For quite sometime I have seen consistent negative reviews of this FC line (unless using for leader material) . Reasons most often cited for negative reviews are : Poor manageability and low breaking strength for rated #lb. test ... Yet I see more and more pros opting to use Vicious FC line and notice it is being sold in more and more places . What gives ? ... Did Vicious improve the FC line formulation - or has Vicious FC line simply been getting a bad rap ?

I've had good success with 15# and lighter Vicious, 12# is great for finesse jigs and T rigs. It has terrible memory in heavier sizes, but the stuff is extremely strong and abrasion resistant. Maybe the bad reviews are guys tying bad knots or something. The Vicious Elite is good line with much less memory. 

They opt to use it because they get paid to use it. Take that into account even with the better grade lines. The one time I used it it was unmanageable. Worst line I have ever used.

Huge diameter compared to other lines and springy to the point of un usability

For quite sometime I have seen consistent negative reviews of this FC line (unless using for leader material) . Reasons most often cited for negative reviews are : Poor manageability and low breaking strength for rated #lb. test ... Yet I see more and more pros opting to use Vicious FC line and notice it is being sold in more and more places . What gives ? ... Did Vicious improve the FC line formulation - or has Vicious FC line simply been getting a bad rap ?

 

You mean promoting

I have used the Vicious Ultimate, which is a copolymer. I liked it and never had any problems with it.

Hootie

I tried flipping with 25#. That stuff was stiff and had a ton of memory!

I used 8# on a spinning reel for a while. Never had any problems with it, but I didn't use it that long because I discovered my affinity for braid shortly after. 

True , promoting may be what the pros are doing versus actually using it ... In my research the Vicious FC is thicker per rated #lb. test versus Seaguar or Sunline . I may try the Vicious #6lb. test for shaky head fishing where I would normally consider a #8lb. test with Seaguar or Sunline and see how it performs after applying KVD Line Conditioner , not over fill my spinning reel and tie a careful knot . 

I've never had any luck with line starting with the letter "V".

When it first came out it was really cheap.  Everybody knows that nothing cheap can be any good.  After all, all the reels that I am happy with year in and year out are all (except one) under $100. I must be happy with junk, right???

I've only used it in 15# and up (not the Elite) and it was terrible, but this has been years ago. It was strong enough, but completely unmanageable. I've heard several people say the lighter line was okay, but I wasn't going to buy any more of it to find out. It's not like it's that much cheaper than many other options anyway. Perhaps they've changes the formula, but they would indicate that on the packaging. Maybe the 'Pro Elite' line is the answer.

Perhaps a good buy for leader material in a particular #lb. test you use often ?

They opt to use it because they get paid to use it. Take that into account even with the better grade lines. The one time I used it it was unmanageable. Worst line I have ever used.

Huge diameter compared to other lines and springy to the point of un usability

 

 I 100% agree with this.

I tried it years ago.  I was not a fan.  Maybe it has been reformulated over the years but what I used was almost unfishable.   I marked it on my "What the heck was I thinking" list.

Thanks for the replies - if the price point is too good to be true , then often that is an indicator (along with negative reviews) to stay clear of the product .