More About The Line

You may have seen my recent posts about last weekends trip. I got some hands on experience with some of the new lines. I must say that I’m impressed by their performance. First I’m going to talk of the most expensive line I’ve ever bought, and I don’t regret a penny of it. Casting is better than anything I’ve ever used in my life. I used the smallest rooster tail I have and I’m glad my first casts were to open water cuz they were 10 or 15 yards further than I expected. I used it on the shortest UL I own, a five footer. I got tangled up with a very big Tilapia and had very little control of him and started palming the spool to stop him from the lilys. He eventually pulled free and I just figured that it had come loose from whatever membrane he had been hooked in. Not so. The line held, rated at 4lb, and the four pound leader held, and the knots held. A few casts after losing him I checked the lure to find the hook had been straightened. Never have I had that happen before. Usually something else goes south and we get no answers. This is the line I used;
Attachment 458867
If small and tough is what you’re after, this is the stuff. I had to get it from Varivas company website cuz everyone else is sold out. I’ll probably buy more one day soon.

The other line is also very good and tough as nails. Got hung on a tree or something and held the spool and pulled, the leader broke. The line was 5.6 lb and the leader was four so it made sense, but it seldom happens that way in years past for me. It casts my little 1/43 jig head as good as anything I’ve used except the other line stated in this post. I have nothing negative to say about any of the other qualities that we pay attention to. All of these PE lines do the usual stuff in the wind but none were worse than the other. This is the other one I’m liking;
Attachment 458868
I believe it’s touted as being the smallest 8 strand braid there is. I just caught average fish so no big tests were gotten on this yet, but just give me a little time.

I’ve just finished a 6’6” Fenwick 2-6 lb rod and put a President 25 series on it and replaced the Nanofil that was on it with 100 meters of twitchmaster VLS in 3lb. Makes a 60’ cast across my backyard with the 1/43 jighead and a tail with little effort. I’m liking this in 4lb just fine and I’m looking forward to giving this 3lb a spin. More on that when I get to use it.

Thanks for reading along and following these threads. I’d be happy to answer any questions if I didn’t cover what you might want to know. Til next time….Skeet

Thanks for sharing your insights with us Tim. It’s great line.

Thanks for the review.

Great read. Sounds like some awesome products

Great report and thanks for you experience with these lines. They really make some good stuff.
Bob

Glad to see the reports. I am particularly interested in the Twitchmaster myself.

The twitchmaster is the smallest diameter and best personality in regards to memory and just friendly to use. I’m liking it. No one I show it to and tell them it’s 4 lb believes it. I think it’s worth a try, and it’s not super expensive like some I’ve seen.

I like it but I have a hard time tying or knotting it. My hands don’t function very well BUT it is some awesome line for sure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BuckeyeCrappie

I like it but I have a hard time tying or knotting it. My hands don’t function very well BUT it is some awesome line for sure.

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I have the same problem handling it. Hands and eyes both struggle.

Skeetbum,

It isn't as expensive as some but it ain't cheap either.

True Bill. I miss the 4000 yard spools of four pound for under ten buck and being happy with it. I have to have a dark background to tie but so far, so good.

Truth be told, I’ve never had any line, Nanofil included, that performs as well as the master class pe. It’s completely changed the way I think of line. Really good stuff.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

True Bill. I miss the 4000 yard spools of four pound for under ten buck and being happy with it. I have to have a dark background to tie but so far, so good.

Truth be told, I’ve never had any line, Nanofil included, that performs as well as the master class pe. It’s completely changed the way I think of line. Really good stuff.

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Skeet , have you ever tried P-line Floroclear? It’s made in Japan . A 3000 yard spool of 2# is around $60 . Not exactly cheap .
It’s my favorite line . The 2# is super thin .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

True Bill. I miss the 4000 yard spools of four pound for under ten buck and being happy with it. I have to have a dark background to tie but so far, so good.

Truth be told, I’ve never had any line, Nanofil included, that performs as well as the master class pe. It’s completely changed the way I think of line. Really good stuff.

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I am like you and have to be careful of the background. But my fumble fingers with that really thin stuff is my biggest headache. I would love to try the 3# but I don't think I could handle any less than 4#.

Chaser, I have a spool of that waiting in the wings. Picked it up at sportsman’s warehouse and the price was fair. Too many other lines to try right now but it’s not being ignored. My down side is that mine is clear and I know I’ll fuss about tying what I can’t see.

Bill, not much difference between the 3 and 4 and with its color it’s not too bad to see while tying. My wife had a pair of flip up clip on magnifying glasses that go on my readers. They’re 2.25 magnification and make wrapping rods wonderful. Haven’t tied jigs with them yet but the clarity I need is back. Ten bucks at hobby lobby, no more struggles. Even if you just used em while rigging at home they’re worth having.

I keep forgetting about folks having issues seeing small diameter clear lines .
I’m almost 72 and can still tie on my jigs without any glasses . Outdoors.
I am blessed and cursed with what they called near sighted astigmatism. .”
That P-line Floroclear is like frog hair .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gillchaser999

I keep forgetting about folks having issues seeing small diameter clear lines .
I’m almost 72 and can still tie on my jigs without any glasses . Outdoors.
I am blessed and cursed with what they called near sighted astigmatism. .”
That P-line Floroclear is like frog hair .

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That’s amazing about the glasses, gill. I finally had to yield some years back if I wanted to be able to continue reading. Far sighted I am still good.
Bob

I use suffix 6# test on most of my crappie/panfish rods. Line color yellow. I can see it very easily. Clear mono or fc I need glasses. My new UL setup has 0.8 Varivas AreaTrout on it. Haven’t been able to use it yet but now that the doctor says my shoulder will need replacement surgery, I’m gonna start fishing just a bit at the time. Can’t hurt it no worse than it is already.

Skeet,
I have to wear bifocals as it is and I've never been able to work very well with any additional lenses added.

My issue isn’t eyesight, it’s getting the fingers to do what they’re supposed to do .
If I mess up on the first try, it gets more difficult with each attempt.
Sucks getting old , but these are some of best fishing years ever .

Bill, I’ve tried to use the big round light with the lense in the middle and it works ok but it’s cumbersome and hard to keep in the right place. Then it gets bumped and you have to readjust. Now I just use the light and these flip ups and get the same result and less frustration.

Chaser, my distance vision is good and I also have some astigmatism. It’s changing these last couple of years but I still pick up the street signs pretty early. Under arms length I’m at the mercy of the lense. Fingers are still cooperating so far. Wrapping rods is like tying jigs. When it isn’t working it’s time to walk away for a while.

RJR, is that 6lb a braid? I’ve used 2lb nanobraid and like it but it doesn’t cast like this other stuff I’m using lately. The nanobraid is tough stuff. No fear when fishing among the stumps and branches. You can put the heat on a good fish.

Skeet,

Thanks for the hints about magnifying options. I do use a couple of those suggestions. But you can't take a couple of them out in the boat with you or even on the bank. I wonder if anyone has had any success using a clip on of some sort over existing glasses.

I don’t have a real strong prescription, but I have astigmatism as well. I went with progressives and have never looked back. They weren’t that hard to adjust to and I like not having to swap glasses to read or close up work. Everything I need in one pair. I do need to get a pair of progressive polarized sunglasses for fishing and RC model airplane flying.
Bob