i know questions on braid line has come up a bunch but i need help
i have fireline now and have had decent success with it. had a few knot breaks ( probably just bad ties) and the line is about a year old and i need to switch and put more on or buy new stuff. i just want to know what you guys have had best success. The line is going on a casting rod that i use for bass fishing and any bait fishing, alot of catfishing, i also use it a little bit for jigging and trolling from a boat with out downriggers just long lining.
what would you guys recommend for brand of line?
thanks
been fishing 14lb fireline crystal on two rods for three years now, mostly bass casting and wipers trolling, never had a break off on my main line and only one at my leader/main line knot (uni-to-uni knot).
Very happy with it and just put some 10lb crystal on my third rod.
I used fireline exclusively for over 10 years and loved it. Last year I tried Power Pro and now use it instead of Fireline. I like the Power pro better mainly because it holds it’s shape much better than Fireline and thus does not dig in on the spool nearly as much. It is also easier to tie knots with than Fireline. Just some personal observations.
Braid is pretty much braid. It is all Spectra. Some braids are flat, some are more round, so it all depends on what works best for you. Fireline is a ‘fused’ product while Power Pro is an actual braid. Each has different properties due to the construction of the line. Go with the one that seems to do the best for you. Remember, the smaller the diameter, the harder it is to use on a Baitcast reel and the stiffer the line, the harder to use on a Spinner. I don’t use much braid, but prefer the Power Pro for the few applications that I use it for, mainly topwater fishing for Stripers at Powell !!! For everything else, I am pretty much an old fashioned Mono man !!
I tried fireline and found that it can brake on hook sets on bigger bass.. And braid just seems to work better on bait caster reels..
I use fireline 8# on my lindy rods and fireline braid on my bottom bouncing rods. The fireline braid does not dig into my reel and is as tough as nails.
I haven’t used Fireline, but I have Power Pro on half a dozen rods and am a big fan. Mine are all spinning rods, but I’m sure it would treat you right on your casting gear.
I have used 14# and 10# for about 8 years now on spinning and bait casting reels I like the smoke better than the crystal but it is just preference. I have never had a line break at the knot so I have to ask. Are you using the polmar knot when you tie on? It is recommended you use it do to how slippery the line is.allot of people use the P-line but why fix something that is not broken I have had great success with fireline and use it on all my wiper fishing and trolling rods. good stuff I think.
I’ve used power-pro almost exclusively for a couple of years now. I put some version of spider-wire on one of my ultralight spinning rods because they had a 6 lb test version. I have power-pro on 3 baitcasting rods and several spinning rigs. The only real issue I’ve seen with it is that tangles are really hard to get out, especially on severe backlashes. I usually use a flourocarbon leader and I’ve only ever had it break at the knot.
I’ve never used any of the fused lines, so I can’t really comment on them.
Matt
This exact question has come up before, and it’s just like the old Chevy/Ford discussion. Both are good. However, I also have tried both and I like the Fireline better. I’ve used Fireline (14lb) now since 2004, and rarely do I replace it. Just due to use, I usually cut off a few feet before each trip when I retie to get the discolored and frayed portions out. Although, I’ve fished with the frays before and it has never affected it’s performance. Up until last month niether myself nor my brother have EVER had a mainline break with the Fireline. At Pelican a few weeks back, we had to pitch INTO the weeds and drag the basses over the top to get them back to the boat. A couple of times the fish would swim down and wrap the line around a weed. Most instances, we pulled ourselves AND the boat (with our Fireline!) over to the fish/weed and STILL got the fish, but a couple of times we actually broke off doing this. we suspect it was due to the abrasive action of the weeds and sticks we were pitching into, etc. Other than that, we’ve never had breakoffs. Once I get down to the point that I am casting into my backing…I buy new fireline and LEAVE THE OLD STUFF on, and just “add to it” with the new stuff. I’ve got some 8 year old fireline on a couple of my reels, and although it’s no longer bright yellow colored (looks more like dirty white), it is still just as strong as the day I bought it.
Now for the Power Pro story…Same lake (Pelican) 2007. On a whim and a suggestion, I spooled one of my reels with Power Pro. Glad I didn’t spool them all with it. The only reason I stopped using it that trip is because I ran out of it on the spool due to so many breakoffs pitching and dragging fish through the weeds. But unlike the Fireline, if the Power Pro even TOUCHED the edge of the boat, bottom of the boat, prop, motor, etc…it would breakoff. Fireline seems to be more durable in that aspect. Power Pro is just not as strong as the Fireline, in the conditions I use it in. It was a good experiment, and when I got home I unspooled the remaining 12 feet or so that I had left, and threw it away, then respooled with Fireline. I’ve never gone back since. The Fireline seems to withstand the abrasions a little better in my opinion. I’m sure just plain old straight pulling performance is probably equal pound for pound.
I’m sure others will have similar stories with opposite results. As stated at the top…both are good. I just prefer the Fireline.
Casting from a baitcast reel, the Fireline can give you fits if it’s wound too tight. Never tried Power Pro with a baitcast reel so I cannot comment on it’s casting performance. Spinning reels work great with both.
I use the 14lb Flurorescent Green (looks like chartruese/bright yellow/green) Fireline exclusevely, and it is spooled onto every single one of my fishing poles, except my Sturgeon and Mack poles. The sturgeon pole has 90 lb. poly line on it, and the Mack pole has 20lb SyperWire (based on a recommendation from a long time experienced fisherman for those fish).
Oh, my Bluegill pole just has regular 6 lb. Mono on it. Not Fireline. So I guess all but my Sturgeon, Mack and Bluegill poles use 14lb Fireline!