|
Product Review |
|
|
Week of July 9, 2007 |
|
Super Fishing Lines |
|
Click on Images to enlarge
|
Original FireLine now 20 % stronger Already the world’s most popular superline, Berkley FireLine has further improved knot strength giving anglers even more confidence when setting the hook and handling big fish. FireLine casts easier, ties better knots and stays more hassle free in any kind of weather than conventional braids.
This thermally fused, small diameter superline, preferred by serious freshwater and saltwater anglers alike, lessens the impact of time-consuming bird nests by reducing the line’s digging into the spool. Unaffected by UV rays or sunlight for improved colorfastness, this no stretch superline provides a more positive hook set with greater impact resistance. The new FireLine is resistant to fraying.
FireLine is available in smoke, flame green and Hi Vis pink colors, giving anglers the perfect color match for whatever type of water they encounter. Line sizes for Berkley FireLine range from 4-lb test/1-lb diameter to 30-lb test/ 12-lb diameter.
Specifics Include:
• Lb Tests: 4/1, 6/2,
8/3, 10/4, 14/6, 20/8, 30/12 • Spools: 125 yd, 300 yd, 1,100 yd • Colors: Smoke, Flame Green, Pink • Top rate knot strength • No stretch • Unaffected by sun’s UV rays • Fresh & Saltwater applications
About $16.49 - $108.99
berkley@purefishing.com 800-237-5539
Berkley FireLine Crystal Braid Berkley Introduces World’s First Translucent Braid Clear superlines were just a dream – until now. Berkley has engineered the world’s first translucent superline. New Berkley FireLine Crystal is clear enough to fish like a mono yet strong enough to be called FireLine. Scientifically engineered with patented thermal fused technology, FireLine Crystal delivers maximum performance on the water.
Anglers have been asking for a clear superline for years, always being told it can’t be done. Leave it to Berkley to figure out a way to engineer a superline like FireLine Crystal. Not only is FireLine Crystal the world’s first clear superline, it also delivers unprecedented diameters.
And the line is incredibly smooth for longer, more accurate casts and reliable performance. What angler wouldn’t want a combination of mono and superline? This line is going to be deadly for any spinning application in clear water.
Berkley engineers FireLine Crystal using a unique thermal fused technology, ensuring a consistent finish while delivering its never-before-seen crystal clear finish.
FireLine Crystal
comes in: 1/.25; 2/.5; 3/.75; 4/1; 6/2; 8/3; 10/4;
14/6; 20/8, in 125 yd., 300 yd. filler spools and 1100-yd. bulk spools.
Features Include: • Crystal • World’s first translucent superline • Unprecedented diameters • Winner, Best of Show - 2006 ICAST
About $16.49 - $108.99
berkley@purefishing.com 800-237-5539
With Stren Super Braid, you'll never again have to sacrifice manageability or performance to attain the superior line strength and small diameter of braided line. This line is enhanced with Microbond Technology to coat every fiber in the braid instead of just a coating over the outside of the entire line. This process creates a line that retains its shape, color and strength longer and reduces friction on your rod guides.
The small diameter makes it harder to detect, and at the same time, improves lure action. Unlike other braids that are flat or ribbon-shaped, Stren Super Braid is round for smooth casts and even line lay on your reel.
Specifics Include: • 125, 300 and 1 lb bulk spools • 8, 10, 14, 20, 30, 40, 50, 65 and 80 lb test • Lo-Vis Green and Hi-Vis Gold • Microbond Technology
About $16.99 - 200.99
stren@purefishing.com 866-447-8736
From the makers of Ugly Stik, comes Ugly Braid, a line that combines amazing strength with superior fishing performance. Using advanced technology in both the braiding process and the coating process, Ugly Braid provides superior strength, durability, and effortless casting.
Ugly Braid is available in 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 65 in 125 yd one shot spools and 20, 30, 40, 50, 65, 80, 100 in 300 yard filler spools.
Features Include: • Near zero stretch • Outstanding abrasion resistance
• Ugly Armor unique
anti-fatigue and • Small diameter 1/3 or less of standard mono • Round shape for better line lay and longer casts • Superior knot strength • Low-Visibility green color
About $12.99
800-334-9105 service@shakespeare-fishing.com
New for 2007 Since its inception in 1994, SpiderWire has been one of the unquestioned leader in superline technology. For 2007, SpiderWire introduced the new SpiderWire UltraCast. Using a revolutionary cold fusion process, new UltraCast is SpiderWire’s best braid ever. Rigorous testing has shown that in virtually every performance category – including knot strength, casting distance and break strength – SpiderWire UltraCast Outcasts and Outlasts the competition.
SpiderWire UltraCast has superb knot strength, unmatched casting distance and accuracy and raw strength. And this line is so smooth it actually fishes like a mono. The cold fusion process also gives UltraCast a thinner diameter than traditional, thermal-fused superlines, while still maintaining all of its strength characteristics. SpiderWire UltraCast is ideal for freshwater and inshore saltwater applications.
UltraCast is made with the highest grade of Dyneema – the strongest microfiber on the water. It also has the highest pick count of any line in the industry for an ultra-smooth finish, is amazingly thin and sensitive, so it’s easy to handle. You never have to worry about wind knots or bird’s nests.
SpiderWire UltraCast comes in 10/2, 15/4, 20/6, 30/8, 50/12, 65/14 & 80/15 lb test and 100/20, 130/25 lb test (bulk only) 125-yd filler spools, 300-yd filler spools and 1100-yd. bulk spools. Available colors include: Lo-Vis Green and Hi-Vis Yellow.
Features Include: • Stronger, smoother and more durable
• Amazingly thin and
sensitive • Freshwater multi-species • No wind knots
About $20.99 – $23.99 (125 yds) $40.99 – $49.99 (300 yds) $137.99 – $164.99 (1100 yds)
spider@purefishing.com 800-237-5539
Rapala introduces the next generation of fishing line
Rapala took a single
strand of Spectra fiber and coated it with two sheaths; one for color,
the other for toughness, abrasion resistance, and smooth surface.
Titanium Core is abrasion-resistant and has a smooth surface for
making that perfect cast every time.
Rapala Titanium Superlines are designed with special characteristics for specific circumstances.
Specifics Include: • 150 yd spools • 12, 15, 17, 24, 80 lb tests • Green
About $8.29
|
When you need to get your braid in the strike zone quickly, look no further than new Sinking Braid from Stren. While other braided lines float on the surface, the unique makeup of Stren Sinking Braid helps gets your bait to the strike zone faster for more strikes.
Without sacrificing sensitivity, Sinking Braid is twice as strong as mono, with a unique blend of fibers backed by Stren dependability. Stren Sinking Braid is ideal for deep water trolling in the Great Lakes and in the Northwest for salmon and trout.
And unlike other sinking braids, Stren Sinking Braid does not use polluting lead agents so it will not pollute the water. This Camo-Green Sinking Braid comes 10/4, 20/8, 35/10 & 50/14 lb test, in 125-yd. spool.
Features Include: • Dyneema/Dacron blend ensures line sinks faster • Runs deeper • Twice the strength of traditional monofilament • Freshwater multi-species
About $10.99
stren@purefishing.com 800-237-5539
From castability to abrasion resistance and knot strength, this incredible new line excels in every category that's important to you. In fact, its soft, supple feel makes it completely compatible with spinning reels - something that very few braids can claim.
The exclusive Y6 Digital Braiding process produces a tighter braid pattern that won't unwind under the severest conditions. A specially formulated finish protects Sufix Performance Braid from abrasion caused by contact with logs, rocks and debris, so you'll be fishing this line long after your buddies have respooled their reels.
Other braids claim to be able to pull a fish out of thick cover; Performance Braid claims to have the strength to haul in the brush pile as well. Because it has virtually no stretch, all it takes is a short upswing of the rod and even the lightest-biting fish is hooked.
Benefits of Sufix Performance Braid • Tough, durable finish withstands the perils of structure that damage ordinary lines • Ultra-thin diameter line leaves the spool smooth and straight for long accurate casts • Small diameter and superior strength make Performance Braid a natural for spinning reels • Virtually zero stretch—the energy of your fishing rod is transmitted directly to the lure with minimal loss
Specifics Include: • Spool sizes: 150, 300, 1200 and 3500 yds • Colors: Yellow, Low Visibility Green. • Available: 6, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 65, 80-lb. test
Per 150 yd spools - About $14.99-18.99
Rapala introduces the next generation of fishing line Rapala has taken a major step forward in fishing line technology. High-quality Spectra braid has been altered to bond to a specially formulated resin matrix that is reinforced with microscopic particles of titanium alloy. Titanium Braid has great castabillity, virtually eliminating rod tip wrapping.
Highly improved knot
strength and abrasion resistance are all positive benefits of this
marriage, just made to meet your exact angling needs. Rapala Titanium
Superlines are designed with
Specifics Include: • 150 yd spools • 15, 20, 30, 50, 80 lb tests • Green
About $29.95
Rapala introduces the next generation of fishing line Combining the strength and sensitivity of braid with the forgiveness of mono, Titanium Stretch Braid consists of a unique blend of Dacron and Spectra fibers. This blend gives Titanium Stretch Braid five percent stretch, which directly increases the landing weight.
In fact, the stretch-to-diameter ratio of Titanium Stretch Braid equals or surpasses existing “superlines” on the market. But it isn’t all about toughness: Titanium Stretch Braid also casts like a dream. So much so that the first word out of your mouth when you toss it out is likely to be “Whoa!” And it has virtually no memory, so cast number 1,000 off your spool will feel just as smooth as cast number one.
Titanium Stretch
Braid is 4 Spectra fibers and 4
Dacron fibers braided together giving anglers 7% stretch which directly
increases the landing weight. Strength to diameter equals or
Specifics Include: • 150 yd spools • 20, 30, 40, 50, 65 lb tests • Two-tone Green
About $18.99
An innovative manufacturing process known as Enhanced Body Technology permeates this revolutionary braided line with a protective layer that will not peel off. This results in a line that is 10 times stronger than steel and winds easily on to any type of reel without retaining memory. The smooth surface texture allows PowerPro Line to effortlessly sail quietly through the guides.
This high-performance Spectra braid handles like mono and has one of the highest strength-to-diameter ratios available. Enhanced Body Technology delivers a compact, abrasion-resistant line with a smooth surface texture and virtually no spool memory. PowerPro Line is designed with minimal stretch for an awesome feel and ultra-sensitive for increased strike detection
Specifics Include:
• 8, 10, 15, 20, 30,
40, 50, 65, 80, 100, 150, 200 lb test • 150, 300, 500 and 1500 yd spools • Hi-Vis Yellow, White, Moss Green, Red
About $12.99 - 339.99
800-650-8003
Stealth flows smoothly and quietly off the reel spool and shoots through the rod guides like a bullet for long, accurate casts. Stealth is ultra thin, has a tight weave construction and Teflon pressure-treated micro fibers. The Teflon treatment process used in Stealth permeates the entire braid and won't wear off. The line maintains its reliable round cross-section cast after cast.
SpiderWire Stealth fishes like a monofilament line. It won't "dig in" to the reel spool, cut rod guides or destroy reel guide parts. With Stealth, there are no more worries about whip-knotting or low knot strength. And backlash frustrations fly out the window.
Stealth has exceptional knot performance, but for best results a Palomar knot is recommended. In addition, anglers are urged to lay down a monofilament backing on reel spools before loading Stealth to prevent line slippage on the reel spool. Use a Uni knot to join the monofilament to Stealth. Reel spools should not be overfilled and because of the near zero stretch of Stealth, anglers should back off the power when setting the hook. A lighter action rod is also encouraged.
Features include: • No whip-knots
• High knot strength • Smooth casting • Teflon® pressure-treated • Near zero stretch • High test vs. low diameter • 150, 300, 1100, 2000 yd spools • 6, 8, 15, 20, 30, 50, 65, 80 lb test • Colors: Tracer yellow and Moss green
About $14.69 - 288.49
spider@purefishing.com 877-502-7743
|
The Superline
Revolution Continues
Choosing the right line is easy when
you've got all the facts
by John Merwin
So-called superlines are still one of the most hotly argued angling topics from Montauk to Monterey. In both freshwater and salt, some guys love them. Some guys hate them. And many just seem confused over whether to switch from more conventional nylon monofilament. Here’s a quick rundown on just what constitutes a “superline,” along with how to make your own choices.
All superlines are made of polyethylene, a chemically inert, slippery plastic. The plastic is spun into extremely fine filaments that are in turn combined into a thread. The threads are usually then braided into fishing line of assorted thicknesses and strengths. Common to all such lines are extreme sensitivity, low stretch, and very high strength in proportion to line diameter. Retail prices are higher than for nylon monofilaments, partly because the manufacturing process is relatively complex.
Those characteristics all relate in one way or another to common problems in line usage. The slipperiness of polyethylene, for example, means that many basic knots just won’t work with these lines (see sidebar on following page). That same slickness means you have to put at least a few wraps of nylon mono on your reel spool before adding a superline. The nylon grips the spool core and prevents the entire mass of superline from simply spinning on the spool.
Get the Right Line Size
Small diameters and high strength are big advantages in these lines, but they
also cause some problems. Most superlines are double-rated, with a “10/2”
designation, for example, meaning 10-pound-test with an actual diameter
equivalent to 2-pound-test nylon. Replacing your 10-pound-test nylon mono with
10-pound superline might seem to make sense at first, but that invites disaster.
This is because the superline’s diameter is so much smaller than your equivalent regular line. When you make a hookset or fight a fish, the stress at the reel will likely cause the extremely fine and slippery line to bury itself among underlying spool wraps, where it will jam.
The simple answer is to use a larger-diameter superline. The pound-test rating will be so high that it’s almost irrelevant. As a general rule of thumb, use a superline with two to three times the pound-test rating of the nylon mono you’d ordinarily choose. This will still be smaller in diameter than your conventional mono but should be large enough to avoid most tangles. For example, on freshwater baitcasting reels, instead of 12- or 15-pound nylon mono I often use 40- or 50-pound-test SpiderWire braid, which has a diameter roughly equivalent to 8-pound-test nylon mono. There’s no way I’m going to put 40 pounds of stress on that tackle without breaking it, but going smaller on line diameter would invite too much trouble.
On the plus side, superlines’ low stretch means extreme sensitivity. That’s a huge payoff. The elasticity of nylon dampens the feel you have when fishing a lure, almost as if your lure were attached to a rubber band. But superlines allow you to feel every wrinkle on the bottom.
Match Lines to Reels
Most superline braids are relatively limp. They work best on revolving-spool
baitcasting or conventional reels where limpness and low memory are assets. I
sometimes use them on spinning reels, but that limpness means the braided line
doesn’t pop off the fixed spool as well during a cast.
For spinning reels, I use Berkley FireLine, which is a superline but not a braid. The raw material is essentially the same, but the fibers are heat-fused in parallel rather than woven. This line has more body and is stiffer than most superline braids, so it behaves better on spinning reels.
SpiderLine, meanwhile, has a new line for the 2003 season called SpiderWire Stealth. This is a braid with body, apparently more tightly woven than some other braids and Teflon-impregnated to further stiffen the line. It appears to retain its round cross-section longer than other superlines while being fished, rather than flattening quickly with wear. Because it stays round, it should tangle less often on spinning-reel spools. By my own early testing, this is definitely a plus.
Check out these fine brands of fishing products
Home | Great Lakes States | Membership | Exotics Update | Great Links
Pending Issues | Regional News | Great Lakes Basin Report | Weekly News / Archives
