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Putting Line Through Its Paces
- Thread starter iannate
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mikench
Well-known member
Can’t argue with that.
The high tech ones with little stretch are not for me on rod and line. Too clumsy. Ok for the pole though.
Regarding the Sensor issue. I use it a lot. My take on it is that Daiwa is a good brand with a good reputation to uphold. They aint going to market a rubbish line.
The amount of reels I have to reload, I would need a mortgage if it wasn't for these bulk spools.
There has been the Sensor Wars in the past.
Regarding the Sensor issue. I use it a lot. My take on it is that Daiwa is a good brand with a good reputation to uphold. They aint going to market a rubbish line.
The amount of reels I have to reload, I would need a mortgage if it wasn't for these bulk spools.
There has been the Sensor Wars in the past.
Lots of lines 'look' ok on the chart(very good info),but as we all know that doesn't show the whole story,it is just how a line reacts for you personally,I remember buying some Drennan SS mono(now unavailable)for barbel reel line,bloody horrible,the good thing was I really liked it for hooklengths for the species in weedy waters. Super Sensor? is a good,cheap line,nothing wrong with that...
A test that I would like to try(never had the nerve to do it)is to tie a half blood knot to a swivel,dampen and tighten,if the line crinkles above the knot i'm not keen,even though I rarely use this knot in a fishing sense these days...
A test that I would like to try(never had the nerve to do it)is to tie a half blood knot to a swivel,dampen and tighten,if the line crinkles above the knot i'm not keen,even though I rarely use this knot in a fishing sense these days...
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mikench
Well-known member
Good to see you back Alan. Did you have a good holiday?
TimFB
Active member
I Use Berkeley Trilene (not fussed which one big game, xl, xt), Sensor, Maxima as reel lines in that order of preference...mainly because those are the three main ones stocked by the local tackle shop. Not that bothered about mainlines...much more bothered about hooklength material tbh.
I am very stubbon when it comes to line (and hooks) and once i find something i like i dont tend to change. I am talking mainlines, hooklinks i am more inclined to experiment with.
If i was going to change mainline I have a few basic tests i do..first i tend to read opinion on forums like this..you get a reansonable idea of a shortlist. Next i go look at the line...just taking a few feet off the spool can give you an idea..is it springy? Does it hang limp ?..colour? ..some are so shiney it puts me right off also the feel. I also like to wind say a couple of feet round my hands and pull them apart..you can see how much stretch it has..you would be amazed how much stretch can be in even a short length of some brands - try it with Maxima and see..
Personally i like a drab colour, a bit of stretch as allot of my fishing is close in
Diameter is not that important as i tend to target bigger fish rather than finesse match type fishing.
Finally price is a consideration for me..i refuse to pay more than £10 for a bulk spool. Some of the prices i see are just taking the micky so out of principle i wont pay it.
For many years i used big Game ..usually in the .32 or .35 diameter, i probably still would be but it became harder to find so i switched to sensor which i use in strains from 4lb to 15lb. Its ok but i do find it twists up quite easily. A while back i found a spool of big game and stuck that on one reel...it reminded me why i liked it and given the choice i would choose it over Sensor.
I also used some others such as fox soft steel which i liked allot but the price was prohibative.Gardner Synergy was another that was awful..never had a line just break in the middle for no apparent reason ..several times too..maybe i had a duff spool.
For lighter lines for float fishing its usually Drennan. I did have a spool of super specialist which whitty mentioned and hated it! I also didnt like double strength which i used for hooklinks but gave up on it.
I was recommended a line last year that i gave a go and it reminded me of why i dont often change ..it was awful as a mainline...never seen a line twist up so badly but very thin and abrasiant resistant plus a good colour. I may use it as a hooklink.
If i was going to change mainline I have a few basic tests i do..first i tend to read opinion on forums like this..you get a reansonable idea of a shortlist. Next i go look at the line...just taking a few feet off the spool can give you an idea..is it springy? Does it hang limp ?..colour? ..some are so shiney it puts me right off also the feel. I also like to wind say a couple of feet round my hands and pull them apart..you can see how much stretch it has..you would be amazed how much stretch can be in even a short length of some brands - try it with Maxima and see..
Personally i like a drab colour, a bit of stretch as allot of my fishing is close in
Diameter is not that important as i tend to target bigger fish rather than finesse match type fishing.
Finally price is a consideration for me..i refuse to pay more than £10 for a bulk spool. Some of the prices i see are just taking the micky so out of principle i wont pay it.
For many years i used big Game ..usually in the .32 or .35 diameter, i probably still would be but it became harder to find so i switched to sensor which i use in strains from 4lb to 15lb. Its ok but i do find it twists up quite easily. A while back i found a spool of big game and stuck that on one reel...it reminded me why i liked it and given the choice i would choose it over Sensor.
I also used some others such as fox soft steel which i liked allot but the price was prohibative.Gardner Synergy was another that was awful..never had a line just break in the middle for no apparent reason ..several times too..maybe i had a duff spool.
For lighter lines for float fishing its usually Drennan. I did have a spool of super specialist which whitty mentioned and hated it! I also didnt like double strength which i used for hooklinks but gave up on it.
I was recommended a line last year that i gave a go and it reminded me of why i dont often change ..it was awful as a mainline...never seen a line twist up so badly but very thin and abrasiant resistant plus a good colour. I may use it as a hooklink.
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I never get why people go on about line twist, all line twists if something is twisting it !
I have no problems with line twist on any of my reels. The time I may see a little twist/springyness is if using baitrunners. The only other time is down below my float if winding back a spinning bait.
I have no problems with line twist on any of my reels. The time I may see a little twist/springyness is if using baitrunners. The only other time is down below my float if winding back a spinning bait.
sam vimes
Well-known member
Whether you find a reel line agreeable or not might come down to what reel you load it onto. I've hated some lines only to find them perfectly acceptable on a centrepin or fixed spool reel with a larger diameter spool. Some lines are fine for trotting, but I'd not use them again for waggler fishing (and vice versa). That's all before our own individual preferences really start to kick in.
Line choice is simply a matter of finding something that works for you and to hell with whatever anyone else thinks. They aren't you, they generally aren't fishing the same venues in the same style as you and they are unlikely to have exactly the same reels as you.
Line choice is simply a matter of finding something that works for you and to hell with whatever anyone else thinks. They aren't you, they generally aren't fishing the same venues in the same style as you and they are unlikely to have exactly the same reels as you.
i use the S/S in 10lbs b.s. for barbel hooklinks in weedy waters,or where big fish are expected,however when fishing maggot I often find 10lb d.strength gets more bites from barbel,trouble is I change the h.link after every decent fish,rather than risk breakage...
Yes thanks Mike,baking first week,better the second,all over too quickly and already booked for next year ,plus looking forward to October...
I used SS in 4lb and it just didnt really standout to me.
Double strength I used to use allot on the Kennet for Barbel and Chub as a hooklink but I went off it. I found it was just too fragile so I think its a wise decsion to change it after every fish. I also have nightmares of stupidly trying to use it as a mainline on the Wye many years ago and losing a really large Barbel. I saw a group of fish under a bridge with a big one amongst them ..I fed them to get confidence then put a bait out and whollop, it was taken in seconds …The fish held for a moment on the bottom then accelerated off on a tight clutch and it just snapped. Totally my fault. I went back up the bridge for a look and all the fish were still there except the big one…gutted. I know I would have landed it on “normal” line.
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Well ive bought a spool of 10lb Sensor to try as mainline for barbel,it is cheap,it seems better in a thick diameter(it does break at around 15lb according to Ray's chart),but it is cheap.
SSR ? ?
I have used it in 10lbs but for the majority of the time I use it in 4, 6 and 8.
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It is what I would use if in awkward weedy swims,but maybe 8lbs would be better,as it breaks heavier.... ? ?
Yes Alan, I can't remember the actual B/S, but it is a pound or two above it's stated B/S. If you check out the tackle box line test it will tell you on there.
I'm interested in how you find it when you get to give it a go.
SLM ???
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