Some info to share on line tests

I ordered a copy of "Sport Fishing" magazine containing the "test" of 85 brands of fishing line. Below are some of the highlights of the test for those interested.

The test was done on 20# lines, inlcudes the ranking of both popular monos and braids and appears to be fair and scientific in content. The lines were ranked based on several parameters including line diameter, tension rating (while wet), tensile uniformity, abrasion uniformity (uniformity is a measurement of consistency from once section of the line to another), and mean cycles to break. I won't get into the statistics but will mention that each line was tested many times to insure an accurate average. Abrasion was tested by pulling each piece of line up and down over a 150-grit steel cyclinder. A counter tracked the number of cycles until the line broke.

Below are a few of the results with the top scorers included for both mono and braids. They ranked Stren Original top for mono but this is largely because of its high abrasion score (see table below). Close behind in second and third places were Rapala Tough and Sufix Tritanium Plus. Western Filament's Tuf-line (not tuff-line plus) was the top for the Braids, Mason Tiger Braid second, and Fireline and Power pro taking 4th and 5th places respectively. I did not include the raw data for Fireline as there was a typo in the data. Fluorocarbons scored very poorly because of extremly low resistance to abrasion!

If someone is curious about a specific line let me know here or send me an email, will be glad to provide the info. Much of the info was expected but certainly there are some major surprises as well. Sorry for any typos. RM

Manufact/ Line/ Mean Break/ Cyles to Break

(monos)
Stren/ Orig. 20.9/ 1295
Stren/ Supr. Tuff 19.6/ 273
Sufix/ Tritan. Plus 30.6/ 791
Rapala/ Tough 31.2/ 824
Trilene/ Big Game 29/ 353
Ande/ Green 22/ 232
Maxima/ Perfexion 21.3/ 94
Seaguar/ Fluoro. 22.1/ 25

(braids)
W. Fila./ Tuf-line 29/ 781
W. Fila./ Tuflineplus 17.6/ 36
PowerPro/ PwrPro 27.1/ 124
FINS/ PRT Braid 37.6/ 119
PureFish/ Spiderline 28.7/ 137

Interesting information, thanks for sharing it with all of us. I don't even see Trilene XT rated (which is what I always use )

looks like I'm using the wrong line

One important measurement is missing from the above stats - line dimeter. They were all 20 lb. listed ratings on their boxes. But they are not all in the same line class. For example, 2 that were not included in the above, Maxima Chameleon/UG and Trilene XT have significantly larger diameters per listed rating than many other lines. Their 10 lb. leader and main line is actually 12 lb. line by industry diameter averages. Generally the thinner the line diameter the better it will cast and handle, the better it will present bait and lures movement wise, the less fish will see it, the less effect the current will have on sensativity, the less line belly drag will occur, the deeper plugs will dive per amount of line put out, and the less weight needed to get your bait or lure down in currents. A much more revealing test would be on same (or very close) diameters of all these new and good older lines. That is where the superbraids really shine for mainline use. For leaders, check out the listed line diameters as well as the listed test ratings.

Fish4steel,
Shouldn't you be at the hospital yelling at soldiers or something? Looks like your home pretty early...ha ha. Never did get the pic of your little one with the fish. Justin

How do the record books deal with rated vs. actual breaking strenght? i.e. largest fish on a particular line strength?

Did they test Maxima UG or Chameleon? I see Perfexion was up there and everyone thinks that sucks so I bet Chameleon and UG would be at the top.

~ Dr Pepper

The data did include line diameter as part of the test but I could not include all of the values because of the limited space available for posting. I will tell you that nearly all of the monos were between .016 and .018 inches, of course the braids were thinner. I first put together a table showing all values in Excel and Word but this format would not let me paste either of them. Yes line diameter is a factor for some but certainly others are interested only in which line is "toughest". Here are some other scores requested above for mean wet breaking poundage and cycles to break:

Berkley Trilene XT: 28/687
Maxima Chameleon: 21.5/421

RM ><>

Doc

They didn't test Maxima UG, go figure. Maxima Chameleon ranked 16 out of 73. Maxima Perfexion ranked 46th.

Ron

Hey riverman,
Just curious, what was the mean break and cycles to break for Maxima chameleon and P-line. I was thinking of trying the P-line, anyone here ever fish Pline.

Thanks

Saw this same test in a East coast salt water fishing magazine a few years back and the Sulfix Tritanium was the hands down winner. It also had the smallest diameter for pound rating. One note to add is that it is a copolymer line and does best when tied with the correct knots. I have several spools of it and it was a lot cheaper than Maxima or even Trilene but I had to contact the factory to get it. No West coast distributor at that time. They did cary it in Cabelas or Bass Pro but only in the clear not the green.

Stever,

It's interesting that you say that about the sulfix. I think this test essentially said the same thing. The Stren Original would certainly be a good choice for those concerned with abrasion. I bought some Rapala Tough last night from a clearance table at Wal-Mart, will be interesting to see how it turns out.

RM

I too saw this test a while back. I switched my drift rod to Original Stren and fished with it for a while. Pros and Cons to this line
1. It is ultra limp and casts great.
2. I hate the color, it has that neon look about it and I'm always concerned about the fish being able to see it.
3. I know they say it is highly abrasion resistant, but it seems incredibly soft to me. A "soft" line isn't what I would associate with abrasion resistance.

I fished it for a while but now I have gone back to Trilene Big Game and Trilene XT w/ Berkely Vanish for leaders.

Mike Sexton at Thorbuilt boats in Toledo can get Sufix line. I got some Superior 10 lb 2900 yds !!! for about $24...