Best Braid
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Soft Bait Fishing
Forum Description: Anything to do with this latest and greatest way of catching our favourite species
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=104061
Printed Date: 10 Jun 2026 at 6:42pm
Topic: Best Braid
Posted By: No Major
Subject: Best Braid
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 11:06am
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I've tried a number over the years and have yet to come across one that ticks all the boxes for me. Have a nice new certate 2500 to be used for shallow water soft baiting. Beyond the normal considerations of diameter to strength and a supple braid that casts exceptionally well, I often find the braid color hold to be a let down. I like a color that gives me plenty of contrast as laying braid and pick ups on the drop make up the majority of hooks ups for me. Suggestions please :) ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: Shark-Bait
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 11:34am
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Hi No Major. Most of My fishing as in 95% is soft baiting in the shallows - 2 to 10m in & around the foul so the braid gets hammered. I have used most brands from fire line, power pro which I hate as find it suffers from wind knots so binned that, spider wire didn't last to long & the Diawa stuff was OK but after 3 or 4 months started to go all fluffy. Stren was OK but found it fluffed up as well. I always seemed to go back to the Berkley Fireline, I use the Exceed in the lighter weights 4, 6 & 10lb in the green/yellow, orange & the crystal the 2 coloured ones lose there colour after a while but the crystal doesn't seem to change. Find it has great knot strength & goes the distance, I fish 1 or 2 times a week & after thousands of casts its still doing the damage. Just My thoughts, each to there own. ------------- Life is short so make the most of every day. www.oceanangler.co.nz www.fullonfishing.co.nz |
Posted By: Starnsy
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 11:44am
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Varivas. Once you try it, you wont use anything else. ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: No Major
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 11:54am
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Cheers shark bait. Actually started on the orange fire line and then the exceed. Have since be talked in to numerous other 'new' braids that have been a let down. Maybe it time to go back to the ole faithful. Cheers Haven't used varivas, may have to give that a go on the extra spool. Cheers ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 12:32pm
Be interested in which Stren you used that "fluffed up", i use stren microfuse and it definately doesnt fluff up( helps being a fused braid though) Microfuse is definately the best braid that i have ever used and it lasts for years. So easy to see and ties great too (Read the write up about it on a different thread)  edit,... that is why i sell it, wouldnt sell anything i dont use personally -------------  www.kavemantackle.co.nz
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Shark-Bait wrote:Posted By: Jaapie
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 12:50pm
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You have to remember there are many variations of super lines these days. Braid is a generic name for mostly gel spun lines. A fantastic and fascinating book by Rod Harrison - "Braid and gel spun super lines" explains an enormous amount. You have to take into consideration round vs flat weave and a whole host of other factors that mere mortals wouldn't have a clue about. The thermofused stuff vs twisted vs gelspun vs coated vs true braid is enough to have you reaching for the razor blade. I've learned a hell of a lot reading this book, understanding the shortcomings of different makes/manufacturers and knowing what I want from the lines I fish. The Bionic Braid is some of the best stuff out there - But again, one man's meat is another's poison depending on useage requirements. Understand what you want to do and achieve with the line and then do some research and make the purchase. ------------- "Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught,will we realize that we cannot eat money" - 19th Century Indian Creed |
Posted By: Shark-Bait
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 1:03pm
Hiya Kaveman Cant remember which Stern it was apart from it was white & I got it off Green Guy years ago when I was trying different brands of braid for shallow water soft baiting. Maybe fluffy wasn't the best word more starndy would be a better description, frayed badly only after a few trips so ditched it, maybe just a bad batch. Did my research & found anything under 10lb in other brands just didn't cut the mustard, for Me anyway. I do know things have moved on since I started soft baiting but have stuck to what works for Me. Like i said each to there own. Cheers SB........ ------------- Life is short so make the most of every day. www.oceanangler.co.nz www.fullonfishing.co.nz |
Posted By: Shinkicker
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 2:42pm
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Hi All, new here, Have a look here www.paulusjustfishing.com Purchased one spool of Chinese 50lb braid and was a nightmare. Colours leached like it was powdered on there, braid was soft & would knot up worse than a piece of yearling pine, break strain was ok.... never again. All reels now spooled with Sufix 832 superline. exactly opposite of what I described. Semi stiff line kind of waxy line, hard packed weave & breaks over rated strength also very thin for its break strain. A 3/4 full TLD 30II cost about $150 to fill. 500m ish. I'm sure there are other braids similar so have a shop |
Posted By: DenimViper
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 2:50pm
hands down. not cheap but real good quality |
Posted By: Men In Black
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 6:01pm
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Never had an issue with the Stren Micofuse, I have several reels loaded with it across 3 different weight classes. Also rate the Amigo braid from GoFish, used the 0.8PE today chasing workups and casting small 35g Maria and Little Jack Jager casting jigs. ------------- www.synit.co.nz |
Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 6:32pm
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I like Stren Microfuse in 10lb but to be fair I am not a hard core user like many on here. But it lasts me well. ------------- Best gurnard fisherman in my street |
Posted By: Eastender
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 7:18pm
Seconded 
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Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 8:13pm
Cheers SB... yes that would be microfuse as GG was selling quite a bit, i prefer the 10lb and above myself, only wind knot i have ever had was on 6lb ------------- www.kavemantackle.co.nz
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Posted By: Potty
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 8:47pm
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suffix 832 ------------- Love fishing, love my job. It's a bloody shame that they clash. http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: DenimViper
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 9:02pm
what size jigs mate? i picked some of those little jacks the other day 28gm & 40gm. much luck on those?
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Posted By: fozzie
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 9:29pm
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Another vote for suffix 832, punches well above its weight. ------------- Dont take life too seriously.....no one gets out alive any way. http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 11:36pm
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how would this stack up? product called Gliss.... At 0.010 diameter, it has 4kg strength. The potential for Gliss is further boosted by the fact that it can be produced far more quickly and cheaply than braid. Dibisch estimated that it takes around 100 hours to produce 1,000 metres of braid, depending on the type. But he can manufacture the same length of Gliss in a matter of minutes. “Production is so fast that I am sure it will replace braid in certain fields of fishing,” said Dibisch. “It is ideal for any application where low stretch is an advantage, such as lure fishing and long range fishing. Light lures can be controlled more sensitively than ever before. “What we have introduced is actually a third generation product,” added Dibisch. “The first and second generations were developed during the testing phase as we worked to make the line as good as possible.”
------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: Big Manly Yaka
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 10:43am
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832. 6lb & 10lb is super thin, good to cast lighter weights, and have not been able to break it yet. Got the odd wind knot initially but thats me being a manus. |
Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 11:11am
You cant break it because the 6lb tests at 24.7lb and the 10lb tests at 29.7lb and at .222 and .256mm thick, it is not really super thin either definately not saying anything about the quality though as i have never used it personally, good thing about it is an 8 strand braid(unusual in lighter line classes) ------------- www.kavemantackle.co.nz
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Posted By: Big Manly Yaka
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 12:01pm
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Thanks for the spec's Kaveman, but i dunno if we're talking about the same stuff? on the label the 6lb says its .14mm and the 10lb is 0.2mm. I know you're a tackle specialist so are there different spec's of this stuff? I got the Ghost (white colour) from Torpedo some time back specifically cause it was so thin. Not sure about the Neon green colour, this might be thicker? |
Posted By: Big Manly Yaka
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 12:04pm
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Just back to the one of the original questions, i did find (surprisingly) that the white 832 is easier to see in the water than the Green 832. could be the colour of the water where I fish but the white stood out a bit better on the top I reckon. |
Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 12:10pm
Yes the green colour is terrible to see in the water, the white is awesome. I go to Paulus fishing website for all "real" figures on braid and mono. Dont believe everything what is written on the spool the glacier white colour i fish with in Stren Microfuse is easy to see too ------------- www.kavemantackle.co.nz
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Posted By: No Major
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 12:34pm
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Cheers guys, some good options to try by the sounds. Always great to get feed back from guys out there putting the product through its paces regularly. Plenty of braids no matter their composition make claims that just don't stack up on the water. That's why I prefer unbiased experiance reviews, that's the good oil. Have tried the 832 and was fine for bait caste in the heavier weightings but didn't like it for small spin reels. As you found kaveman I didn't like the color to pick up and also found it a little bit prone to wind knots, just my opinion though. Any others had experience with the following -varivas -stren microfuse -super conductor -amigo Whose selling, because I'm ready to buy :) ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Rob Optimist
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 12:35pm
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Stren is agood braid but I find conflicting info on the packets as far as weight etc Been using the new exceed lately and that is ok to. Got some 832 6lb to try, that is .14mm dia. Try to use a .10 to .12mm dia braid. A lot of thick rope out there. Generally buy on dia.but even that is bit out. ------------- "attitude is everything" |
Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 12:47pm
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Had amigo on my Ducro10 originally and really liked it but quite expensive. I use Tasline All white series on all my smaller overhead reels, this braid is awesome. Hollow braid also available Tasline is thinner and stronger than other "comparable" braid and every spool has its test written on the spool. 8strand too Only problem is having to get it in from Australia(made in NZ though) NOT to be confused by Tasline Speckled series( this is a cheaper series of line)Still love the Stren microfuse for small spinning reels,have it on all my soft bait reels and reasonably priced( especially from me) ------------- www.kavemantackle.co.nz
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Posted By: of2fsh
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 12:48pm
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For small spinning reels its very hard to go past microfuse,tried and proven over plenty of years,casts good,knots up good,I wont use anything else on a spinning reel. 6 to 8 pd are ideal line weights for casting light to medium jigheads ------------- 2009 and 2010 BERKLEY SOFTBAIT COMP CHAMPS,Runner up 2013 ( solo),winner 2013/14 longest kingfish nz fishing competition |
Posted By: No Major
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 12:48pm
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How have you found the exceed rob? It's a hard road finding the perfect braid :) ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: of2fsh
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 12:49pm
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For small spinning reels its very hard to go past microfuse,tried and proven over plenty of years,casts good,knots up good,I wont use anything else on a spinning reel. 6 to 8 pd are ideal line weights for casting light to medium jigheads ------------- 2009 and 2010 BERKLEY SOFTBAIT COMP CHAMPS,Runner up 2013 ( solo),winner 2013/14 longest kingfish nz fishing competition |
Posted By: Rob Optimist
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 4:31pm
New exceed been good to me so far Josh, you wouldn't go wrong trying that or the stren, don't think either would disappoint you. Does take awhile to find something you like and are comfortable using. ------------- "attitude is everything" |
Posted By: Jaapie
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 5:34pm
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Hey fella's, Just to play Devil's Advocate and perhaps stretch this thread a bit, what is it you want/look for in the braid/superline you're looking for. Also, what is its primary use - Edit: - Yeah, I realise it's a soft bait thread.......but you know what I mean! You ask these questions and you get to the crux of it. Be interesting to see the findings ------------- "Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught,will we realize that we cannot eat money" - 19th Century Indian Creed |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2014 at 12:35am
I like the tas line all white series as well I always used cortland braid(yellow) to soft bait with and liked that. ------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
Posted By: PJay
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 6:33am
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It's to be expected that a thread like this is really going to be a "favourites" one, depending on individual experiences. So here's my take, which is only my take. Most of my softbaiting is with lines that say "10lb" on the label. Even within brands, test results on the BOISC line tester widely, and I'm not sure if that is the machine or the operators. Of all of them, here are some testing trends: after about 12 months of use, they break at much closer to the label statement, but even so most "10lb/4kg" lines test to closer to 6kg: brand does not matter a lot. When new, Stren, Fireline, Tufline XP are all closer to 8 or 9kg. Some thoughts on widely-used individual brands: Fireline (orginal and Exceed): fluff up really fast for me, even on spinning reels. Useless on baitcasters, both for fluffing up and for overruns. Light (1 and 1.3kg) is pretty good and durable on the lightweight rods. Stren Microfuse: does not fluff up as quickly as Fireline, feels smoother through the line guides. Also NBG on baitcasters, though. PowerPro: loses strength fast; and the coated stuff loses its coating quick as wink, leaving me with what looks like a whole lot of separate strands. Sufix: I cannot remember the first Sufix I used, but it was OK. I developed a bit of a liking for the green 832, but in the last year I have had a whole series of random line breakages on new 832 - way away from the leader, say 40-60m out - and I don't trust it any more. Tufline: there's one Tufline (see below) I rate, but the colour changing one seems to be a different construction and seems to me to vary a lot in strength from place to place in individual lines. Tufline XP: the shops don't stock it much any more, "because there's no demand". (One retailer told me it's because it fades on the shop shelf.) CD still have lots in the warehouse, though, so I just get retailers to get in 5 or 6 spools of 150yd at a time for me. I originally bought some of this because it was cheap. I keep going back to it. It is a braid, not fused, so is limp. I have most of my spin and baitcast SB reels (I think about 8 or 9 of them) spooled with Tufline XP 10lb. Tests to 6 or 7kg. Lasts and lasts and lasts, up to 2 years. Loses colour a lot, but still shows up fine on the water and the colour loss does not affect strength. Black Magic: a team I was in was sponsored by BM, and I was pleasantly surprised by the way their fused braids went. The orange 10lb has been good and durable, though not particularly smooth through the line guides, on both spin and baitcast reels. The colour-changing 8kg is what I have an overhead strayline set spooled up with, and it's going really well. Rovex: too much like Fireline for me: wears out too quickly. Cuts through kelp well, though. I have tried lots and lots more, mostly on recommendations of friends and retailers, but cannot recall all the brands. If I do remember some more specifics, I'll post comments here. PS I use 30lb braid on my straylining sets (apart from one BM 8kg set-up) and 24kg braid on my heavy jigging gear. Both Power Pro, IIRC; I like the straylining braid, but (  ) haven't caught enough kingis jigging to tell much.------------- PJ |
Posted By: JoshW
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 9:01am
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+1 for the Tuffline XP
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Posted By: Muppet
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 9:24am
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I use the rovex stuff never had a problem. My trace breaks before the braid and knots quite good. Never thought braid selection was so complex
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Posted By: No Major
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 9:45am
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That's the good oil. Cheers Pjay. ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Raging Bull
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 10:55am
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I started with Fireline and have tried various others, usually because the shop I am in at the time doesn't have what I want or because they have a special I couldn't go past. I have always gone back to Fireline. I use 8lb on my spin sets and I'm happy with the use I get out of it, it does fade after a while and if it gets to the point where it is starting to fluff up, which it usually doesn't due to trimming ends when relying traces, getting busted off etc, I just pull some off the reel until I get down to the fresh stuff. I don't know what rubbish the shops the use but the braid on every reel I have ever bought with braid on it has been hopeless! In the past when I am feeling really poor I will strip the line off one reel and then wind the line off another reel on to it so the old stuff ends up on the bottom. That way I get to use both ends before replacing it. Marine deals has 1100yrd spools of 8lb for $160. Almost half the price of buying the 125yrd spools! |
Posted By: j tinass
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 7:04pm
| I have used hooker fishing tackle sk71 braid for both soft bait fishing and for king fish for the last 4 years very nice braid and good value too also converted my fishing mates to use it over other new braids with better results |