[bluefishmaster]

I would like to know which brand and model of saltwater fishing reels are braid friendly. I am planning to use Power Pro and Fireline for all my reels, spin and conventional reel. I am still learning on how to use these lines for my favorite fish. I am fishing for Stripers, Bluefish, and my new favorite, False Albacore "Bonita".

I am sure others want to know which reels are good with braid and how to detect the reel is good with braid line.
Does the line roller matter? I have seen some with a cut in the roller just to fit the line.

Everyone, please list the reel you are using with PP or Fireline. That way, we can all find out which reel brand and model is good for braid line.

 

[Jaiem]

I've been using Fireline on my 5500SS for two 3 seasons and haven't had any problems with cutting or twisting.

Jaiem
ArtsNFlies.com

 

[623428]

You can use Fireline on any reel. It behaves more like mono than braid on conventionals. It works fine on every spinning reel I've tried it on.

I used Whiplash on my Van Staals and it worked fine. It just doesn't hold up as well as Fireline. It's also the softest braid, and the only one that doesn't cut my thumb up if I use it on a Newell or a Squidder. I've used Spectron braid too, but only on reels that have a level wind.

Magic braid from Bass Pro worked pretty well on a Calcutta, and I used Rip Cord for a bit on a little Shimano on my schoolie rod.

Don't even talk to me about Power Pro.

 

[hdcycles]

Why dont you like power pro.

 

[614512]

~~~~~

so far no problems with PP on a 5500SS...

 

[nightwing34]

I've got a couple of calcuttas (150 & 250), a penn 930, a shimano TR-4000 (at least i think that's the model #, it's a new toy and i haven't gotten all the details burned into my head yet) and a stradic 4000 that all have either powerpro or fireline w/ mono backing on them....never had a problem with any of the reels...

on a related subject tho...i have heard though that the braided lines can be tough on your guides if you don't have the carbide ones. and it seems beliveable, considering a few cuts i've gotten from the braided lines. all my rods have carbide guides, so i really can't find out how true it is...but if anyone else knows the truth or falsehood of this, please chime in....

 

[rodcrafter]

Power Pro

Lets set the record straight once and for all on PP.
Last weekend I was in montauk when I had a very fiesty 10 lbs. blue (that didn't like the idea of me pulling a hook out of his mouth) yank the rod from my knees AND crash there goes the ceramic ring on the tip top. Now me being lazy I'm not going to walk back to my truck in the middle of a blitz.I keep fishing (with a cracked guide).Guess what happened next ?
NOTHING !! I pulled about 50 more blues AND one 22lbs striper from the rocks.
I later changed the top and checked the line and not one frayed strand.
So lets put this to rest. You guys that have problems with PP need to take a class on casting & tying knots.
See ya on the rocks.

 

[Hunt n' Fish]

Power Pro vs. Fireline

When braids first started coming out, I spooled my fresh water rods with Fireline and Spiderwire. On those rods I found that Spiderwire was much easier to tie knots in and much softer (wether that makes any difference is another story). On the Fireline, the same knots to connect leader material, would break off with any kind of hard cast.

When I came home from college, and off of Lake Champlain, I started spooling my salt water rods and reels with braid. I already had a dis-taste for Fireline and Power Pro was cheaper and seemed to hold all the standard knots very well.

The problems I found with Power Pro were:
On my 4400ss and 5500ss I got wind knots no matter how I tried casting and retrieving with 10 & 20 lb line. I know that others have had this problem with the SS's and now over rate the rods to use 30 and 50 pound which seems to stop the problem.

With the problems I had with PP I went back to Fireline on some of my gear. Fireline is also the only one that makes a 14 lb line, which is my favorite choice for fluking and weakfish fishing. I learned that the trick for this stuff is to tie variations on the standard knots. Try doubling the line and using one and a half to two times as many wraps.

The Fireline cured the wind knot problem on the SS's so that goes to show that it is not a casting flaw, it is something to do with the design of the spool and the line.

Not until recently have I suffered any of the "mysterious break-offs" that I have heard many complaints about. On the spool of my Tica Caiman that I use in the surf, I have 30 lb Power Pro and I have lost a few lures this season while starting my cast, not a backlash. ON 30 POUND LINE! I have 30 lb Power Pro on my boat rod for casting lures to stripers and this has never happened. Power Pro also SOMETIMES comes with lumps on it if you look.

It seems that the quality control department at Power Pro needs to do a little work. Buying a 300 yard spool of line for $20 to $25 dollars, you should get the quality you expect when you pay for it. For now I am switching back to Fireline, where I know that when a knot fails it was due to me not tying the know correctly and not the line.

I know how to tie a wide variety and variations of knots, very well. I am also quite confident in my casting abilities. So I am sure that my problems with the line are not the fault of myself.

 

[bluefishmaster]

Thank you fellow fishermans. I will post what I have and the problems associated with each braid line that I have tried.

My first braid line experience was when I lost too many fish in the rocky areas around the jetties that I fish. I saw a young guy was using this braid line and I found out it was fireline. So I went and bought one to try. It was strong line and all like some of you said. After I started using it, I have lost fewer fish but I have different problems now. Since fireline has very little memory I cut myself on the hand and the knots I tied had to be different.

Then I found out there was Power Pro, a little cheaper in price. I went out and tried it. I like it and stay with it for a while. I felt the fish better. No wind knots unless I threw very light lures into the wind. I caught more and bigger fish without problems.
But one time in Long Island, I saw a school of Bluefish and I threw my 2oz Hopkins out as far as I can. That's when it happened, my bail closed during a cast and my anti-reverse mechanism broke and the PP line was fine. It was so tough that it broke my reel. I love PP.

I guess it is all depending on your own techniques and fish you catch that matters. I think both Power Pro and Fireline has their weakness and strength. I am getting a reel with 10BBs. I lost my last spin reel from fighting with 2 of 6 huge False Albies.

I know from my experience, conventional reels has fewer problems with braid line.

Wind knots happens mostly on Spinning reel for me. I got a Penn 140L, Daiwa Laguna, Abu Garcia 6500C, and later today a new spinning reel. I will be getting an Okuma Epixor for live baiting herring. I will fill it with PP and see how it will behave and one extra spool with 15# big game.

 

[Striper77]

Doughboy,
My experiences with PP are similar ( although not as extensive ) as yours. The 30 lb line solved the wind knot problem and the doubling of line and extra wrapps solved the line to leader problem. I still have to remind myself to re-tie more ofter because the part of the line that goes through the tip does take a beating and I have donated a few lures by not re-tieing soon enough.

 

[613687]

I'll stick with Fireline!
Power Pro was a NIGHTMARE!

 

[daShark]

I'm using PP 30# with all my lures and I'm not gonna look for another line any more.

 

[hdcycles]

Power pro

Wind knots, tying bad knots. Sounds like you might need some help with your reel or casting. Been using PP for a while havnt had any problems. Some knots will slip. If you reed the box they tell you that. Been tying a simple polamer knot hant lost a lure yet.

 

[Jaiem]

I tried PP this spring and didn't like it. Too many knots casting light lures. Also the color faded fast!

I've also talked to a great many casters who speak of poor knot strength and breaks just happening for no apparent reason. Perhaps there was a good reason, something they didn't notice. But I haven't heard such things about Fireline.

Whiplash looks good but haven't tried it yet myself.

One note: If you aren't alreadying doing it, go bail-less for the braids. It helps a lot IMO.

Jaiem
ArtsNFlies.com

 

[614050]

i've used 20 and 30# PP on shimano corsair 200, 300 and 400's with no problems. yes, the color wears off, so buy it in white.

 

[Crazy-Al]

I've used just about every braid line and at this stage of the game… I am using fireline on my conventional and PP on my spinning outfits. In general, there are no perfect line with an all-purpose setting... so it's a matter of compromise. If you are worried about windknots… stick to heavier line in the 30 & 50 lbs. test and it should solve that problem. Also, the older PP brands had many mystery breakoffs but the new production line pretty much solved that problem.

In fact, I've been very happy with the pp on my spinning outfits.. and able to cull several large bass in the 30 and 40 lbs. class under heavy structured places.

Also, keep in mind that braid lines are not rock friendly at all… therefore, you need to have a long leader!

In regards to reels… My conventional "casting" reel is Amb. 7500c3, Newell 229. The "boat" conventional reels are Trinidads and big Newells. As for spinning outfits… I have every VS surf models.

Hope this helps and tight lines!

"Crazy" Alberto
[email protected]