Cannot be pleased with modern day fishing line

Seems like it's hard to please me anymore.. I usually fish 15# and I used to love Izor, Down the toilet now as far as I'm concerned.. Ande used to do good for me, now I can't stand it.. Trilene Big Game worked good for me for a couple of years, and anymore, I just don't seem happy with it.. Chameleon has too much memory in my book, too hard of a line and parts easy... Gamakatsu is too soft.. Ultragreen just doesn't hold up very well for me.. And I can't stand fishing spectra... Anyone have any good suggestions?! Some black market stuff that someone is making in their backyard?

Thanks in advance

Tom

I guess that makes you the one-man version of a "tough crowd".

Hehe.. look at the picture, I'm pratically a crowd of my own! =) Just aggravating.. Maybe I'm just expecting too much out of a line?! I dunno..

Maxima Ultra-green is on all my reels. Never failed me yet.

Give the Berkley Iron Silk a try. I fished copolymer for years then I was given some Iron Silk. It has virtually no memory, it's strong, abrasion resistant, fairly thin and only has moderate stretch. The 'solar mint' is on nearly all of my reels, including the spinning reels I use for boondoggin. Get it while you can though because usually when Berkley comes out with a good product they discontinue it...go figure.

I second the vote for Ironsilk. Its strong has little memory, and it’s abrasion resistant. I heard a complaint that the original Ironsilk was prone to breaking down if left in full sun. I never experienced any problem and fished with it in the tropics. The current version is a slightly different formulation. I think they have a winner.

Hi TBird,
I don't know if this has anything to do with your dilemma/problem but how often are you changing your line? I used to think I could get away with changing my line about once in a season. With drift fishing from the bank being my primary tactic, I am finding that I have to change my line sometimes as much as 3 or 4 times in a season. Drift fishing is probably one of the worst techniques for getting abrasions and nicks in your line. Except maybe bank or dock fishing in the salt where you might be dragging your line across barnacle encrusted rocks & oyster shells.
Good luck,
Rafterman

I've been fish with Cuda for the past couple of years and have been pretty happy with it. One of the big points for me has been that I can troll all day with it for trout and it doesn't turn into that nasty little springy little mess at the end of the day.

FishnMike

I bought a case of Fenwick Riverline on closeout from Pure Fishing for fifty cents a spool. The stuff is ridiculously tough wet and dry, it ties killer knots and is visable eventhough it is a light motor oil color. call Pure Fishing and see if they have any. The stuff is awesome, but when it runs out it is going to be Iron Silk for me. I run Izorline in hi-viz yellow on the plug rods and Trilene XL on my spinning rods. I hate XL but I have never found anything with less memory.

Good luck!

Rafterman: I think I'm on my 5 spool up this season as I fish drift gear a lot and whenever I lose a setup I kill about 3 feet off the end to ensure that there are no knicks and what not.. If a line has that little lifespan, then I have reason to complain :rolleyes:

I think I might give the iron silk a try.. That's definitely one I haven't tried, but I'm sure it can get a little spendy the way I go through line! lol.. But I will certainly give it a good shot! Thanks Dave and Erik... Izor used to be a hell of a line in my book, We had a 10,000 yd bulk spool of it and kept it in the freezer and fished off it for like, 8 years and I loved it.. Anymore just can't stand it! Heres another question, Anyone know any better knots other than the clinch that has better knot strength?! I like to stick with good old reliable but if there seems to be a better one, please do fill me in! =) Do heavy wire/light wire swivels seem to play a part in knot strengths? Seems to me a heavy wire swivel would be less of a strain on the line?

I agree.....

Try using a palomar knot. I've always had excellent results and use this knot for almost everything. One thing I read showed a better knot strength over the clinch knot too. True or not, I don't know, but kings here on the Kenai have never broken me off at the knot before with it!
The past couple years I've tried some Yozuri Hybrid line on my Kenai R. king rods. Seems to hold up pretty well and is pretty abrasion resistant, but has quite a bit of memory (a lot like maximas chameleon), which I don't like for a main line. Think I may look into the Ironsilk line as well.

Sulfix Tritanium. You have to get it mail order as there aren't any distributors in our area. It comes in green and clear. Tougher than U.G. lower memory even when cold. Better abrasion resistance and smaller diameter.

Rivers Inlet knot...tough as nails...I use it for almost every line connection in my repertoire.

I use Maxima Crystal Ivory, and I change it out about every two or three trips, which means about once every week or ten days. That works out to about ten bucks per month, per rod...maybe a total of $40 per month I spend on line for my steelhead fishing.

Expensive? I guess, but it could be worse...and I spend more than that for gas for each and every trip, so from that standpoint, it's not that expensive.

This is the same point I made in one of the pink worm threads...no one said that steelhead fishing is a good financial decision! If that's what it takes to catch fish, then that's what it takes, for me, at least.

Fish on...

Todd

I've been using SA (Spey Short Head) for two years now (on one rod); and it's still going strong

Changing mono nylon line every 2 or 3 trips? Wow! I'da' never guessed. As a fly guy, I'm like Homer and use the same fly line for years before it wears out. On my conventional reels, I keep the same line on until I've broken or cut so much off that the reel spool is lookin' a little bare. My Penn 109 salmon mooching/trolling reel still sports the same 17# test of some brand that was on sale when I bought the reel over 25 years ago. It's stored in a cool dark place and only sees sunlight when I go fishing with it, and I check the line strength every year, and still can't break it with my hands. My fishing costs a whole lot less than what you guys spend. Of course, I still pick up hooks along with the corkies and stuff I scavage off the river banks when I'm tromping around. OK, so the custom split bamboo rods cost me a trifle more. Oh, and the test that counts, I don't break fish off with that line either. I did lose one chinook to a bad knot this past year.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

What was that Berkley line B4 Ironsilk called?? Remember it came in 2 colors one was a photo-sensitive amber the other a moss green. It was tough as nails and had almost zero memory. Pretty cool stuff....C/22

Have you tried Trilene XT? I'm satisfied with it. It will nick up but I just trim it off.

I do too. Ok, maybe not 2 or 3 trips but maybe every 4-5 times. But the trick I learned is to do like the fly guys do and use a backing or running line that you may only change out every other year or so. I usually use something tough and long lasting like Chamy as the running line and the attach approx. 100 ft of whatever line I want to use for my casting section. That way I'm not wasting so much line and I'm not as hesitant to change the business end of my line for the conditions (test, type and sometimes color) or just to keep it fresh. I like to use a double-uni between the two because it is strong and it doesn't hang up on the guides easily on a hot running fish. IMHO, there are alot of excellant lines out today, some of course are better for a particular reason over another. But overall the differences today are really more subjective than qualitative.

So whenever I start to question my tackle, I just think back to the most deadly steelheader I ever knew (no one I know today can consistently bang metal like he could). This guy could easily afford anything he wanted but he always insisted on using his trusty old fiberglass rod loaded with 25# test McCoy on a cheap Phleuger fly reel. Of course his leader material was always state of the art, but if and when he changed his main line (maybe every 2-3 years) he would reverse the line first before he would toss it.

I guess what I'm saying is:
Have you tried 25 # McCoy lately?

But now if you're wondering what " killer" would say? It'd probably be:
Don't worry mon', be happy!

knots are stronger with a lighter weight swivel. The closer the wire diameter is to the line diameter the stronger the knot.

Rio's Grand line is tough too.......4 full seasons now.....

I stopped using mono on everything several years ago for any, and all, of the reasons stated above.

I went through dozens of spools of dozens of types of line until I finally got tired of screwing around with it all the time; I have switched to PowerPro on everything (except my downrigger rods) and learned to love it.

I can say too that I have not lost a fish because of the mainline breaking for just as many years as I have been using the PowerPro... been spooled once but never broke off

Still have the original mint green SA Mastery WF floater on my 7 wt. Still going strong since 1995!

My plans were to replace it with a Rio VersiTip 4 years ago (still in the box in my garage) because the SA was getting a little beat up and faded, but hey, it goes thru the guides when I shoot and it still floats. What more could a guy ask for?

Maybe change it out next year?

I have been using 30 lb powerpro for Stripers this year and have absolutly no problem. I am going to try and use it on my tip ups this year for Ice fishing. I hope it works good.

I like to hijack

I used Ironsilk and liked it until I found it has a big flaw for river fishing. All it takes is one snag up that you have to break off and after that your 12# test just became 3# test. That was my experience anyway. I've tried just about every line out there and always come back to Ultragreen for the single reason that it is the best for holding it's strength after breaking off snags.

Thank you guys... I have used the Crystal Ivory, Todd, and I never really thought about changing it up every couple of trips, cause when I fish, I fish hard, there is no doubt about it... I'm sure that all the hanging up, and stretching from breaking off and such plays hell on line strength... On everyones suggestion I will definitely try out the iron silk... I'll give that palomar knot a try tomorrow while I'm out searching for something with 6" of vis or better =) Nice part about it, is I wont have much competition =)

I second the posts on the fly line.. lol.. I've got some cheap cortland floating line on my 7 weight, that I've been fishing for years now.. for trout in the summer and steelhead in the winter, and never ever have thought to replace it =) Just doesn't seem right to fix it if it ain't broken! I AM interested however in what you guys are using for tippet material and what seems to be the best for ya!

Thanks again,

Tom

It's pretty simple... Maxima Ultragreen for mainline and leaders.. It's the best line I've used for levelwinds, period... Maybe you should check your rod rating vs. line rating... You can't use 8lb test on a 10-20lb rod and expect it to hold up well, if you know what I mean.

Keith

Hey Keith.. I'm actually fishing a lami 1324-t 9' medium 8-12... While I think the rod should be rated higher, just a personal opinion for how much backbone it has, I have been fishing 15#... STuff used to work fine for me, but I really think there might be a slight decrease in line quality these days.. Less strict quality control maybe? Extruders being put into overtime for production? Quantity vs. quality? Line really isn't much more expensive these days as it was 10 years ago, and when you have labor costs, material costs, everything under the sun rising, and a product stays the same rough price, the sacrifice has to be somewhere?! I know I work in the carpet industry and carpet prices aren't that much higher than they were 15 years ago, hence why carpets don't quite last as long as that 30 year old carpet in your gramma's house =) These are just a few reasonings that go through my mind on a daily basis.. =) Though, I could be way off =)

Tom

No votes for Ande?

Pasco, I used to like Ande at one time.. Kept on giving it a try over the past two years, and this last spool, I tore it off and threw it away after two days... I used to love their 8# for fishing summer fish on my trout rods... Their lighter stuff might still be ok, but not impressed with anything 12 or higher...

T-Bird-
What problrms are you having with izor? Iv'e been
using the 12# hi vs and green with no problems. This stuff is incredibly strong.
Chrome

The 12 and 15lb just kept on breaking.. couldn't keep it together even babying things along.. if I got snagged up I was guaranteed to lose it!

Does anyone know where I can get some Izorline online? The place I got the last spool from does not sell it anymore.

I think Maxima UG is a hard line to beat for all around purposes, tough as nails. Whenever I need abraison resistance I go to Maxi or trilene XT. For floatfishing I have been running the Suffix Siege lately and have been liking that alot.

I actually just found the izorline on there website. Has anyone tried the XXX supermono by them? If so what are your thoughts?

All this line talk........ pick up your line when you leave the bank! ! !

I love Izor for mainline, don't think I will ever be disapointed in it. I also like maxima, for leader that is, but you have to be careful not to burn the line when tying knots.

Tbird, maybe you should quit thumbing your fish....

On another note, I don't know any line that is "snag" free. If you snag up, you're likely to lose it all if you're leads hung up!..

Keith

I loaded two of my reels with power pro this season, and while I'm impressed with it, it has taken some getting used to. Since it has zero memory and small diameter, it is somewhat more difficult to handle. I've found that the same knot I used with mono works just fine with power pro (Trilene knot)...never had it slip and since I use 30lb power pro (because the diameter is more usable) I almost never break off the main line. I've learned to attach my lead to the leader tag end.

Backlashes are rare, but can be a headache with power pro. I've found that carrying a modified small crochet hook works wonders for fishing out backlashes. I bent the end of the crochet hook into a circle to it hangs on my vest. I've found it usefull for attaching rags as well. Sure can't beat the diameter of power pro, or similar lines, for reducing the drag. Expensive, but no need to change out often. It's a winner in my book.

What do you think, Ironsilk or Ultragreen.

I'd enjoy it in something silky and thread-like.....how about you?

Sol, I'd have to say I like the one in the middle the best.. Where can I buy one of those?!

How about ultra yellow!

I strongly recommend power pro. Been guiding in alaska going on sixteen years and I have tried just about every line imaginable. You will save money in the long run with this stuff. I used to change my spools on all my reels 3 or 4 times in one King season. now I can use the same spool for two seasons. you can also feel absolutely everything with this line. The polomar knot is the best knot for this line. It takes a little getting used to but once you get used to it you will never look at another line.

I poop on any and all braided lines for anybody drift fishing the meatlines. It should be outlawed . If your off fishing alone, or in your boat trolling its good stuff, but if someone is fishing that crap next to me its almost guaranteed to be costing me a few leaders and maybe a fish or two. The knots it makes when it tangles are not worth the trouble.
Now let me qualify this statement, anybody on this board posting probably is far ahead of the average weekend warrior. That means your in the top 5%. If I was fishing next to anybody here and they were using braids I wouldn't even notice. Its the other 95% of the bankies that give me trouble with thier Powerpro. Idiots who cast out of turn, retards who don't reel in when someone nearby hooks up, morons who cast over someone who already has a fish on, and the developmentally delayed who won't open the bail/go freespool when they get tangled on someone elses fish.
And another thing, its not that someone doesn't know what they are doing that really bothers me, its the not listening, obnoxious "don't tell me how to fish", brown label beer drinking, wife beater shirt wearing, "I was in the military" (yea like the Air Force is really 'miitary'), attitudes of the weekend warriors, 1st Battalion of the Blue Creek Brigade that really drive me crazy. They shouldn't be allowed anything more then 8 pound mono, tied straight to the end of a stick. A really short stick.
But I'll keep my true feelings to myself.


My recommendation for drift fishing is Yozuri for any lines 15 pound test or heavier. I've gone through almost every line you've mentioned and a few you didn't. Their copolymer fluoro over mono is fantastic for a wide range of applications. Not as stiff as straight fluoro, great knot strength, abrasion resistance as good as maxima, lower stretch then mono, and good strength to diameter ratio.
I buy 1,000 yard spools on ebay for about $18.


Vince

So you're a fan of braids then?

Steelhead drift fishing, 12lb or 10lb Maxima UG and 10lb or 8lb Maxima UG leader.

Maxima ultra green on all bait casters/level winds and leaders.Izor hi-vis on all spinning rod's.Tuff line on all bobber/float rods.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE