1st post: 4,6,8lb Fireline spooling capacity...

[Ultralight]

Warm Greetings,

Been reading your posts but 1st post here. Thanks for all the info.

Because of this form, tried out 4lb pink Fireline yesterday. WOW! Compared to 10lb Spiderwire, we are getting a huge increase in casting distance - perhaps 50% under certain conditions. THANKS!

We use very very tiny vintage reels with very limited capacity. The 4 lb is a boon.

However, I also saw a gentleman using 14lb Fireline yesterday and it did not seem hardly much thicker than our 4 lb!

We'd love to use 6 or even 8lb just because we can purchase them in in 1000 yard spools.

Question: However, with 6 lb or 8 lb, how much % in line capacity reducation or casting distance would we see? Is the difference negligible or clearly noticeable?

This line capacity issues is very important due to our tiny spools.

Per the Fireline people, 4 lb .s .00615 inches and 6 lb is .00767 inches. That makes the 6lb 55% thicker by VOLUME. (Area of cross section) This suggest that the 6 lb will be considerably reduce the capacity of our tiny reels.

However, we trust the experience of the actual fishing community more than published numbers.

So....would appreciate any insight.

Thanks,
UL

ps: Sorry for the long post - guess I'm making the 1st post count. :)

[Shortlite]

You will lose caapacity: plain and simple fact. Reels hold less of a thicker line.

You will lose casting distance, especially with light lures. the thicker lines have more air resistance, and any retrieve or cast that puts a bow in your line will have the wind picking it up easily.

Can't tell you exactly or approximately how much of a reduction you'll get, but as a rodbuilder, the difference in performance can be comparatively measured casting two identical outfits, side by side, same conditions, same lure. The thinner line outcasts by a few metres.

[panger]

I use a small avenger 10 and can just fit a whole 125yd spool of 4lbs fireline on it. When I filled with 6lbs I had alot of line left over, I'm guessing about 1/3 to 1/2 left. I haven't respooled with the rest of the line so I'm not sure exactly how much is left over.

BTW 6lbs last a lot longer than 4lbs.

[Ultralight]

THANKS! That is exactly the information I needed. Looks like we'll stick with 4 lbs then, and that the rating of the thickness by Fireline is actually correct after all.

Thanks again - and welcome any other comments.
UL

[Richo]

Id stick with 4lb, it is actualy rated to break at around 11lb whereas 6lb is rated to something like 9lb, strange I know but supposedly correct - you`ll probably get less birds nests with 6 but 4 has been plenty for me..

cheers

[Shortlite]

Geez Richo, what 4 lb are you using? I find 4 lb breaks at around 7-8 lbs straight pull, and slightly less with a good knot. The 6 breaks at around 10 lbs, and my 8 breaks at 13.

Used the 4 when I was feeling crazy and wanted to do some line class record chasing. Then loked at some of the 8 lb class records and thought better of it.