It is about time to respool a couple of spinning reels and I'm thinking about sinking braid for strolling and neko rods. Worth it? If so, who has the best stuff? 

 

And while we are at it, it seems like the target line size moves around a lot - last time I spooled these 20lb was pretty standard, and then for a while I heard about guys going as low as six. But on the leader a bunch of the pros are off the 6-8lb stuff and on 12lb. In texas, not so much wood, lots of grass. 

KK came out with a new braid it is called Hammer FFS.  Reviews are pretty good.

https://fishingtackleretailer.com/kastking-hammer-ffs-forward-facing-sonar-compatible-braided-fishing-line/

I've been using Sunline Almight and YGK Ohdragon (JDM) . Both have worked for me but I have heard people having trouble with Almight.  In either case, I have found a good leader knot and some quality leader material definitely makes a difference.  Also,  don't get hung up on line weight ratings.  Pay more attention to the diameter.  In the JDM scale,  I go for PE #1 and #1.2 on all my spinning gear.

I go down to #0.6 on finesse tackle, but @FishTank's selection are pretty much go-to for everything else.  

 

There is a difference in sinking braid - e.g., YGK G-soul and Jigman.  

Sinking braid includes flurocarbon fibers in the weave to increase density, which also gives away about 10% on the breaking strength.  

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

I go down to #0.6 on finesse tackle, but @FishTank's selection are pretty much go-to for everything else.  

 

There is a difference in sinking braid - e.g., YGK G-soul and Jigman.  

Sinking braid includes flurocarbn fibers in the weave to increase density, which also gives away about 10% on the breaking strength.  

 

I can contest to the braking strength being a little less. I believe YGK notes this on Ohdragon.  The breaking strength is less (lbs) in the coordinating diameter when compared to their other lines. I also remember reading an article, that I can't find, from YGK's Japanese website that stated the knot breaking strength is up to 50% less than the stated package strength when using straight braid with no leader. 

 

Just in case, I have used, and am stilling using on one real, thinner sizes but have found that PE 1 and PE 1.2 to be my sweet spot. They are not a huge difference from #0.8 line but when filling a small spool on spinning gear, the smaller size can be beneficial. 

@bulldog1935 while we are talking about it. You should try Varivas Seabass X9. Game changer for me. It holds up well but after a year off fishing I finally had to trim some off. It started to fray but was still bringing in fish.

 

https://www.varivas.fishing/product/avani-seabass-max-power-pe-x9/?attribute_pa_spec=18-lb-_0-8&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17335880571&gbraid=0AAAAABSJWwXFX-jJoXV7dkGAWBk9fDSEJ&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_rPGBhCbARIsABjq9ccQ37WKmCyxaOZOOm5n6kcBrbxLKgQI8gDj_Xy4aH7LCnf8K3wuVewaAhUiEALw_wcB

The Izanas-made braids can spare the strength loss.  

For a given diameter, braids on the market vary in breaking strength by 2-1/2 times.  

For PE#1 diameter, that ranges from 8-lb to 25-lb breaking strength.  

 

Izanas achieves the highest breaking strength per diameter in market by their use of UHMWPE, drawn and work-hardened center strand, ultra-fine fibers, and ultra-tight weave.  

Lowering 22-lb breaking strength to 20-lb to increase sink rate is not taking a risk.  

 

The other advantage to keeping up with your braids by diameter is the ease of calculating spool capacity and stacking lines:  

https://www.pattayafishing.net/advanced-fishing-reel-line-capacity-estimator/

I now have 6 years worth of extensive time on the water with this YGK sinking braid version without issue. About the only spinning line I throw any more.
 

3 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

I now have 6 years worth of extensive time on the water with this YGK sinking braid version without issue. About the only spinning line I throw any more.
 

 

Interesting.  I don't know how this one didn't hit my radar. I will need to give it a try. Reading up on it and it seems like something I would like. 

I'm going to try the g-soul SS since it's pretty available at TW.

 

80 yards should be about right per reel, or any reason I shouldn't try to get two reels done with one spool? Anyone know if it happens to be marked at the midpoint? @Team9nine

 

30 minutes ago, txchaser said:

I'm going to try the g-soul SS since it's pretty available at TW.

 

80 yards should be about right per reel, or any reason I shouldn't try to get two reels done with one spool? Anyone know if it happens to be marked at the midpoint? @Team9nine

 

Some of their lines are, but SS112 is not. Several different ways you can split the line in half with relative accuracy. I split all my spools to get 2 fill-ups.

19 hours ago, txchaser said:

I'm going to try the g-soul SS since it's pretty available at TW.

 

80 yards should be about right per reel, or any reason I shouldn't try to get two reels done with one spool?

I break down 150 m spools into 3 runs of 165'. Aside from casting a 3.5" Yamatanuki that you'd probably be throwing on a BC anyway, you're very unlikely to get down to the backer with typical, lighter spinning rod baits.

@Team9nine- I've been thinking about sinking braids this year for FFS purposes.  I'm fishing a lake now where I'm targeting some fish down to 60' and starting to see the impact of regular braid floating up in the column a big higher.  I'm throwing 131 and 832 (both in 10#, 0.008" dia).  How would you compare the stiffness/handling and abrasion resistance of Gsoul vs either of those?

Handling is as good, or better, in my opinion. I have/had 2 or 3 reels spooled with 832 that I chose to respool with SS112 instead of more 832 when the time came. Abrasion resistance is decent, and I can't think of any instance where I’ve suffered a loss and felt it was the line’s fault, though I don’t specifically go fishing, looking for a fight in heavy cover. I feel like it is a great open water line that will hold up in those occasional instances you need it to. If I was specifically targeting fate with every cast, I’d consider reevaluating options.

Thanks, that’s helpful.  I think I will leave 832 on my bigger rod for neko purposes and throwing it into cover (primarily) but I might have to swap my other rod to Gsoul that I primarily use for shaking a minnow.  Might just want to grab another spool.

@Team9nine a random google search pulled up a 2019 thread where I think you had just started with GSoul.  You started with 14# but were going to try the 10.  Where did you settle in the end?  I’m thinking a minnow shaking rod so more open water type of deal most of the time.  The 14# is about the same diameter as 8# 832 so a little smaller than what I’m throwing already (I throw 10# 832 or 131).  TW doesn’t list the 10# GSoul diameter but it has to be close to a 6# 832 which is getting into sewing thread territory.  But with the sinking and tiny diameter it sounds attractive especially if there is no cover around. 

Usually whichever I can get my hands on. I interchange 10# and 14# regularly based on availability. I have two reels spooled with 20# when I couldn’t get either of the lighter spools that I use for “heavier” stuff like shaky head, bigger wacky (Senko-type), etc. If I could just choose one, I’d probably lean toward 14# for that slight margin of cushion, but I’ve used both extensively for Ned and minnow shaking, as well as small blade baits, spoons, and micro jigs and can’t ever recall an issue with either of the lighter pound tests.

I picked up a spool of Berkley Forward in 8lb at the beginning of the summer and put it on two reels.  Garbage IMHO.  Most knots cause it to fray badly.  Can't use an Alberto, FG, Fish n Fool, nor Pitzen.  I haven't tried a SD jam.  

 

I'll be buying some of the G-soul to try.  I've never heard of them before.  

 

Any that are suitable for bait casters ? Thinking whacky worm, 18-20lb diameter of standard power pro. Would they offer a benefit on a reel such as the steez ct sv? 

@Bandersnatch- glenn mentioned Xbraid and Lunkerhut on another thread.  I looked at them and they were too big for me for finesse spinning so probably what you're looking for in a bigger diameter braid for a baitcaster.  TW has both.