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Mono & Super Lines

Stren Fluorocast

Introduction: I have been reluctant to fish fluorocarbon on a regular basis. I have used iy a lot for leader material but rarely rigged it as my main line until this year. In the quest to catch more super-sized fish I have employed it far more often and used this line on numerous occasions.

Testing Scenario: Fishing super clear water for big flounder.

Results: The invisibility factor of this line is stunning. It is pretty much totally invisible by the naked eye. In a side by side comparison with my father fishing a dark colored braid and me with this Stren Fluorocast, it was easy to see it made a significant difference in catching flounder in the clear water. In fact, the results were 5 to 1 in favor of the Stren line. The hookset capability is good although not as powerful as braid.

F.L.E.X. Notes:

On the flounder front the sensitivity was key along with low visibility as the fish in the area I was fishing were big but also super finicky. I had few problems with line memory as compared to some other fluorocarbons I have tried which is a nice bonus. In addition, t

he private lake I do much of my freshwater product testing in is super clear and I found using this line while working worms got me far more bites than other more visible lines.

For more information go to http://www.stren.com

Disclaimer: I was provided this product for the purpose of testing.

Spiderwire Fluoro Braid

Introduction: One of the products that jumped out at me from the new product showcase at the 2010 ICAST Show in Las Vegas was Spiderwire Ultracast Fluoro Braid. The marketing claim it sinks like fluorocarbon instead of floating like standard braid. This in turn reportedly translates to more direct line profile from rod tip to bait giving less slack for more sensitivity and better hookset.

Testing Scenario: I took the line rigged with a slow-sinking hard plastic out to my super clear testing lake to observe the sinking. The next day I took it to the Sabine Jetties to fish a variety of plugs.

Results: The observations in the clear water quickly revealed this line does in fact sink. I cannot verify it sinks as well all brands of fluorocarbon but it definitely has a similar sink rate.

During my trip to the jetties, I was able to throw silver spoons long distances and found it to cast very smooth. Spanish mackerel were all over the rocks and I was able to catch several without using a wire leader before finally being cut off. Nothing cuts line like a mackerel so I thought that was a solid abrasion test for the line. Sensitivity was definitely on par with other braids and was evident when I fished soft plastics and also a slow-sinking hard bait. I did also feel more vibration than with normal braid while working the spoon with a fast retrieve.

F.L.E.X. Notes: The sinking properties could come in very handy for fishing slow-sinking plastics (both hard and soft) as well as finesse lures that do not require slack-line fishing. I would not use this for flounder for example because one thing I like about other braids is the slack in the line which is part of the art of catching flounder. For fishing like speckled trout and largemouth bass however it could be advantageous.

For more information go to http://www.spiderwire.com.

Disclaimer: I was provided this product for the purpose of testing.

FINS Original PRT Braid

Introduction: I love testing out various kinds of lines, particularly the super lines which have become a valuable part of my arsenal. I had never heard of FINS until I made an appearance at fishing and hunting show in Dallas and was provided a sample for testing.

Testing Scenario: Flounder fishing in marshy area in Southeast Texas and pursuing largemouth bass on a private lake.

Results: One of my spinning reels has been rigged with FINS since January and I have fished it consistently since then. Sensitivity is key for flounder fishing especially when the fish are not hungry and are only hitting because you put something in front of their mouth. I have found this line to have equal sensitivity to most other super lines allowing for detection of even the slightest strikes. My tests with the largemouth bass mentioned above have been pretty impressive in the strength department. I have the luxury of testing a lot of my tackle in a super clear private lake and have watched several six plus pound bass run right under logs and other structure and I have been able to pull them out with the line rubbing against the structure.

F.L.E.X. Notes: After mentioning I was testing FINS at a seminar an angler told me he had problems with the line losing its color. I have had some dulling of the line after prolonged use but not any more than other brands. The line is very strong and super sensitive which is the combination someone wants in a braided line. For some particular fishing I would prefer a darker line color.

For more information, go to http://www.buyfins.com.

Disclaimer: I was provided this product for the purpose of testing.