Braid Problem

[argonautical]

Hi All

6 months ago I purchased from Amart 300mts of Berkley 20lb "Whiplash" braid at a cost of about $50.00. I have had continual problems with what I thought were knot failures. Consequently I stopped using that spool on my reel.

Figured I would give it one last try on the weekend so rigged it up and then tested my knots. Result - hopeless. Went up to my local (independent) tackle shop where we tested it and found that the line was breaking at somewhere between 7 to 10 lbs pressure. Thought about the ones that got away. Not happy Jan!

OK maybe weakness as a result of my ill-treatment /sun exposure etc, so I wound the line onto another reel and tested the other end of 300mts. Same result as above.

Took the line back to Amart yesterday and asked for a refund. They are going to get back to me.

Anyone else had similar problems.

Argo

[mackmauler]

Buy the aussie made bionic braid it is a great product.

[krazyfisher]

I have had the same problem with wiplash and will never buy it again there are many better braids out there

[Lucky_Phill]

$50 for 300mtrs of Braid..........................mmmmm


says it all. sorry.

or is that the cost now. I know I pay around the $85 mark for &^%%$$ Brand. Good stuff.

Phill

[argonautical]

OK looks like I have fallen into the get what you pay for trap. I am also using Berkeley Fireline (at nearly three times the price) but without any problems.

I would be interested in other views as to what are good quality brands of braid, and what is a reasonable price to pay.

Lucky-Phill can you be a little less cryptic with your recommendation.

phil

[deb]

We've changed over to fireline across the weight range, no hassles and defineatly more fish

[peterbo3]

Phil,
That is the reason you were missing them with me! But what is my excuse? ???
I have imported Fireline directly from a tackle dealer in the US but I cannot recall seeing "Whiplash" on their Net catalogue. Possibly a cheapie deal organised by #######. Was the line manufactured in the US? I have just checked an unopened box of Fireline & it is made in the USA.
Go to TackleDirect.com to compare prices. I will phone you tomorrow or Fri re future activities.

[mackmauler]

Argo, fireline is good, it tests well over its rated strength i find, no matter what braid your using a bit of loctite or glue on the knots is the go.

[argonautical]

Hi Peter,

Hoping you would pick up this topic.

On the box it says as follows..."made in USA from imported fibres". It has been suggested to me that there may be different grades of the same product.

Dreamdays, note your comment and possibly this confirms the above. Do you mind telling me where you purchase your Whiplash and roughly what you would pay for 300mts of 20lb.

Phil

[fishsmith]

I have only used Fireline myself, mainly because its been on sale at A certain supplier for a while at a fairly good price,around $25 for 125yrds. So I can't really comment on other braid brands. I have found Freline a good product and I cannot to date fault it in anyway I have been using Fireline for about 2 years now.

Cheers Smithy........

[Lucky_Phill]

It appears to me ( and others ) that the 2 value for money Braids are.......Fireline and Bionic. I have never heard bad things about either.

Sure there is other stuff on the market, and sure budget is a concern when making a purchase.

Using the right knots, proper storage etc, well lengthen the life of the Braid, and I personally will not fish deep water with anything else.

And for offshore, go the 50lb.

Cheers phill

[caveman]

i use berkly fire line and can't fault it. i have just recently bought some super braid by platypus havn't used it yet got it at a nice price so i hope its ok

cheers gary

[clutter]

I use fireline for my smaller sizes or braid (4lb to 14lb), I have 30 and 50lb super braid and 20 and 30lb bionic. I have had no problem at all with any of these and recommend them all. I did look at Whiplash a fair while ago but wasn't real impressed with the look and feel, it seemed very furrry and alot of colour came off in my hand.


Clutter

[banshee]

Three months ago I spooled my deck winch with three hundred metres of the new Berkley Gorilla braid (80 lbs), this stuff is a braid/dacron mix suposedly more abraision resistent,for winch work you could certainly do a lot worse.

[Fitzy]

For anything under 10 pound I run the thermo fused polyethylene (Fireline). For 10 pound I run Penn Power Braid (a true braid) & 20 pound & over I run Bionic Braid (a true braid).

IMHO Bionic & Penn are the finest weaves I've seen & used. There are plenty of "open weave" poly lines out there. I'm not overly keen on many. Have seen some absolute shockers!

As Lawsy says, "when you're on a good thing,,,,, stick to it". 8)

Cheers,

Fitzy..