6 New Lines from ICAST 2015
Improving your connection to the bass
Line might just be the most important part of the package when it comes to landing fish. From presenting the bait to getting them in the net, your line is involved the entire way. If you’re looking for something new to try, the following lines are worth a shot.
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Seaguar Flippin’ Fluoro and Flippin’ Braid
Seaguar’s offerings for 2015 come Denny Brauer approved for flipping. The new Flippin’ Fluoro comes in 20- to 30-pound-test sizes (in 100-yard spools) and is touted as very abrasion resistant and strong. Despite its weight, the fluorocarbon is also said to be supple and easy to handle at close range.
Flippin’ Braid comes in 50- and 65-pound test and is a slick-feeling eight-strand weave. The thing that has Mark Daniels Jr. excited about it is the color – it is all black. Sharpies the world over can now be removed from tackle boxes. The slickness and color should combine nicely for a very stealthy heavy-cover option.
The fluoro starts at $14.99, and the braid will retail for $29.99 for a 100-yard spool.
PowerPro Maxcuatro
PowerPro picked up a New Product Showcase award for its new line. Maxcuatro is braided with a new Spectra HT fiber that is stronger and thinner than the fibers that make up the incredibly popular original PowerPro. The new fiber lets PowerPro make a line that is the same strength as years past but about 25 percent thinner. Now, FLW Tour pro Alex Davis will be able to frog with 80-pound test that casts as far as regular 65-pound test. The benefit of thinner line will also be felt on the saltwater side where anglers want to fit more line on their reels.
Maxcuatro will start at about $28.99 for a 150-yard spool of 50-pound test.
Sunline Assassin FC
Sunline’s latest fluorocarbon might be the future of its entire lineup. The new Assassin FC incorporates P-Ion technology to molecularly bond the resin on the surface to the core of the line. P-Ion processing is said to make the line significantly more durable, and it definitely makes it slicker to the touch. Besides offering enhanced durability and slickness, Assassin will continue to cast and handle well like all the rest of the Sunline spread.
Assassin will retail for $19.99 per 225-yard spool.
Daiwa J-Braid
Daiwa is adding J-Braid to complement its Samurai Braid for 2015 and making an interesting move down in price. Through cost reductions on the manufacturing side, Daiwa is able to price J-Braid for quite a bit lower price than some competitors. J-Braid is an eight-strand weave of Ultra Dyneema, is very slick to the touch and should hold color very well.
A 15-yard spool of 50-pound-test J-Braid will run you $14.95.
Ardent Gliss
Ardent is known for making reels, but the company is now distributing Gliss line for the first time in America. The closest comparison to Gliss might be Berkley Nanofil – a uni-filament superline – and Gliss certainly falls outside of the three traditional categories. Gliss is an extrusion of High Modulus Poly Ethelyne fibers and is thus no-stretch, very thin and very soft. I got a chance to fish with the line in the ICAST Cup on Lake Toho, and though it probably isn’t suitable for flipping in its current form, the line could be a big hit on spinning reels and in other finesse situations.
Gliss is available now and comes in 8- to 40-pound test. A 150-yard spool should cost about $14.99.