Stan Fagerstrom
05-08-2002, 11:27 AM
Part Two
A Bit About Braids
By Stan Fagerstrom
As I mentioned in my last column, some of the new super strong braided lines that hit the fishing scene a few years ago did so with lots of publicity. Some of those new lines just didn’t measure up to the claims made in their behalf. They weren’t, though some ads claimed otherwise, the answer to all fishing situations.
The acceptance of any new items of tackle, be it lines, leaders, lures or landing nets, is how well does it perform. Does it do a better job? Does it help catch fish? Unless time and experience provides an affirmative answer to those questions, a new product won’t be around long no matter how much advertising it gets at its introduction.
Some of the new braids that had reams of publicity are long gone. They didn’t work and they’ve disappeared. There are others, though not blessed with nearly so much publicity in the beginning, that are turning out to be strong sellers as more anglers around the country get a chance to try them. One of these lines is the subject of this column.
The braided line I’m talking about is called Power Pro. It was introduced in 1996 by a small company operating out of Grand Junction, Colorado. Remember what I said about performance being the key to a product’s acceptance? The Power Pro line story points up just how true this is.
http://www.ifish.net/sfpowp.jpg
Power Pro braided lines have been enjoying increasing popularity among anglers all over the country.
These lines have managed to eliminate many of the problems that plagued
the new braids when they were first introduced.
“We just didn’t have the bucks to make a big splash advertising-wise going in,” says Bill Wallace, the Power Pro sales manager. “Some fishermen had already been turned off where braided lines were concerned. About the only thing we could do in the beginning was give our product to key people around the country to try to get them to try it.”
Today Power Pro braided line is selling well all over the world. “The acceptance has been incredible,” Wallace says. “We just keep growing like crazy. We started from scratch and we’ve come close to doubling our sales each year since we started.”
So just what is the difference in Power Pro braids compared to some of those older, highly publicized types that are no longer even on the tackle shelves? There are a number of them. If you tried some of the new braids early on, you undoubtedly had some of the same problems I had with mine. Those lines were flat. They tended to bury themselves on the reel spool. They were so flat and limp they were forever wrapping around a rod tip or guides. They were so easy to backlash. On some you were advised to use glues because the knots wouldn’t hold without it.
The Power Pro folks produced a product with a lot less problems. Company officials call the process “Enhanced Body Technology.” Examine one of their lines and you’ll see that it rounder in shape. That improves its castability and reduces the chances of the line burying itself on the spool. Some of the old braided lines had a skin coating of sorts. The manufacturing process used in Power Pro goes all the way through the line. As a result it absorbs less water and has improved abrasion resistance.
“Some people who were turned off by the first braids they tried,” Wallace says, “are now among our regular customers. Once they tried Power Pro, they realized the kind of benefits it provided.”
http://www.ifish.net/sfpowp1.jpg
Because Power Pro line is so small in diameter, it's possible to use it to throw your favorite bass lures with it. You'll also have sufficient line strength to handle a big one
like the one Stan holds here when it comes along.
This excellent line was formerly available in only two colors. They were white or moss green. This year the product is also being marketed in a yellow shade. The yellow line is highly visible and that can be a really big asset in certain fishing situations.
One such situation is when you’re flipping or pitching into heavy cover for bass early or late in the day. Often the only way you’ll know if a fish picks up is by a slight twitch of your line. That high visibility yellow, especially under low light conditions, is a whole lot easier to see and watch.
You can, and some do, knot a short length of clear monofilament to the end of your braided line. That way you still have a clear line down there where the fish are, but with the high visibility yellow up on top so it’s easier to know what’s going on down below.
Today these lines are available in tests ranging from 10 to 250-pounds. When you purchase a spool of Power Pro, you’ll find it comes with a folder which, among other things, pictures the recommended knots to use with it. It also shows how they are properly tied. Pay attention to what that folder says and shows. I’ve never had a problem with my Power Pro knots. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and neither will you.
Finally, don’t be dismayed if you note that your Power Pro braided line fades with use. This line, like some of the others does that, but the fading doesn’t affect the line’s qualities.
As I said in the beginning, the new braided lines aren’t necessarily the best for all fishing situations. But for some they can’t be beat. If you’ve been disappointed in those braids you’ve used so far, try Power Pro. You might up joining the many anglers around the country who have already done so and are delighted with it.
A Bit About Braids
By Stan Fagerstrom
As I mentioned in my last column, some of the new super strong braided lines that hit the fishing scene a few years ago did so with lots of publicity. Some of those new lines just didn’t measure up to the claims made in their behalf. They weren’t, though some ads claimed otherwise, the answer to all fishing situations.
The acceptance of any new items of tackle, be it lines, leaders, lures or landing nets, is how well does it perform. Does it do a better job? Does it help catch fish? Unless time and experience provides an affirmative answer to those questions, a new product won’t be around long no matter how much advertising it gets at its introduction.
Some of the new braids that had reams of publicity are long gone. They didn’t work and they’ve disappeared. There are others, though not blessed with nearly so much publicity in the beginning, that are turning out to be strong sellers as more anglers around the country get a chance to try them. One of these lines is the subject of this column.
The braided line I’m talking about is called Power Pro. It was introduced in 1996 by a small company operating out of Grand Junction, Colorado. Remember what I said about performance being the key to a product’s acceptance? The Power Pro line story points up just how true this is.
http://www.ifish.net/sfpowp.jpg
Power Pro braided lines have been enjoying increasing popularity among anglers all over the country.
These lines have managed to eliminate many of the problems that plagued
the new braids when they were first introduced.
“We just didn’t have the bucks to make a big splash advertising-wise going in,” says Bill Wallace, the Power Pro sales manager. “Some fishermen had already been turned off where braided lines were concerned. About the only thing we could do in the beginning was give our product to key people around the country to try to get them to try it.”
Today Power Pro braided line is selling well all over the world. “The acceptance has been incredible,” Wallace says. “We just keep growing like crazy. We started from scratch and we’ve come close to doubling our sales each year since we started.”
So just what is the difference in Power Pro braids compared to some of those older, highly publicized types that are no longer even on the tackle shelves? There are a number of them. If you tried some of the new braids early on, you undoubtedly had some of the same problems I had with mine. Those lines were flat. They tended to bury themselves on the reel spool. They were so flat and limp they were forever wrapping around a rod tip or guides. They were so easy to backlash. On some you were advised to use glues because the knots wouldn’t hold without it.
The Power Pro folks produced a product with a lot less problems. Company officials call the process “Enhanced Body Technology.” Examine one of their lines and you’ll see that it rounder in shape. That improves its castability and reduces the chances of the line burying itself on the spool. Some of the old braided lines had a skin coating of sorts. The manufacturing process used in Power Pro goes all the way through the line. As a result it absorbs less water and has improved abrasion resistance.
“Some people who were turned off by the first braids they tried,” Wallace says, “are now among our regular customers. Once they tried Power Pro, they realized the kind of benefits it provided.”
http://www.ifish.net/sfpowp1.jpg
Because Power Pro line is so small in diameter, it's possible to use it to throw your favorite bass lures with it. You'll also have sufficient line strength to handle a big one
like the one Stan holds here when it comes along.
This excellent line was formerly available in only two colors. They were white or moss green. This year the product is also being marketed in a yellow shade. The yellow line is highly visible and that can be a really big asset in certain fishing situations.
One such situation is when you’re flipping or pitching into heavy cover for bass early or late in the day. Often the only way you’ll know if a fish picks up is by a slight twitch of your line. That high visibility yellow, especially under low light conditions, is a whole lot easier to see and watch.
You can, and some do, knot a short length of clear monofilament to the end of your braided line. That way you still have a clear line down there where the fish are, but with the high visibility yellow up on top so it’s easier to know what’s going on down below.
Today these lines are available in tests ranging from 10 to 250-pounds. When you purchase a spool of Power Pro, you’ll find it comes with a folder which, among other things, pictures the recommended knots to use with it. It also shows how they are properly tied. Pay attention to what that folder says and shows. I’ve never had a problem with my Power Pro knots. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and neither will you.
Finally, don’t be dismayed if you note that your Power Pro braided line fades with use. This line, like some of the others does that, but the fading doesn’t affect the line’s qualities.
As I said in the beginning, the new braided lines aren’t necessarily the best for all fishing situations. But for some they can’t be beat. If you’ve been disappointed in those braids you’ve used so far, try Power Pro. You might up joining the many anglers around the country who have already done so and are delighted with it.