I have my favorite braids but I always like trying different stuff, especially when it gets good reviews...especially by those here. Well up until last year I never tried Smackdown, despite all the great reviews. 

 

Last year I was having issues with it when I'd tie connection knots. The braid would start fraying right above the knot. And I'm talking within a few casts. 30# and 40#.

 

Today I'm tying a swim jig on straight to the braid. Palomar knot. 3 different times the dang braid would snag on some dry skin on my fingers and the fibers would just come undone. I've never seen anything like this.

 

I know a ton of people here love this stuff. Has anybody had these issues with Smackdown before?

 

 

I've never seen anything like that.

3 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I've never seen anything like that.

 

I know, me either. Even with braids that aren't woven as tightly as Smackdown is. So odd. And it's happened now with 2 different spools. So I don't know if I just happened to get 2 bad spools, or what? 

I have 30lb on 2 different casting combos and had this issue a few times myself. Each came off of a different spool that I purchased from two different locations, so I'm not sure if I got a bad batch or not. I've had 10lb and 15lb on my spinning reels and never had a problem. 

 

I actually prefer Power Pro on my casting reels partly for this reason. Smackdown is the best I've had on spinning though, with J Braid X8 a close second.

I had a similar experience with 20lb smackdown in gray. I have not used it since, I have been very happy with  the power pro V2 and the the Berkley X9 as of recent. 

I had a similar experience with 40lb smackdown. I have moved on 

1 minute ago, Bandersnatch said:

I had a similar experience with 40lb smackdown. I have moved on 

Yeah, sounds like I will be as well. 

I only use the 50 lb Smackdown, never had any issues at all.

If youre in a boat its not too bad, but off the bank or around cover smackdown has a tendency to "desheath" and unwind if it gets impaled on briars or shrubbery.  Not a big deal if its really close to a connection knot, but both times it happened to me its been deep enough into the spool that I had to strip the line and add the difference in backing and respool it.  

Ive used quite a few different braids and haven't seen anything similar.  Its a good line otherwise and I'm going to use up what I have left and move on.  

I would move on to another line. Once something like this happens I could never go back 

I have very rough dry skinned fingers and this has happened with all braids Ive used except YGK g-soul. Thicker lines 20#+ it happens more often.

 

I have 20 and 50 lb. Smackdown. Never had that issue. 

18 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

I have 20 and 50 lb. Smackdown. Never had that issue. 

No issues

I have seen it on other lines but not Smackdown. I have also done this by not wetting the line when I cinch a knot. 

Seaguar = the most overrated line brand imo.

Smackdown is my least favorite braid. I like that Dura Braid better. Smackdown is also super, super limp and can cause wind knots pretty easily, especially in 20# and under.