Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) > Tackle & Techniques

Varivas line

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Brandon Khoo:
Lee, you've seeking GT angling nirvana if you want a casting line without the wind knots!  ;D

They are unfortunately part and parcel of fishing with braid. If you choose a really smooth line like Varivas GT or Varivas GT SMP or YGK Ultra Castman, then you are going to get more wind knots, not less. You can of course reduce the incidences quite significantly. The first is not to overfill your spool, the second is to look at your casting technique, the third is the weight of the leader you use and the fourth is your connection.

As Mike as written, don't overfill your spool. This is one of the primary causes of wind knots. This is why I tend to question it on the forum here when people make extravagant claims about how much line they can get onto a spool. Packing the line on really tight will help you get a fraction more line on but not 20% more! If you are getting that much on, then you're overpacking your spool. The manufacturers do know what they are talking about when they recommend spool capacities.

Casting is a whole topic on its own so I am not going to go into it here but good technique reduces the incidences significantly. If you use heavy leaders like say 200lb or upwards particularly with PE6 or PE8 Varivas GT, then you will get more wind knots for the simple reason that the heavier leader takes that fraction longer to get through the guides and meanwhile, it has a huge quantity of braid flying around behind the stripper guide. If you want a heavier leader, I'd suggest you think about using a bite leader segment.

On your connection, having your connection between braid and mainline where it is already off the spool makes a big difference. The compromise of course is you end up with a shorter leader. I also find that slimline connections to a single strand leader seem to have less issues than a twisted leader.

Lee Margrave:
Thanks again everyone. When I first posted this thread and mentioned not wanting any wind knots I was thinking more of not getting a line that is so supple that will lead to more than normal wind knots.  I rarely ever get wind knots, and rarely overspool with line. Unless I  have the reel spooled by someone else.  But most of the posts that show the gear used mostly showed the Avanti GT max more time than not and seeing the "casting lines" for sale made me feel somewhat suspect that these lines might be more susceptible to getting wind knots.  I agree with Mike regarding the Tuf-Line feeling a little stiff and waxy and have used an American line called Izorline which has been great for the most part. Was wanting to try Varivas, I don't think I"ll be disappointed with the GT Max Power. Thanks for the advise Brandon...Cheers.......Lee

Mark Harris:
Mike, I am not sure anyone would claim that Japanese lines are stronger across the board than the American equivalents. What they are is softer and more supple, and therefore you tend to get a few extra metres of casting distance.

Brandon's point about heavy shock leaders causing wind knots is something I have experienced as well. As a result, I now routinely use 170lb with PE8 mainline which is the lightest leader I feel comfortable with when casting for GTs.  It does help for sure.  In very shallow water though, I still tend to go heavier and put up with the wind knots (rather have a wind knot than get sliced all the time!

As for PowerPro... we have debated this one before. Suffice to say that the heavier PowerPro has a tendency to explode  under casting load. I vowed never to touch the stuff again after the last time this happened.

Son Pham:
Avani Gt & max.

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