Fireline......good or bad

[ancienttinnie]

Hve used fireline for years, it has its place, especially in lighter classes of fishing. I use 4lb for trolling lures in estuaries and spinning SP's if I want to go heavier over about 8 - 10 lb I generally use Platil found it to be good on anything from bream to barra and offshore. I have also had the good fortune to use just about every braid/gelspun on the market for little or no cost and have found that fireline works for me in lighter classes and the Platil is better in heavier classes. Also remember that line is only another tool tohelp you catch fish, find one that you are comfortable ith and stick to it.

[Kiktz]

Personally I have only used fireline on a couple of occasions and I
have found it to be horrible. But that has been in the heavier lines classes.
I would be going for a rounded braid for larger over heads.
You can atleast Thumb it so you get a even lay on your spool with out cutting the sh!t out of your fingers.

Aj

[A_DIFF_PERSPECTIVE]

Jimmyjam,
It seems you have receiced many replies and comments on the firel ine topic. Fire line isn't soft when it is new, but it does soften and become very supple the more it is used. This does take time, depending on how often you use it. It will go all hairy, but it does not weaken the line. I'm happy to use 'broken in' fireline, although i do use jigman X braided lines. I still can't fault it after 2-3 yrs work. Fire line actually breaks above its rated breaking strain. eg, 30lb on the spool seems to break closer to 40 etc if you do some knot testing and by using scales to test breaking points. Every line has its place in the fishing scene, some just suit more than others. I did take a bloke fishing at Awoonga not long ago, he was using, BRIGHT PINK 30 LB FIRE LINE and he boated a 40 LB barra on his second cast in the lake! I'm sure he likes it!!
Stick to it, give it time to soften, or if you are unhappy, bite the bullet,hang the expense, and buy some softer braid.
Cheers,
Johnny M

[chanquetas]

It will go all hairy, but it does not weaken the line.

Actually I disagree. Once it starts to fade and go hairy Ive found the lighter stuff (6lb) loses a lot of its strength, particularly at the knot. Dont know about the heavier stuff.

[jimmyjam]

Thanks for all this feedback guys!

[craftycarp]

Steve starling did a round up on braid vs fused lines in the magazine he writes for a while back. It was very interesting and was done before squidgy braid hit the market so it was very unbiased. Not that he is biased just that it makes it simpler for us if he has no involvement in the stuff he basically said fused lines for spinning reels especially for the lighter stuff and braid for over heads. I think he also said as you get to the higher breaking strains then go for braid on spinning reels also. Hope that all makes sense?? I have had 3 short blacks and no brekky!!

[Kiktz]

why not just goa braid then and give the fused lines a miss............

Dont all kill me with that comment