Hi All
I'm after a bit of advice / recommendations.
I fish for carp and good size cats (up to 100lb) and am looking at new line. I fish a gravel pit which can be challenging with pronounced bars, swan mussel beds and weed. I currently generally use Berkley Fireline moss green round profile braid in 50lb. It is great stuff and can take some abuse and I have landed some good fish with it. The problem is even though it is good stuff, it bloody floats! Even though I use a fluorocarbon leader I'm sure the floating braid isn't helping when it comes to carp. To combat the floating I have also tried various fluorocarbon lines (Tiger Line 18lb, Diawa Floorit 17lb and more recently Venture in 18lb). The Venture was by far the best behaved, but not the most abrasion resistant and as a result although it seemed to help with the carp, I lost a few cats with cut-offs, so I quickly reverted back to the braid.
So that brings me to sinking braid which I have no experience of. I have read good things about the Gardner Hydro Sink in 22lb and also see that Fox now do a 55lb version of Submerge. I had read reports of the Fox being too thin, but that was in the lower breaking strains. I take breaking strains with a pinch of salt unless they have been tested, especially with braids. I see Gardner is 0.35mm diameter in 22lb and the Fox is still only 0.3mm in 55lb, so I'm thinking the Gardner is more likely to be tougher even with a far less stated breaking strain. Any recommendations / thoughts much appreciated.
Cheers
I'm after a bit of advice / recommendations.
I fish for carp and good size cats (up to 100lb) and am looking at new line. I fish a gravel pit which can be challenging with pronounced bars, swan mussel beds and weed. I currently generally use Berkley Fireline moss green round profile braid in 50lb. It is great stuff and can take some abuse and I have landed some good fish with it. The problem is even though it is good stuff, it bloody floats! Even though I use a fluorocarbon leader I'm sure the floating braid isn't helping when it comes to carp. To combat the floating I have also tried various fluorocarbon lines (Tiger Line 18lb, Diawa Floorit 17lb and more recently Venture in 18lb). The Venture was by far the best behaved, but not the most abrasion resistant and as a result although it seemed to help with the carp, I lost a few cats with cut-offs, so I quickly reverted back to the braid.
So that brings me to sinking braid which I have no experience of. I have read good things about the Gardner Hydro Sink in 22lb and also see that Fox now do a 55lb version of Submerge. I had read reports of the Fox being too thin, but that was in the lower breaking strains. I take breaking strains with a pinch of salt unless they have been tested, especially with braids. I see Gardner is 0.35mm diameter in 22lb and the Fox is still only 0.3mm in 55lb, so I'm thinking the Gardner is more likely to be tougher even with a far less stated breaking strain. Any recommendations / thoughts much appreciated.
Cheers
In reply to Post #1
I looked at the fox and it was like cheese wire, i settles on the korda sub braid in 20lb.
never looked at the gardner, nobody had it in stock near me
I looked at the fox and it was like cheese wire, i settles on the korda sub braid in 20lb.
never looked at the gardner, nobody had it in stock near me
I've used both the Fox was very thin and didn't sink that well moved over to the Gardner which I prefer sinks pretty well and is very strong I use it with a Fox trans khaki 20lb 1.5 meter leader
In reply to Post #3
Cheers so far guys. I'm not too fussed about casting abilities, abrasion, strength and sinking properties far more important for me.
Did you try / see the 55lb version of the Submerge which is fairly new out or the 40lb stuff that has been around for longer?
Cheers so far guys. I'm not too fussed about casting abilities, abrasion, strength and sinking properties far more important for me.
Did you try / see the 55lb version of the Submerge which is fairly new out or the 40lb stuff that has been around for longer?
In reply to Post #4
I only used the 40lb version which is very thin the Gardner is very strong I uprooted a lily pad with it thickness wise it's similar to the old Nash bullet braid
I only used the 40lb version which is very thin the Gardner is very strong I uprooted a lily pad with it thickness wise it's similar to the old Nash bullet braid
In reply to Post #5
Cheers Lads
I think I will try and get hold of the Gardner stuff then
Cheers Lads
I think I will try and get hold of the Gardner stuff then
In reply to Post #6
I used the Gardner braid and loved it!
Still have it on two small reels.
I've also just loaded the Ridgemonkey braid onto my SS2600's - After its first use it performed well. However, time will tell. The Gardner braid I've used for two years now and don't have a single complaint about it.
I used the Gardner braid and loved it!
Still have it on two small reels.
I've also just loaded the Ridgemonkey braid onto my SS2600's - After its first use it performed well. However, time will tell. The Gardner braid I've used for two years now and don't have a single complaint about it.
In reply to Post #1
This season after loosing 2 fish the stretch in mono on linch hill last year and them making a snag I've put Gardner hyro in the highest breaking strain think it's 22 but not sure .fished with 14ft fluro leader and now I'm a total convert I'd hate to go back to mono and dreading going to a venue where I have to get the mono spools on .total game changer for me no issues with wind knots or anything as long as you wet the spool .get on it
This season after loosing 2 fish the stretch in mono on linch hill last year and them making a snag I've put Gardner hyro in the highest breaking strain think it's 22 but not sure .fished with 14ft fluro leader and now I'm a total convert I'd hate to go back to mono and dreading going to a venue where I have to get the mono spools on .total game changer for me no issues with wind knots or anything as long as you wet the spool .get on it
In reply to Post #8
Ordered the Gardner Hydro Sink earlier
Ordered the Gardner Hydro Sink earlier
In reply to Post #9
Nice one you won't be disappointed
Nice one you won't be disappointed
In reply to Post #8
I wholeheartedly agree with this. I'd only ever use mono now if rules dictated...
I wholeheartedly agree with this. I'd only ever use mono now if rules dictated...
Thanks for this info. I am making the change from a Korda mono next year to braided mainline. I fish tight to islands at my go to venue and having the zero stretch is going to save me overcasting into trees!
Was tempted to go with the Korda braid, but the Gardner may be the line of choice now
Was tempted to go with the Korda braid, but the Gardner may be the line of choice now
In reply to Post #8
What's 22lb hydro like for casting distance.
What's 22lb hydro like for casting distance.
In reply to Post #13
It casts okay Goose. Any sinking braid has extra fibres woven in to make it sink. So it's thicker, therefore it does not cast quite as well. It still casts great, I prefer it a bit thicker myself, it stops the wind knots. I think it's the best braid on the market. I've had 3 x 600m spools on three longcast spools for a few years now. You can probably gather from that, I don't cast it too much. It ages well enough, loses a bit of colour, but they all do. It sinks well.
It casts okay Goose. Any sinking braid has extra fibres woven in to make it sink. So it's thicker, therefore it does not cast quite as well. It still casts great, I prefer it a bit thicker myself, it stops the wind knots. I think it's the best braid on the market. I've had 3 x 600m spools on three longcast spools for a few years now. You can probably gather from that, I don't cast it too much. It ages well enough, loses a bit of colour, but they all do. It sinks well.
In reply to Post #14
Having used various 25lb sinking braids almost exclusively over the past 12 years including Nash Bulllet, Fox Submerge and Gravitron, Gardner Hydro-Sink and Wychwood Epic brands I think I can be subjective on the subject.
I did not really get on with the Epic, as I didn't like the colour. However, I caught using it so I guess the carp didn't mind. I used it for one season on one set of reels, and used Fox Gravitron on another. Both preformed as expected with little discernible difference between the two. The Wychwood sank a bit better than the Gravitron but that's just a minor detail.
The original 25lb Fox Submerge was awful, but the Gravitron was OK. Then the new Submerge Plus came out and it was a different story. Where the original was crap the new one was superb. However, about three years ago they changed it again from what was a very decent sinking braid into a wire-like nightmare. The 25lb stuff is 0.16mm which IMO is far too thin for safe fishing. I used the 40lb ( 0.20mm) version for a year before switching it in favour of the Gardner stuff.
Hydro-Sink has a stated breaking strain of 22lb but that is with a straight forward linear pull. If it breaks at all it will go at the knot and at about 40-42lb, so plenty strong enough.
Nobody could ever call a sinking braid a good casting line. Bullet was pretty awful in that respect. The current Fox Submerge being so fine does cast well but you need to ensure it is soaking wet or wind knots will occur. I cannot in all truth call it a proper sinking braid either as I found it needed to be encouraged to break the surface tension, while Submerge Plus and Hydro-Sink cut through it more or less straight away without the need for any encouragement. Frankly, if you want to cast a long way don't use sinking braids.
The current Gardner braid appears to me to be very similar to the Fox Submerge Plus, which I liked a lot. For the past three years I have been on Gardner Hydro-sink and it has been excellent. It is loaded on all three sets of reels, Fox FX11, FX9 and Shimmy Techies.
All the braids I have used become sun-kissed. I still catch when they have lost a bit of dye but I feel a bit uneasy using them. I therefore colour mine for the first 40-50m with marker pens. I cannot tell you it makes a difference but I feel a bit more confident in the coloured line.
I know there are better braids out there but for my type of fishing the Gardner Hydro-Sink is excellent and I can recommend it wholeheartedly. Bear in mind that I fish very slack lines where I can get away with such a tactic and the Hydro-Sink does exactly what it says on the tin..It sinks!
I have also used a braid which I believe is termed neutral buoyancy, namely 53lb PowerPro (actually a more realistic b.s. would be about 45lb). I use this for one specific purpose and that is to fish on a certain section of the River Lot in France where the bottom is hard and sharp and the last thing I want it for the line to sink. I therefore fish in a similar manner to the Rainbow anglers, using a very buoyant float to hold the line up off the bottom. The line 'my side' of the float does not come into contact with the river bed, a long Quicksilver abrasion leader taking on the task of resisting all the river bed can dish out.
This is probably TMI but as I am at a loose end more often that not, I can find the time to write in a bit more detail. here are a few pix, which I hope will help.
Original Fox Gravitron and Wychwood Epic.
2nd generation version of Fox Submerge. Great braid on a terrible reel!
This is the newest version of Submerge. Way too fine for my liking
22lb Hydro-Sink.
22lb Hydro-Sink on FX9
Sun kissed Hydro Sink on FX11.
22lb Hydro-Sink on a Shimy coloured with marker pens.
Hydro-Sink slack.
PowerPro 53lb with long Quicksilver abrasion leader.
I did not really get on with the Epic, as I didn't like the colour. However, I caught using it so I guess the carp didn't mind. I used it for one season on one set of reels, and used Fox Gravitron on another. Both preformed as expected with little discernible difference between the two. The Wychwood sank a bit better than the Gravitron but that's just a minor detail.
The original 25lb Fox Submerge was awful, but the Gravitron was OK. Then the new Submerge Plus came out and it was a different story. Where the original was crap the new one was superb. However, about three years ago they changed it again from what was a very decent sinking braid into a wire-like nightmare. The 25lb stuff is 0.16mm which IMO is far too thin for safe fishing. I used the 40lb ( 0.20mm) version for a year before switching it in favour of the Gardner stuff.
Hydro-Sink has a stated breaking strain of 22lb but that is with a straight forward linear pull. If it breaks at all it will go at the knot and at about 40-42lb, so plenty strong enough.
Nobody could ever call a sinking braid a good casting line. Bullet was pretty awful in that respect. The current Fox Submerge being so fine does cast well but you need to ensure it is soaking wet or wind knots will occur. I cannot in all truth call it a proper sinking braid either as I found it needed to be encouraged to break the surface tension, while Submerge Plus and Hydro-Sink cut through it more or less straight away without the need for any encouragement. Frankly, if you want to cast a long way don't use sinking braids.
The current Gardner braid appears to me to be very similar to the Fox Submerge Plus, which I liked a lot. For the past three years I have been on Gardner Hydro-sink and it has been excellent. It is loaded on all three sets of reels, Fox FX11, FX9 and Shimmy Techies.
All the braids I have used become sun-kissed. I still catch when they have lost a bit of dye but I feel a bit uneasy using them. I therefore colour mine for the first 40-50m with marker pens. I cannot tell you it makes a difference but I feel a bit more confident in the coloured line.
I know there are better braids out there but for my type of fishing the Gardner Hydro-Sink is excellent and I can recommend it wholeheartedly. Bear in mind that I fish very slack lines where I can get away with such a tactic and the Hydro-Sink does exactly what it says on the tin..It sinks!
I have also used a braid which I believe is termed neutral buoyancy, namely 53lb PowerPro (actually a more realistic b.s. would be about 45lb). I use this for one specific purpose and that is to fish on a certain section of the River Lot in France where the bottom is hard and sharp and the last thing I want it for the line to sink. I therefore fish in a similar manner to the Rainbow anglers, using a very buoyant float to hold the line up off the bottom. The line 'my side' of the float does not come into contact with the river bed, a long Quicksilver abrasion leader taking on the task of resisting all the river bed can dish out.
This is probably TMI but as I am at a loose end more often that not, I can find the time to write in a bit more detail. here are a few pix, which I hope will help.
Original Fox Gravitron and Wychwood Epic.
2nd generation version of Fox Submerge. Great braid on a terrible reel!
This is the newest version of Submerge. Way too fine for my liking
22lb Hydro-Sink.
22lb Hydro-Sink on FX9
Sun kissed Hydro Sink on FX11.
22lb Hydro-Sink on a Shimy coloured with marker pens.
Hydro-Sink slack.
PowerPro 53lb with long Quicksilver abrasion leader.
In reply to Post #16
Well you won't get a more informative answer than that!
Well you won't get a more informative answer than that!
In reply to Post #17
After reading your comments, Chuffy, about hitting 120 yards using 15lb braid, I take back my comments about sinking braids not casting well. Clearly they do...Just not in the hands of this cack-handed caster!
After reading your comments, Chuffy, about hitting 120 yards using 15lb braid, I take back my comments about sinking braids not casting well. Clearly they do...Just not in the hands of this cack-handed caster!
In reply to Post #18
yards not metres though Ken
yards not metres though Ken
In reply to Post #19
Ooooops...Sorry about that. Post edited to show the correction.
Ooooops...Sorry about that. Post edited to show the correction.
In reply to Post #16
Interesting post, thank you. I'm new to using briad and have started to use the Hydra-sink for my fishing in France, I spooled up with it a couple of years back and have been to France twice a year since. I also found that the braid got faided by the sun but sank well and was very strong. It was good to cast as long as kept wet. My only reservation is that on 2 separate occasions the braid has been cut straight through fairly easily, I'm not sure if the first was by a pike attacking silver fish by the braid but the second time was shortly after the take so maybe it was laid accross something sharp on the bottom.. Is there a braid that is more resistant to being cut through or should I be considering using very long snag leaders and, if so, what might be my best options?
Interesting post, thank you. I'm new to using briad and have started to use the Hydra-sink for my fishing in France, I spooled up with it a couple of years back and have been to France twice a year since. I also found that the braid got faided by the sun but sank well and was very strong. It was good to cast as long as kept wet. My only reservation is that on 2 separate occasions the braid has been cut straight through fairly easily, I'm not sure if the first was by a pike attacking silver fish by the braid but the second time was shortly after the take so maybe it was laid accross something sharp on the bottom.. Is there a braid that is more resistant to being cut through or should I be considering using very long snag leaders and, if so, what might be my best options?
In reply to Post #21
Always use 20ft of Fluro between the lead core and braid to make sure everything is pinned down near the lead and give you a little stretch when playing fish under the tip
Always use 20ft of Fluro between the lead core and braid to make sure everything is pinned down near the lead and give you a little stretch when playing fish under the tip
In reply to Post #22
Always use 20ft of Fluro between the lead core and braid to make sure everything is pinned down near the lead and give you a little stretch when playing fish under the tip... No!!! ... what you have described is a is a death rig.
Have you ever stopped to think of the consequences of the knot going at the braid-to-fluoro connection? Even if you have set up the lead correctly to discharge on the take or when it touches a snag or weed, can you imagine anything worse for the fish than to drag not only a length of leadcore (3' possibly) and a 20' length of dense fluorocarbon? ... and if the lead is still on...
A 1.5m length of fluoro is all that is required to act, a) as a protection leader, and b) as a pin down measure. If you fish your main line semi slack the last 1.5m will definitely be on the bottom anyway, thanks to the density of the sinking braid + the fluoro header.
Please...I am not preaching here, as some may claim. I am a long term experienced braid user, as explained in post 16 and I have learned from my own mistakes, not least about leadcore itself, but that's a discussion for another day.
PLEASE have a re-think about this.
@ Graham: Most braids should be more abrasion resistant than mono. I have only had one a cut off in all the years I have been using braid and that was on the ultra-fine new version of Fox Submerge (0.20mm).
In certain circumstances, when allowing the braid to sink to the lake bed, it might settle across a mussel bed and on occasion the line might get pinched between the shell's lips. These are razor sharp and could account for your cut off.
I have also found that crayfish seem to have a linking to my braid from time to time and I sometimes reel one in still clinging to the braid main line.
Always use 20ft of Fluro between the lead core and braid to make sure everything is pinned down near the lead and give you a little stretch when playing fish under the tip... No!!! ... what you have described is a is a death rig.
Have you ever stopped to think of the consequences of the knot going at the braid-to-fluoro connection? Even if you have set up the lead correctly to discharge on the take or when it touches a snag or weed, can you imagine anything worse for the fish than to drag not only a length of leadcore (3' possibly) and a 20' length of dense fluorocarbon? ... and if the lead is still on...
A 1.5m length of fluoro is all that is required to act, a) as a protection leader, and b) as a pin down measure. If you fish your main line semi slack the last 1.5m will definitely be on the bottom anyway, thanks to the density of the sinking braid + the fluoro header.
Please...I am not preaching here, as some may claim. I am a long term experienced braid user, as explained in post 16 and I have learned from my own mistakes, not least about leadcore itself, but that's a discussion for another day.
PLEASE have a re-think about this.
@ Graham: Most braids should be more abrasion resistant than mono. I have only had one a cut off in all the years I have been using braid and that was on the ultra-fine new version of Fox Submerge (0.20mm).
In certain circumstances, when allowing the braid to sink to the lake bed, it might settle across a mussel bed and on occasion the line might get pinched between the shell's lips. These are razor sharp and could account for your cut off.
I have also found that crayfish seem to have a linking to my braid from time to time and I sometimes reel one in still clinging to the braid main line.
In reply to Post #16
Can I ask what pen you use to colour the line- I'm assuming a normal black felt tip pen?
Can I ask what pen you use to colour the line- I'm assuming a normal black felt tip pen?
In reply to Post #22
I thought fluoro had virtually no stretch. I think a rod with a forgiving action is more likely to be helpful when fishing with braid and a fluoro leader.
I thought fluoro had virtually no stretch. I think a rod with a forgiving action is more likely to be helpful when fishing with braid and a fluoro leader.
In reply to Post #25
It has more stretch than braid.
It has more stretch than braid.
In reply to Post #25
Yes , but not much stretch in 1.5 meters. Which as ken suggests is all I would use.
Yes , but not much stretch in 1.5 meters. Which as ken suggests is all I would use.
In reply to Post #23
You're not preaching, you're sharing your experience
It's what forums are for.
You're not preaching, you're sharing your experience
It's what forums are for.
In reply to Post #16
Was really in to using braid but i saw how much theese one cost...
Be like 80 to fill up my spools. Guess i can half fill my spools
With mono 1st. Ive never going to need 500m worth of braid
On my reels
Was really in to using braid but i saw how much theese one cost...
Be like 80 to fill up my spools. Guess i can half fill my spools
With mono 1st. Ive never going to need 500m worth of braid
On my reels
In reply to Post #29
I've only ever put 150yds on my spools. I doubt many could chuck near that with thick braid anyway. Once it faded after a year I reversed it onto spares and got another year out of the back end of it.
The initial outlay is a bit of a sting but over 2 years it's probably less than I'd have spent on mono.
I've only ever put 150yds on my spools. I doubt many could chuck near that with thick braid anyway. Once it faded after a year I reversed it onto spares and got another year out of the back end of it.
The initial outlay is a bit of a sting but over 2 years it's probably less than I'd have spent on mono.
In reply to Post #24
Can I ask what pen you use to colour the line- I'm assuming a normal black felt tip pen?
Yep...Black and green permanent markers.
Lack of stretch is not an issue as far as I am concerned as I only use fairly light rods. These are quite soft in the tip section and are relatively gentle. TBH once you have got used to playing a fish on braid you will soon appreciate the feel of every lunge and head shake, and the runs are spectacular! After mono, which by comparison is like playing a fish on power gum, the fight on braid puts it in the shade.
Can I ask what pen you use to colour the line- I'm assuming a normal black felt tip pen?
Yep...Black and green permanent markers.
Lack of stretch is not an issue as far as I am concerned as I only use fairly light rods. These are quite soft in the tip section and are relatively gentle. TBH once you have got used to playing a fish on braid you will soon appreciate the feel of every lunge and head shake, and the runs are spectacular! After mono, which by comparison is like playing a fish on power gum, the fight on braid puts it in the shade.
In reply to Post #30
Yeah im just gonna keep with my standard mono as ill be on a runs water for winter to get a few bites and confidence in my new stiff rigs when i redo my reels ill strip half of it and put 100-200m braid . My waters don't need more then 80 yard chuck as ill mainly be on a rivers where ill be back leading or the odd trip to my smallish Club lake on the odd occasion.
Yeah im just gonna keep with my standard mono as ill be on a runs water for winter to get a few bites and confidence in my new stiff rigs when i redo my reels ill strip half of it and put 100-200m braid . My waters don't need more then 80 yard chuck as ill mainly be on a rivers where ill be back leading or the odd trip to my smallish Club lake on the odd occasion.
In reply to Post #31
👍
👍
I usually use a lead free leader (avid pin down) and I fish helicopter style, would I be ok fishing braid straight through to this??
I don't like the idea of braid,to a flouro leader to a lead free helicopter leader as too many knots should the inevitable could happen.
not really a fan of flouro leaders hence why I use the avid stuff.
any advice appreciated
I don't like the idea of braid,to a flouro leader to a lead free helicopter leader as too many knots should the inevitable could happen.
not really a fan of flouro leaders hence why I use the avid stuff.
any advice appreciated
In reply to Post #34
Yes as long as the leader is thicker material like leadcore then no problem
Yes as long as the leader is thicker material like leadcore then no problem
In reply to Post #34
I use Korda sub braid, Helicopter with 600mm pindown leaders. 3lb rods, and never pulled out of any fish
I use Korda sub braid, Helicopter with 600mm pindown leaders. 3lb rods, and never pulled out of any fish
In reply to Post #36
thx guys 👍
thx guys 👍
In reply to Post #1
Sorry another question for the braid users can you feel for the drop and buttom much better with braid?
Hoping that if i swap to braid means that i leave the marker rod at home and save abit of weight again
Sorry another question for the braid users can you feel for the drop and buttom much better with braid?
Hoping that if i swap to braid means that i leave the marker rod at home and save abit of weight again
In reply to Post #38
Yes
Yes
In reply to Post #38
Absolutely, I am actually going to have real trouble going back to mono when I'm forced to
Absolutely, I am actually going to have real trouble going back to mono when I'm forced to
In reply to Post #40
Sold im gonna order some sub braid with my new reels tonight
Sold im gonna order some sub braid with my new reels tonight
In reply to Post #41
I'd go with the Gardner braid personally, it's cheaper too.
I'd go with the Gardner braid personally, it's cheaper too.
In reply to Post #42
The sub braid is fantastic! You won't be disappointed.
The sub braid is fantastic! You won't be disappointed.
In reply to Post #43
I was disappointed.
I was disappointed.
In reply to Post #44
I was disapointed
I was disapointed
In reply to Post #43
I got the Gardner braid because they were both disappointed
I got the Gardner braid because they were both disappointed
In reply to Post #46
I haven't found 1 fault since using it, as long as the braid is slightly under filled on the spool.
I haven't found 1 fault since using it, as long as the braid is slightly under filled on the spool.
In reply to Post #46
But you won't be disappointed... unless you're disappointed
But you won't be disappointed... unless you're disappointed
In reply to Post #34
The AVID braid is excellent - i have used alot of the others over the years but this is far the best
The AVID braid is excellent - i have used alot of the others over the years but this is far the best
Sorry to drag up an old thread. Any advice on spoiling up with the hydro-sink? Soak or not?
In reply to Post #50
And I'll probably get mixed answers here- do you guys then add a flouro leader or fish straight through to lead core? Cheers
And I'll probably get mixed answers here- do you guys then add a flouro leader or fish straight through to lead core? Cheers
In reply to Post #50
Don't soak it, wind it on dry.
Don't soak it, wind it on dry.
In reply to Post #52
Thank you Boycie.
Thank you Boycie.
In reply to Post #53
Gardner all the way mate
Gardner all the way mate
In reply to Post #54
I currently use Korda subbraid- what's the Gardner hydro sink like in comparison- is it thicker/thinner, lighten in colour over time?
I currently use Korda subbraid- what's the Gardner hydro sink like in comparison- is it thicker/thinner, lighten in colour over time?
In reply to Post #55
I have Gardner Hydro sink 22 on a set of spools. Seems thick but not overly. Casts very well, never had a wind knot. Sinks well, lovely and dark (although it will likely lighten with age) and of course, stupidly sensitive bite indication.
I have Gardner Hydro sink 22 on a set of spools. Seems thick but not overly. Casts very well, never had a wind knot. Sinks well, lovely and dark (although it will likely lighten with age) and of course, stupidly sensitive bite indication.
In reply to Post #56
Been using the hydro sink in 22lb since last year after I originally started this thread. Pretty impressed with it. Sinks ok, but slowly. It does fade a bit from dark green to a mid green but still looks good. Haven't fished much in the last year but landed a 90+lb UK cat from snaggy gravel pit no probs. Did get cut off on another big cat but to be fair the cat took me right round a point swim next to me rod st full compression and line was grating against trees for about 30 minutes. Doubt main line would have coped tbh. It's good stuff I've since spooled up my other reels with it.
Been using the hydro sink in 22lb since last year after I originally started this thread. Pretty impressed with it. Sinks ok, but slowly. It does fade a bit from dark green to a mid green but still looks good. Haven't fished much in the last year but landed a 90+lb UK cat from snaggy gravel pit no probs. Did get cut off on another big cat but to be fair the cat took me right round a point swim next to me rod st full compression and line was grating against trees for about 30 minutes. Doubt main line would have coped tbh. It's good stuff I've since spooled up my other reels with it.
In reply to Post #1
Not 100% on topic - I haven't seen Spiderwire mentioned so I will chip in.
We bought some to use with a FishSpy so wanted something reliable and beefy. We ended up with 60lb Spiderwire.
Just to be on the safe side we tested a few lengths. It broke at between 17 and 25lb. Always in the middle, never at the knot.
As a comparison we tried some cheaper stuff, on the same test. It did what we expected and broke at the knot.
We contacted Spiderwire about it but they didn't want to know, saying they only offer "customer service" to people in the US.
Thanks to Poingdestres for taking the Spiderwire back and replacing it with more expensive Whiplash for free.
Lesson learned was to test any braid for its actual strength.
Not 100% on topic - I haven't seen Spiderwire mentioned so I will chip in.
We bought some to use with a FishSpy so wanted something reliable and beefy. We ended up with 60lb Spiderwire.
Just to be on the safe side we tested a few lengths. It broke at between 17 and 25lb. Always in the middle, never at the knot.
As a comparison we tried some cheaper stuff, on the same test. It did what we expected and broke at the knot.
We contacted Spiderwire about it but they didn't want to know, saying they only offer "customer service" to people in the US.
Thanks to Poingdestres for taking the Spiderwire back and replacing it with more expensive Whiplash for free.
Lesson learned was to test any braid for its actual strength.
Those of you using the Hydrosink in 22lb what knots are you using to join the leader on? Either fluoro or leadcore/lead free.
In reply to Post #59
I use a simple 6 turn clinch knot to leadcore. Or if using fluorocarbon leader I use the no-name knot (see powerpro website). Can be a pain to tie it its the neatest I've found for flouro and to mono as tag ends are rearward and no issue snagging guides if you use longer leaders. Landed 90+lb catfish on both of above.
I use a simple 6 turn clinch knot to leadcore. Or if using fluorocarbon leader I use the no-name knot (see powerpro website). Can be a pain to tie it its the neatest I've found for flouro and to mono as tag ends are rearward and no issue snagging guides if you use longer leaders. Landed 90+lb catfish on both of above.
In reply to Post #59
I use 15lb Hydo Sink and use a grinner when tying to a leadcore loop and the Albright knot when attaching to 30lb flouro
I use 15lb Hydo Sink and use a grinner when tying to a leadcore loop and the Albright knot when attaching to 30lb flouro
In reply to Post #61
I'm on the bank at the moment struggling to get sub braid to sink, it's doing my head in. I've had the rod tips under the water for 15 mins and it's still struggling to go down..Any more opinions on hydro sink?
I'm on the bank at the moment struggling to get sub braid to sink, it's doing my head in. I've had the rod tips under the water for 15 mins and it's still struggling to go down..Any more opinions on hydro sink?
In reply to Post #61
Do you need a leader with in 15lb hydro sink for big chicks?
Big chicks! Lol definitely need some 55lb arma kord for big chicks!!
I obviously mean chucks
Do you need a leader with in 15lb hydro sink for big chicks?
Big chicks! Lol definitely need some 55lb arma kord for big chicks!!
I obviously mean chucks
In reply to Post #63
I use full on theatre hemp line for the big girls, they're quite strong you know.
Don't tell the rozzers though
I use full on theatre hemp line for the big girls, they're quite strong you know.
Don't tell the rozzers though
In reply to Post #56
love the stuff but found it a nightmare on big casts.... had quite a few wind knots when casting 100 yards plus. But it is tough as old boots and not had it go on me yet.
love the stuff but found it a nightmare on big casts.... had quite a few wind knots when casting 100 yards plus. But it is tough as old boots and not had it go on me yet.
Here's my views on the Hydro Sink 15lb version, It's tough in terms of casting, I never used a shockleader fishing 4oz leads up to 120. Where I found it isn't great though is when it gets pulled through tough weed etc, it occasionally tends to shred the outer kevlar layer (which I assume makes up part of the BS) this can also happen at the leader knot and I was finding I had to often retie them. Because of that I moved over to Power Pro which is tough as old boots. I find the PP does sink over time especially at long range if you fish tight lines, so I'm sticking with that for the time being. When I have to fish closer in I may give the 22lb Hydro Sink a go as I have read nothing but good things about that.
So, if you are fishing a relatively weed free water and maybe want the lighter line to help get the range then give it a go, just remember to check the line regularly, definitely sinks like a brick if that is what you are after.
So, if you are fishing a relatively weed free water and maybe want the lighter line to help get the range then give it a go, just remember to check the line regularly, definitely sinks like a brick if that is what you are after.
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