Is Diawa sensor ok for barbel?

[mark brailsford 2]

hi
Well I have decided to save a little with some of my terminal tackle and was thinking of buying sensor for all my reels, I was just wondering if it would be false economy to use this cheap mono or is it as good as some folk say?
Some of my carp fishing friends say its ok (the skin flints!) and others say its rubbish (the tackle tarts!) is it really going to be ok for barbel, feeder and general float fishing?

thanks guys

mark

 

[richiekelly]

i dont know about float fishing there are probably better lines fo that but for barbel and carp i dont think you can go wrong with sensor, i have used it for many years and never had a problem as long as line strength is matched to the fish/swim you are in, more expensive doesnt always mean better.

 

[dezza]

Of course it is.

There might be better lines around such as Krystonite or Gold Label Pro Clear, but not for the money. I have used Sensor for 15 years now and apart from it being a little springy, I have no complaints.

 

[mark brailsford 2]

thanks guys,
Ron, its the springy bit that put me off a little! I used some cheaper line some years ago and it came off the spool like a clock spring, but saying that I have had the same trouble with maxima too!
something I have never done is put the line in a bucket of water when I load my reels, I have been told this makes loads of difference to how the line behaves on the reel.

mark

 

[dezza]

I have been trying out Gold Label Pro Gold for float fishing. I must say it is a very fine line indeed and the word "fine" has a twofold meaning. I loaded one reel, a Diawa TDX 3012 with 0.192 mm Pro gold. It has a stated breaking strain of 5.4 lbs without knots. With knots the BS is 4.4 lbs.

Terry Eustace is a well respected supplier of gear to the specialist angling community and I trust his claims.

I have since acquired a spool of 12lb Pro Clear with a diameter of 0.29 mm which I intend loading my barbel reels - Shimano DL4000 FAs this week in preparation for a 16th June midnight cast-in.

I would welcome any comments from those of you who have used Gold Label Tackle lines.

 

[S-Kippy]

Pro Gold is superb stuff. I've been using this for years for everything bar trotting and its never,ever let me down.Soft,limp,knots well,nice colour,spools well, consistent, reasonable diameter and as tough as very old boots.I dont think it can be faulted.

Pro Clear I've never spooled up with but do use for hooklinks.I'm not quite as convinced but that's probably because I am so happy with PG why change it ? That said I've never had any problems with Pro Clear either though it is different stuff. If it were truly a clear version of Pro Gold then IMO it would be the perfect mainline.

Even so,personally I dont think there is a better "all round" line than Pro Gold . IMO Sensor is too wiry and I dont like the colour of Maxima.

The two things I wont compromise on are line and hooks as to do either IMO is to be missing the point somewhat.

 

[dezza]

Thanks for your comments Skippy. I feel better having spent 19 quid on a 1,000 metre spool of Pro-Clear 12lb.

On the spool it says that Pro-Clear is even more abrasion resistant than Pro-Gold.

I have great faith in Clear lines, they appear to be less visible than lines of other colours, including red.

 

[noknot]

Never used sensor, but my friend uses it all the time for Carp and seems fine to me, I use 12lbs BS Trilene big game for Carp, the stuff is as strong as tow rope at a very good price and is also clear!

 

[Poshpaul (Angling Trust and PaSC)]

Use sensor all the time...never let me down.

 

[tigger]

Use sensor all the time...never let me down.

Snap !

 

[klik2change]

I've been using sensor and Krystonite for the last few years and I will stick with both. I remember using big game very well. It was incredibly springy as I remember. Sensor is limp in comparison, but all lines seem to become more springy with age, and I am not one to renew my line in a hurry.

 

[Poshpaul (Angling Trust and PaSC)]

Originally Posted by Poshpaul (Angling Trust and PaSC) View Post Use sensor all the time...never let me down.


Snap !

Snap.....not yet!!!!

Forgot...15lb bs...its krystonite......just checking my boots for Heavy Putty...Unc will have me sleeping with the fishes!!! mg:

 

[tortoise100]

I have found sensor good only if you remember to check the line every time out for wear and as a rule keep taking some off on a frequent basis.
I have 8lb,10lb in brown and 15lb in clear the clear is more limp than the 10lb brown ? I soaked it in a bowl of water for 24hrs before spooling .

When I first got back into angling I had to learn this lesson the hard way and must of lost a few good fish.

I also use ultima power carp in 12lb ,it is a fluro coated line and is very limp knots well and hardly ever gets any wear on it makes great hook lengths too .

 

[Matthew Nightingale (ACA)]

I had a real problem with Krystonite; it tended to mesh together on the spool because it kinked over the line beneath it. Became impossible to cast with it so I binned it. Used Sensor now.

 

[Graham Daubney]

I've never used Sensor but I know it's popular with the pike men so that must say something given the hard use it gets.

I use Big Game in the main in strains of ten pounds upwards, never had a problem.

 

[Bob Hornegold]

I have caught loads of fish on Diawa Sensor over the years, including Barbel !!

Bob

 

[quickcedo]

On the spool it says that Pro-Clear is even more abrasion resistant than Pro-Gold.

Isn't that because it's slightly thicker than the equivalent "gold" breaking strain?
Pro gold for me every time. I love it.

 

[mark brailsford 2]

well, I have made a compromise, 10lb sensor and 12lb pro gold, I will give them both a try and see which I prefer but to be honest I think I had 8lb PG on a baitcaster some years ago and as I can remember it was good stuff.

mark

 

[sherlockofsheff2010]

Mark
Used sensor for years and absolutely trust it 100%. Just loaded one of my reels with 10lb, and I can guarantee it is not springy at all. Not sure about the bucket of water trick. What I do is to put the spool on a nail facing me, through the first ring on the butt section of a rod and wind it on under slight tension through my fingers. After the first 10 or twenty turns have a look at the line coming off the spool. If it looks to be twisting up, turn the bulk spool so the other side is facing you, and you will notice that the line comes off limp and straight, which is how you know you are doing it the right way.
Cheers
Steve

 

[mark brailsford 2]

hi steve,
yeh, I know what you mean by turning the spool round the other way. You will not believe how many folk still put the line on by someone holding the spool on a pencil, even on you tube there is a video of jan porter doing this way! It must be a shimano trick to get you to buy more line!!! shimano reels are dam good bt not that good!!

mark