Merry Christmas All,
I have been wondering if the pros have been testing any of the improved fishing lines and what they think? I have two lakes that get pretty weedy and I would like to not need a line that i can use only on those lakes. Well what's the buzz on lines?
Reeler

Makes two of us!
I have a lot of Fireline left, and still use it when the situation calls for it.
Also quite a bit of Stren, Trilene, SilverThread and misc other spools of line. Most of it given to me by guys who are sponsored.

But, I still would like an updated review of what's out now. I like the superbraids/Fireline and similar for the feel. At my age I need every advantage I can get for feel.

But how are the new Flourocarbons doing? The new Co-polymers, Etc.

I have been using Berkley Vanish Transition flourocarbon lately. It has a real good feel to it, and you can see it very well above the surface, but it really is almost invisible in the water. I really like it.

Scott

How is the vanish for abrasiveness around wood and rocks? How good is it cuting through weedy areas?

Reeler

How you guys fish with Vanish is beyond me. I hate the stuff and only use it as a leader. My all time favorite is Spiderline Fusion. Covers all my needs, I've even caught Muskie with it. If I'm missing out on something let me know. Carl

It has been fine so far. You just turn your drag down a little,(because it has very little stretch) and it has worked well. I throw it verywhere on 2 of my reels.

The same has been said of Fireline, while most Bass guys around here hate the stuff the Crappie, Walleye and some Catfish people love it.

I like it, a lot, for some situations, such as Carolina, Texas and limited Flipping/Pitching fishing. And often with topwaters that are fished at distance, such as with a Zara Spook. It makes it more difficult to work a Spook, true, but I love the lack of stretch when the bait is way out there.
But not for cranking, spinner baits or a number of other baits/methods.

I am a strong believer in using a line type where applicable, IMHO no line type will do everything equally.

If you were around when I was a kid learning how to fish you'd be amazed at how far fishing line has come from the "good ole days".

The best line that I have come across is the Stren Magnaflex. I fish weeds and lots of stumps and rocks. I have found that this line has great abbrasian resistance. It also casts a mile and you will not have to replace it near as much. I have never had a fish break off w/ this line. When I am hung up I can't get the line to break. I usually end up cutting it. Hope everyone is having successful fishing.

I have used many brands of line some good some bad. Heres my 2 cents worth:
Flourocarbon = line snap
Fireline or most any brand of braid = great for slop rods. Other than my (braid) slop rods, every other rod is equipped with Trilene XL or XT. I have never had any problems with Trilene. I have used gamakatsu co-polymer G line and give it praise as well. After many years of trial and error the choices are clear now.

Trilene or G line both solid choices!

Bassin
Butch

Yo Zuri Hybrid soft formula....try it!!

Just give me plain ole Stren Easy Cast in the brown (coffee) color. Just a confidence factor in most cases. Guess I haven't really found a "superline" that I trust yet. Some snap when jerked, some won't hold a knot and sometimes I feel the fish use the non-stretch aspect to help them throw baits. I did use Gorilla Braid for some time, but grew tired of the jar-from hard hooksets into everything but a fish. Feeling every little pebble on the bottom is great, but can add to a lot of unneccesary hooksets.

Well I was reaading old posts and thought that this could use a add on. I have used some power pro after reaading post on the site. It is good in the weeds and casted well. I have it on 2 flipping rods and some spining rods tha i use in the weedy lakes. I think budget can stop fishermen limited in line selection. It is tuff to fork over the cost for braid and floro to give it a try, so they stick with mono. It can be costly to stay with the top equipment and tackle but as I am reminded from time to time, cheaper stuff is still great fun.

RW-reeler

I read someone's post on a line they use from Cabelas. Ripcord was it's name, so I went and checked it out. I almost fainted. 23.00 to 85.00 for 150 yards. Even though I consider my line a little pricy, I'll stick with it. Carl

I'm a Power Pro fan too! I have it on just about all my reels now. Using the Braid with a mono or fluro leader is awsome way to fish.
I first started using it because of the great reviews it was getting by worm fishermen. The feel of this stuff is great. Then I realized how much money I was saving becuase I did not have to change it out as often as mono. In clear water it works just as well when you tie on about a two to three foot leader of mono or fluro line. Just remember to adjust you drag or you will break off quite often (lesson learned there).

Hi Conley. I just bought some power pro, a line I had never used before. Like the feel and diamiter. Tied on an 8lb Transition leader; will remember that drag. Sunday we'll be fishing stumps and timber. Hope 10lb with 8lb will hold up. Couldn't get the line and test I wanted. Good luck, Carl

You will like it just adjust that drap so when you set the hook that it slips a bit. TRY to remember (I had a hard time doing this myself) You dont have to cross thier eyes with the power pro just a quick snap of the wrist will bury the hook. Don't and I repeat Don't grab the line to try and get it unhung from the stumps or it will cut you. Get you a small piece of dowl rod and wrap it around the rod to pull on the line. (lesson learned there too)

Oh yes and when spooling it onto the reel Leave some of the old Mono on the spool then put you a peice of electrical tape over were you tied the two lines together and then spool it onto the reel. This helps in two ways One: it keeps the Power Pro from slipping on the spool and Two: it keeps it from barring in on itself when you do hang it up and make backlashes alot easier to get out..

Good luck and let me know how you like it..

Good stuff Conley. You're right about the super lines, they will cut you, found out the hard way as usual . Good tip on setting the hook too. I have snapped a rod with a hard hookset until I learned better.

I would like to use a leader more but have not found a strong and easy not for connecting two lines directly. Throw me a bone on some knots to try.

I would like to use a leader more but have not found a strong and easy not for connecting two lines directly. Throw me a bone on some knots to try.

There are 3 knots for tying on leaders, at least that I'm aware of. Blood knot, double-uni, and surgens knot. There are probably more. I've decided to change some things this year and using leaders is one of them. I've always been reluctant, since I lost a tourney because I hadn't retied, and lost "the Big One". That leader knot is the weakest part of the line, so it's "critical" as Linder likes to say to tie it correctly. Common sense I guess, but I've had fits trying to tie them on the water with the wind. Someone just recently posted a site that shows how to tie them. If needed I have 3 or 4 sites that I've booked marked, that I can post. Good fishing, Carl
Ps. www.animatedknots.com

Carl, you're right it's very hard to tie knots when it's windy and especially when in a tournament, I get in too big a hurry. That's why I use snaps so I don't have to re-tie when I change lures.

On the conecting knots I use the uni to uni on mine and Have not had a problem or breaking.

Tying two lines together?

Double Uni as has been said. Used it for years, learned it well when I fished salt water.

Line to baits? Polomar, switched to it from the improved clinch. Better knot all round, slightly stronger, easier to tie under all conditions, I've gotten to so I can tie it in the dark by feel.

I do use 'bass snaps myself, but only for hard baits. For spinnerbait, worm, jig Etc? Polomar

I've loaded my crappie rigs with both Fireline and Flourocarbon. Going to use them side by side, do my own wet testing.

Richard.