I realize this has been asked before but-----------.
I’m looking to replace my fishing line on my spinning reels. Am looking for light tackle, spinning, 6# test, medium/light action rod, abrasion resistant, reasonably invisible in Utah waters, limp/castable, with heavy use. What’s the latest recommendations/opinions?
Tube Dude - are you still recommending Silver Thread Excalibur?
[unsure]Leaky
i like trilene xl i have had great luck with it and i am hard on line and reels and trilene xl has been great this year
You might want to consider trying some P-Line Floroclear.
Tomegun started using it on some of his reels so I gave it a try and used it this past Tuesday and Wednesday when we were on the Snake River.
So far I like it. I had Sportman’s put it on since they have it on bulk spools. Much more abrasion resistant than Vanish. It combines copolymer and fluorocarbon technologies. Its knot strength is good and the technology makes it a good durable line. Casts well and smaller diameter too. I also noticed I had less line twist.
I’ve really liked my Stren Magnathin on my med. light spinning rod. The 8 lb. line only has the diameter of 6 lb. line, 6 has diameter of 4 etc.
It is sensitive, and casts well, and not too expensive.
Senkonate
p-line is my favorite line,
jed
Mr. Tube Dude talked me into trying Silver Thread Excalibur a couple years ago.
I’ve been using it ever since.
My line takes a lot of abuse in the rocks at Lincoln beach, and from toothy critters. It has low memory, just the right amount of stretch, and holds knots real well. And it doesn’t seem to break down from UV light as fast as Stren and Trilene.
walleyebob
Yes, Leaky, the Excalibur is still my line of choice. After six years, I have never had a fish break the line nor has a knot ever failed with it.
As WalleyeBob has also discovered (and several others who have tried it), it is one of the better lines for abrasion resistance. I converted when I began having flathead cats chew through other lines and never lost one on the Excalibur.
Just as importantly, is that it DOES hold up to high heat and UV rays (in Arizona), and does not develop memory (coils and boil-off) even after several trips on the water.
It seems we all have our favorite lines, mostly based on the type of tackle we use and the type of fishing we do. Different lines have different properties that make them better for certain kinds of fishing. So, it doesn’t usually mean that one line is universally better than another, and you can often spend a lot more than you need to in order to get a good line.
I have spooled up with just about every kind of line that has come on the market, in my eternal quest for the “perfect” line. There are lots of good ones out there, but there are also some that should be sued for misrepresentation…or for grand theft fishing.
I will say that none of my failed experiments has been a net loss in expense. The ones I don’t like are relegated to my “top shot” drawer. I use them to spool up the first two thirds of a new spool. Then I “top shot” the last 75 to 100 yards with the Excalibur.
For most fishing, top-shotting is good. It helps insure that you respool frequently, as you wear down the line you use the most. Most people do not respool often enough, and even the best lines need to be replaced frequently under heavy use.
On the other hand, if you are going to be fishing for large fish that are capable of making long runs…or if you are trolling with a long line…you should fill your whole spool with your line of choice in order to avoid potentially disastrous results if you go past the knot with a big fish. Even the best knots are not as strong as a continuous quality line, without knots.
So, I do not take the opinionated stance that there is only one good line. I simply state that I prefer the Silver Thread Excalibur. It has proven itself to me, and that’s what counts.
Hey TD what is top-shotting?How do you do it? Also are you in Utah yet?
Quick question for Tube Dude… Do you buy the line in bulk and put on the reel yourself, or do you have the store (sportsmans etc. ) do it ?? I am getting ready to put new line on my two spin reals. Thanks
Following TubeDude’s recommendation, I tried Silver Thread Excalibur (6 and 30 pound) and found it to excellent fishing line, and extremely abrasion resistant. I also recently purchased some Cajun Red fishing line (8 and 10 pound), and so far I have liked it also. I purchased all of them in bulk from Cabela’s. I did have one minor frustration with the Silver Thread. While I was respooling a reel I got it about 75% respooled when the line ended in the middle of the spool. I didn’t realize that large spools were not always one continuous spool of line.
**Hey Icefool, topshotting is just a fancy term for topping off a partially filled spool of line. Some folks do it just to finish filling up a spool, so that they can cast better. **
For anglers who spend extra bucks for premium lines, and never fish more than about fifty or sixty feet of it at the end, it is wasteful to fill the whole 250 yard reel spool with the higher priced stuff. So, it is cheaper and just as effective to spool up partially with less expensive line and then “top-shot” the “working” end of the line with the good stuff. How much you use of the good line is up to you. I use more on light line…in case of hooking big fish that want to run…and less on heavier line that I use for bass or other fish that do not make long runs.
There are two things to keep in mind when joining your best line to your “backing”. First, the backing should be about the same rated strength and diameter as the working line. It makes for better joining knots. Second, join the two lines with a good blood knot. Tie it carefully and moisten it before you slip it tight to avoid weakening it from friction and heat. Trim off the tag ends close to the knot, and when you are winding it on the reel, position the joining knot at the bottom of the spool. This helps reduce the chance of your line catching on the knot if you make a long cast. But, by the time your good working line wears down to that point, it is time to strip off the old topshot and add some new stuff.
As I have been known to say before, always buy the best line you can afford. It is false economy to try to save a few cents per spool on line. That is the ultimate link between you and the fish, and it is probably the cheapest part of fishing on a per trip basis. Why spend the time and money to go to a good spot, pay the fees to get in, tie on an expensive lure and then have a big fish pop your line because it was either old or poor quality…or both.
Top-shotting is just one way to have the best of both worlds. You can fish good line, but you don’t have to spend the big bucks to fill a whole reel spool every time you change line.
**PS,Not in Utah yet. Will be moving by end of July. If we survive the move, looking forward to putting you in a float tube and seeing if we can convert you.
**
Hey chayden, yes I do buy my own spools and fill my own reels. The Excalibur comes in 300 yd. and 1000 yd. spools. I buy both, depending on line diameter and what kind of fishing I plan to do. I get the 300 yard spools for “top shotting”. I use about 75 to a 100 yards each time I change line, so I get 3 to 4 refills from a 300 yard spool. At $6.99 per spool (Cabelas) that means that I spend about $2 per refill, and probably get 6 to 10 trips per refill. Not much expense for the peace of mind of being able to have confidence in your line.
The spool filling service offered at quality tackle emporiums is great for those who do not know how to do it properly. And, it needs to be done right, or you will have problems with line twist (with spinning reels). Most of us learn quickly that a new spool of line can create lots of grief and frustration if we have to fight “boil off”
Filling your own reels is simple, once you learn how. Kinda like brain surgery. But, unlike brain surgery, filling your own spools is something you can do for yourself.
If you fill a revolving spool reel (baitcast), you set up the spool of new line on a nail and reel the line off the spool so that the spool revolves. Adding some tension to keep the line spool from overrevolving is suggested.
Filling a spinning reel is different. The bail rotates in only one direction, so you must be sure that the line comes off the line spool in the right way, or it will create twists in the line. Lay the line spool flat and start reeling slowly. Watch the line for the beginning of any twists. If you do not see any twists, you are doing it right. If twists start to form, flip the line spool over and take the line off the other way. Make a note of which side of the line spool should face up, for future reference.
Is that what you wanted to know? Too much?
Thanks for the feedback, sound like riding a bike, once your there, your there. Hope you get out and have a great weekend fishing.
here’s a guy on ebay selling excalibur silver thread 4lb, 8 lb, 20 lb, 25 lb
$4 + 1.50 postage for 300 yard spool if anybody’s interested - is that a good deal?
go to www.ebay.com and search for item numbers:
4 - 3687264592
8 - 3687264647
20 - 3687264580
25 - 3687264587
sm
Hey SM, there’s no denying the price is good. The only question I would have is how old is the line. If the guy bought a closeout of three year old stuff, it would not be as good of a bargain. I don’t know how long the “shelf life” of Excalibur is, but I suspect that fresher is better.
There are a lot of good bargains to be had in fishing tackle on Ebay. Something like known brands, makes and models of rods, reels and lures are okay to get there, because they are not prone to declining with age…in unused condition. As I recall, you have scored some good deals on jigs and lures.
Like Kenofnsl stated about Cajun Red Line. Cajun Red Line is available at Smith & Edwards in Peery. It is supose to be the most invisible line on the market. The color red disapears under water about 3 feet or so.
Thanks guys and TD,
Put in an order for Silver Thread Ex. which seems that I can’t go wrong with. Wish Sportsman’s carried it. The “Red cajun” sounds interesting, especially since Smith and Ewards carries it.
[:)]Leaky
cajun red fishing line 1850 yds 6 lb test - $12.50 delivered to your door
goto www.ebay.com and search for item number 3687699825
sm
in response to “ive never had a fish break it” you know what that means dont you? it means tube dude isnt picking up on the big fish. i guess thats why he is coming back to utah right?? lol, tube dude you know im just playing ith ya, i know as well as just about everyone in here, you ten times the fisherman as a lot of us
**Hey FB2, thanks fer the kindly comments. **
About not catching big fish…well, let me tall ya a thang er two. I landed a biggun t’other day that I released unharmed after taking a pic or two. It was so big that the digital pic weighed five pounds. Unfortunately, it got to floppin’ around in the computer and erased itself from my hard drive. Otherwise, I woulda shared it here on this forum…where nobody stretches the truth.
Seriously, when I make the claim that I have not broken off any fish on the Excalibur, that does not mean that a few have not helped arrange their “long line release” by wrapping me in snags or cutting me off on dock pilings or whatever. But, the line has never broken under stress or abrasion during even an epic battle.
I look forward to some tubin’ trips with you and your dad. You guys need to help me relearn Deer Creek. I used to put a mark on the water whenever I found a good spot, but I am sure that those marks have all worn off by now. And the marks I put on the side of my tube won’t work either. I have gone through about twenty or more different craft since the last time I tubed DC. The tubes I made the marks on to help me remember where to fish have all been wored out or “downloaded” onto someone else. Know anyone who might be fishing in a “preowned” TubeDude craft?