I been using a good quality mono film my whole life mostly Ande and Momoi. I would like to try Berkley's fireline on a few of my spinners.
I am thinking of using 30 lb test on a 710z and 10 or 14 lb test on a 722z or 714z. Does anyone have any experience with this line. Any opinions appreciated . Doug
I haven't used it myself, Doug. But it is very popular on older reels that do not have their line lay perfected for thinner lines (braid). Fireline is a "fused" line and so a little stiffer. Given the "hourglass" line lay some get on the older reels they have reported stiffer lines developing less wind knots.
If you go to a site called 'Paulusjustfishing' you will find however that the fireline is quite thick for it's rated strength and consequently very, very strong so I would be more inclined to go with 20lb myself.
That site has the actual dimensions of the line and it is closer to 40lb+ braid from most vendors and breaks at near 50lbs if I recall correctly. The 20lb stuff is much closer to other 20lb lines.
I used it a few times and didn't think that highly of it Doug. I'd personally stick with a good quality mono.
Scott
I also used it years ago and had problems with line breaking on approx 5-10# fish. I 2nd the use mono instead.
TomT
All depends on the type of fishing you do - fireline is fine for use from boats or in situations where you are not casting lures (ie bait and wait applications)
As was said above it is stiff and thick
I prefer Suffix or Kanzen others like their Power Pro - these lines are far more supple and cast long distances extremely well
Fireline is way down my list of brands of braid but still will work far better then mono
I have used Firline Tracer for several years. The latest generation of Fireline is now much more round. Knot strength is very good. Abrasion resistance is very good.
I use it on my larger spinners and conventionals. It casts very well for lure or bait fishing. I tend to use a short fluorocarbon top shot attached to the braid by hollow core with serves.
The 90kg cat fish in my avatar was caught on 50lb Tracer :) and that was before I learnt about knotless joints!
Thanks to all who responded I thought this was a more popular line. I guess I'll stick with what I know works well Doug
I've used both the FL30 and 20 on old penn spinfishers (704z,710,712z). I had decent experiences with both, but have moved on to lighter braids. The 30FL is extremely thick. You could pull up a volkswagen from the depths with it, but it's not so great for casting. Both tests get a little fuzzy once they break in.
If you're new to braid, thicker will be more forgiving when you have issues. I have either 30lb or 40lb suffix on all my old penns now and couldn't be happier.
30FL is probably about the thickness of 65lb suffix.
Quote from: Doug on October 08, 2014, 09:04:14 PM
Thanks to all who responded I thought this was a more popular line. I guess I'll stick with what I know works well Doug
It is popular stuff on the east coast and gulf and among freshwater guys.
I've used Fireline for all kinds of application on all kinds of gear and never had any significant issues-except downrigging-I don't like any Spectra anything for downrigging.
I use Fireline in all different strengths with good results. My only complaint is the cost. I landed a salmon on a charter boat outside SF bay even though the fish ran to the other side of the boat and I could feel the line rubbing against the hull. The deckhand was surprised.
Yes very expensive that's why I just thought I would ask before I waste $35 on a spool of 300 yards. I think I will give it try for fresh water first maybe on one reel and see how it goes. When I do fish party boats in the fall and winter salt water of course they don't allow braid but will permit fireline if the boat is not crowded Doug
Doug
You have to come up by me. The Captains use Braided Line
Mike
Hi Mike I fish West of you the Atlantic Highlands and harbor area. The boats on the Jersey side can get crowed and the captins are strict. They want everyone to have a good experience even all the newbees. The farthest I get to your neck of the ocean is off Coney Island ,back in the day this area less than a mile off the beach used to be called Tin Can Alley. A get place during slack and in coming tide for seabass and progysl Doug
Doug, I have done a lot of experimenting with different types of braided/fused line. In my opinion, fireline is as good as it gets in regards to durability and strength. It is actually a fused line meaning that it's a braid that is heat treated. The stuff is expensive but worth every cent. Keep in mind that the breaking strength of the line is higher then other brands (eg. 30lb breaks closer to 40lb, possibly more). Castabilty is really where it falls short. The line is a little bit wiry and stiff. That's not to say you can't cast it but if distance is a major concern you might want to opt for something else.
Braid in general, is not a good choice for areas with rocks, reefs, or sharp stuff that can abrade the line. However, fireline is more abrasion resistant. I've had the same spool of it on one of my surf casting setups for years and I have not managed to break the line ever. I use this setup multiple days per week in the summer. Pretty amazing actually. I used to break off with powerpro constantly, it was like fishing with thread.
I use fireline on all of my conventional boat setups. I have yet to find a more reliable line. I'd rather buy something once at a higher cost then have to keep replacing it.
Thanks for the input. I got a 300 yrd spool of 14 lb test crystal to try I will see how it goes Doug
If you are spooling it yourself be sure to use a lot of tension when winding it on. You can always tie it off to a tree and walk off all of the line and then crank it back in under pressure.
If it was done at the shop you are good to go.
I am having a friend who works at a sporting goods shop do it Doug
Gotta be honest, there's a lot of not so accurate information in this thread.
Original (fused) Fireline is still the line of choice on the older pre-braid era reels, in fact one of the only "super" lines that works on these reels.
I use it on all my Penn Spinfishers, Penn SS reels, Cracks, and Mitchell PUMS.
As for breaking strength it's extremely underrated - meaning that it breaks at a far higher test then what they claim. The 20# test that's most commonly used breaks between 30# and 35#s. This is more than enough for any NE surf application
The most popular sizes are 14#, and 20#. If you're gunning for cow one one of the larger reels like the 706, Crack 300, or Mitchell 498 PUM then you might bump it up to 30#.
I get years worth of use out of each spoonful and I fish mainly off the rocks in NJ and the boulderfields in Montauk.
On your 710, 14# is perfect. Don't forget to lay down a dozen or so wraps of heavy mono as backing - keeps the braid from spinning on the spool.
Don't worry about the line starting to get a "fluffy" look. That's normal and doesn't hurt the breaking strength (excessive from dragging on barnacles or sand lips is a different situation)
Be carefull not to wind it on with too much tension or you risk blowing up the plastic spool on the 710.
Stop spooling when you hit 1/8 inch from the spool lip. Anything over that and you'll what people call "Wind" knots when you cast (which actually have nothing to do with wind)
Hey Fatstriper - have you tried Berkley Spiderwire Stealth on your conventionals ?? I surf plug with conventional, hundreds of casts a night, and that's the only line I'll use - blow a reel up (we all do it) and it pulls out as easily as if it were mono. Has something to do with the teflon being throughout the line rather then just a coating on top - FWIW, HATE it on spinning gear.
Hey sudsy, no I haven't tried that particular line but I'll check it out. With my conventional reels, I mainly use them out boat fishing; trolling, chunking, live-baiting, bottom fishing, ect. However, I do want to get more into conventional surf fishing. I have a few spinning setups that I use now but I want to get something nice for chucking bait. Do you throw plugs with the conventionals?
Yup, everything from plastic Bomber minnows to 5 oz custom wood.
Favorite setup is an Abu 6500 Mag Elite, ceramics, ball bearing levelwind (levelwind is a must have for plugging) spooled with 30# Stealth on an 11' AnyFish Anywhere "Estuary" rod
If the wind is tough I'll switch reels to a Shimano 400 Conquest for more control but at the cost of less distance.
Good info Sudsy
I too want to try to start throwing conventional in the surf !
It's hard to go back to spinning.
The feel you get with a conventional, with braided line, on a sensitive graphite rod, is amazing. Every tiny thump thump of the plug is magnified.
Doug,
The Tin Can grounds are still there and yes, they do produce nice sea bass and porgy... and stripers ;)
I frequently fish there when there aren't too many boats. That's where I took Dominick when he came out last time.
We gotta set up an East Coast get together on the water this spring.. there are more members fishing Raritan Bay then ever before.
Glad to see you guys finally made it to the best site on earth,
Dom
Dom The name Tin Can Alley came from during WW2 the navy moored the destroyers in a row about a mile or so off the beach at least that s what my father told me when I was just a kid Doug
That's a new story for me but I was born in '45
Mike
Mike I have a few years on you 1941 My father took me out on the old Marie s out of Neptune when I was 7 .He later got his own boat and we fished that area all the time. I remember when sheepshead bay had so much traffic their was a cop on a floating island to direct the boat traffic we used to gas up there Doug
Quote from: bluefish69 on November 03, 2014, 01:22:23 AM
That's a new story for me but I was born in '45
1945 or 1845, Mike?😳😳😳
Best wishes for the gall bladder surgery tomorrow -- anything you need, let us know!
Best,
Fred
Good luck Mike I have gall stone problems myself but I not mentally ready to go thru surgery Doug
Quote from: foakes on November 03, 2014, 02:41:46 AM
Quote from: bluefish69 on November 03, 2014, 01:22:23 AM
That's a new story for me but I was born in '45
1945 or 1845, Mike?😳😳😳
Best wishes for the gall bladder surgery tomorrow -- anything you need, let us know!
Best,
Fred
Some days it feels like 1845
Thanks for the good wishes - I'll try to come on here tomorrow night.
Mike
If I'm not mistaken it's called the tin can grounds because a ship carrying canned and bottled goods ran aground there dumping its cargo.
I have a friend who spearfishes the area and he says there are still tons of cans and bottles strewn about.
Good luck withe the gall stones... that can't be fun. Feel better,
Dom