Power Pro questions

[LOTWSvirgin]

Well I was out fishing the other night and broke the line twice on hook sets. The first break I set the hook felt the fish for a second then snap it broke above the swivel. I just let that one go thinking maybe my knot was bad which was a polamor. So I retied and casted out again. Then I caught a Flat no problem. Next bite I had was a miss. Then I get another bite set the hook same as the first time felt the fish for a second snap. When I realed that on in I noticed saom fraying about where the swivel was. Anyone else have problems with fraying or just breaking for not much reason?? I wasnt useing a mono lead either so could that of been the problem with the first fish that broke off since there is no stretch?? What do you guys use for a lead line mono sam eline as you got on the reel and what pound test lead do you use?? I just put this power pro on. Before I put power pro on I used fire line and never haqd a problem with it breaking. But I have also never caught a reel large flat either. Any help to solve this problem would be great!!!

[Scott K]

My recommendation is to take your line off and use it to stitch something with, then put on some 80# Suffix braid, problem solved!

[bobbymalone]

yeah, something is bad with that line. Maybe cut off a good 10 or so feet? Maybe respool it?

Contrary to what Captain Ford vs Chevy says above, PP is great line and you shouldn't be having that problem.

what lb test are you using?

[Scott K]

yeah, something is bad with that line. Maybe cut off a good 10 or so feet? Maybe respool it?

Contrary to what Captain Ford vs Chevy says above, PP is great line and you shouldn't be having that problem.

what lb test are you using?

Lol.. I am not trying to promote Suffix, just stating that I have seen this personally, and have seen others experience line breakage on hooksets. The things that were always in common were, big fish or snag on the hook, a stiff fishing pole, and PP line.

[LOTWSvirgin]

Its 65#

[bobbymalone]

Lol.. I am not trying to promote Suffix, just stating that I have seen this personally, and have seen others experience line breakage on hooksets. The things that were always in common were, big fish or snag on the hook, a stiff fishing pole, and PP line.

My 65lb PP is going on year 2 and while big fish might be a bit rare, big snags aren't. I haven't had a problem with breakage.

[LOTWSvirgin]

You using a mono leader on it at all? Or how are you rigging it for flats??

Hook leadline swivel weight?? Whats you leadline??

[rushing]

I have been using heavy power pro(65 & 80lb) for years and have never ran into the line breakage problem. Not sure if you have your weight right on the line but if you do that might be causing the weak spots and the line to eventually break? Also you should be using a bead or a small piece of rubber tubing to protect your knot from the weight.

[Loose]

I used power pro all last year and never had a problem, never any bad spots, performed flawlessly. Buddy of mine spooled up from the same spool and lost countless fish, he blames the line, I blame the person running the pole.

I have Sufix on a couple rigs and that to preforms flawlessy, I have noticed I am cutting back more line than I did last year but I think cause I am fishing a lot more.

[DTro]

I ran into a breakoff streak a couple of years ago and after doing some research I wasn't alone. I have since switched to Sufix and all that is gone. Call it Ford Chevy whatever, it's a noticeable difference. This comes from hundreds of hours of fishing every year.

One of the biggest issues is when fishing around rocks. PowerPro is just mediocre at best if it hits some rocks under load (read fighting a fish), most braid is, but PP seems worse.

Now add that to the fact that Sufix is rounder and casts better, the choice is easy for me.

I've heard some good things about Cortland Master Braid too.

[Loose]

You using a mono leader on it at all? Or how are you rigging it for flats??

Hook leadline swivel weight?? Whats you leadline??

I use 80lb braid main line with a 65 lb braid leader with a sinker slider above a swivel.

[SteveD]

Some of you guys think you need to turn a fish inside out on a hookset. I've watched lines snap on hooksets for quite a while and in my opinion it is too aggressive a hookset. You are using a long, stiff, heavy action rod, a reel that most of the time has the drag cinched down tight and all that torque at the hookset just snaps the line. I don't care what kind of line you are using, it is your technique that broke the line.

I've switched to circle hooks and I just reel and I bet I do as good on hooksets as any of you John Wayne types. Go ahead and spend money on new line but I am willing to bet it is not the lines fault. I use 65# PowerPro and never had any problems.

[bobbymalone]

I ran into a breakoff streak a couple of years ago and after doing some research I wasn't alone.

I know there were a some complaints a few years ago, but I think some better quality control or something has addressed the issue as you don't hear many complaints anymore. The number of folks, myself included, that still use it with is a testament to it's quality.

I have heard good things about Suffix and plan on giving it a whirl. I like the texture of it better than PP and the roundness of it is a definite plus. But with a full spool of still good PP at almost a buck per 10 yards and another buck per 10 yards for new Suffix, I am not gonna switch until that PP needs to go And I think it is a bit premature for the OP to toss $30 of line in the trash quite yet either.

[tweedlap]

As best I can remember Cortland braided #36 was about the only decent

line available in 1970. We all used it for Musky fishing.

No problems with breakage back then, even with the 36#.

Thanks for the heads up Dtro. Will have to look into the new Cortland.

tweed

[harvey lee]

Suffix for me after a few issues with PP. I once broke off on a very nice sturgeon with brand new PP in 65#.

No issues since.

[Blue Kayak]

Some of you guys think you need to turn a fish inside out on a hookset. I've watched lines snap on hooksets for quite a while and in my opinion it is too aggressive a hookset. You are using a long, stiff, heavy action rod, a reel that most of the time has the drag cinched down tight and all that torque at the hookset just snaps the line. I don't care what kind of line you are using, it is your technique that broke the line.

I think Steve is exactly right. This is what Power Pro has on their web site for hook sets and for setting the drag.

"Setting the Hook

Anglers on Saturday morning TV shows often set the hook in bass like Samurai warriors beheading the enemy. This may be a fine technique with monofilament line, but PowerPro doesn't require such a violent motion. When you get a strike, relax; a gentle snap of your wrist will set the hook. Because PowerPro doesn't stretch like nylon lines, you won't get that rubber-band effect. Every inch you move your rod tip equals an inch of movement at the lure.

Setting your drag

PowerPro lines are so small for their strength that you may be tempted to set your drag higher than normal, but remember, your rod or reel may not be designed to handle the same unbelievable loads as your line. To make full use of PowerPro's amazing sensitivity without risking damage to your equipment, try one of the following tips:

Set your drag to match the weakest component in your tackle system.

Set your drag to match the size of mono line you would normally use.

When using ultralight equipment or line (10- or 20-lb. test) set your drag to no more than 1/3 of the line's rated strength. You can check the drag with a fish scale.

At lower drag settings, a little extra line may pay out at the hookset, compensating for PowerPro's lack of stretch."

However, I likely will switch to Suffix next time I spool up, even though I have not had problems with Power Pro. I'll also ignore their advice about setting the drag and have mine set to the max.

[LOTWSvirgin]

Some of you guys think you need to turn a fish inside out on a hookset. I've watched lines snap on hooksets for quite a while and in my opinion it is too aggressive a hookset. You are using a long, stiff, heavy action rod, a reel that most of the time has the drag cinched down tight and all that torque at the hookset just snaps the line. I don't care what kind of line you are using, it is your technique that broke the line.

I've switched to circle hooks and I just reel and I bet I do as good on hooksets as any of you John Wayne types. Go ahead and spend money on new line but I am willing to bet it is not the lines fault. I use 65# PowerPro and never had any problems.

I am not over powering my on my hook sets I know that for sure. In fact I got buddies who make fun of my hook sets. I have only used this PP twice first time out it was all good but didnt have any fish caught either. Before I put the PP on I used 50# Fireline and never had a problem. I also do not have a heavy action rod and the drag is set the same as if I was using my spin cast I am not one who thinks he has to be over powering to catch a large fish.

[jeffreyd]

i have brand new 30# put on two reels a month ago, wont ever use PP again. While i can blame the guy who spooled them, i could not keep them from fraying and breaking. the line would lock up and birds nest so bad, i switched to my garcias with 80 lb on them and did not have any problems. I spent more time cutting and redoing knots, which i know which to use with braid, it is all in the trash as of writing this. i will spool my low profile with suffix as this is what i put on my spinners and had no issues. really bugs me.

[Scott K]

If anyone wants to know wich one is better take 5 feet of each side by side and feel, look at the lines side by side, Suffix is just that much better. If you look at the PP, about every 10 feet, there would be a weak spot in the line. I had 4 reels spooled with PP, and that came from 2 different spools, they each had the same defects.

For me, it wasnt so much the hooksets, it was the line breaking for no apparent reason. I then switched a reel over to Suffix, and used the PP as a leader, I then noticed the leader would always break, and it wouldnt be at the knots, but in the middle of the leader. I just threw it away, its not worth loosing a big one over. Now all of my reels have 80# Suffix, no problems since. Its been 3 years. If my line breaks now, it is because I am in a snag, and I need to wrap my bait net around the line and pull hard to break it.

Ford, Chevy? I will use my brand, and not break off on the big ones, you can use yours, and take the risk. How much is that 60# pounder worth to you? More then the $25 to respool 2 reels?

[MinnesnowtaWild]

My recommendation is to take your line off and use it to stitch something with, then put on some 80# Suffix braid, problem solved!

Amen!!

[Larry FlatCaster]

I've never had a problem with PP... I have seen some top notch cat guys have problems with it, when they were doing everything by the book.

I'm ready to give suffix a shot next time I re-spool, because of the strong recommendations.

I will say this... those that have seen my hook sets... They are aggressive..I use stiff rods..but I don't have my drag cinched ( i can always pull drag out by hand with some effort...unless I forget to back it off after getting snagged) and I use a mono leader for a little shock absorption. And Its been a long time since I've had a break off.

I would be willing to guess you have a bad batch of line. Especially if it happens more than once in similar situations.

You need to make a change one way or another... You don't want to be doubting your gear.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Yeah that's another thing is if you're breaking off when setting the hook try loosening that drag up a little. Larry I agree that a nice hook set is okay if there is some give in the drag.

And I have seen some people set a hook much harder than you do!

[UTkittycatcher]

Just put 65# Power Pro on my new reel and caught my first big cat, a 40# Flathead with 4wanderingeyes the other night. So as far as I'm concerned PP is fine by me!

[DTro]

Just put 65# Power Pro on my new reel and caught my first big cat, a 40 # inch Flathead with 4wanderingeyes the other night. So as far as I'm concerned PP is fine by me!

I defended PP up down sideways and every which way a few years ago, and then I started losing fish from random breakoffs. I had people try and tell me to switch that PP was not very good, but I was stubborn, then I broke off on a big one, and after than I had enough and made the switch.

The breakoffs are not enough to notice to most that fish a few times a month, and epsepcially in clean water, but add in a person who fishes 20-25 times a month and a lot of wood and rocks and the difference is apparent.

Power pro catches big fish and will continue to catch big fish, I just don't like how easy it breaks when it rubs against random structure, or gets the tiniest of nick.

With all that said, it's very possible I had a bad batch of line, and my entire opinion is skewed, but right now it's what I'm confident in, and that's all that matters. I can tell you this though. It is quite a bit rounder and casts better. That is tought to argue against.

[Scott K]

Buddy of mine spooled up from the same spool and lost countless fish, he blames the line, I blame the person running the pole.

But, does your buddy have issues now that he installed Suffix?

Since all he did was change his line.