favourite line

I was intrigued to see such disparate opinions expressed in the "Reviews" section for Berkley Ironsilk - some reviewers love it; some hate it. Reminds me of when Platil Strong was introduced; lots of high-profile anglers sang its praises, but I found it wholly unsatisfactory.

To come to the present day; in Carpworld, I think it was, Lee Jackson made some disparaging references to Shimano Catana. I disagree. Due to its high BS relative to its diameter, I've found it to be excellent for long-range fishing. I like, too,its lower BS counterpart, Exage, which is my first choice for mullet fishing (same line but renamed for the non-carp market).

Be interesting to learn of other anglers' "loves" and "hates" in this regard.

My choices

PS. Ignore the "My choices"... bit at the end. I was going to list my preferences but thought I'd wait awhile and do so later. I'd inadvertently posted the comment before deleting it.

With lines I think it is "Horses for courses"

At the moment for barbel fishing I am using Krystonite which is excellent. For years I have used Daiwa Sensor, mainly because it's low cost and very reliable indeed although I must admit that some of the high tech lines are better.

But at what cost?

For trout leaders I used fluorocarbon - Stren 6 lbs and 8 lbs at the moment and cannot fault it. I am also using Stren in 10 lb for hooklengths for Trent barbel.

My friend Tim Ridge did a simple test on some Stren I gave him recently. It truly was excellent.

Again I say:

WHY CAN'T WE BUY STREN FLUOROCARBON LINES IN ENGLAND FOR ABOUT ?6.00 FOR 200 YARDS???

Because we live in rip off britain. I won a Garlands realtree poncho the other week checked it out on the web in America it's $6 over here that as risen to ?19. Make your own mind up

As to lines i have also been using Krystonite and have found no faults just wish they did it in 6Ib for my early season Tench fishing.

Also tried Iron Silk last year good abrasion but a little stiff for using on the river after chub.

We've discussed fluorocarbon over the telephone, Ron, and as you will probably recall, I don't share your enthusiasm for it (in fairness, though, I haven't tried Stren's version). I'd be interested in your results were you to test the stated diameter with a micrometer, and then test the actual breaking strain (as opposed to nominal Diam. and BS as stated on the spool). I do this with all lines, and found considerable disparity with low-diameter fluorocarbons (in the sort of breaking strains you'd use for relatively light-line fishing, say, up to 8lb test). Only rarely did I get a breaking-strain reading more than about 70% of that stated on the spool, often it was as low as 50%.

Were those knot strengths or just straight pulls Jim?

Shakespeare, to their credit, quote their breaking strains 'with a knot' which is something other line makers might think about. I used to use their low diameter lines for hooklengths on my pole setups and very good they were too and at a proper price as a bonus.

Don't think I've got favourite line, I tend to change makers whenever the fancy takes me, if its no good I just dump it and buy another. A bit nonsensical I suppose but thats me all over.

Krystonite state there true braking strain unlike alot of other specialist brands.

Jim,

I'm going to post you a few metres of Stren in 10lb test.

Then you can test it yourself.

And It's not Stren's version at all. Stren is Dupont de Nemuers trade mark for fishing lines, which in my opinion are the best in the world. Dupont is the company that invented many of the polymers used in modern lines. They devised Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) which is what fluorocarbon lines should be made from.

In my opinion most of them are not.

By the way Jim, don't use a figure of eight loop in it, nor a grinner knot.

Palomer knot is best.

I tend to use Diawa sensor for most purposes as a mainline then a length of flurocarbon as a hooklength......It works fo me...

GT80 is currently sitting on my Barbel reels,so far so good.Supple, reasonable diameter and the light green colour suits.Not keen on the more popular dark green.It casts well too.It was recommended to me by a notoriously fussy Yorkshireman.It had to be good!
If this wasn't about I would probably still be using Daiwa Sensor ordinarily or Big Game in extreme situations.
Hooklinks are usually a braid of one sort or another but if I am to use a nylon link it would be Riverge Reel Soft , this has changed my perceptions of fluro totally, tied with a Palomar but I have complete faith in it when using combi links using a knot with no name to join it to braid.I did try fluros(or what purported to be fluro)such as Invisiline,that little episode didn't last long.Prior to finding Reelsoft I did use Wychwood trout nylon leaders , these were good.Cannot remember what they were called, sub surface or similar.
I did try Ironsilk for Tenching/Carping/Barbel and found it to have a very short lifespan.It began ok but soon began coiling up and generally misbehaving.Same applies to Fox Soft Steel.
Anything with the words Synergy on it has me reaching for the strong lager.I should qualify that and say Synergy in 15lb.It let me down once on the strike when Piking.
Whilst in America I did bring back some line called P Line.This was a fluro coated nylon .I tried on my Carp and Tench reels.The amount of liners I received increased dramatically indicating it was indded les visible,catch rate did not go up though.It was awful to cast with, so that was that.If I can ever get any more I would consider it for Barbel.I suspect that PLine
may be the same as X line or Krystonite but of course very much cheaper!
Does anyone recall that black Sylcast, the black used to come off.
Finally Bullet braid sits on the marker rod reel, as I can think of no other use for this rope

I've seen a few spools of Ironsilk goign through on eBay at bargain (?) prices providing the idiots don't start overbidding. However, because of what's been said on here, I've steered clear of it.

I did buy some Trilene, which I have used with some satisfaction before.

I also recently bought a brand new small Shimano reel, a 2500. On the main spool (for float work) I loaded it with 4lb (wait for it!) and on the second spool (for light feeder work) I loaded it with 4lb.

The 4lb float line was Top Line, diameter .15mm, as thin as most other 2? - 3lb lines so perfect fro float work. The 4lb feeder line was Trilene, diameter .20mm, stretchy and therefore perfect for feeder work.

So what's wrong with that. I may be mad, but there's method there.

65lbs Powerpro, 30lbs Fireline or 20lbs Big Game.

I used to buy Sensor when I used mono as my main reel line but found it only lasted a couple of trips before it went all ribbony.

Have also used Trilene - good but a bit expensive - Maxima (old and new) and Bayer in the past, probbly thought Maxima was the best of them, don't seem to see it around as much these days.

Used to use Maxima, but found better alternatives in terms of less stretch and better abrasion resistance. Moved onto Big Game, tough and cheap, but moved again as I found it had too much tendancy to twist up and retain the memory, despite "spindoctoring".. ok I know there's no such verb! Tried X Line.. couldn't live with its desire to jump off the spool all the time, also I have doubts about its abrasion resistance, nor could I ever get comfortable with my ability to tie decent knots in it.
Currently on Fox softsteel and don't feel a need to checkout alternatives. It's got good abrasion resistance, doesn't develop and hold twists too badly, seems like a lowish stretch and can be found quite cheaply.
Use Nash Bullet braid when I want better abarasion resistance and want to be sure of sinking the line.. useful where the fish are very line shy as a change of tactic.
All the above lines for carping, in BS 10 to 18lb. Bullet braid is 25lb I think.

I am quite happy with my choice of 6lb+ lines e.g.
Maxima,Big Game,Stren and WB Clarke but after 40 years fishing still haven't settled on a line in the 2lb to 5lb range for trotting for roach on rivers or for fine work on stillwaters. Any recommendations for a low diameter line without twist and not a great deal of stretch in this range would be welcome. Not too concerned about price assuming it lives up to expectations

Knots are a very relevant issue - especially with lines having an ultra low diameter in retaion to their BS - but they are a subject for another discussion another time.

As I started this, it's only fair that I should state my preferences:

General carp and tench fishing: Nash Bullet or Sufix Magic Touch

Long range fishing: Shimano Catana; Bullet and Magic Touch are pretty good, too

Heavy-duty work (Method fishing, pike fishing, carp and tench in thick weed): Berkley Big Game (clear)

Light line situations (up to, say, 6lb test), Shimano Exage (light-line version of Catana) and Shakespeare 3000 (the last-named is dirt cheap but very strong for its diameter; reliable, too).

Barbless hooks: when rules require me to use barbless hooks, I opt for Maxima, which is the stretchiest line I've encountered, and thereby provides a sort of "bungie" effect which helps to retain hookholds. I think Bayer Perlon and Drennan Specimen Plus are the same line - if not, they are so similar as to make no difference.

I think my preferred mono would be Diawa sensor, cheap as chips and has never let me down. As for Krystonite, i have only used that on my carp rods in 15lb bs, i am quite impressed with it's performance. If i had one whinge it would be, the breaking strain was tested with a palomar knot, ok it is a useful knot but i prefer a grinner or tucked blood knot. What about joining a leader to your mainline? i use a mahin knot or double grinner, what use a palomar knot then?.

Darkstar,

Don't use a grinner or a tucked 1/2 blood with any line that is either fluorocarbon or fluorocarbon coated.

A standard blood knot without the tuck is better. For joining a hook length to a main line I use a swivel.

The Trilene knot is also very good. I have spent hours with a spring balance breaking Fluorocarbon lines using all sorts of knots.

"I think Bayer Perlon and Drennan Specimen Plus are the same line" and I think you're right Jim.

A few years ago I fished with John Everard who had done some testing of lines for Peter Drennan, they are good mates as well. He told me that Perlon and Drennan Float were the same and Maxima and Drennan Specialist were also the same. The only difference being the dye that was added when the monofilament was extracted. The story becomes fuzzier with time, but it was something like that.

I have said before on here that what we could do with is an independant council that will certify all of the lines on the market for wet knot breaking strain, % amount of stretch and actual diameter. When we have that, we will be able to make intelligent decisions about which we prefer. Until then it's largely guesswork.

(is that Jim "munchapole" Gibbinson ?)

For Sea Angling only
Tuff Line XP, Power Pro, Climax "Match", Berkley Whiplash, Varivas and JB "The One" superbraids

I really can't settle on any particular brand of mono - I'm always searching for an especially-low-stretch brand (somewhere between a good copolymer and a superbraid for stretch WHEN ONLY LIGHTLY LOADED e.g. about 20% of its b.s.)
quite like Ironsilk (but b.s. under 30lb seem much more stretchy pro-rata than 40lb and up ) MoiMoi Diamond, most of the SUFIX (and Penn) types and most of the Varivas types. I will be Trying Krystonite (but mainly for Bass fishing from boats, where they can be more line-shy than most sea fish and perhaps for trigger fish which in clear water can be "too clever by half")

For feeder fishing & wagler work I dont think you can beat Maxima
For stick float work I still use Drennan Float fish
For Carp & Barbel fishing I have total fait in Gold lables Pro Gold & recently I have been using Pro Clear