Opinions on Power Pro line

[Jimi]

I was thinking of using powerpro line. the only question ihave is if you get a snag is it harder to break loose because of its greater strength. 30 lb test mono is equal to 8 lb power pro. could i tie on a mono leader or would that defeat the purpose of using the powerpro. the leader would seem to break on a snag alot easier. this line seems to have no memory and is very supple. what do you guys think of this line?

[Fin Addiction]

I personally have had failures with Power Pro. For spinning reels I have used Fireline for years and have been very happy with the results. I always use a mono leader, generally floro. For surf rods I use a double line uni to the swivel and a 3' section of floro for the leader....For light tackle I skip the swivel and tie floro directly to the Fireline with a double line uni knot. Just remember that for the most part your knots for mono work on braid but to just use a double line instead of a single line so it won't slip.
The failure I had with Power Pro was with the 50lb white stuff on a spinning reel. It broke at around 12lbs and must of been a bad batch but put a sour taste in my mouth for the stuff. I do have the Power Pro green on several reals and have had no such failures.....Take a look at the stren braid as well....

[silverado mike]

I use it on my freshwater spinning outfits.
10 pound test 2# diameter.
I tend to use a swivel now unless I'm throwing a worm.
so if I do snag I can break the swivel.
but I have had people ask me why I can outcast them so badly and I just say Braided line with a smile. I have been using it for a long time now and it did take a little adjustment but I DO like it after getting used to that adjustment.

Mike

[Howie]

I use the stuff on both boat-casting and surf-casting rods. I love the distance that you get from the stuff. I've found if you work it out the first time with something heavy, it should last a good long time. I too use a flouro leader, and have few problems. The only issue is that even the smallest knot means the end, you just can't get around that, but I will continue to use it....untill something better comes along.

[striperboyz]

I use the 30lb powerpro on my surf set up, the real benefit of this stuff is the added casting distance you get over say, 20lb mono, I'd say it is close to an extra 20%. Tie on a 2-3ft section of 40lb or 50lb mono, fluro, or hybrid leader with a swivel attaching it to the powerpro (a lot stronger then line to line when dealing with 30lb pp to 50lb fluro. Powerpro 30lb is very hard to break off when you snag, the line is so thin and strong it will cut into your hands if you pull directly. So I wrap it around something it can bite into and break it that way. This stuff has so much pulling power that you will be able to drag lobster pots to shore...no joke

Like some of the other powerlines, powerpro has a wax embedded in it, this can make it a pain when working with spin reels, to get around this avoid using poppers (tangles when you put slack in the line) and light lures on the first few outings, because you will get 'wind' knots and tangles until the line begins to break in and lose its memory. Go out with a heavy Kastmaster for a few hours and really throw the hell out it, you will notice the line lose some of the color, thats the max breaking down as it works through the reel, guides, and over rocks, after that it will be the only line you will ever want to use (for surf applications and trolling)

[confluential]

Power Pro is awesome as a bite leader for fly fishing. If you're into pike or something, it casts way better than haywire (not saying much, but hey.) If you've ever tried to cut it with a pocketknife, you know that it's way harder to deal with than average braid.

I'm not saying it's better than wire for blues, but a lot better to cast.

[SageBoy]

To the point of the last post. I use Power Pro in place of wire for fly fishing. Much easier to tie knots and isn't as stiff. I believe it allows the fly to roll over better as well as work better in the water.

Other then that usage I strictly use it for bait fishing for the extra sensitivity.

[Slappy]

I use it in place of wire for ice fishing leaders. I also use it for carp leaders, the softness keeps them from spitting as fast.

I switched from fireline to pp a couple years ago. I am on the pp bandwagon

[JigMaster5]

I'll add my 2 cents...
I've tried fireline, stealth, stren superbraid, and I like PowerPro the best. Less tangles, good strength, no knot slippage (polamar knot). I use it all the time for salt - less for freshwater. It does have a tendency to tangle more than mono - so I don't throw it directly into a gale force wind or with spoons without a swivel or with very light lures. Other than that it's great. Much more resistant to random bluefish than mono - but not as good as wire. Super-sensitive. Good stuff. My only suggestion is to downsize a bit from mono. Normally I fish with 12 lb. test (which most people think is way too light). I tried 50/12 Power Pro and the 30/8 worked much better. I usually go with 4 lb. less diameter than my mono equiv. Cuts down on handling issues dramatically.
Re: Jimi's snag question. Believe it or not, the stuff is so strong that if you slowly, steadily apply pressure to the snag, you can bend almost any hook or treble until the lure comes free. If you fish with a fluoro leader, go with 5 lb. less break strength and 9 out of 10 times the leader will break before the swivel. A short (2-3') leader has very little stretch and won't reduce the sensitivity of the braid.
Good luck!

-j5

[tcarroway]

I personally have experimented with all of the lines - and find PowerPro 10/2 best for most WARM freshwater fishing - however, I found out the hard way last fall casting for walleyes, that when guides ice up and it drops below freezing air temp, FireLine is preferable as it doesn't absorb water as readily and doesn't snarl up in the freezing temps.

I haven't tried either for flyfishing, but have thought that it would provide a better alternative to wire (at least for motion of the fly????) when casting to toothy critters. I guess though, when you're fishing for those fish, wire is obviously going to be more "cut" proof. I'll have to try the PowerPro this year on the fly rod for a tippet when faced with sharp teeth.

One thing for sure, I can always still count on Maxima for any given situation - but like anything else, each material has it's own strengths and weaknesses and it just depends on all the conditions to determine which is best.

BTW - I'm not 100% sold on the flouro tippet section when using co-polymer and other superlines. I tend to think that for casting ability and distance, using the lighter / smaller diameter superlines enables you to fish with a smaller reel and more sensitive rod, and that when necessary, you can put on bite leaders / shock leaders of heavier mono / flouro, but I'm not yet convinced that when fishing under 10-12 lb diameters / strength lines, that the mono / flouro tippet achieves anything. I did a very unscientific comparison this past fall (only on walleyes in clear water at night) and proved only that I caught fish when there were fish (regardless of going straight PowerPro to a snap and lure or using a PowerPro to Flouro tippet to lure - with a normal fisherman's knot or a Rapala loop).

Just my experiences - for what it's worth.

tc

[striperman13]

I first used 65lb Power Pro for small BFT fishing and found that it would knot up after a long fight with repeated give and take of line but it would not break like mono of the same strenght. It has much better casting ability and super sensitivity. Since then I have used 10lb on my freshwater bass outfits with grest success. I tie a double line surgeons loop pass the end thru a Spro 35lb swivel and add about 18" of 12lb flouro leader. I caught the 6.5lb bass pictured in my earlier post along with about 6 other nice bass without having to re-tie once. Have never had that knot fail, 100lb BFT, 40lb cod ect. I think it is excellent line and this year I am going to try using it for livelining herring (tired of having to run 1/2 way down my boat to get a good hook set due to line strech)

[bdowning]

Thumbs up for both PP and Stealth. If forced to choose, I think Stealth is more castable and less tangle prone, but I also think that has a lot to do with the reel you're using. You really can't go wrong with either line. I don't think the extra expense of Stren is worth it, but to each his own. I don't like Fireline due to its fraying characteristics, but maybe they've improved it. One note: the early superbraids had some problems that have since been fixed (kind of like a first software release). If you were turned off early, try them again and you may be surprised.

I noticed Calcutta braid in a shop the other day. Is that just a re-labeled major brand or a new one? Calcutta is the mfr of those flashfoil shads with the red hooks.

-bd