Need some opinions on newtypes of fishing lines?

Haftafish · 10-10-2002, 07:08 AM

I need some help with the new technology in fishing lines. Having abandoned my salmon and steelhead rods and reels for flyfishing gear I now want to reload all my level winds with new line for fall chinook and steelhead. What is the good lines to use for both and what about leader material? They didn't make spider wire and tuff line then so its all new to me. I have six garcia reels two shimano's and rods to match. Any suggestions would be great.

[ 10-10-2002, 08:45 AM: Message edited by: Haftafish ]

fishuntr2 · 10-10-2002, 12:20 PM

Haftafish, I'm surprised people haven't jumped all over this yet....There have been discussions and comments before...I am a happy camper using Power-Pro, it is a round braid that won't dig into your spool like some others. I am using 30 lb, but am upgrading to 50lb because 30 is so small diameter it is a pain at times wrapping rod tips and spreaders and thicker leader lines. The high vis Power pro fades kind of fast but still is more visible than the stock green. There are a lot of Tuf-line users that are happy with that product also. Those are the only 2 braids I am familiar with. The main advantage to braids is superior strength to diameter ratio and ZERO stretch. Fishing the Columbia in deep waters, you have a lot less current drag than similar rated mono so end up using less weight to hold your lure/bait in place. BRAIDS RULE. As far as leaders...I only fish with 25 or 40 lb quality mono, but am not fishing rivers/streams with high visibility waters.

Haftafish · 10-10-2002, 12:24 PM

Thank you for the information. I admit I thought I might pick up more info on this subject as I need to get down to my local tackle store and load up my reels. I will be fishing the Wilson mostly but will do the Clack this winter for steelhead. Thanks again.

Haftafish · 10-10-2002, 12:44 PM

by the way do you know fish hunter?

He is a friend of mine.

FEAR NO FISH! · 10-10-2002, 12:52 PM

Haftafish,
Take a long look at YO-ZURI hybrid line. I have been using it on my trolling rods in 20lb test. I really like it.

crabbait · 10-10-2002, 01:02 PM

Tuf line rules. For bobber fishing I use the 50lb or 80lb. The line floats and does not stretch. Get the black and white. Load the reel with the drag as tight as you can get it and keep a lot of tension on the line. I have never had a problem with line burying on the spool using this technique and have useed tuf for years. You will never go back to mono.

wetaline · 10-10-2002, 01:05 PM

I've used power pro, tuf line, and whiplash is by far my favorite......

Hogmaster · 10-10-2002, 01:09 PM

I can't believe this!

How about, "Hey, baby, nice waders!"

:grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

fishguy · 10-10-2002, 01:10 PM

I'd have to say that tufline is my favorite. It doesn't seem to wrap around rod tips as easily and the green color is perfect.

skrimmy · 10-10-2002, 01:10 PM

Tuf Line or Power Pro, I like em both. They're both 100% Spectra and about half the diameter of Mono, plus no stretch. I fish with 65# myself, just make sure you spool it on pretty tightly and learn the right knots to use. A Palomar or Uni knot works well. don't even think about trying the old clinch knot that you're probably used to tying with Mono. Just make sure not to tick off those mono users around you! Tuf line cuts through them pretty easily, you can imagine the different scenarios you could encounter, so I won't start any bankie vs boater wars!

[ 10-10-2002, 02:13 PM: Message edited by: skrimmy ]

garyk · 10-10-2002, 01:28 PM

How about this new-fangled stuff on spinning reels?

I'm currenly using FireLine on both spinning reels (12# for light weight casting casting) and 20# on the levelwinds for trolling.

I see no one mentioned this brand - does it su*k compared to your favorites?

FEAR NO FISH! · 10-10-2002, 01:39 PM

6 and 8 pound fireline on my bass and walleye rods. Have had many steelies come unpinned with the 20 pound fireline and a little too much drag. The rod loads up so fast and they hit the lure so hard that stuff happens. We have really increased our hook up ratio while pulling vortexes with that yo-zuri hybrid flurocarbon line. Sometimes a little more stretch is a good thing.

boater · 10-10-2002, 05:30 PM

my opinion of the new line is this, its all junk, save your money and use mono.

TheRogue · 10-10-2002, 05:38 PM

A straightforward opinion from boater, as usual

It has it's place!! Fantastic for anywhere smaller diameter and/or lower stretch is good. The cat's meow for sturgeon fishing big lead and water. Fantastic for detecting subtle takes (no stretch). I personally don't really like it for most trolling for salmon, kinda rather have the stretch. It's nice to have a little bit of give in the line around the boat. I think it would be good for like Bouy 10 or the ocean, with big divers and pulling hard.

I think if you use the braided, it pays to bump down an action in your rod....that way the rod is a little more forgiving, since the line isn't.

My .02

TR

Haftafish · 10-10-2002, 06:43 PM

I really appreciate all of the info given. It has made it a lot easier to make an informed decision on line choice. Thanks to all of you. Tight Lines and many limits.

Dan9113 · 10-11-2002, 07:21 AM

65or 80# power pro hivis for bobber fishing. 35# tuffline works great for plugs, etc for the river steelhead fishing. Must be thinking as you can snap leaders quite quickly.

abercrombie · 10-11-2002, 07:36 AM

I've been using tuf line for quite a while, started with spider wire up in the islands... love it.. there is no stretch, its much lighter, casts like it's attached to a rocket... you have to learn how to set the hook all over again, otherwise you rip their lips off.. I use a backing on my reels when I load them... 100lb tuf line on my sturgeon rods, and have had to cut it loose once up near Beacon Rock..

[ 10-11-2002, 08:37 AM: Message edited by: abercrombie ]

Tilla · 10-11-2002, 12:17 PM

I sure wish I had put the Power Pro on my wifes reel better. The line dug down and 40 lb leader snapped last week. She brings up the subject almost every day." I sure wish I saw what was on the end of my line". Sheesh, yes dear. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

tailchaser · 10-11-2002, 12:27 PM

It all really depends on how you're fishing to determine the best types of line to use. I personally have several different rod setups that go with me. Salmon: 1 rod has 30 lb spiderwire (equivalent to 40 lb test easily) and I use it for trolling, bobbers, and pulling plugs. Then I have a seperate one for driftfishing that has 20 lb mono. Granted on all of these I use a mono leader regardless of the mainline.

Steelhead: One levelwind with 10 lb spiderwire used only for bobber fishing, and one spinning rod for driftfishing with mono on it.

Seems to be a great combination for all environments. Just my .02

tc

excuse me · 10-11-2002, 12:48 PM

Despite some of those negatives like super braid line tendancy to wrap around the rodtip when it slacks, this line really rocks! Power Pro and the newest Tuf Line Plus are right among the best of them. The Fire Line is good also and is excellent for spinning reels like Power Pro is.

The no stretch property of these lines was mentioned above. But you should try drift fishing and back bouncing with it to really appreciate just how good it is. If you think your loomis GL3 is sensative for drift fishing with mono line you will be surprized at the improved bite feel with any decent graphite rod with the newest braids on them. Better than a $300 rod with the best mono's. When back bouncing with this stuff the thin diameter allows at least 1 ounce less weight to get you tapping bottom, and the pick up and set down is much easier to do without stretch, with less snag ups because of the better feel and instant lead pick up.

This thin diameter makes for good plugging and diver/bait fishing because it gets your lures deeper per amount of line out, and sometimes you don't have much time or length of water to let out much line. Its mainly good for plugging for chinooks because it is so strong when still so thin. The 30 lb. and 40 lb. stuff gets deep and is plenty strong for big chinooks. It helps to have a flexible rodtip and having the drag set lighter to help absorb the harder strikes. Keeping it wound on your reel firmly allows great casting ability too. Just great stuff.

sinker · 10-11-2002, 10:24 PM

Fish a couple of glacier fed rivers up here that are nothing but round rocks on the bottom. used to lose ALOT of gear. Switched to 50 lb Tuff Line this year. Only lost a couple rigs so far. Straightened a couple hooks out on submerged logs though :grin:

I ain't going back to mono for the rivers.

NAUTI-NOTIONS · 10-11-2002, 11:16 PM

Power pro. is there any else?
the only down fall ,if to want to call it that is it really likes to wrap around the rod tip, alot.
Sam

10-12-2002, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by boater:
my opinion of the new line is this, its all junk, save your money and use mono.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Gee boater why don't you tell us how you really feel? Have you used any of this line? If so then why do you think it is junk? Since you have spoken in such absolutes please enlighten us novices :tongue:

10-13-2002, 12:36 PM

Thus sayeth boater...... :grin:

I happen to disagree! I have never lost a fish due to fishing braided and the no-stretch attribute is exactly what I like about it for fishing bobber/jig. I've used it for trolling for salmon, pulling plugs and drift fishing for steelhead and bobber/jig. I like it and it's not trash because it works for me. I used mono for 30 years and now use braided and other that the somewhat annoying propensity to loop around the rod tip I'm sold on it.

timinthegorge · 10-13-2002, 03:12 PM

Shane,

You couldn't be more right! Regardless of Boater's opinion......

Tim.... :smile:

tailchaser · 10-13-2002, 03:13 PM

Ok Ok, I do have one flaw to braided line. It'll break a rod on a big chinook if you're not careful. The line does put a lot more stress on the rod and you have to learn how to use it and angles when fighting a fish. I broke two lamiglass rods on chinook within a three week period last year and most of it was my fault because I got carried away with the stength of my line. A fish tried to make a run at the anchor rope and I tried to turn him by thumbing it, SNAP!!!

So in turn after the second rod broke (thank god lamiglass replaces new ones) I learned not to create as big as bend in the rod when fighting it and let the line work a little harder than the rod. It's a great line, but you have to get used to it.

tc

boater · 10-13-2002, 04:41 PM

stew, sounds like it works good for you and thats great, have a nice day.

excuse me · 10-13-2002, 04:46 PM

I dont understand how guys can break more rods using the stretchless braid for mainline. Most of us still use good Maxima mono leader that adds some give. But if you dont have your drag too tight and dont pull hard on a big fish with the rod tip way up high so the thing goes into a C curve it wont break your rod. Keep the bend angle in your rod to a curve, not a circle and you will do fine with braids. This is also true when using heavy mono mainline.

lucky man · 10-13-2002, 08:28 PM

I have gone to tuf-line on all rods, I was a little hesitant to spend the money at first, but I like it alot better than some of the mono lines. The only problem I really have is that the bobber stop seems to slide and no matter how tight I pull the stop I cant seem to hold the same depth it changes almost with every cast. Any help suggestions would be appreciated

Mojo · 10-13-2002, 11:27 PM

I like the Yo-Zuri hybrid line. I use 30lb for Sturgeon and it is great! I also use lighter line on my steelie outfits, and it doens't kink like mono and won't dig in like braids.

boater · 10-13-2002, 11:41 PM

stew, i perfer to have all factors in my favor when i fish and i like mono because it stretches and from that standpoint i think the new braids are junk, i think that when people rave about the no-stretch properties of the new braid as being a good thing that they are 100 percent wrong, but that is my personal opinion, sorry if it offends anyone.

p.s. yes i have used it and yes its in the trash.

cosmo · 10-14-2002, 12:11 PM

lucky man,
Increase the number of wraps you use in your stopper knot, grabs more of your mainline. That should help.

skrimmy · 10-14-2002, 12:28 PM

Tailchaser:
Gee, could it be the Lamiglas rod and not the line? For every 10 rods I've ever seen get broken, 8 or 9 are Lamiglas. I know they're good rods and all, and that even though they've made it a LOT more painful to replace they do replace them. But.....I don't want the hassle of a broken rod in the first place. One of the last rods I saw get broken that wasn't a Lami, belonged to a fishing buddy a couple weeks ago off the South Jetty. BIG FISH (45plus) and drag cranked down all the way when he tried to set the hook on that southbound hog, the two don't mix. I think folks 50 yards away heard the crack of that rod. Bummer, it was a big fish too. He held on to that thing with the stump of that rod long enough to see it, then with thumb on the spool to try and slow it down, ooops, broke the leader. BUT, the Tufline never took a beating. Moral of story, Tufline and proper drag settings...... :grin: :grin:

[ 10-14-2002, 01:29 PM: Message edited by: skrimmy ]

lucky man · 10-15-2002, 03:20 AM

Cosmo thanks for the tip. I didnt even think about that. will try it next time out.

Sailfish · 10-26-2002, 04:58 PM

I have to go with Fear No Fish on the Yo-Zuri vote if you are going to go with mono line. I personally like braids for sturgeon and halibut but prefer a little elasticity when going after the salmonids. I used the Yo-Zuri hybrid for tuna this year and it worked great. I will definitely be spooling my plugging and drift fishing set-ups with it this season. I have also been using about 4-6 feet of Seaguar fluorocarbon leader material in various sizes for different species in the last year or so and it does'nt seem to hurt and might even help. Hard to say exactly, but why not? It's a bit spendy but after you figure in gas, food, etc. it's a small price to pay if it contributes to getting you hooked up. It also has excellent abrasion resistance. I use an albright knot to attach a section of 40# fluorocarbon to the 25# mainline I use when trolling in the ocean/bay/Columbia for chinooks and it seems to work pretty well. I have also been adding about 5 feet of 20# fluoro to my 8# main line for steelhead plug fishing out of the sled and it seems to not detract them from biting, while giving a bit better insurance against the toothies. Also, if you happen to incidentally hook a big Nookie while steelhead fishing on this set up it gives you a bit more time to land the fish before those teeth saw through your 8#. Good Luck!

Tyeebuster · 10-26-2002, 05:46 PM

tuf-line plus in the hivis yellow for both salmon and sturgeon. Works great on the anchor and works well for trolling if you use a bead chain on the mianline and a quality ball bearing swivel on the leader. I have found that the super lines seem to twist more while trolling. Also, it seems to want to wrap the tip often.

I tried Sufix DNA line this year for springers and it worked very well (if you like the"mono" lines)

lightline · 10-26-2002, 06:13 PM

I tried the tuff line several years ago and didn't like at all, back than they had rayon or something wrapped around it and was very rough going through the guides. I looked at some the other day and seen that they did away with the wrap and looks good. I started using the braided lines when all you could get was at a kite shop then shortly after that they started marketing it for the fishing industry. I still use the braides mostly for worm water fish. The nice thing about it is if you are fishing something that gets a lot of line twist, crankin or pulling plugs, the ***. hook set, ect Iv'e never broke a rod, or worn out guides with braided lines, in its place it can't be beat. As far as mono goes I started to use sufix line this year and can't say enough for it, it handles abrasion better than any line I have used yet and has the tensil strengh to be impresive. tigh lines.

lightline · 10-26-2002, 06:49 PM

I used tuff line several years ago and never liked it at all, back then they had rayon or something wrapped around it was rough when it went through the guides. I looked at some the other day and seen that they changed it and now it looks good. I started using braided line when all you get it from was a kite shop, shortly after that the fishing industry came out with it. I still use braided lines but for the most part I use it on worm water fish. the things that I like to use it for is things that twist bad, or when I use cranks or pull pluggs. Some things I use fireline on and some things I use spiderwire on, though I think that tuff might work just as well. Iv'e never broke a rod with braided, I haven't worn any guides with it, I don't see any thing not to like, it has its places and in those places it can't be beat. I started using a mono that I picked up at the last sportsman show, the line is sufix and I'm impressed with it. The abrasion resistance is as good as Iv'e seen in any line and the tensil strengh is mighty good. The only draw back so far to sufix is finding it. The only place I know of is at Bobs sporting goods in Longview Wash. I just recieved 12,000 yards of 8lb and 12lb and it was only sixy bucks so the price is good also. Anyway have a great day and tight lines.

lightline · 10-26-2002, 06:53 PM

sorry about that, I didn't think the first one went through.