Braided line is strong, surprisingly strong. With fishing line companies only getting better and more specialized in their manufacturing, I’m not surprised to see a trend among anglers preferring lighter lines. The swordfishing standard is 80-pound braid, but anglers continue to experiment with lighter stuff. Freshwater bass chasers shifted from 65-pound down to 50-pound braid when fishing frogs in the slop. Hand-crank deep-droppers spool up with 20-pound braid to catch species such as snapper, tilefish and grouper. And slow-pitch jiggers pick up 15-pound test at times.

What it really comes down to is that braided line is almost always stronger than what’s listed on the front of the spool. It really isn’t much of a secret anymore. But what a great confidence boost for anglers when fighting fish! 

I wanted to conduct a simple test using 10-pound braid (also called polyethylene, PE, Dyneema or Spectra line) to see when it really breaks. I believe that 10-pound test is fast becoming the new inshore norm, if it isn’t already. Twenty-pound used to be the “old reliable” option on your favorite inshore spin outfit, especially when using mono. Then, 15-pound braid was all you really needed for most species, unless targeting tarpon, or larger stripers, redfish or snook. Now, I’m having plenty of success with 10-pound braid (and I know some daredevils who regularly dip into 8-pound territory). 

The Backyard Line Test

I set out to test the 10-pound braided line I had easily available to me. I did not consider the carrier count; diameter; or specific attributes that might affect abrasion resistance, smoothness, stiffness, casting distance, or knot-tying ability. I was strictly interested in the 10-pound-test label. This completely unscientific experiment utilized an Ugly Stick 75-pound digital scale and my truck’s trailer hitch. Don’t confuse my experimentation with IGFA’s professional line testing equipment.

The trailer ball is what I attached one end of the line to, with the other end connected to a hand scale. I tested lines from each spool three times and recorded the results.

My goal was to get the line to break, but not at the knot or the ball hitch. I wanted to test the line, not my knot-tying skills. Sometimes, the line did break at the knot. In those instances, I re-tied the hook and tested again. These tests were not in a controlled environment with all variables managed. But I still consider the testing valuable, as it better simulates what anglers might encounter on the water, not in a lab. Real-world testing, if you will. 

The Results Were Surprising

These tests looked at the brute-force break strength of the line and nothing else. Strength is definitely a consideration when choosing a fishing line, but it’s not the only characteristic that matters. Further, after testing these four lines, they all passed the strength test, in my opinion. Consider other factors and features such as price, abrasion-resistance, smoothness, stiffness, casting-distance, knot-tying ability, or even color. The bottom line is to find a line that matches your needs.

The Takeaway

What I gathered from my results is that all the different lines broke at a strength of at least twice what was listed on the spool. Breaking strength averaged from 20 to 30 pounds of pressure, depending on line. That’s much higher than I imagined. (NOTE: I believe if I ran these simple tests again, I’d get different numbers, but not by much one way or another. And I’m certain line manufacturers have their own line-testing results.) 

With 10-pound braid really breaking at 20 or even 30 pounds of pressure, dropping down in line-test to 10-pound shouldn’t lengthen fight time when battling most inshore species. Game fish can still be released healthy with 10-pound line. You can still get heavy-handed with the drag too, if necessary, although I like to set my drag pressure at 1/3 of the line’s breaking strength.

I’ve learned that opting for the lighter 10-pound has other advantages with few downsides. 

• Casting farther, especially with light lures.
• Using lighter rods and reels, leaving you less tired at the end of the day.
• Fitting more line on a spool, especially important on low-profile baitcasters. 
• Better able to feel subtle bites or movements of the lure.

I completely understand that 10-pound-test might not be the answer when fishing near structures such as jetty rocks, bridge pilings or docks. Plus, you better be attentive with your knot tying — most lines snap at the weakest links which are the connection points. There are very few knots that test at 100-percent of the main line’s strength. Dropping down from 20-pound to 10-pound lessens your margin for error if your knots aren’t always up to snuff. 

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PowerPro treats its Moon Shine braid with a special process that makes it glow when illuminated by a blacklight, a benefit for anglers fishing at night who need to see even slight movements in the line. This braid uses Super8Slick V2 as its core and comes in pound-tests from 8 to 80. The line can be used during the day too, by those who prefer a high-vis braid. Available in 150- and 300-yard spools, Moon Shine braid prices start at $20.99.

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Berkley’s new x5 and x9 braided lines add another strand to the popular four- and eight-strand designs while keeping the same diameter of those traditional braids. Boasting greater abrasion resistance and strength, x5 was designed to fish structure; x9 delivers strength with extra casting distance. The new braids come in low-viz green and crystal colors. Priced at $13.99 (165 yards), $26.99 (330 yards) and $179.99 (2,188 yards), x5 spools are available in pound-tests from 8 to 80. The x9 costs $17.99, $32.99 and $199.99 in pound-tests from 8 to 100.

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Carrier Counts

Have you counted the fibers in your braided line recently? Yeah, me neither. But even if the naked eye can’t identify different carriers woven together to create polyethylene (PE) fishing line, thread count still matters. Just like men’s suits and bedsheets, right?

Consider how braided fishing line is constructed. Polyethylene microfilaments are gel spun (spun together while in partial-liquid form, producing a stronger interchain connection) to create carriers — or strands — often under trade names Dyneema or Spectra. The term “carrier” is sometimes replaced with “end” or “yarn” in braided-line ­parlance. What’s misleading about the braid moniker is that carriers are actually woven together (a small but specific difference some manufacturers pointed out to me) to create braided line, forming what’s known as “pics” at points where they intersect.

For example, Sufix 832 line stands for 8 strands and a pic count of 32 per inch.

“Spurred on by interest for eight-carrier braids, producers continue to make smaller polyethylene yarns,” says Dave Burch, president of FINS fishing. “Anglers want thinner and thinner lines for better reel capacity and castability, but the cost is higher for the manufacturer.”

The polyethylene used in braided fishing line is almost all chemically identical — the only difference is in the bundles of microfilaments that make up the yarn. Manufacturers’ PE microfilaments might measure differently, say 50 or 100 denier. Denier is a measurement unit for the fineness of yarn, equal to about one single strand of silk.

“Let’s say a particular braid requires 800 Dyneema microfibers to reach a certain strength,” says Clay Norris, senior product manager at Berkley Fishing. “It can be created by a four-carrier braid with 200-denier microfilaments or an eight-carrier with 100-denier microfilaments. Both are the same strength, but the eight-carrier is smoother and rounder since the ­individual fiber bundles are smaller.”

Eight-Carrier Advantage

“Four-carrier is like an off-road tire, able to cut through weeds with rigid strength and brute force,” says Ted Thibault, TUF-Line‘s global sales manager. “Eight-carrier is like a highway tire, with less noise and less friction when used. The four-carrier works well for bottomfishing, while eight-carrier casts better.”

Eight-carrier “fully occupied” braids are also known as diamond braids because of their two-over, two-under construction. The higher carrier braid is smoother and more supple than four-carrier “half-occupied” construction, commonly referred to as basket braid. Basket construction is a one-over, one-under weave, recognized by nubs on the line’s surface, producing a familiar singing noise when cast through the rod guides. Hold four-carrier and eight-carrier braids in your hand, and you can identify each type by feel alone.

“Basket-braid construction ­typically has more fiber integration, so yarns are held firmly in the line structure for better abrasion resistance,” says Konrad Krauland, founder and president of PowerPro. “The eight-end diamond braids are smoother due to their twill construction, plus quieter through the guides, and more sensitive during the retrieve.”

Four- and eight-carrier braids can actually be made on the same machine. Basket braids are made by taking out half the carriers, hence the term “half-occupied.” Diamond braids are typically fully occupied machines, meaning that each position on the braider has a carrier.

“That is not to say that eight-end braids will always be diamond braid,” says Krauland. “It is possible to [construct] eight-end basket braid by removing half the carriers from a 16-carrier braiding machine.”

The shortcoming with diamond braid is that it is more likely to bury. Typically, basket braid with a better, solid cross section is more cylindrical and resistant to burying into itself in the spool. The eight-carrier constructions are also more expensive than four-end offerings because of the higher cost of the smaller denier yarns.

Fishing Eight

“Eight-strand braid creates a smoother, quieter and rounder surface that casts farther,” says Dan Quinn, field promotions manager at Sufix’s parent company, Rapala, “plus it still retains abrasion resistance, knot strength and tensile strength. I believe that one main reason four-carrier is still around is because of the cheaper price difference.”

There are situations where a less-expensive four-strand line still might have advantages.

“Here on the West Coast, some of our calico bass fanatics like to run 60- to 80-pound four-strand as a ‘kelp-cutter’ rig,” says Mark Smith of Toro Tamer. “With the four-strand line and a short top shot of leader, fishermen can cut their way out of kelp and fish heavier cover, targeting larger bass.”

Surf-casting, tossing surface iron or fishing live bait might require a smoother-casting line such as the eight-strand braids.

“Different fishing applications demand different lines,” says Smith. “Not all braided lines are produced the same, and better suppliers target their offerings to match specific applications.”

For inshore applications, such as fishing with jerkbaits or topwater or soft-plastic fishing with fluorocarbon leader, Seaguar’s assistant marketing manager Brian Evans recommends eight-strand. “I feel like four-strand shines anywhere you have to fish in heavy grass, cover or mats, and need a line that cuts through the vegetation,” he says.

Next Gen

The jump from four to eight carriers has obvious benefits, so can anglers soon expect 12- or 16-carrier braid that’s not hollow-core?

“Sixteen-strand would be incredibly round and castable, but with so many fibers, the line would have a tendency to cut itself, flatten out, and have far less abrasion resistance,” says Quinn, “as well as cost roughly three times more than an eight-carrier to produce.”

Indeed, 16-carrier might be cost prohibitive in uses besides specialized hollow-core braid applications, points out Thibault. Most current hollow-core braids are 12- or 16-strand ­construction, but their use remains with anglers who need splicing and finger-trap style connections. Instead, manufacturers might research and utilize materials with finer denier to replicate the castability characteristics.

Burch believes he might have the next evolution in braid with FINS’ latest nine-carrier 40G product. “The center of the line is Spectra High Tenacity fiber with eight ends of PE wrapped around it,” he says. “Spectra HT is 25 percent stronger and 30 percent smaller than traditional deniers of Spectra fiber. It is the smallest diameter-to-strength ratio we have ever offered.”

Don’t be surprised to see more ­combinations of different fibers blended with polyethylene in the future.

Sufix’s 832 brand utilizes a piece of hydrophobic Gore fiber, along with seven PE fibers, to provide high strength and water repellency. Mixing and matching fibers works. Burch utilizes Spectra’s HT fiber to decrease the 40G’s diameter even further than traditional braids; his 5-pound-test has the diameter of 1-pound mono and an average breaking strength closer to 20 pounds.

Comparing Different Eight Carriers

Which Fishing Lines Test the Strongest?

“What makes one fishing line excellent and another mediocre? That’s a loaded question, since it really depends upon your tackle and how you fish it. This test compares most popular 30-pound lines.”

The post Comparing 4- and 8-Carrier Braided Fishing Lines appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

PowerPro has added 20-, 30- and 40-pound-test braids to its Maxcuatro lineup. (Maxcuatro won Best Fishing Line honors at the 2015 ICAST fishing-tackle trade show.) The Spectra HT fiber, exclusive to PowerPro, allows for four-carrier construction, meaning less friction through the guides and greater casting distance with lighter lures. Available in high-visibility yellow and moss green and in 150-, 300-, 500- and 1,500-yard spools, the 20-, 30- and 40-pound lines cost $28.99 to $299.99.

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Ande says its new Braid is a unique formulation that’s neither Spectra nor Dyneema. It’s an eight-strand, graphite-colored line that comes in pound-tests from 20 to 150. The 20-pound-test braid diameter equals that of 4-pound-test mono. Ande says Braid creates very little guide noise and is colorfast. Available in 300-, 600- and 3,000-meter spools, the line costs $39.99 to $300.

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A braid’s anatomy is really quite simple. Polyethylene microfilaments are gel-spun to create either Dyneema or Spectra carriers. These carriers are then woven together, forming what’s known as a pic at points where they intersect.

^{Illustration by David Shepherd}

Common Braid Terms

Standard Braid — Any of the typical, woven products. Standard braids are best used on conventional reels.

Fused Braid — A braid with a core that has been molecularly altered and fused, primarily through heat. Fused braids, more supple than standard braids, are best used on spinning reels.

Hollow-Core Braid — A woven braid with a hollow core. Anglers insert monofilament or fluorocarbon line into the core to create leader connections.

Polyethylene — A synthetic thermoplastic that serves as the foundation of braid. The tiny strands of polyethylene that form a strand of Dyneema or Spectra are called “microfilaments.”

Gel-Spinning — The process by which polyethylene is spun into strands of Dyneema or Spectra.

Dyneema — A gel-spun product produced and sold to line manufacturers by DSM, a Dutch chemical and pharmaceutical company.

Spectra — A gel-spun product produced and sold to line manufacturers by New Jersey-based Honeywell International Inc.

Carrier — The common name used to describe a strand of Dyneema or Spectra. A braid is often categorized as an “8-carrier braid,” or equivalent.

Pic — An intersecting point where one carrier crosses over another.

Pics per Inch (PPI) — The number of pics per inch of braid. The higher the PPI, the smoother the braid; but too high a pic count will generally reduce strength and abrasion resistance.

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I really thought I had wind knots figured out. Those annoying braid boogers and bird nests were no-shows through my rod guides for months. But on a recent flats-fishing trip, a nasty wind knot in my 10-pound braid forced me to rack my rod. The truth is that wind knots in gelspun polyethylene line (commonly known as braid, whether Spectra or Dyneema) are almost entirely the fault of the angler. Blaming my tackle wouldn’t fix my tangle from casting braided line.

What Causes Wind Knots in Braided Line?

Numerous line companies independently admitted to me that there wasn’t a silver-bullet solution to their manufacturing processes that could help anglers prevent wind knots.

“One of the most prominent characteristics of braid that allows wind knots is its lack of memory on the spinning spool,” says Ben Miller, project manager at Sufix. “Braid releases and unwinds far better than traditional nylon monofilament for much longer casts, but this freedom has its pros and cons.”

A wind knot is created by an overrun of slack line that’s slipped off your spinning-reel arbor. The slack line then forms a loop within the spinning reel when the bail is closed. Once it’s time to cast, you might be able to cast away that looseness, but chances are a snarl, tangle or knot is inevitable. That’s why your braided line might keep tangling.

“Wind knots are truly a byproduct of spinning tackle,” says Miller. “A wind knot to a spinning reel is the same as a backlash to a baitcasting reel.”

Manufacturers often add proprietary coatings to braids for numerous reasons, one of which is to give the line some body. Braided lines used for extended periods eventually lose their coatings, increasing the potential for wind knots in braid.

“I’m not a fan of braids with minimal coating,” says Joe Meyer, product-development manager at Spiderwire. “They trap water and get heavy, but also they become very limp without much body to them. A little more body, or simply moving up to heavier weights of line, tends to cause fewer tangling issues.”

How to Stop Wind Knots When Casting Braid

The most important mindset an angler can have when it comes to braid is to always keep his line tight. And that starts when adding line to your spool; double-check that your braided line is applied under pressure. Anglers who use a line winder to fill their spinning reels must be careful, says Miller. When anglers use line-winding machines to load spinning reels, the line doesn’t rest on the spool the same way it does once a reel has been cast.

“Do not overfill the spool on a spinning reel, since that can easily cause wind knots,” says Capt. Jot Owens, of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. “I like to go about three­quarters full, leaving ⅛- to 1⁄₁₆‑inch space to the outside edge.”

Many anglers complain that freshly spooled braid causes wind knots, but Owens has found a helpful solution.

“I will tie on a 1-ounce sinker and cast hard a dozen times,” he says. “This seems to really help cut down on the ‘break-in period,’ when I see the most wind knots.”

When casting while fishing, I keep my hand near the spool, and “finger” the line just as the lure is about to hit the water. Braid closest to the lure stops, but if you’re not careful, line closer to the reel keeps coming off the spool, causing loops. I always close the bail by hand — making sure not to turn the handle to close the bail — before reeling. If there’s a wind-blown bow in your line from casting, reel in your line carefully to pick up slack before working your lure.

Twitching the Rod Can Cause Wind Knots in Braid

One apparent paradox that even an experienced fisherman must contend with is how to prevent wind knots when using baits such as soft-plastic jerkbaits and walk-the-dog topwaters that continually require suddenly slacking off in a tight line. Add wind into the equation, and it’s very tough to keep all slack out of the line.

“What I try to avoid is broad movements of the rod,” says Capt. Billy Wells, of Venice, Louisiana, and a Seaguar pro staffer. “Zero stretch in braid means you don’t have to move the rod tip as much to walk the dog or set the hook.”

Wells often doesn’t move the rod tip at all to work a twitchbait — he controls all movement at the reel using a half-crank and pause retrieve. Light soft-plastic baits that require twitching and jigging mean less line tension on the spool. That loose line often digs into the reel when put under the pressure from a fighting fish, so expect the next couple of casts to be short as the line frees from itself.

“For a bait that does require twitching of the rod tip, make the twitches as small as possible,” says Wells. “Reel as you twitch to help cut down on the amount of slack in the line.”

Your Fishing Rod or Reel Can Cause Wind Knots

If you’re certain it’s not your actions causing the wind knots, take a detailed look at your spinning-reel setup.

“Wind knots may occur after a sudden acceleration at the beginning of the cast, when the braid collides into the rod guides and causes a loop that continues to accelerate,” says Capt. John Stacey, Northeast regional sales manager for Cortland Line.

Some new rods use low-profile guides designed specifically for thin, braided lines. Older rods used for throwing mono traditionally needed larger guides to reduce the friction of the mono against the guides.

“Braid guides should be smaller, because braid is thinner and subtler,” says Stacey. “If you’re using an older-style mono rod with big circle guides, you’re just asking for trouble in river city.”

Examine your spinning reel, and confirm that the spool rotates properly when winding or it could cause knots, points out Meyer. I make sure my braid is stacking consistently from top to bottom, and not bunching up at either end. Also, see if there’s any wobble in your spool when cranking. Inspect the line roller at the bail to make sure it’s clean and free moving. If the roller is stuck in place, it can force line twists into the line without an angler ever knowing.

And about that spinning setup that I had to rack? I realized the old, faded braid didn’t have a chance when I fished topwater lure in windy conditions. I respooled with heavier, 20-pound braid and haven’t had any trouble since.

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Maxima Braid 8 Super Line

Maxima’s new Braid 8 super line is made with eight-yarn round construction, which tightly interweaves the microfibers, producing a more rounded result than many comparable braids, the company says. Maxima prestretches and heat-fixes the line, and triple-coats the surface. Braid 8 comes in 150- or 300-yard spools of 10- to 80-pound‑test in high-viz yellow or ultragreen. Smaller spools cost $32; larger spools cost $63. Call 503‑547‑8555 or visit maxima​fishingline​.com.

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SPF0513_NP_Berkley

Berkley says its new Trilene Braid is a professional-grade ­tournament-level super line that uses Dyneema radial-braid construction. Its eight carriers create a weave that’s round and smooth, running quietly through the guides. The low-viz green Trilene Braid is designed for medium- to heavy-action casting tackle and comes in pound-tests from 20 to 80. The 150-yard spools cost $19.95 to $24.95. Call 803-754-7000 or visit berkley-fishing​.com.

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