Line Trouble

[The Animal]

Hi Crew
I have used the old formula Stren forever.
I have just started using the new stuff and having HUGE trouble breaking off at least 8 Marlin in the last few weeks.
Has anyone had the same troubles with the new Stren formulation?
What are your current favourites?
Thanks Stephen

[Mikey Mike]

Hi Animal

What test are you unhappy with?

On my 130s I have moimoi diamond blue. It's thin and works fine. I had one with a darker blue make by Berkely that was same test but much thicker and stiffer. I like the Momoi best. Momoi, moy moy, what ever its called. lol

[The Animal]

Sorry Mikey
I have Stren on all 8kg through to 37kg but it is the new 8kg Stren that is the problem
Stephen

[Mikey Mike]

Ok Animal

Where is it breaking? At a connection? In the middle?

Is the rods the same? Same bend/action?

Is the reel the same? Same tested drag setting?

Is the angler the same?

Ya didn't switch from regular to tournament grade line did ya?

[UKChris]

Good point about switching from regular to tournament/IGFA line - there is a major difference in strength.

Have you just got a bad spool? Is is brittle, chalky, flawed or rough?

Is the spool mislabelled? It does happen. If it is 80 not 130 or 50 not 80 you will pop lines unexpectedly.

Otherwise, it would seen strange that someone like Stren should produce a product that is less good than their original (though I have seen it before, when 'new improved' meant cheap and unreliable in practice, but I'll not throw mud here).

Send a sample of it off to Stren for their comments perhaps?

Chris

[MakairaPullingLures]

I have always used the old formula stren original on my smaller stuff without any problems. Have not tried the new stuff, yet.

I don't tournament fish, so I use Ande Premium on my 30# - 80#. So far, "knock on wood", Ande is the best trolling line I have ever used. I have seen Ande 50# chaffed about a 1/4 of the diameter and finished on a blue after rubbig a stand-by bouy chain off a rig. Could not believe it, but have been sold ever since.

[Mark Daugherty]

Here on the West Coast we use:

Izorline First String and XXX - popular with the San Diego Longe range fleet, stiff, high abrasion resistance and tensile strength

Berkeley Big Game Hi-Test - High tensile and low diameter

Jinkai and Ande in Hawaii (Ande is a long time favorite in the islands)

We use Momoi Hi-Catch almost exclusively, Izorline or Big Game under 50#, Momoi X-Hard and Lindgren-Pitman for leader material.

[Solrac]

Momoi, moimoi and moi moi, these are the lines I use in heavy tackle (main line and leader). I never did broke a Momoi on a blue (knock on wood). I´ve know some guys that are addicted to Stren, but on light tackle. I don't know anyone using Stren on heavy tackle.
Carlos Gloria

[dustin]

I like what I've seen of the old Stren but you can't rely on the reputation of the old stuff when the formulation changes. The new stuff will have to earn its own reputation.

Interesting to read the comments about Ande, it's been a long time since I last fished with it. I don't think I have ever seen it in Europe certainly not in the breaking strain that I normally use over here (60kg/130 lb). Most of my more recent fishing has been with heavier gear and I'd like to do more lighter line class fishing to re-familiarize myself with the lighter breaking strains. I must admit to having been quite happy with most well known line brands provided they were kept in good condition, any suspect portions of line cut away, renewed at regular intervals and so on. The line brand I have most experience with is Momoi. I like the Hi-Catch IGFA stuff and if you don't care about IGFA regulations the Diamond overtest line is great, although there are some negative reports on the net. I love overtest line, especially on the lighter stuff.