Braid choice

[Stu_000]

Ok I've been reading threads until my eyes bled and still the choices are baffling. Need some imput from people using the various brands out there. Most of the threads are a bit stale now anyway.

To be frank;

1. I'm off fireline
2. Bass hard etc - no way I'm paying $60+ to spool once (5 reels, 10 spools - you do the maths)
3. Leaning toward the Fins PRT or the new suffix

So thoughts on braids priced reasonably?

[BIG PETE]

i spooled up my stradic with suffix a few months back been very happy seems to cast a bit better than fire line and has kept its colour well to

[Doc_Hollywood]

STu i am with you with the cost of line systems. Saying that most guys i know that use it get the 150 meter spool halve it or even into thirds. I have yet to see a bream pull 50 meters of line. Plus i reckon a 30 meter cast is an exception, so i think you would be right.

[Angel]

Stu I use both the fins and the bass hard braids and i like them both, I would probably lean towards the fins as i have had less trouble with it.

[Shane]

I'm still using the platy 2lb from prize packs. Very nice line till it decides it starts wanting to pull line from several layers lower during casts. Just need to more often whip out a cast to re lay the line. But I am in the same boat, looking for some nice braid to redo another spool so an interesting thread. I was actually thinking going back to fireline, I have less hassles with it.

[Stu_000]

Fireline has been pretty good to me but I'm over the wind knots and the fact that it fluffs up over time. After each outing you have to cut off a couple of metres at least to find some undamaged line.

Also after a braid with a rounder profile - another drawback for fireline.

Anyone else using the Fins PRT? I'm leaning that way

Pete do you have a pic of the packet from the suffix?

[Shortlite]

Well, i've been on the braid bandwagon for a while, not always fishing UL, but I've seen a few brands.

Stren Super Braid 8 lb: I must have been lucky, and gotten a good spool: heard nothing but trash about it afterwards. My experiences were quite good. Shed colour a lot though.

FINS 4lb and 10 lb: Good stuff, 'niff said. Sheds a lot of dye off the bat, but settles quickly. Loses colour a bit. Strong, especially in 10 lb and up. 4 lb was nice and thin cast a mile. Pretty strong, but low abrasion resistance.

Fireline 4,6,8,10,14,20: Used this before the true braids. Good once worn in, then fluffs dramatically, cutting casting distance. Loses colour big time. Digs in under load a lot more than rounder braids. 4 and 6 need a double to prevent cutting leader when tyine leader knots.

Nitlon 6, 8: Current line. Pretty good, pretty good. Colour is pretty fast. Good strength, abrasion and knot strength. I like it.

Next to test: Sufix performance braid.
Was debating whether to put in Fireline, but meh! Also used some old obscure stuff named Dynon 3000 way back in the day: a true braid, round, ahead of its time, in white. Responsible for my PB pike, a 21 lb FW shark. Very limp, tangles were a Beehatch.

[Superduperman]

I was very happy with my Sufix Matrix Pro...until a few weeks ago. I went 6 months without a wind knot, then managed 4 in one session and i'eve ben havng trouble ever since..I'm looking at 6lb Nitlon for my next line.

[Stu_000]

I've read a few threads re nitlon and most of the feedback has been negative

[Dodgy back]

Just to get slightly off the subject , but still relevent.

Quite a few have mentioned the dreaded "wind knot",

Do you feel that you get more wind knots with a Shimano ie: stradic 1000 as opposed to a Diawa.

I have only used fireline 2, 4 & 6 lb and don't have a problem with the fading or fluffing of it.

I just figured the constant use causes it.

To combat the "wind knots" in the Stradic I have under spooled it and found that the wind knots have reduced.

With my Diawas , they are fully spooled and only get the rare knots.

What are your thoughts ?

Cheers Mick

[Superduperman]

Originally posted by Dodgy back
Do you feel that you get more wind knots with a Shimano ie: stradic 1000 as opposed to a Diawa.

I've found it's more to do with the line and how you handle it. If you spend all day casting light plastics around then expect wind knots, if you give a big cast and wind the line back under tension every so often then you should be alright. Really soft lines like Matrix Pro are more likley to knot up because they are soo limp, whereas a 'stiffer' line like new Fins will not.

[Hooked]

Finn's PRT for me Stu...tested it for sometime now and cant fault it...my thumb's up.

Steve

[BIG PETE]

Originally posted by Stu_000

Pete do you have a pic of the packet from the suffix?

i dont sorry fella i had to chuck it out didnt want the cook knowing i spent more money on fishing gear

[cambo]

fireline similar issues to others ie wind knots,fluffing, and line cutting into the spool.

nitlon-was very limp and supple but tended towards the most evil wind knots, that were undoable, unless upmost care was taken. I was less than impressed with losing long sections of line on the occasions that I missed a slight loose loop in the spool, or the wind decided to gust at the wrong time. I also found, as have others that it tended to snap inexplicably mid line at the most inopportune moments! The two thumping skippy lost down south and lures lost to weed snags resulted in me having very little confidence in it.

Spooled up with 4lb fins recently-love it, strong,thin and casts a mile, the one or two wind knots that I thought I had undid themselves as I was reeling the line in. Stress free and thoroughly recommended.

[Stu_000]

Just to add another player I have been recommended Rapala braid (blue one) from an angler over east. Anyone have any comments on this? It has changed since it was Squidgy Braid a few years ago.