Sean Meeghan
Well-known member
I've had a frustrating few weeks and it's all been caused by respooling with new line. You'd think that this would be a simple task. Walk into the tackle shop, browse through the spools of line on display, select a line with the breaking strain and characteristics you want, buy line and load on to spools.
But it's not like that is it?
Here's what happened. I'd bought some of the ESP XT line in 10lb bs at the end of last season. This performs well and I'm perfectly happy with it as a general line, but looking forward to some winter fishing on the tidal Trent and some new areas of the river that are distinctly snaggy, I decided I needed something a little stronger. Cue visit to tackle shop. My preference for heavy line is Kryston Snyde, but the shop didn't have it. I suppose I could have gone with a heavier bs of the ESP, but I didn't want too much of it as it was only going on a couple of spools. Ah, I saw a 400m spool of a well respected make (I won't name it) 15lb bs, 0.30mm diameter (that should have rung alarm bells) with "ultimate abrasion resistance".
Pick up spool, pay the man and load my reels. The line felt nice and spooled up really well so I gave it a go for my general barbel fishing. It worked well, but last week I had a knot fail. Just one of those things I thought. Yesterday I fished a swim that is hook and hold and is a one bite a day swim. 8 hours into the session I got the bite, hooked the fish and held. Snap. The knot went. Now I've fished the swim for many years, the rod was my usual soft through actioned rod and I've only once before lost a fish due to a knot going. Now the other thing is that the abrasion resistance isn't any better than other lines I've used either.
The upshot is that the line is coming off and being returned to the shop. I'm going to buy another line (it wasn't the shop's fault) and I might well have to buy one of my usual lines by mail order.
So, next time you're in the tackle shop have a look at the lines. Look at 0.30mm lines and just look at the range of breaking strains, claimed knot strength and abrasion resistance. How are we supposed to choose a reliable line that does the job we want?
Beats me! :w
But it's not like that is it?
Here's what happened. I'd bought some of the ESP XT line in 10lb bs at the end of last season. This performs well and I'm perfectly happy with it as a general line, but looking forward to some winter fishing on the tidal Trent and some new areas of the river that are distinctly snaggy, I decided I needed something a little stronger. Cue visit to tackle shop. My preference for heavy line is Kryston Snyde, but the shop didn't have it. I suppose I could have gone with a heavier bs of the ESP, but I didn't want too much of it as it was only going on a couple of spools. Ah, I saw a 400m spool of a well respected make (I won't name it) 15lb bs, 0.30mm diameter (that should have rung alarm bells) with "ultimate abrasion resistance".
Pick up spool, pay the man and load my reels. The line felt nice and spooled up really well so I gave it a go for my general barbel fishing. It worked well, but last week I had a knot fail. Just one of those things I thought. Yesterday I fished a swim that is hook and hold and is a one bite a day swim. 8 hours into the session I got the bite, hooked the fish and held. Snap. The knot went. Now I've fished the swim for many years, the rod was my usual soft through actioned rod and I've only once before lost a fish due to a knot going. Now the other thing is that the abrasion resistance isn't any better than other lines I've used either.
The upshot is that the line is coming off and being returned to the shop. I'm going to buy another line (it wasn't the shop's fault) and I might well have to buy one of my usual lines by mail order.
So, next time you're in the tackle shop have a look at the lines. Look at 0.30mm lines and just look at the range of breaking strains, claimed knot strength and abrasion resistance. How are we supposed to choose a reliable line that does the job we want?
Beats me! :w
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