40lb Power Pro Super Slick v2 that I have had on-

Let me start off by saying I am frugal when it comes to line.  I hardly ever change because usually it is fine.  However, this past weekend I believe I experienced my first legit braid fishing line breakdown.  I mean I lost 5 tungsten weights, hooks and baits before I realized it was the line and put the rod down... not happy with myself.  Not turning the braid around because it is old I am fairly certain it was due to UV breakdown as there are no frays or anything within the line.  But was wondering if anyone ever have that happen to them?

 

Obviously, I tested the knot every time and have it some good tugs.  Flipping/pitching the forces are probably a little greater.

 

Anyone have a rule of thumb on when they replace braided line due to UV exposure?

 

 

 

The most I have kept braid on a reel is about two years. Never had a problem though, just figured it was time. How long has the braid been on your reel? 

I doubt the braid is breaking because of UV exposure.  My hunch is there was something on your tungsten that was nicking it or an eye doing the same thing.  

I have had braid on rods I don't use often for longer than 5-6 years with no issues.  

39 minutes ago, dgkasper58 said:

40lb Power Pro Super Slick v2 that I have had on-

Let me start off by saying I am frugal when it comes to line.  I hardly ever change because usually it is fine.  However, this past weekend I believe I experienced my first legit braid fishing line breakdown.  I mean I lost 5 tungsten weights, hooks and baits before I realized it was the line and put the rod down... not happy with myself.  Not turning the braid around because it is old I am fairly certain it was due to UV breakdown as there are no frays or anything within the line.  But was wondering if anyone ever have that happen to them?

 

Obviously, I tested the knot every time and have it some good tugs.  Flipping/pitching the forces are probably a little greater.

 

Anyone have a rule of thumb on when they replace braided line due to UV exposure?

 

 

 

My spiderwire always has tiny pieces of fiber standing up after its broken in and thats after the dye wears off which is within a 1/2 hr of casting.

 

Are you saying that your line has no tiny fibers standing up along the entire line? My line looks like an old sweater at only 4 months of use.

I dont worry about the fibers as i never have had a problem since i started using spider in 1992.

But I do replace my spider wire every year. Maybe for next year i reverse it because at the end of a long cast the line on spool is new and dark green but i would need to add a few yards of something else to make up for the line i lost this year due to retying the clip every time i go out.

Check your rod guides 

1 hour ago, dgkasper58 said:

40lb Power Pro Super Slick v2 that I have had on-

Let me start off by saying I am frugal when it comes to line.  I hardly ever change because usually it is fine.  However, this past weekend I believe I experienced my first legit braid fishing line breakdown.  I mean I lost 5 tungsten weights, hooks and baits before I realized it was the line and put the rod down... not happy with myself.  Not turning the braid around because it is old I am fairly certain it was due to UV breakdown as there are no frays or anything within the line.  But was wondering if anyone ever have that happen to them?

 

Obviously, I tested the knot every time and have it some good tugs.  Flipping/pitching the forces are probably a little greater.

 

Anyone have a rule of thumb on when they replace braided line due to UV exposure?

 

 

 

Ive used braid to tie blue bent bundles and its strong as ever after months of sun exposure.  You can tell when a braid is starting wear out, it starts to get a frayed "ropey" look.  If your not fishing around hard cover like concrete or rocks constantly you should be able to get at least 6 or 8 months of heavy fishing before that line loses any strength.

If your sure it isn't the knot slipping, either your tungsten has a bur where it should be polished or one of your guide inserts is cracked and is cutting the line.  Take a Q tip or cotton ball and run it around the eye.  The cotton should catch on cracks that hard to see.      

If your fishing around anything to get hung upon, it nicks the line. That leads to more break offs. I don’t play when it comes to line. I always have something on hand, just in case. 

I had nothing but trouble with Super Slick. Random breakoffs on the hookset when flipping weeds with a new spool of 50lb. I'd never give it another try after my first experience with it. 

I have tried multiple braids over the years and it just seems on occasion, that I get these random break offs.  It doesn't mater if it's new or old line.  My knots and guides are fine. 

 

It took me years to come to an odd conclusion.....  it's me, not the line.  When I cast, I tend to whip cast it sometimes.  The force of the whipping action gets transmitted to the knot, causing the break.  Also, i find myself asleep at the wheel on occasion and I set the hook on slack line.  Doing this repeatedly seems to weaken the line in general.   Braid is great but it does have its limitations based on how I fish.  

The trade off for no stretch sensitivity is loss of shock absorption. Slack line hook sets, dig in or backlash throwing heavy baits, hard back casts etc can cause breaks. 

Turn the braid around UV only affects where the sun shines.

You mentioned the top 30 yards is not fuzzy but it could be twisted tight from use and that weakens braid line.

Tom

 

I have a lot of braid, not used all that often but it's been on two reels for a number of years and faded but it still holds up when I need to.

 

I would wager that you ran that line over some rocks and weakened the line that way. Braid is  great with weeds, but rocks does a number on it.

Definitely sounds like a guide issue. I found a cracked tip guide this weekend while fishing a tournament and retired that setup for the day. I have since replaced the guide. Check them out thoroughly.

Rod Guides fine.  Checked with Q-tip- Thanks for the suggestion as I did not think of that originally.  All of my other braids have held up much better than this Superslick as I am only fishing vegetation with no rock/wood.  

 

Once I took about 10 yards off the line did look much better but I still stripped it off as I was done with it.

 

On 7/12/2021 at 12:47 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I had nothing but trouble with Super Slick. Random breakoffs on the hookset when flipping weeds with a new spool of 50lb. I'd never give it another try after my first experience with it. 

This sounds like my issue as well.  I had an initial bad experience with the coating on the line but once it wore off I felt that it was fine.  Now it is off the reel for some suffix 832.  

Problem solved