Braids

[mabr]

I read through the PP thread and it makes me want to ask what everyones favorite braid is?

Ive been pretty loyal to braids for quite a while now, but im about to go back to my old stand by berkley XT. I tried alot of braids over the years and fell in love with the "original" spider wire. It looks like they no longer make it so I tried the stealth and IMO way too brittle at hook set. I went to PP last year and havent had to bad of a problem on hook sets, but have had the biggest problem with northerns cutting through it with ease. I never had that problem with the SpW that stuff was supper tough IMO.

Im getting tired of losing jigs to pike. I bet i lost 30 jigs last year to northerns. So how do you deal with our toothy critters? Any braids that stand up to there teeth? I throw rope 40-65lbs stuff typically and I would have thought PP would work better than it has been.

Anyone use a wire leader?

[TR21HP]

You might want to check out the new Spiderwire Ultracast invisi braid.

It's supposed to be limp for casting and invisible like floro. Plus you get the same strength you had before.

[Larson15]

I know what you mean about them toothies cutting right through power pro, happened to me a lot last year. I got recommended to try Stren Sonic Braid which by comparison is similar to power pro but a tad softer. What I found was that it was much harder to cut through compared to power pro. I actually performed a test where I took prower pro, fireline, spiderwire, and sonic braid and pulled them all tight. I then took a serrated knife and gently started cutting through to see which would snap the easiest. Power pro and spiderwire snapped the easiest, fireline was a little better, and sonic braid was by far the hardest to cut. At the end of last year I switched my flippin stick over to sonic braid and I dont think I lost one jig.

[Nick Kuhn]

Pike are always tough on line. A wire leader would work but it would take away from the action and they tend to hook into weeds. I haven't had problems with Stren Super/sonic braid and pike except on hooksets. Once hooked I haven't had any bite offs that I can remember, but their teeth will still cut like a razor on the hookset if your line/bait fall into unfortunate alignment.

I may look into getting some Diawa Samurai this year for a spinning reel. You might have to go to 100lb to use it on a baitcaster.

[TonkaBass]

I like power pro... As far as loosing tackle to the pike, I think it just comes with the territory..

[Ray Esboldt]

Favorite braid of all time - Fenwick Iron Thread. I still judge everything against that even though most of it nowadays is better.

I like PowerPro, but I wonder if I like because it is a known entity to me. Plus, it is easy to buy. You need line in a hurry, go the store. So, I don't doubt there is better, but I am currently satisfied.

[Daze Off]

I loved Stren Super Braid - always thought it performed way better than Power Pro...now have to shift allegiance and try Sonic Braid and see if it is in fact an improvement on the Super Braid.

[mabr]

Id like to know why SpW quit making the original. Ray Im the same as you as far as comparing everything to the original SpW.

Does anyone know which new model was supposed to replace it?

Another question related to this. I fish Rush ALOT. Whats your thoughts on lakes with Mn size limits on pike and the relationship of cut offs. Looking back ive had way more cut offs on this lake than all the others combined. Makes me wonder. I know there are huge pike in this lake. I got 2 last year on the same day and both were 42", both on a Jig & Pig.

[JohnMickish]

Another question related to this. I fish Rush ALOT. Whats your thoughts on lakes with Mn size limits on pike and the relationship of cut offs. Looking back ive had way more cut offs on this lake than all the others combined. Makes me wonder. I know there are huge pike in this lake. I got 2 last year on the same day and both were 42", both on a Jig & Pig.

1) You need large top of the food chain predators like Pike and Muskies to keep the lakes in balance.

2) There are other people that CPR fish trophy pike and they deserve a place to fish too.

3) It comes with the territory.

[mabr]

Never said they didnt need to be there. Heck I like catching both muskys and big pike.

Was curious if others have noticed an increase in bite offs because of the bigger pike vs little pike.

[Nick Kuhn]

Considering mid 30" fish have no problem completely inhaling 10" lures, I'd say your jig is going to find itself deep in the toothy realm on bigger fish. And I think the bigger fish have even sharper teeth. Well my thumb would agree at least.

[Timmy D]

Your not suppose to lip the toothy ones!

[YUM]

Well, I'm using a new braid this year: Sufix Perfromance, low vis green. When I first saw it it reminded me of the old, neon green-looking, Spiderwire because it has a similar color... only not as 'neon'. It is also kind of limp like that old Spiderwire... which I liked about it; and I tried it today and so far so good.

[EBass]

I like Sufix, but pike still bite me off once in a while. I haven't found a braid that I love.

[Set The Hook]

+1 for Sufix.

[kg2]

I didn't like the original (flat) SpiderWire, but I loved the stuff from the mid to late 1990's when JWA owned it. After Pure Fishing bought SW and started the SW Stealth I hated it again. After I ran out of my supply of the good stuff I switched to PowerPro. PP is affordable, but I don't care for it. Last year I switched to Sufix. It is the closest I found to the SW that I liked.

+1 for Sufix.

I tried Invisibraid, but it seems to be the most visible braid I have ever used.

(I still have some of the good SW, but only in 6/30 not the 10/50 that was my fave.)

[mabr]

Kg2, were talking about the same SW. I dont know why they quit making it shortly after the stealth came out.

[chief]

Animal rights organizations protested the use of spiders in its manufacture.