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