Thread: What's a quality Japanese 3lb braid?

Originally Posted by shong

I stopped using a leader last year just because leader knots don't play well with micro guides and it certainly doesn't feel like I'm getting fewer bites. My hands sure do get cut up from the thin braided line while I'm holding it trying to lip/grab fish though. When I get rods that are more leader knot friendly, I'll go right back to using a leader. I would definitely recommend using a leader even though I don't.

What knot do you use?

I have some rods with absolutely tiny guides and can easily pass a three turn surgeons knot through the guides. It does click going through, but has never gotten stuck and doesn’t seem to affect cast speed. Make your leader long enough to be between reel and stripper guide on the cast so it gets some velocity before getting to the tiny guides.

I much prefer mono for a leader. Currently using a 4x or 5x tippet and really liking it.

Originally Posted by Yodie

What knot do you use?

I have some rods with absolutely tiny guides and can easily pass a three turn surgeons knot through the guides. It does click going through, but has never gotten stuck and doesn’t seem to affect cast speed. Make your leader long enough to be between reel and stripper guide on the cast so it gets some velocity before getting to the tiny guides.

I much prefer mono for a leader. Currently using a 4x or 5x tippet and really liking it.

Crazy Alberto. Truth be told, I last used leader when I was using braid that I hated that had terrible tip wrap, and that easily could have been the issue. Never went back to a leader just because I haven't felt like I've had any issue getting bites and it gives me the ultimate in sensitivity

The braid I hated is the Unitika Night Game PEII in fluorescent yellow 0.3. Far and away the worst fishing line I have ever purchased. Very bad tip wrap within an hour of using it. Weird paper feeling on the finger and significantly worse sensitivity than Varivas. I respooled my UL with it and fished with it today because both ends of my Varivas spool were dead. Had an awesome day of fishing despite the line, but I was fighting against it the entire time. The 0.4 Almight will be here tomorrow and I can't wait to throw the Unitika right in the trash. I recommend everyone stay far, far away from the Unitika. Hopeful for the Almight as I've been enjoying the 1.0 on my Ned setup with 7lb leader.

Had a couple days to play with the Almight 0.4 (rated at 7.2lbs max). Maybe it'll improve a bit as it breaks in but the 0.4 is surprisingly a bit stiff compared to the very supple 0.8 I have on my bass setup. I did go with the olive camo on the UL vs pink for the bass reel, maybe that makes a different. I do feel the stiffness detracts from the line's sensitivity a bit. Without wind, the sensitivity is very good, with wind, the line has average sensitivity. The extra (I assume polyester) strand seems quite effective in getting the bait down to my desired depth quickly while fishing vertical. Looking forward to giving it some time with a drifting presentation. I have just been fishing vertical, but in the few casts I made to test, castability is excellent. Overall of the 4 braided lines I've put time in with on UL in the past few years, here's how I'd rate them:

Power Pro (5lb): 1/10. Trip wrap, poor castability and line lay on the spool, significantly thicker diameter than competing PE lines, sincerely just a step above unfishable

Unitika Night Game PEII 0.3 (3lb): 1.5/10. Bad tip wrap, below average sensitivity, weird papery feeling, loses its color fairly quickly

Sunline Almight 0.4 (7.2lb max): 7.5+/10. Review above. I think it may break in and feel better and I think purchasing camo instead of pink may have been a mistake. Very cost effective compared to other options.

Varivas Area Super Trout Master Limited 0.2 (6.5lb max): 9/10. Exceptionally supple and sensitive. Performance wise, this line is really just about perfect. Very pricey, but the spool I had lasted either 2 or 3 seasons of regular use including some saltwater.

2 weeks in now with the 0.4 Almight. It broke in and feels great, very similar to the Varivas. Sinks a little better than Varivas which helps when you're using a 1 gram or lighter jighead or with any wind. About half the price and readily available at Tackle Warehouse. I couldn't say for sure which is more sensitive between this and Varivas. Call me crazy but I prefer the 0.4 over 0.2 for roughly the same breaking strength just because it's a little easier for me to see the line to tie knots. Time will tell how durable it is and if it holds up to use in saltwater, but I've quickly become an Almight fan. Would definitely recommend it for anyone looking to make the switch to braid to leader or just try a new braid.