OK, I know that I started a thread below that was dealing with bloodknots and line choices below but today I had a rather unpleasant experience with Maxima U.G.. I spooled up some new 10lb. U.G. yesterday and went fishing today. I tie my leaders with 8lb. U.G.. On 8 out of like 10 snags I lost everything, the 10lb broke before the 8lb leader. After the first couple of snags I began to really concentrate on tying good knots, thinking that I was rushing and doing poor ones. Didn't matter, I'd still loose everything. I have been using U.G. and Chameleon pretty much my whole fishing career and never has this happened. I've heard a little about bad spools of line but this is a first for me. I don't plan on switching to Crystal Ivory, Gami, or Izor line as I am still sold on the Maxima. I just wanted to hear if any of you have had similar problems. I will buy a new spool, a bulk one if I can find one for a good price locally,( any ideas?) and attatch it via a bloodknot to my old stuff that always held longer that the leader. Any opinions?

I've used Trilene XT for years for spring and fall chinook with good results. It has good knot strength and high abrasion resistance. I trust it.

On a trip two seasons ago to a local river where I fish for fall chinook, I respooled with fresh XT that I had purchased the day before, like yourself. I soon hooked a nice bright fish which proceeded to head downstream at a pretty good clip and POP!, my line snaps. I figured there must have been a nick in my line that I'd missed. It happens. I retie, bait up, and go back to fishing. About a half hour later, another hook up with the same results. So now I'm pissed. I retie and test the knot, POP! I had what was left of the fresh spool in my vest and I test it. POP! It's rated as 17 lb. test and it breaks at what feels like 10 lbs. I had purchased a spool of weak line, perhaps like yourself.

I'd take back the spool that you recently purchased and get my money back. Then I'd go to another store and purchase a fresh spool. Respool and test it before you fish it. My .02.

Ron

I tried Maxima Ultragreen for making my fly leaders last summer. the stuff failed miserably I lost 3 fish because of it breaking and perfectly tied blood knots. I may have gotten just a bad batch but I have never had a bad batch of chameleon and the fish are never put off by the long brown string comming off the front of the fly. In my opinion Ultragreen is absolute garbage, some guys use it successfully but i am not willing to take another chance. if it ain't broke don't fix it maxima chameleon has served steelheaders for a couple decades now. It's reliable and it works.

you just answered your question

I wrote a post about exactly this same thing last October!!

My fishing buddy and I both ran into bad spools of UG, we figured out we both bought them at the same place... probably the same batch. The other four or five spools I used last fall were fine, and the one I have bought since seems fine. I'm still using UG, my fishing partner has changed to Izor.

Either bring the bad spool back to the store, or give it to someone you don't like...

-N.

I have been using UG for as long as I have been steelheading...8 years or so.

I usually spool up every other week to keep my line fresh and have yet to run into a bad batch of UG although I have seen a bulk spool that didnt look so hot.

The key is to buy line that is stored properly. Monofilament will last forevor as long as it is stored in a dry, dark, cool place. The second mono is exposed to UV it detoriates and detoriates fast. Make sure you buy your line from a store that stocks it away from windows or sells alot of it...

Let's just say that opinion ISN'T widely held. You got a bad spool Rob, simple as that.

I'm with Dan on this one, i only use Maxima UG and CHam and never had a problem in any application. BUT, what I have noticed with UG as the diameter goes up the more spit you should puut on knot as you tighten it up. I knnw first hand same thin happened a few years back. Two rods loaded ff same spool. I was lubing my knots wit spit while my buddy just cinched them up. Hhe kept snapping off while I held strong.

I definitely don't go as far as Sparkey, but respool every few months depending on the rod. I don' leave my lines exposed to UV. But will say this. I grabbed out an old plunking rod I hhad siting at my Dad's hoouse a few years back that I had left there. Ii used it immdiately that next day with pprobably 6 year old maxima on it. It landed 2 nice 30+ lb kings off the Chehalis with no problems. UG mind you. Can't complain with it here.

Three things destroy line .Fishing.UV.Ozone.Eliminate 2 of the 3 if you can.Take your pick.Fresh is the key to good line.A certain High profile PR person for a Oregon Lure company used to give guides and a select few angles lots of Berkley Line.OLD Berkley line.He must have had a good laugh.
2 worst lines made IMHO.Berkley.Ande.

Looking at YOU from the bilge

I dont keep my line on for more than 4-5 trips for my casting reels and 7-8 for my spinning reels, and i replace it all at once, to me its not worth losing a fish due to old weak line. the crystal ivory i use comes in big spools so i dont worry about wasting it...
Tyler

I don't understand how you can say that Ande line is crap. If you go to their website the have thousands of IGFA record fish that were caught on their line. They are trying to broaden their horizons to include the northwest fisheries. If you ask a few guides on the Cowlitz what line they use and always use it will be Ande....

I have had good luck with most lines I fished with and there are a couple of reasons to switch back and forth. cost , line diameter, and abrasion resistance.

Maxima is so widely used because for most of us that drift fish we are always in the rocks or bouncing on bottom. we put our line through very rigorous trials. Find a line that works for you in the price range you can afford and learn what the characteristics of that line are.
I use Tuffline, Berkely Fireline, Berkley Big game, Stren magnathin, Ande, and yes Maxima. each has their place in your arsenal if you use them for their intended purpose. Ie. drifting, floatfishing, sturgies, and deepsea.

Baitboy I agree for certain applications stren magna thin is an awsome line it is the best casting line I have ever used. I tried it for springer plunking last spring. it far far far outdistanced any other line the only problem it is not abbrasion resistant so I used up the spool pretty quickly. It's the best line for pitching spinners and spoons. I used to use berkley big game too for all my bass fishing. I could put a rod away in November then pick it up in march and keep fishing. Thats what I have on my reels now.

Anybody ever use (Bagleys) Silver Thread? Small diameter and pretty good price.

What (in y'alls opinion) is the best all round line for spinning reels? My ideal would be VERY limp, very low stretch (for sensitivity), good abrasion resistance and knot strength, and, of course, low diameter to be able to cast that extra few yards (or to cast that almost too lite lure/bait). Any inputs would be greatly appreciated. Thanx.

Sincerely,
Roger

RRR Crystal Ivory is what your loookin for...
Tyler

RRR,

I've found that limpness and abrasion resistance are virtually mutually exclusive when it comes to fishing line. Every real soft, limp line I've found that flows nicely off of a spinning reel was $hit for abrasion resistance.

Get an abrasion resistant line, and it likes to jump off a spinning reel, or pour off several loops at a time.

I wouldn't call Crystal Ivory a limp line. It's manageable in 8# but at 10# it starts behaving badly. In my opinion, the 8# is really not up to the fish you might tie into this time of year.

I haven't found Ande to be bad line. If you tie 10# back to back with Maxima, the Ande will break every time. But if you look at the lines, the Max. is bigger in diameter, so you have to take that into consideration. I find Ande to be a pretty good compromise between limpness and abrasion resistance. Doesn't excel in either, but it's adequate for both. Better than a limp line that nicks, chafes, and eventually breaks if you're not inspecting it all the time. And certainly better than a stiff line that won't come off the spool smoothly.

I'm still looking for that perfect line too. Of course if you do find it, the manufacturer will probably discontinue it because it's not popular with the bass and walleye crowd.

On my baitcaster: Max. UG
On my spinning reel: Still experimenting