Braid technology: Too smart for own good
January 26th, 2010
Hi viz yellow 20lb….here is the coating at beginning stages of peeling away…..this is 3 day old line fished all three days with a float
Moss green 15lb……here the coating has built up on either side of the stop-knot making the line weak and rendering my stop, immovable…my stop is the white dacron in the middle
A Product Review: TufLine Duracast
Available in moss green or high viz yellow; full range of applicable # tests (all river or lake apps)
Primary design purpose: Engineered for use on a spinning reel and sports a fused core which is designed to give the line some center mass for increased mend ability, cast ability, etc.
Difference between this line and and regular TufLine XP or Plus?:
While the standard spectra braids like TufLine and Power Pro use an actual “braid” of spectra that is dyed (only holds color short term due to zero absorption of light, water or color) and then braided together. No center mass.
POSITIVES
+ With the coated braids, such as TufLine Duracast and P Line Hydrofloat, there has been a core engineered into the middle of the braid. This ‘core’ or center mass, allows the angler to have significantly more control of the cast, the mend and the preservation of integrity while the line is in free spool on your spinning reel. I love these things about it.
+ With a double Quick Knot used on terminal gear the strength is excellent. In fact, that center mass I referred to allows the knot strength better than regular braid.
+ Extremely affordable. $9.99 US retail per one-shot filler spool. Less than half of regular braids.
NEGATIVES
- Unlike regular braids the Duracast can not be fished with a sliding bobber or float-stop on it’s own mainline. The movement of the bobber or float-stop back and forth, even when done with a hand-tied stop-knot and moved gently, wears down the line within a day at most. This does two things: 1) The coating begins to build up and inhibits your ability to move the stop. 2) Exposes the internal core of the line which has absolutely ZERO abrasion resistance.
- I have broken off entire rigs from main line breaks after only 3 steelhead. I am talking about making a cast and the main line breaking under the load of an 1/8 ounce jig head. Not good. In fact, general abrasion resistance is almost nil from the get go. Definitely an inhibitor of a better review.
Overall thoughts and suggestion for use:
I will probably be in the minority with this statement: I plan on continuing to use Duracast for one more go-round while attaching a mono bumper or top shot to this line for the stop-sliding. I don’t need much abrasion resistance because I am using it for float-fishing only. If the line becomes abraised while fighting a fish, I have the confidence I can get that fish in and then I would cut off the damaged portion of the line before returning to fish. It’s worth it for me because of the cast ability, center mass and affordability. When speaking with Thad Tyler of Broken T Guide Service (video to come) he pointed this top shot idea out to me and I intend to give it a go. I don’t blame you if you do not, however.
Fishtat aka H3llcat
