Main line

[Andrew Thomas]

Despite my recent Luddite posting, I have decided it is about time I replaced my venerable Big Game mainline. I hope my knots are now up to this expense!

Question is what should I buy? I'm tempted by the new Shimano Lines which I've seen a couple of good reviews of.

What do the FM posters think? I use 8 and 10 lb on the Severn and Teme. Leger and feeder.

 

[Stewart Bloor]

Andrew, you'll probably get as many different answers as replies. Which just goes to show really, it's down to personal choice and confidence. I've been using Sufix Synergy for some time and also Sufix herculine braid.

 

[Carp Angler]

Sufix is a good line and one I have total confidence in.
Down the other end of the market, the Drennan Super Specialist lines are very good for the price.

 

[Peter Waller]

I notice that Stewart uses Herculine. Personally I consider it a dangerous type of line. The merest nick & its integrety walks out of the door. I've used 25lb Herculine, had two snap offs, discovered another weak spot where the outer casing had parted to expose the inner core so dumped the lot. Lethal stuff.

 

[Paul Williams]

I'm also not convinced about the safety of some braids, although i haven't tried this one.
Sufix though i do like, i also have total confidence in Daiwia sensor it is very cheap and very reliable....it's only down point is it does seem to twist very easily.....but i must confess i would now pay the extra for Sufix....incedently i hear their sea line is exactly the same but it is clear....and much cheaper!

 

[Stewart Bloor]

Peter's comment is interesting, it got me thinking. I know manufacturers will tell us that because all line is made with the latest machinery, it is standard. But I wonder sometimes whether it's possible to get a 'bad batch'?
I also wonder the times that we blame the line (and this is NOT in reference to what Peter wrote, it's a general observation of something we all do from time to time, is it always the line? Well, in the context that without any other factors involved, the line would have snapped / broken etc. Maybe there are times that we get the line scuffed on underwater obstructions, maybe we tie a bad knot etc etc...but it's the easiest thing to blame the line.We've all done it, sometimes we may have been right. But all the time?

 

[Paul Williams]

There is no doubt that dealers can recieve bad batches, there have even been cases i have heard of where manufacturers have attempted to "move" line that is shall we say "questioable".
I have to say though that braid as a hook length has given me a couple of breakages (not at the knots), namely in hook and hold snag swims on the Teme.
Oops sorry Andrew! we are going of at a tangent again....your question was about mainline!!

 

[Birds Nest]

I'm happy using Maxima for the majority of my fishing. usually 4, 8 and 15 lb. Depending on the situation.... and Fish.. Allthough recently I've been thinking (Dangerous eh... Firstly, the colour of Maxima I know its claimed that it changes colour, but I'm still sure it looks like rope in clear water... So i'm loooking at various hooklengths and Knot arrangements... And the stated breakig strain, I've heard a lot of stories about 4 lb rated line going at 7 lb etc..Which makes me wonder if I could drop down the strenghts a bit... To back this up I see Andy Little uses 2lb maxima quite a lot for tench and chubbing... Anyway back to the point, Mostly Maxima for me... But that might change...

 

[David Preston]

Have a look at the clear and clear ivory Maximas - much less obvious in the water than the original.

 

[Davy North]

A friend of mine was having this dicusion with a local tackle dealer a while ago, when he intrduced him to (in his words) the best kept secret in angling. He brought out a tub full of different strenght Shakespear Omni!

My mates first reaction was "yeah right???", but as the shop was selling it off for ?2 per spool he bought a 100 metres of 8lb. When tested with a spring balence it actualy snapped at 9lb 2oz! The diameter was quite reasonable too.

Needless to say we went back and bought a few more spools, used it throughout last winter and had no bother. O.K chub arn't fussy.

The trouble is I think they've stopped making it. Hence the big tub and 2 quid a spool.

 

[gary magee]

I`d recommend shimano technium in 15lb bs as it has limited stretch and low memory and is a good compromise between mono and braid.Although I have reservations about 10lb bs as a short hook length because of its lack of stretch.

 

[Paul Williams]

Gary,
I've been thinking of using technium for long range bream fishing on a large water mainly due to it's low sretch.....have you tried the 8lb bs....or has any one else? and does it have any traits to watch for?

 

[Stewart Bloor]

In reference to Andy Little using 2lb line for tench and chub, I wouldn't want to comment on that specifically. But I think it's important that we don't go too light as far as b.s. is concerned.
The idea of, say, playing a 10lb barbel on 1lb line, for 2 hours, when one set out with deliberate intentions to catch that fish, is not one that appeals to me.
Although the playing of a fish is an important aspect of fishing, as far as enjoyment is concerned, we still need to be sensible when we choose line, as far as strength is concerned.
There is a swim on a certain river, where some anglers boast about how many barbel they lose. They lose them basically because they are not using the correct line strength. Once they hit a barbel they have no control over it and it takes them straight into the snag. I don't feel that's anything to boast about.

 

[Carp Angler]

Paul, I use Technium in 12 and have no probs with it..

 

[Kevan Farmer]

I started off with PDQ many years ago. I loved that line and found it very reliable. Ok, so it's long gone now but when I found I couldn't get it any more I started to use Maxima. Plain bronzy brown Maxima. I have faith in it and as far as I am aware the line itself has never let me down. My knot tying may have on occasion I admit. I have tried other lines in the past and have always gone back to Maxima.

A test of a good line is its overall breaking strain. Try this, tie a good grinner and make sure the line is thoroughly wetted along a length of say 10 feet - this is off the top of my head so if it seems a bit short then lengthen it but it is to simulate a sudden pull from a played out fish. Attach the hook or whatever you've tied onto the line to something secure. Tie the other end to a good set of scales. Now pull up to near the supposed limit. Keep going until it breaks and note the real breaking strain. Now do it again but this time when you get near the stated breaking strain jerk on the scales to try to break the line. If it breaks at significantly lower than when pulling with a steady action then you know you have problems. Just remember, you are relying on that line to land possible the best fish of your life....but can you rely on it?

 

[Carp Angler]

Not that you would be able to weigh the fish because you have just completely knackered the spring in your scales.

 

[Paul Williams]

I don't know if Andy Little does use 2lb line for chub and tench, but anyone who does is imo a bloody idiot!!!! and yes i do know that some of the "names" are doing just that!!!!

 

[Kevan Farmer]

"Not that you would be able to weigh the fish because you have just completely
knackered the spring in your scales." Now this is where you have to be crafty.....you borrow your mates scales. But seriously, are they any good if they are stuffed after just a little test like that??? Think what would happen if that fish of a lifetime got a bit restless in the weigh sling? But if you are really worried about damaging a decent set of scales use some old Salter spring ones instead. It doesn't matter if they weigh totally inaccurately all you need is to find out if there is a difference for when the line snaps. Does anybody know of a test such as I have described? With results?

 

[gary magee]

Paul-I have not used 8lb only the 10lb and have found no particular bad habits in it as a main line, but when I used it to tie stiff links the end result looked great due to the low memory(i.e. no kinks or curls) but It had a tendency to break at the loop.Going up to 15lb solved this problem.

 

[Carp Angler]

Gary.............we've agreed on something else......careful.

I've not used the 15lb, prefering Sufix in this strength, but the 12 I find faultless.

I know that Mike Fidler had problems with losing fish on it and others have mentioned line twist, but I ahve not experienced any of these problems at all.