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Bass Pro Excel R.I.P

Neil Blood

Neil Blood

Senior Member
I know that this line has a bit of a cult following and is regularly purchased from Outdoor World/Bass Pro by Barbel Anglers who visit the States. I’ve personally been a big fan for years; however note the manufacture of this line recently moved from the States to China and it’s now a completely different animal which has more stretch and breaks well below its stated BS.

A friend recently fetched me some back from Florida (now comes in a red box) and following my own tests last night it went straight in the bin.

Avoid at all costs (unless it states made in the USA)!
 
Cue "what line thread"......
 
Interesting Neil thanks. I use the stuff and did stock up recently and must confess to being a little suspicious of the new packaging. Haven't used it yet as still have some of the old version around.
 
Thanks for the heads up Neil. Will be sure to check origin of any BP lines I am thinking of purchasing when I'm in Florida next year.


Dave
 
Neil Blood said:
I know that this line has a bit of a cult following and is regularly purchased from Outdoor World/Bass Pro by Barbel Anglers who visit the States. I’ve personally been a big fan for years; however note the manufacture of this line recently moved from the States to China and it’s now a completely different animal which has more stretch and breaks well below its stated BS.

A friend recently fetched me some back from Florida (now comes in a red box) and following my own tests last night it went straight in the bin.

Avoid at all costs (unless it states made in the USA)!
Click to expand...

I've no personal experience of any manufacturing changes but can assure you that the change in packaging to red boxes did not coincide with a move of manufacturing to china. We have a reasonable stock of this line, manufactured in the states, and it is in red boxes.

Don't automatically assume, just because the box is red, that it's not the original bass pro excel you are used to. That would be wrong and I'm sure that wasn't what Neil was saying, his observations relate to the product and not the packaging.
 
I need to backtrack slightly here, I was warned by a mate who also recently bought some that it was breaking well below the stated BS. I tested my latest batch last night and found the same (10lb clear blue).

Today I checked the Basspro website reviews and found a negative review of the line manufactured in China, with the reviewer stating that the US manufactured was better. Turns out on checking my own stock tonight that it's all from China (some of which was purchased 4 years ago), so something else is going on as the line has definitely changed (as said has more stretch but breaks below stated BS).

Another mate has also brought me 2 spools back, but I won't be seeing him for a while. Once I have it, I'll do some tests and post back?

Is it a case of avoid red box + made in China? :)
 
Having read the negative posts regarding this line i decided to test my 12lb line that i purchased from the Lone Angler site about six weeks ago. It broke at 16lb!!!!!
Ive been using it regularly on the Teme and the Wye, both of which are tackle testers, and been as impressed with it as i always have.
Perhaps there is a rouge batch out there, it has been known to occur in other brands.
So my thoughts are, don't give up on it lads.
 
Finally took delivery of some more Bass Pro Excel (too late to cancel order) in 8lb, 10lb and 12lb and its all breaking well above its stated BS!

In between losing faith from a previous bad batch of the above, I spent £50 on 3 spools of Gold Label Pro Clear in 8lb, 10lb and 12lb (recommended on here and stands up well in the online Tackle Box test). Earlier today I tested it and it all breaks well below its stated BS. Both the 10lb and 12lb break at between 9.4lb and 9.8lb, and the stated diameter of the 12lb is incorrect, being closer to the stated diameter of the 10lb.

The learning here is, when you buy a spool of line, which includes your fav tried and tested, do your own BS tests with each spool!

Note I also tested a spool of Gardner 12lb Hydro Tough, which also broke well above it's stated BS.
 
I know it's a bit of an obvious point Neil, but as no doubt you are well aware, some lines suit one type of knot, others another style.. So...I assume you tried all these different lines with a selection of knots? Just a thought.

Cheers, Dave.
 
David Gauntlett said:
I know it's a bit of an obvious point Neil, but as no doubt you are well aware, some lines suit one type of knot, others another style.. So...I assume you tried all these different lines with a selection of knots? Just a thought.

Cheers, Dave.
Click to expand...

To avoid any knot bias it's best to just wrap the line several times around the hook of the scales till it doesn't slip and test from there.
 
I filled a large bait bucket with water (weighing it each time) then tied a bit of string to the handle with a quick change swivel on the other end. For each test length of line I used figure of 8 loops at both ends and attempted to lift the bucket from the floor very slowly. The line never broke at the knot and generally always half way along the length.
 
Such a great shame.

Did me great hook lengths for years and am certain that it assisted with me getting bites, when others weren't (lots of times).
 
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