. I found it to be brittle. I tried it a number of years ago and went back to my regular original Stren. I don't believe Trilene is fluorocarbon but regular mono.

Braided line will last longer as far as abrasion goes, but I can replace a spool of line in a few minutes with mono. I keep a big spool in my vehicle just in case although I have never had to use from it. I keep an extra filled spool of line with me too.
 
tom700 said:
fluoro does have its advantages, one would be that it does not stretch. there are applications were you would want to use fluoro or mono. the trilene big game stuff is pretty crappy, I use to have my catfish setups rigged with it. there are better brands out there, a few that come to mind are Pline, Sunline, Seaguar, and spiderwire ultimate mono.
Click to expand...

Do the research 90% of fluro lines out there stretch more than mono. If you want no stretch get braid. The main advantage to fluro is slack line sensitivity due to it being denser.

Big game is not a bad line for the cost. However it would help to know what type of fish you are targeting. If you are going for largemouth in wood just about any 20 lb line will do. One line I would highly recommend is Yo-Zuri hybrid, it will be just as abrasion resistant as any line out there but it will also cast better than most. Co-polymers are often over looked by many which is a mistake because to me they are almost as good as braid ALMOST.

If you just really want to try mono though Sunline is about the best you can get.
 
22-rimfire said:
Not a fan of fluorcarbon line. I tried Vanish. Not scientific, but I suspect fluorocarbon is fluorocarbon. I found it to be brittle. I tried it a number of years ago and went back to my regular original Stren. I don't believe Trilene is fluorocarbon but regular mono.

Braided line will last longer as far as abrasion goes, but I can replace a spool of line in a few minutes with mono. I keep a big spool in my vehicle just in case although I have never had to use from it. I keep an extra filled spool of line with me too.
Click to expand...

Sorry, this is what I meant for #5. As far as braid, people keep telling me that it has worse abrasion resistance than mono, and that I can try that out by rubbing it across a brick. It certainly is a pain in the ass to cut it, when compared to mono.

What got my curiosity going with fluoro was seeing those 80 lb test muskie leaders...

k2-_5d60f785-46da-4d42-939b-47523ffdcdc9.v1.jpg
 
PatrickKnight said:
Do the research 90% of fluro lines out there stretch more than mono. If you want no stretch get braid. The main advantage to fluro is slack line sensitivity due to it being denser.

Big game is not a bad line for the cost. However it would help to know what type of fish you are targeting. If you are going for largemouth in wood just about any 20 lb line will do. One line I would highly recommend is Yo-Zuri hybrid, it will be just as abrasion resistant as any line out there but it will also cast better than most. Co-polymers are often over looked by many which is a mistake because to me they are almost as good as braid ALMOST.

If you just really want to try mono though Sunline is about the best you can get.
Click to expand...
Never have had a problem with line stretching when using flouro. Mono on the other hand is pretty ridiculous sometimes. I do however agree and forgot to mention about co-polymer, that it pretty good stuff.
 
DB731 said:
Here's an interesting discussion where some products are mentioned more than once. I wonder why the objection to Iron Silk?

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/134835-worst-products-you-have-ever-used/
Click to expand...

I am surprised, I was fishing a tournament as a co angler I had flourocaron on my reel other guy was fishing with the iron silk. We were fishing around rocks and lay downs. I was snipping line quite offten he might have 2 or 3 times. I was pretty amazed. It was a little frayed and scuffed up but not even close to mine.
 
..is there anything to the claim of increased UV resistance in fluoro lines? How about copolymers?
 
tom700 said:
I am surprised, I was fishing a tournament as a co angler I had flourocaron on my reel other guy was fishing with the iron silk. We were fishing around rocks and lay downs. I was snipping line quite offten he might have 2 or 3 times. I was pretty amazed. It was a little frayed and scuffed up but not even close to mine.
Click to expand...

The abrasion and nicking was what turned me against Vanish. As I recall, it had more memory also (loops) on my small spinning reels. It just didn't do so well for me. I pretty much don't use any of the "HiTech" lines for trout fishing. But I do use braided line for my bass rig. Don't really fish enough for bass to really make a strong comment about it.

I think you just make a reasonable choice on lines, use it, and get comfortable with its attributes relative to your fishing.
 
DB731 said:
..is there anything to the claim of increased UV resistance in fluoro lines? How about copolymers?
Click to expand...

Copoly has the best of both worlds between mono and fluro.

Fluro has the advantages of sinking, slack line sensitivity, and being UV resistant so it wont degrade in sunlight. It also has disadvantages of poor knot strength, tons of memory, and once it stretches it wont return to its original shape.

Monos main advantage is its low cost and manageability.

Copoly combines all the advantages of the two but not to the same degree as the original line such as its not as dense as fluro but more so than mono. It also costs more than mono but less than fluro and has better memory than both.

If I was forced to use one line for everything it would be braid with a copoly leader but thankfully I don't have to do that. For a good cost effective line its hard to beat Yo-Zuri Hybrid, if money is no option Segaur Tatsu is about the best line I have ever used (braid excluded). It is a coated fluro that has all of the advantages of other fluros but none of the disadvantages. The main down side to it is the fact its about 40 bucks for 200 yards.
 
Last edited:
PatrickKnight said:
Copoly has the best of both worlds between mono and fluro.

Fluro has the advantages of sinking, slack line sensitivity, and being UV resistant so it wont degrade in sunlight. It also has disadvantages of poor knot strength, tons of memory, and once it stretches it wont return to its original shape.

Monos main advantage is its low cost and manageability.

Copoly combines all the advantages of the two but not to the same degree as the original line such as its not as dense as fluro but more so than mono. It also costs more than mono but less than fluro and has better memory than both.

If I was forced to use one line for everything it would be braid with a copoly leader but thankfully I don't have to do that. For a good cost effective line its hard to beat Yo-Zuri hybrid, if money is no option Segaur Tatsu is about the best line I have ever used (braid excluded). It is a coated fluro that has all of the advantages of other fluros but none of the disadvanatges. The main down side to it is the fact its about 40 bucks for 200 yards.
Click to expand...

What's your take on Iron Silk mono compared to average mono, fluoro, and the co-polymers?
 
I have never used Iron Silk if I use mono its either Stren Original, Berkley Big Game, and more often then not its Sunline Super Natural. I find Seaguar Tatsu to be the best non braided line in the world it really is better than everything else for any presentation other than top water which is use Sunline Super Natural for. This is for casting gear for spinning gear (my preferred gear) I use braid with copoly (Yo-Zuri Hybrid) or fluro (Seaguar Abazx) leaders.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top