My son is looking to fill his salmon reel with fresh line and he asked me what I would recommend.
I like tiny diameter braid but hate the way soft braid wraps around the rod tip when salt water jigging, hate how prone it to tangles and backlash.
What is the current best line that combines fine diameter strong braid with stiffness that does not tangle easily?
I havent used many myself because once I found what I like I hate switching.
I use Suffix 832 in 15lb test when I can find it. But most places jump right to stocking the 20lb for some reason.
Both are close to a 6lb mono diameter.
I used to swear by SpiderWire until I found the Suffix. Then I realized that SpiderWires abrasion resistance was crap.
A friend talked me into trying Powerpro once and I hated it. It was stiff like you mentioned. So stiff that it was a bit weird to tie a palomer knot with.
I've never really had any backlash, tangles or tip wrap to speak of, but everything I use braid on is a baitcaster. I dont know if that make a difference or knot. <---see what I did there? :biggrin:
Quote from: FinsnFur on June 18, 2025, 05:36:01 PMI've never really had any backlash, tangles or tip wrap to speak of, but everything I use braid on is a baitcaster. I dont know if that make a difference or knot. <---see what I did there? :biggrin:
:laf: :highclap:
Thanks for your insights and experiences. I've looked in a couple of good tackle stores and asked several fishermen and think I'm settling on a line to try.
Spiderwire Dura 50 lb. test looks closest to what I'm after. I tried Spiderwire Fusion one time years ago and didn't like it.
If I'm lucky I will only tie a few knots in it the whole salmon season: line to leader. I tie on a 12 foot leader in 15 lb. test, and tie my jigs to the end of that till there is only 5 or six feet left. I lose a few inches each time I tie on a jig. Tied line to line with no swivel etc. the small knot runs through the guides easily on the odd time I want to cast to a fish on the surface.
Dura is a little stiffer than PowerPro, but I want that. Also, as PowerPro wears it softens and tends to tangle more. I hope this line retains its stiffness.
We mostly jig in salt water, using bait caster reels. Bouncing in waves with wind and tide currents, as I mentioned before, soft line constantly tries to wrap around the tip of the rod if you drop the jig so that it falls freely. Soft line also forms wind knots. Monofil is stiff enough to not have nearly as much problem with either of those problems. My cousins have given up on braid and gone back to monofil for salmon. I'm looking for braid strength and diameter with mono anti-tangle stiffness. :wo:
Quote from: Okanagan on June 20, 2025, 11:29:19 PMAlso, as PowerPro wears it softens and tends to tangle more.
Yes, I forgot about that!. It turns a pale color and gets real soft. I even had it come apart on one of my rod and reels one time. Made a cast and I had like three lines coming out the tip of the rod. It's almost like the PowerPro de-laminated or something like a worn out shoestring does sometimes.
I'll never buy that garbage again.