• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

Which line?

For Richard Lomas,
Field Farm was controlled by Hereford & District Anglers the last time I fished it.
 
Hi Tony

I used sensor brown in France which was a tough test - fishing at up to 200 yards all week. It isn't the most high spec of lines but it is cheap and tough as old boots - when new. It didn't cost me a fish, but i found it detiorated very quickly and i will have to replace all 3 spools.

I have been using fox soft steel camo this season as a cheap alternative and found it very reliable to date. The camo properties can't hurt and don't impair how the line performs.

However, in answer to your question, as you know i would definitely recommend 30lb powerpro for the Trent. If you're fishing with heavy enough hooklinks i can't see it's lack of stretch causing too much of a problem on the Yorks rivers, but i would feel more comfortable using x-line on the Nidd etc, for it's invisibility and sinking properties. It's never let me down, knot strength wise either.
 
Thanks for all the advice. My Sensor is the camouflaged one and looks a bit iffy when out of the water. It hasn't let me down but is kinking off the spool (I have a feeling I put it on incorrectly) and I was considering a replacement. I've come across articles about x-line breaking at well below its stated BS and fluorocarbons losing their invisibility as soon as they get a bit of muck on them from the river water. The jury's still out. I'll let you know when/if I change, and to what.
 
Richard Parsons said:
I bought some Big Game clear (10lb) on the back of an earlier thread...and I lost a biggie last week when it snapped. I wasn't snagged and had the fish on for about 2 minutes. So that's it, my confidence in the stuff has gone...and I'm now back with GR60 (which I shouldn't have left in the first place).
Click to expand...

I think there are spools of "10lb" Big Game around that are rebranded with a true breaking strain and are only 6lb in old money. The American 10lb is really about 15lb and the 12lb is 18lb. I have used all types of line on the rocks and bedrock of the upper swale and US bought 12lb Big Game is the only one that has never ever let me down, in fact it is a nightmare if you have to pull for a break.

Stephen
 
the bottom line is...
confidence, happy with what your using, stick with it.
 
I used to use big game, but the breaking strain/diameter were always so inconsistent!!
15lb used to break at 22lb, 12lb was about 17lb!!

I wanted a true breaking strain so changed to ultima power plus.
It offers true breaking strain, and thin diameters. Got 10 and 12lb on my barbel rods and 15lb on my carp rods.
 
Anthony Pearson said:
I've come across articles about x-line breaking at well below its stated BS and fluorocarbons losing their invisibility as soon as they get a bit of muck on them from the river water. The jury's still out. I'll let you know when/if I change, and to what.
Click to expand...
True its IFGA rated - that's why I use the 15lb rated X-line.
No problems on Ouse/Wharfe/Swale/Derwent/Nidd or Trent.
I use a towel to wipe the line (on the retrieve) every other session.
 
Anthony Pearson said:
My Sensor is the camouflaged one and looks a bit iffy when out of the water. It hasn't let me down but is kinking off the spool (I have a feeling I put it on incorrectly) and I was considering a replacement.
Click to expand...

I doubt that you've put it on incorrectly, I respooled 2 reels (5010's) with 10 lb Sensor before the season opened and now suffering line-twist after only 5 sessions, had the same problem with 8lb that I put on for my tench campaign.

I've heard others complain about Sensor doing this, but I put up with it because it's cheap and tough. BTW I play fish by backwinding so it's not twist imparted from the clutch slipping.

On my 3500B's I have 12lb Big Game clear and never seem to get any problems with that.
 
15lb big game clear. No point messing about! Used to use fox camo that was good too.

Check the tacklebox website for full line comparisons, strengths, both stated and tested, and diameters given.

Great resource.
 
Never had any problems with gr60 and gt80 but changed to fluoro on the recommendation of a mate about four or five seasons ago. This was before it was publicised that it's invisibility was rendered useless after it had been in the water for a while. Still I got on so well with the stuff I was using (fox illusion), that on my return to the sport proper this year I decided to stick with it. I was a little nervous about the switch to illusion xs but hopefully it'll prove to be as good as the old stuff.
 
does anyone think that the colour of the line really matters?..im currently using gardner gt80 12lb in dark green and gardner hydroflo 10lb clear..ive spoken to a chap who has held barbel records on two different rivers at one time and he said it does not matter about line colour indeed he was using green 12lb line in very clear water with no backlead and still catching..:cool:
 
my vote would be for bass pro excel clear used it for two seasons now and i really like it and it seems to work well on my local rivers. Saying that i bought a load from Florida when i went but i reckon you could find places that stock it over here. Its strong and has low visibility

all the best, BW
 
I'm a braid convert but my favourite mono is Pro gold which is coloured,
I tried Pro clear but it didn't seem to be the same line..am I wrong in this assumption?:confused:
 
I have used Pro Clear 10lb for a number of years.In this poundage the Pro Gold breaks at 11.88lb with a diameter of 0.29mm,wheras the Pro Clear breaks at 12.13lb with a diameter of 0.26mm,but hey,it's all down to personal confidence in the product.

Pete;)
 
Berkley Big Game clear 12lb has not let me down yet. Its quite thick line, but i think that is an advantage as a main line when fishing snaggy swims.
 
Would Big Game clear in 10lb suit a centrepin?
 
Craig Wood said:
does anyone think that the colour of the line really matters?..im currently using gardner gt80 12lb in dark green and gardner hydroflo 10lb clear..ive spoken to a chap who has held barbel records on two different rivers at one time and he said it does not matter about line colour indeed he was using green 12lb line in very clear water with no backlead and still catching..:cool:
Click to expand...

Hey craig whats your thoughts on hydroflo line?
It seems strong but its gone abit springy... which worries me! thinking what it looks like on the river bed???

Fellas whats big game like ? or gt lines ? do they go coil/spring like?

cheers jamie
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top