GTPopping.com - Giant Trevally, GTPopping, Topwater & GT Fly-Fishing Resource
Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Tackle & Techniques => Topic started by: Brandon Khoo on February 17, 2009, 09:40:27 PM
-
I'd be interested to know what different brands of braid that people use. If you could post what brand and how you find the performance of the braid, I think that would be useful for everyone.
For me, I generally use Varivas GT but over the past 36 months, have also use FINS PRT, Tuf Line XP and Varivas GT SMP.
Varivas GT is my favourite line. It is a fine diameter, round, soft and casts beautifully. That said, I find it doesn't last as long as other braids and for me, it is good for two to four trips.
FINS PRT is a really tough braid. It is a bit flat though and doesn't have the roundness of Varivas. I also find the strands come apart quite easily although that doesn't seem to affect the line much. It doesn't cast anywhere near as smoothly as Varivas, especially in the heavier braids.
Tuf Line XP. A very good braid that is quite round in feel.Notwithstanding my other post on the diameter of braids, it feels thicker than Varivas. It also doesn't cast as well as Varivas and it has a waxy feel to it. It is also a stiffer braid. All of that said, a tough, tough braid. For lighter applications up to 50lb, this is my braid of choice. The lighter loundages just don't feel as stiff or waxy.
Varivas GT SMP - a beautiful casting line that feels smooth like silk. Unfortunately, based on my experience to date, it is rather prone to shock loads.
Does anyone here use Stren or Powerpro?
-
Tuffline for me Brandon.
$$$ wise I reckon its great value.
I have two spools for my dogfight.
One with 30lb Tuffline for the longtails/mackeral etc from the rocks and 80lb Tuffline on another.
Its very nice in the 30lb.
Pete
-
Hi Brandon
Have been using Frog exclusively for the GTs. It appears to be a bit course, but keeps its round shape well and it seems to last for more than 3 -4 trips. It is not as fine and smooth Varivas, but I am not sure that is such an issue when the line spends most of its time above the water.
I must admit, I call on it to undertake trolling and jigging as well -a bit of an ask i know.
Oh yes, it tangles just as much as the others as is just as impossible to untangle.
Cheers
Les.
-
Not very experience, rather new to this type of fishing.
I use Tuf line XP 65lb for mi 10000 spool and 80lb power pro for my 16k spool. Seem to be casting well on this brand but that said, haven been popping long enough to give views on other brands.
-
Popping and Stickbaiting (120g or heavier lures) - Jerry Brown Hollow 100 test. I splice the reel line into a metre of 200 test JBH ending in a loop which I join via catspaw to a 5 foot, 100 or 200 test, single strand or twisted, mono leader. JBH is very soft and castable but it does catch the wind and can produce "wind knots" if you are casting into the wind and your casting technique is off. I replace the last 10-20 metres of reel line after each trip by splicing in new line - though I have no empirical evidence whatsoever that this is necessary - it just feels right!
Jigging (200-400g jigs) - Tufline XP 80 test. I start fishing with a 100 or 130 test fluoro leader joined via PR knot to the reel line. If I get bitten off or broken, I tie a bimini loop in the reel line and join it, via a catspaw, to one of my pre-made wind-on leaders (simply a short length of 80 test XP, with a bimini loop at one end, PR knotted at the other end to a 100 or 130 test fluoro leader). If I run out of these, I tie on a fluoro leader using an improved albright. As the name suggests, XP is tough stuff and I have seen it "saw thru" a different brand of braid when two people hooked fish that crossed. I have recently filled a 20000FA spool with 100 test XP and I intend to try it for popping/stickbaiting on my 10000FA.
Casting (25-100g lures) - Power Pro 30, 50 or 65 test. I again start fishing with a 40, 60 or 80 test leader (sufix zippy or seaguar fluoro) and go straight to an improved albright connection if I have to change leaders. PP is nicely round but feels a little coarse straight out of the box. However, I find it limp enough for casting in the breaking strains I use and it does get softer with use without appearing to lose its strength (it does lose color).
-
Hey Colin i'm a bit off topic here but i was just curious how much 100lb tuff line did u get on your 20k spool?
-
Hi Colin
I'd be interested in your comments on how you fine the thickness of the Jerry Brown compared to Tuf Line.I also know that Jerry Brown produce a non-hollow spectra. have you used this before?
Popping and Stickbaiting (120g or heavier lures) - Jerry Brown Hollow 100 test. I splice the reel line into a metre of 200 test JBH ending in a loop which I join via catspaw to a 5 foot, 100 or 200 test, single strand or twisted, mono leader. JBH is very soft and castable but it does catch the wind and can produce "wind knots" if you are casting into the wind and your casting technique is off. I replace the last 10-20 metres of reel line after each trip by splicing in new line - though I have no empirical evidence whatsoever that this is necessary - it just feels right!
Jigging (200-400g jigs) - Tufline XP 80 test. I start fishing with a 100 or 130 test fluoro leader joined via PR knot to the reel line. If I get bitten off or broken, I tie a bimini loop in the reel line and join it, via a catspaw, to one of my pre-made wind-on leaders (simply a short length of 80 test XP, with a bimini loop at one end, PR knotted at the other end to a 100 or 130 test fluoro leader). If I run out of these, I tie on a fluoro leader using an improved albright. As the name suggests, XP is tough stuff and I have seen it "saw thru" a different brand of braid when two people hooked fish that crossed. I have recently filled a 20000FA spool with 100 test XP and I intend to try it for popping/stickbaiting on my 10000FA.
Casting (25-100g lures) - Power Pro 30, 50 or 65 test. I again start fishing with a 40, 60 or 80 test leader (sufix zippy or seaguar fluoro) and go straight to an improved albright connection if I have to change leaders. PP is nicely round but feels a little coarse straight out of the box. However, I find it limp enough for casting in the breaking strains I use and it does get softer with use without appearing to lose its strength (it does lose color).
-
Hey Colin i'm a bit off topic here but i was just curious how much 100lb tuff line did u get on your 20k spool?
Can't give you an exact number Peter - but I started with a 600yd spool of 100 test XP and I got more than half of it on the 20000 spool (wound on very tight). I'm guessing in the region of 400 yds.
-
Hi Colin
I'd be interested in your comments on how you fine the thickness of the Jerry Brown compared to Tuf Line.I also know that Jerry Brown produce a non-hollow spectra. have you used this before?
Hi Brandon,
Haven't used the JB solid & haven't seen it used.
Regarding the relative thicknesses of braid, I haven't found a measurement for JB Hollow - but my 100 test JBH feels similar in thickness to my 80 test XP i.e. marginally thinner than my 100 test XP (allowing for the fact that the JBH flattens as you run it thru your fingers and the XP doesn't).
If you compare stated diameters/tests of XP & Power Pro, you have to be aware of where you bought the Power Pro -
XP Power Pro
Diameter (mm) Test (lbs) Diameter (mm) Test (lbs) USA Test (lbs) EUR
.20 20 .23 20 30
.28 30 .28 30 44
.30 50 .36 50 66
.41 65 .41 65 88
.46 80 .43 80 105
.48 100 .46 100 121
I wonder if the tests claimed for XP & Power Pro USA refer to knot strength and the tests for Power Pro EUR refer to unknotted strength?
I like Power Pro - but it does feel coarser and stiffer than XP "out of the packet", you do have to use it to soften it and, as I said before, this doesn't seem to affect its strength.
Reckon you've come up with a good topic here Brandon - I'd be interested if anybody has found diameters for JBH.
-
Colin, you've overall been happy with the performance of the hollow braid? How does it stand up to shock loads?
I like the feel of the JB hollow braid myself. It feels very smooth and soft. I can't seem to find anyone who has used the JB solid spectra. I probably should get a spool of it to try to see how it goes.
-
For my saltiga blast i use Fireline pink 30lb, ive had it on for i think 5 years. I think that it is average.
For my stella 10000 i used YGK Castman 62lb ive had it on their for 12mths and haven't used it yet.
cheers
Ash
-
Varivas GT is my favourite line. It is a fine diameter, round, soft and casts beautifully. That said, I find it doesn't last as long as other braids and for me, it is good for two to four trips.
Brandon, just for my own clarification, when you say good for 2 to 4 trips, have you turned the braid around on your spool, for example after your second trip out of 4 in this instance?
Thanks
-
Hi Andy - yes I do. I reverse my line after every one or two trips.
It does depend on the location. If you've been fishing a really shallow and reefy/rock location, your line cops an absolute beating. Anyone who has fished for Gts on soem time would have experienced where you hook up to a fish and it's gone almost instantaneously. In such circumstances, I suspect that the braid had a nick in it and snapped at the weak point under load.
It's an expensive sport this way - and more so when you use Varivas GT! I'd love to find a cheaper alternative that has similar characteristics.
-
If you do find one, Varivas won't be so expensive either :)
-
Yup,
After paying all that money for gear and getting there, the time spent on inspecting closely the top 20m to 30m of braid closely after a big fish in shallow water is worth it.
-
Colin, you've overall been happy with the performance of the hollow braid? How does it stand up to shock loads?
I like the feel of the JB hollow braid myself. It feels very smooth and soft. I can't seem to find anyone who has used the JB solid spectra. I probably should get a spool of it to try to see how it goes.
I have been happy using the JBH Brandon - but I feel I shoiuld explain my usage/experience so as not to mislead -
1 I don't know how abrasion resistant it is 'cause I haven't used it a lot over extensive shallow, rocky locations, where a GT could make a long run that would pull the line across a damaging bottom. My fishing has been close to drop-offs and reefs, with the boat skipper helping drag a hooked GT away from trouble and me keeping as much line clear of the water as possible.
2 I have been hit hard by some decent sized GT with no breaks experienced - but I do use a 200 test twisted leader and that may give some additional shock absorption. That said, my wife was using 80 test JBH and a 130 test twisted leader when a 10kg GT smash took her near the boat - enough of a shock load to break the rod but the line held. Of course some of the shock absorption properties are accounted for by the following -
- there are no knots in the braid
- wherever you splice it you have a doubled length of line
- extreme tension will tend to pull it in on itself.
Leaving aside abrasion resistance and shock absorption, I have other reasons for liking JBH for popping -
1 It has a lovely soft feel and casts well (except into a strong wind when its lightness and hollow nature work against it - of course these characteristics work for it casting downwind)
2 It is so easy to make loops and splice in new line, whether to top up the reel line or add a stronger "leader length" - and all the joins are "invisible" and 100 per cent.
I reckon you should give it a go on your next trip - I'd be very interested in your observations.
-
thanks for the information, Colin.
I think I will get some of the solid spectra to try for myself.
I can't ever see myself going down the route of hollow braid though. Still, one should never say never........
-
I can't ever see myself going down the route of hollow braid though. Still, one should never say never........
Why not Brandon? I'm interested in what you don't like about it.
-
it's nothing to do with my not liking it, Colin.
It's that it is designed for a purpose I don't use and that is splicing loops.
-
This site is still under construction -
www.jerry-brown-industries.com (http://www.jerry-brown-industries.com)
- but I found it interesting to read the Tips and Tricks section.
-
I've just spent the past half hour tying some knots with the hollow braid. It tends to flatten out as it's hollow but it feels strong as.
No worries tying FGs with it but it's a big PR knot. I think the hollow braid is best used for splicing. I got to get a spool of the solid Jerry Brown and see how that goes.
-
Must admit I've never tied knots, only made loops - 'cause I use loop to loop and catspaw join braid to mono for popping/stickbaiting and I always keep all of my 5 foot leader outside the guides when casting.
I bought the 100 test XP partly to create a spare 20k spool for popping/stickbaiting but also to try a PR knot approach with a slightly longer length of mono, allowing the braid/mono join to pass thru the guides.
Be interested in how you get on with the solid JB.
-
I've just spent the past half hour tying some knots with the hollow braid. It tends to flatten out as it's hollow but it feels strong as.
No worries tying FGs with it but it's a big PR knot. I think the hollow braid is best used for splicing. I got to get a spool of the solid Jerry Brown and see how that goes.
Tuf Line XP in 100lb+ class can be spliced with a steady hand. I use spliced loops on the 130lb.
-
Good thread :-)
I've used Jerry Brown Hollow in 130lb. Found it cast OK, was nice to be able to join lines and splice loops but like Brandon said not so good for PR knots. Also reckon it gets furry quite quickly which makes me thing it loses strength with use. Had an unexplained breakage on a decent fish which was either down to midwater debris that we couldn't see on the sounder or faulty line. No longer use this as I like the PR leader knot join.
Tuf XP - I like it but I've also seen the article that states it breaks at its stated strength. No bad thing except Powerpro is thinner for the same stated breaking strain and over-tests. The 130lb XP feels like barge rope! Not sure how the diameter compares to Varivas as I've not used it but I didn't enjoy using a line this thick.
Powerpro - I use this predominantly now because its cheap so I can change it regularly and it overtests for its given breaking strain. It doesn't wear too well but I change it every two trips so no real dramas. it can be a bit sensitive to bad knot tying but once you get this under control I reckon its great stuff.
What I miss most from the hollow is being able to make an invisible splice to join two lengths of line i.e, if you want to top up a spool. I hate having a double uni or biminis floating around in the middle of a spool! You know its going to cause you issues at some point...
-
Tuf XP - I like it but I've also seen the article that states it breaks at its stated strength. No bad thing except Powerpro is thinner for the same stated breaking strain and over-tests. The 130lb XP feels like barge rope! Not sure how the diameter compares to Varivas as I've not used it but I didn't enjoy using a line this thick.
Powerpro - I use this predominantly now because its cheap so I can change it regularly and it overtests for its given breaking strain. It doesn't wear too well but I change it every two trips so no real dramas. it can be a bit sensitive to bad knot tying but once you get this under control I reckon its great stuff.
Interestingly the XP/Power Pro comparison I did showed PP is thinner for 80 & 100 stated test, thicker for 20 & 50 stated test, the same for 30 & 65 stated test.
In terms of actual test, I just tied the ends of 12 inches of 30 test PP to barrel swivels using moistened 5 turn uni knots. With one swivel slipped over the hook of my digital scales and the other held in split ring pliers I exerted a gradually increasing pull. The braid broke at 20/21 pound reading on the scales at a point an inch or two above the knot on the swivel. Did this 3 times with the same result. Not a scientific test 'cause I don't have the right equipment for that - but interesting enough for me to see what happens with claimed 50 test PP.
-
has anyone used YGK castman ultra X8? thinking of PE8 (48kg) for the Dogfight..either that or tuffline
-
I use the YGK lines in the Ultra Jigman and the Ultra Castman, along with Jigman and the YGK Nitlon on the 10 - 30lb combos. I love the stuff and the only query I had was with the Ultra Jigman in the early days of use a few years ago, I had two unexplained line breaks just above the Bimini which may have been caused in the tying of the Knot.
Colin, your 3 breakages could be from a similar situation with the Uni Knot stressing the line as it is pulled up to the swivel?
-
Colin, your 3 breakages could be from a similar situation with the Uni Knot stressing the line as it is pulled up to the swivel?
Could be Greg - 'cause breaks occur either at or just above one of the knots. Did the same experiment with 50 test (broke at 31/32) and 65 test (broke at 38-40) so some consistency here!! Used uni and 6 turn grinner knots - same results - not surprising, same type of knots though grinner sb slightly stronger. Must admit I use a mono or fluoro leader with PP (joined via PR knot or improved albright) so have not had occasion to attach PP direct to swivel, snap or eye of hook.
Be interesting if anybody out there has a knot that doesn't give these sort of results.
-
I use the YGK lines in the Ultra Jigman and the Ultra Castman, along with Jigman and the YGK Nitlon on the 10 - 30lb combos. I love the stuff and the only query I had was with the Ultra Jigman in the early days of use a few years ago, I had two unexplained line breaks just above the Bimini which may have been caused in the tying of the Knot.
Colin, your 3 breakages could be from a similar situation with the Uni Knot stressing the line as it is pulled up to the swivel?
would you rate the ultra castman PE8 better for popping than 80lb tuffline? narrowed it down to those 2...Pete Morris gave feedback that the ygk may be subject to breakages near the colour markers, have you experienced this? cheers...
-
I use 80lb tufline XP. Cheap, tough and reliable, lasts forever. Never had a wind knot in it.
I've got PE6 Daiwa Sensor-braid on my 8000 and PE4 on my little Saltiga for Spaniards. Very nice silky smooth braid that seems strong but get's the odd wind-knot. Expensive too.
-
I find PE Spray on Varivas , YGK n Daiwa PE lines help prevent wind knot and guide wrap , definitely improves casting distance .
Jon .