Interesting, I've made a few hundred casts hooked 9 fish and landed 5 on it so far and the finish is still as good as new, and considering I use mono at the end before my float the hydro float never comes in contact with bottom structure such as sticks or rocks, and I havnt used it below freezing conditions but I realize it would freeze up like braid and wouldn't be my first choice in the colder winter months, only complaint I've had so far is that it cuts my finger sometimes while casting it long distance using the wallis cast