I'm going bass fishing tomorrow.  I figured I would retie my drop shot flouro leader to the Almight braid.  mine is 3 years oldish, faded somewhat, but seemed fine.  I tie the FG knot, put on gloves to pull it tight.  I lean in and it snaps.  the braid snapped.  hmmmm..I try it again.  you can never have enough FG-practice anyways.  it snaps again.  I go up a few feet, pull and it breaks under my load.  I think the sun UV damaged it??

 

wow.   I pulled it all off and put on fresh Almight.  #1.2 (18.5lb) stuff.  

 

I'll search for a new sinking braid for the next run at em.  I use my fresh stuff I just loaded until I cant.  

 

just wanted you to have the info.  

I've read similar complaints in regard to Almight unfortunately. I gave it a try after the D Braid was discontinued hoping it would be just as good as I never had an issue with that one, but looks like this one's a miss. Will be stripping the Almight off my Twinpower when I get back from vacation next week, and have some Shimano Pitbull G5 sinking braid I'll be trying out. 

I’d read that here also, maybe not a lifespan issue but inconsistent performance and breakages at times.  In another thread, GSoul was mentioned as an option and I might spool one up with that for next spring.  

I’ve had snapping issues on the Almighty myself. Not only that, but my once bullet proof Shooter seems to fray/peel much more easier. Both were recent production batches.

 

May be switching to Gamma next season.

I may have had a bad spool of sufix 832 braid this season.  I don't have the packaging anymore so I can't check the date of mfg.  I found it snapped off several times through out the season.  I would re-tie it the night before and then the next morning it was broke.

 

I checked the guides and tip, and did not find any damage.  I've never experienced anything like this and I've been used 832 for a decade.

I have Almight on a BFS setup and no issues so far but have seen the mentioned issues on other people's reels. It seems,  in general, something is going on at Sunline. I also had a spool of Sniper that didn't seem to last as long as it usually does. 

I had 3 gleeful years with my #1.2 Almight.  zero fuss.

 

I bought two spools, so I put on the second one.  it is so friggen PINK!!!  shocking almost.   I got used to the faded version for so long.  hahah..

I have followed the manufacturing process for braid line for a number of years so this thread is of interest to me since this JDM fishing line is the only sinking braid marketed in the USA.

 

When I began researching it years ago there were only about a dozen PE fiber manufacturers in the entire world with 7 of them in China and a few in Europe and 1 or 2 in USA. Today there are dozens of PE fiber manufacturers.

 

What was originally happening was this dozen factories or so made all the PE fibers for all the world's braid fishing lines. A company or brand X would go to one of these factories and simply purchase the PE fibers which looked sort of like cotton candy.

 

Each brand would simply weave the fibers into a fishing line and change its color and often put a coating on the line like a bee's wax or similar which quickly wore off the line during use.

 

So early on, most braid lines were all sourced from same sources and were all using the same technology of the day. But this is where the change is happening also because now engineers are changing and tweaking the manufacturing process to change the PE fibers from strictly PE fibers to now becoming more like chemical cocktails of unknown additives and changes.

 

And that is where this JDM "sinking" line comes into play. The Japanese apparently were not satisfied with standard PE fiber created braid lines. Their desire to invent a sinking braid line has brought about some interesting changes in manufacturing to reach where we are now at.

 

So I asked AI to tell me what it takes to increase the specific gravity of PE fibers and found this:

 

"To increase the specific gravity of PE (polyethylene) fibers, you can add dense inorganic fillers, such as nanoparticles or mineral powders, during the fiber production process, or process the fibers at high temperatures to increase crystallinity, which in turn increases density and specific gravity. Another approach is to create denser composite materials by using a higher proportion of PE fibers within the matrix, or modifying the fiber's surface to enhance its compatibility and density within the composite. 

 

Methods to Increase Specific Gravity

Add Inorganic Fillers: 

Incorporating dense inorganic fillers, such as specific nanoparticles, during the melt spinning process can increase the overall density and, consequently, the specific gravity of the PE fiber. 

 

Increase Crystallinity: 

High-performance polyethylene fibers are often produced by hot drawing processes that significantly increase their degree of crystallinity. Higher crystallinity leads to greater density and thus a higher specific gravity. 

 

Optimize Fiber Composition: 

By using higher molecular weight polyethylene or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) (gel) in the spinning process, you can produce denser fibers. 

 

Increase Fiber Content in a Composite: 

In fiber-reinforced composites, using a higher volume fraction of PE fibers can increase the overall composite's density, although this doesn't directly change the fiber's specific gravity, it changes the composite's specific gravity.

 

Surface Modification: 

While surface treatments like ozonation primarily focus on improving bonding with a matrix, some surface modifications might increase the overall mass or density of the fiber. 

 

Key Considerations 

 

Balance with Mechanical Properties: 

Many high-performance polyethylene fibers are designed to be lightweight for applications where high strength-to-weight ratio is crucial. Increasing density might compromise these lightweight properties."

------------------------------------------------

 

"Standard braid fishing line made from PE fibers has a specific gravity of approximately 0.97, which is less than water's specific gravity of 1.0, meaning it is naturally buoyant and tends to float. However, some braided lines incorporate high-density cores or other fibers to increase their specific gravity and make them sink faster, offering better lure contact and reduced line bow in windy conditions."

 

So when I dig into the SunLine Almight braid line I find this:

 

"Almight has a specific gravity that is 50% heavier than traditional braided lines. By reducing line drift and bow in the line Almight provides an angler with better lure contact for enhanced bite detection. Almight is currently the only sinking braided line in the US market. Almight has a specific gravity of 1.48 compared to water at 1.0 and traditional braided lines at 0.97. Almight is constructed with a four plus one fiber design that features four outside PE strands with a high specific gravity core in the center."

 

Confusing language for sure, but clear enough to determine they are modifying the PE fibers themself and not adding in a sinking core. They are redesigning the PE fibers chemically.

 

AI says they can do this with additives, and they can do it by increasing the temperature of the PE fiber processing to "increase crystallinity."

 

If additives are added to PE fibers, does the additive bond well to the polyethelene? If it does, then no problem. If it does not, then a structural problem is now built in that pure PE fibers did not have.

 

There is also the possibility of using a higher molecular weight PE as well, and could be combined along with the higher temperatures used.

 

The increased temperatures crystallizing the PE fibers is troubling because this would tend to make them more prone to breakage and snapping as described in this thread. Crystallizing tends to make one think not only more dense, but also more brittle.

 

And this may be behind what is going on with this line. Just one observer's opinion.

 

But, the science behind PE fibers was solid and sound when it started, but has now changed and morphed into an entire field of modified PE fibers for various applications.

 

And it appears this JBM company may be among the first to jump ship and change away from pure PE fibers to modified fibers. But its a double edged sword for sure because modifying away from the tried and true science of PE fibers manufacturing leads one down the path of compromised structural integrity. AI takes notice of this in its conclusion:

 

"Many high-performance polyethylene fibers are designed to be lightweight for applications where high strength-to-weight ratio is crucial. Increasing density might compromise these lightweight properties."

 

In other words increasing fiber density decreases its strength to weight ratio. The JDM company behind this line is hoping to score a hit with the sinking aspect of their line as long as they can keep it strong enough to actually work as a fishing line without breaking. They are trying to reach a balancing act and this thread shows they are failing.

 

So what the Japanese have done as an entire country is to measure braid line radically different from the USA:

 

"Sunline Almight is a JDM braid and is rated based on the Japanese PE or goh/gou rating system. It goes by diameter and actual breaking strength, unlike braids in the US market.

 

The Sunline Almight 16lb is PE0.8 which has a diameter of 0.148mm/0.0058" and has an actual breaking strength of 16lbs. Power Pro Original 8lb has a diameter of approx 0.185mm/0.0073 which is equivalent to PE1.2 and should have an actual breaking strength of 23lbs.

 

The way braid in the US market is labeled is crazy."

 

Not my comment, but good enough!

 

We should have an international standard. We don't. Its a largely unregulated market where outlandish claims have become the norm.

 

Another issue not brought up but is danced around is that yes .97 braid floats, and yes 1.48 specific gravity line sinks, but is this the whole issue? For me there is a water resistance issue as well. Round monofilament line can cut through water fairly easily, while .97 braid line has a much harder time cutting through the water due to its weave, and the sinking line may very well sink, but since it is a woven braid line it also has the same or similar resistance trying to cut through the water to floating braid.

 

In the future, if this trend is to continue, I would expect to see more changes like rather than going from .97 specific gravity up more than 50% to 1.48 specific gravity, that to keep structural integrity, they may tweak it to say 1.27 specific gravity to still have a slowly sinking line with greater strength, rather than a 1.48 faster rate sinking line with compromised strength and durability.

 

Its an interesting subject to follow.

 

When PE fibers first became available on open market it was a godsend product too good to be true. But now with so many changes, modifications, alterations, and additives, we as consumers can never really know what it is we are buying.

 

This JDM SunLine Almight braid line is NOT the same product as say power pro braid line is. They are marketed to same people in same way for same purposes, but is an entirely different product at the molecular level. And I now think and believe this is what is behind the issues noted in this thread.

 

I should also bring up one more subject that came up in my researching today:

 

"Improper Knots: 

A knot that is not lubricated before tightening can cut into itself, weakening the line and creating a breaking point." 

 

I guess I will be sure to "oil" my knots from now on. (sarcasm)

 

I am not sure if it is sourced in the knot or the line at this point. Maybe both. But if the PE fibers are crystallized for density, and may also now contain additives disrupting the PE fiber's structural integrity, the knots are more like a fold in a piece of paper being a weak spot for breakage.

 

Even in the product description they mention this 4 times: "A sinking braid helps reduce line drift and the bow in your line" and " to sink more quickly in water to reduce the bow in an angler’s line" and "By reducing line drift and bow" and "Sinking braided line that reduces line drift and line bow"

 

Standard PE fiber braid lines soften with use and become more limp over time, meaning more susceptible to line drift and "bow" in the line. By them telling me their line avoids this "bow" is telling me their line is more rigid and possibly more crystallized. They are literally telling me their sinking line WANTS to stay straighter. This goes to the core of their fibers and what tinkering they have done to achieve this.

 

So to answer the OP, I seriously doubt if your sinking line has been damaged by UV light exposure.

 

I would tend to place blame on their manufacturing process and what the brand SunLine is or was trying to accomplish here has exposed that maybe they went too far in trying to achieve a sinking line at the expense of a strong durable line.

 

If other brands are to follow them down this same road, then more tweaking will undoubtedly happen.

 

How much do you wanna bet the next sinking line we see hit the market will show a specific gravity between .97 and 1.48 trying to reach a more acceptable balance? Somewhere in here:

 

https://stw-faser.de/en/raw-materials/polyethylene-fibre/

 

"Polyethylene is now mostly produced by means of organometallic catalysed polymerisation. If ethylene alone is used in the synthesis, the stronger HDPE (high density polyethylene) is obtained. If butene, hexene or octene are introduced through co-polymerisation, the significantly softer LLDPE (linear-low-density polyethylene) is produced. An older process for producing PE is high-pressure gas-phase polymerisation. Unlike catalysed polymerisation, this does not produce straight chains, but rather branched polymers. Since these are less able to crystallise together, this technique results in the softer LDPE (low-density polyethylene)."

 

Clearly Sunline went in the OTHER direction! And on purpose too!

 

JDM is leading the way to new technology in fishing applications. I appreciate threads like this one.

 

@FloridaFishinFool

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/YGK_G-Soul_SS112_Sinking_Braided_Line_Yellow_164yd/descpage-YGKGSSB.html

 

Sinking braid in the US

I knew there was other sinking lines out there. I quoted from the Sunline website and ran with it:

 

https://sunlineamerica.com/products/almight?srsltid=AfmBOoqW8WYqgqhN5qfcstpZFF7ejP89Bu6WlOcAU_AYLFIfVKK47MNO

 

"Almight is currently the only sinking braided line in the US market."

 

And artificial intelligence search also says the same:

 

"AI Overview

Yes, Almight fishing line is marketed in the U.S. as the only sinking braided line available, featuring a unique construction with a high specific gravity core for enhanced depth control and is sold through SUNLINE America Co., Ltd.. 

Key Characteristics

Only Sinking Braid: 

Almight is positioned as the sole sinking braided fishing line on the U.S. market." 

 

I wasn't making it up!

 

And if anyone reads the comments on tacklewarehouse website, it sounds exactly the same as this thread- except for the last guy:

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Sunline_Almight_Pink_Sinking_PE_Braid/descpage-SABL.html

 

TrashI have bought 3 spools of this stuff one being the 600 yard 16lb and two of the fillers in 13 and I'm here to say it is absolute trash. It is crazy how easy this stuff breaks when tying leaders. I've tried everything to make it not break at he connections. Huge fail.

Pickwick Pirate - MS, United StatesAugust 04, 2025

---------------------------

WeakUsed the 18.5 line for mid strolling and had a lot of issues. Had the line break or come undone at the braid fluoro connection knot. Never had these issues before and tie good knots. Breaks like sewing thread would not recommend.

G - NC, United StatesJuly 22, 2025

---------------------------

Excellent qualityThese other folks are tying bad knots or not using their drag not sure. I’ve landed several fish over 4+lb in the last few months fishing a lake with a ton of timber and thick grass with this line in 18.5lb and I have drug fish over logs and everything and have had 0 issues to mention. It’s Sunline quality at its best. It sinks very well too almost identical sink rate as fluoro. 10/10 would recommend this line.

Big Stan Bassman - KY, United StatesJune 30, 2025

 

Xbraid and Lunkerhut also have sinking braids.

 

AI is known to be inaccurate.  This is a great example.

its official, I have a single paragraph limit on forum discussions.  I cant read a dissertation.  hahha..

 

my eyes glazed over.

I’m running a varivas on my bfs setup. I think I’m at like #0.05 (9lb equiv) or something like that…