Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Fishing => Fishing Line, Knots, Splices and Rigging => Topic started by: MexicanGulf on October 12, 2024, 09:07:16 PM

Title: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: MexicanGulf on October 12, 2024, 09:07:16 PM
Hello everyone, I was offered this hollow core by a dealer specializing in deep drop. The convenience of having a braid with measured color is quite essential for the fishing techniques I practice. Furthermore, this product seems to be truly produced in the United States of America. Do you have any feedback on this, does anyone use it?
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: bassmagnum on March 16, 2025, 10:52:22 PM
Bass Pro sells it or used to. Haven't seen it in years. I did use fishing freshwater bass and it performed very well. I wouldn't hesitate to use it again. I liked the Sage green color and the feel of it but it did get the "fuzzies" after awhile
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: alantani on March 16, 2025, 11:05:18 PM
fins is perfectly good stuff.  when you spool it up, keep an eye out for inclusions in the weave.  you can find these little "dust bunnies" in any brand of line.  otherwise, it should be fine.  braided lines has one job. it's just gotta not break.  if it does that, then the only other factor is cost.

for metered lines, i personally use the jerry brown patriot that changes color (red, white, blue) every 50 feet.  it makes the count easy.   
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: UKChris1 on March 17, 2025, 03:47:56 PM
I'd never heard them called 'dust bunnies' before - made me chuckle!

But finding them in a line isn't so funny; they are weak spots and you have to cut the little buzzers out and splice the line back together.
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: alantani on March 17, 2025, 05:33:51 PM
i should have taken a photo, but didn't.  on the last trip to puerto vallarta, i lost a yellowfin because there was a spot in the braid and braid broke right there. it was not fins or jerry brown, for sure.  the guys think that it was tuff line.  doesn't matter, though.  i have found defects in almost every brand of hollowcore. 

i have seen these defects in hollow core.  i just can't remember if i have ever seen a defect in solid braid.  remember that hollow core is 16-strand.  that's lots of moving parts.  solid braid is either 4 strand or 8 strand, so there is less to go wrong.
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: oldmanjoe on March 17, 2025, 08:15:06 PM
 Well the dust bunnies are usually bobbin knots .    When one bobbin is near the end and they tie in a fresh bobbin .   You can win the lottery with a spool of line that had a few tie ins .

    I have seen a video were there was several tie ins in a short span .
  Here is process of the making braided line 16 carrier .
  And another of making braid
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: MexicanGulf on April 01, 2025, 01:31:30 AM
Thanks for this information!  :tutto
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: Brewcrafter on April 01, 2025, 05:15:56 AM
Those videos were really eye-opening! - john
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: MarkT on April 01, 2025, 06:00:12 AM
White is right with hollow, colored hollow defeats the benefits of hollow as it makes it harder to splice... per John at Trophy Tackle and Basil at BHP. If you need metered line, go with solid, it's less buoyant!
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: alantani on April 01, 2025, 04:21:34 PM
Quote from: MarkT on April 01, 2025, 06:00:12 AMWhite is right with hollow, colored hollow defeats the benefits of hollow as it makes it harder to splice... per John at Trophy Tackle and Basil at BHP.

to splice hollow with sticky dyes, basil papas gave me the secret.  just dip it in water.  then the wire slides right through. 
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: MexicanGulf on April 04, 2025, 01:12:07 AM
Quote from: alantani on April 01, 2025, 04:21:34 PM
Quote from: MarkT on April 01, 2025, 06:00:12 AMWhite is right with hollow, colored hollow defeats the benefits of hollow as it makes it harder to splice... per John at Trophy Tackle and Basil at BHP.

to splice hollow with sticky dyes, basil papas gave me the secret.  just dip it in water.  then the wire slides right through. 

Forgive me Alan, could you explain to me what you mean by << dust bunnies>>. I can't understand.   :tutto
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: Keta on April 04, 2025, 01:18:28 AM
Quote from: alantani on April 01, 2025, 04:21:34 PM
Quote from: MarkT on April 01, 2025, 06:00:12 AMWhite is right with hollow, colored hollow defeats the benefits of hollow as it makes it harder to splice... per John at Trophy Tackle and Basil at BHP.

to splice hollow with sticky dyes, basil papas gave me the secret.  just dip it in water.  then the wire slides right through. 

Yup.
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: MexicanGulf on April 13, 2025, 07:32:00 PM
Quote from: alantani on March 17, 2025, 05:33:51 PMi should have taken a photo, but didn't.  on the last trip to puerto vallarta, i lost a yellowfin because there was a spot in the braid and braid broke right there. it was not fins or jerry brown, for sure.  the guys think that it was tuff line.  doesn't matter, though.  i have found defects in almost every brand of hollowcore. 

i have seen these defects in hollow core.  i just can't remember if i have ever seen a defect in solid braid.  remember that hollow core is 16-strand.  that's lots of moving parts.  solid braid is either 4 strand or 8 strand, so there is less to go wrong.

Could you explain better, I don't understand the term. Maybe a photo would be really helpful.
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: alantani on April 14, 2025, 01:12:22 AM
little spots or lumps of braid stuck in the weave.
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: MexicanGulf on April 20, 2025, 11:17:55 PM
Just today I read on a blog that the use of hollow core braid is not recommended for Deep Drop techniques. As hollow core retains air inside. It seems like a big fake news to me
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: alantani on April 23, 2025, 01:44:48 AM
Quote from: MexicanGulf on April 20, 2025, 11:17:55 PMAs hollow core retains air inside.

not even possible.......  :o
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: boon on April 23, 2025, 02:04:21 AM
Quote from: MexicanGulf on April 20, 2025, 11:17:55 PMJust today I read on a blog that the use of hollow core braid is not recommended for Deep Drop techniques. As hollow core retains air inside. It seems like a big fake news to me

Pretty ridiculous really. It's not a tube.
One of the world's arguably most capable swordfish anglers uses hollowcore; if it's good enough for him it's good enough for the rest of us.
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: MexicanGulf on April 24, 2025, 11:12:24 AM
Quote from: boon on April 23, 2025, 02:04:21 AM
Quote from: MexicanGulf on April 20, 2025, 11:17:55 PMJust today I read on a blog that the use of hollow core braid is not recommended for Deep Drop techniques. As hollow core retains air inside. It seems like a big fake news to me

Pretty ridiculous really. It's not a tube.
One of the world's arguably most capable swordfish anglers uses hollowcore; if it's good enough for him it's good enough for the rest of us.

Pure curiosity, who is he?
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: boon on April 27, 2025, 01:00:15 AM
Quote from: MexicanGulf on April 24, 2025, 11:12:24 AMPure curiosity, who is he?

Matt Watson.

Proper swords, done standup, not the 100lb fish on electric reels from the rodholder malarky they seem to enjoy down in Florida.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iSuCQXRzsk
Title: Re: FINS Hollow Core Braid 16X
Post by: MexicanGulf on April 27, 2025, 02:20:14 PM
Quote from: boon on April 27, 2025, 01:00:15 AM
Quote from: MexicanGulf on April 24, 2025, 11:12:24 AMPure curiosity, who is he?

Matt Watson.

Proper swords, done standup, not the 100lb fish on electric reels from the rodholder malarky they seem to enjoy down in Florida.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iSuCQXRzsk

Totally agree with you mate! In fact I chose the Australian/New Zealand style. I respect Matt and many other fishermen from that part of the world. I also wrote a very interesting article on the subject of swordfishing to pay homage to one of the world pioneers of the technique, a NZ captain