Braided line breaking strength

 Hey guys thought I'd put this out there and see if anyone else has had the same experience, basically long story short bought sum cheap braid went up north lost a big fish, wont make the same mistake, but it got me thinking and have been testing all my line since. And nothing I have including some shimano braid and some more expensive line that I bought thinking the more expensive the better is actually as strong as it states. For instance the expensive stuff I bought is 30lb and using my hand held fishing scales put pressure on it and it breaks at around 20 to 21lb, basically all the different lines i have are breaking under said strength, some as much as over half its strength, has anyone come across this. Feel like to get the breaking strength i want i need to buy a stronger strength. 


Posts: 1084

Date Joined: 21/05/12

take it backtasline is good

Fri, 2022-06-10 17:30

take it back

tasline is good for the price - i usea lot of daiwa boat braid - jig cast bottom bounce -i bought shitloads of it 

if i have to buy again  would be tasline tho

Paul H's picture

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Date Joined: 18/01/07

 Haven't had or noted any

Fri, 2022-06-10 17:50

 

Haven't had or noted any issues with braids myself but I steer clear of the cheap stuff

Most break above in the tests I've seen

I assume its not breaking at the knot or swivel etc

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Date Joined: 10/12/14

 Yeh never at the knot always

Fri, 2022-06-10 18:02

 Yeh never at the knot always b4, yeh will have to try tasline  heard good things but also heard good thing bout nomad too

little johnny's picture

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Date Joined: 04/12/11

But being prior to knot

Fri, 2022-06-10 19:26

Could be knot . ( could weaken line , while doing it) Been doing many tests lately on scales . I honestly didn’t realise how little force we put on fish full lock ( bugger all) . I use 30 lb for my duo jigs. With 25 lb shock leader ( fg Knott) not because I need the poundage I hate loosing jigs. Doesn’t hurt to go heavier than what you need . But it’s there if you need it . I’ve caught some cracking dhues on my squid gear ( good fun ) . Min is 80 lb ( normally) only my choice. Dhues ect . But I use light rods . There’s a newish braid out that’s almost as thin as whiplash. Looks like j/braid with colours . Pretty happy with it . What Knott are you using ? Makes a huge difference .

Posts: 79

Date Joined: 10/12/14

 I've mainly just been tieing

Fri, 2022-06-10 20:52

 I've mainly just been tieing a loop twice at each end just so I had something to pull, and have tried a uni knot at each end with similar results, am interested to know which knot u use and if I am some how weakening the line tieing a knot and how that happens

Coastrunner's picture

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Date Joined: 25/10/14

80lb Ocea for bottom bashing

Sat, 2022-06-11 06:46

 Palomar knots for braid, uni knots for mono has served me well, how often are you blokes respooling ?

Daniel Westerduin's picture

Posts: 417

Date Joined: 30/10/06

 Not sure which cheap line

Sat, 2022-06-11 09:59

 Not sure which cheap line you are buying,   but I use Ebay braid all the time. Hercules braid is one which costs about $31 for 1000m of 50lb. I've not had any issues with it breaking on me. Not done a scale test though.

I've landed everything from Snapper to 3m or more Sharks and huge car bonnet size Rays without any unwanted breakage. Also use  Ebay hooks too but on the odd occasions have one of them break or snap but still managing to catch the above mentioned fish/sharks etc 98% of the time. 

Good enough for me.

Posts: 79

Date Joined: 10/12/14

Personally cheap or not if it

Sat, 2022-06-11 10:27

Personally cheap or not if it states a strength rating that is what you should get, and unless my method of testing is wrong so far I havnt found a line that does what is stated.

Mark_M's picture

Posts: 158

Date Joined: 10/04/15

Chart

Sat, 2022-06-11 13:11

Paulus (Just fishing) used to make available all his testing of braid, but the site has changed significantly, here is the chart from 2018 to give you an idea.

 

https://www.360tuna.com/attachments/paulus-line-test-chart-png.81956/

 

The page may load as a blue streak vertically. Click on it and it should open up as a .png

 

and here is the link to Tasline's test page.

 

https://www.tasline.com.au/tasline-testing/

 

sea-kem's picture

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 Thanks for putting that up

Sat, 2022-06-11 17:09

 Thanks for putting that up Mark, interesting stats there. 

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Posts: 79

Date Joined: 10/12/14

 Interesting that they say

Sun, 2022-06-12 11:44

 Interesting that they say the home testing does not work, as I have changed the way I have been testing to tieing a fg knot with braid to a heavy mono leader first then pulling with a scale and have been getting different results, stronger results but still under.

Posts: 99

Date Joined: 14/02/22

 I went through a period of

Mon, 2022-06-13 08:17

 

I went through a period of testing all my lines and was surprised at some results being all over the place on old line.

Braid being terrible for abrasion its most likely going to break at either end, even if you dont tie a knot at all - however you choose to restrain it adds adds a friction point. 

You really need to make sure how you have connected the two points doesnt add additional friction, tieing through an old eyelet or wrapping it around something that allows it to slip etc. Same care for actually use obviously, damaged guides etc.

I think its worth doing random testing every now and again on used line, gives you an idea when its time to dump the spool and start over or cut off some meters until you start getting repeatable results again.

 

Posts: 79

Date Joined: 10/12/14

 Agree with tesing old line,

Mon, 2022-06-13 09:01

 Agree with tesing old line, but the lines I have been testing are brand new and all are breaking inbetween the knots no where near any friction points and always under rated strength, Ive just bought some cheap ebay braid, going to test this, interested to see how this rates.

Posts: 99

Date Joined: 14/02/22

well that s8cks

Mon, 2022-06-13 09:50

 

Or maybe your scale is out? Check your scale against a bucket of water. 10L water = 22lb + bucket weight.

I've got 15lb braid that generally tests around 15lb, so I wouldnt be happy if 30lb was breaking at 20lb. 

 

Posts: 79

Date Joined: 10/12/14

 yeh have tested my scales

Mon, 2022-06-13 14:44

 yeh have tested my scales numerous times with a 2.5lb weight and my scales tell me the same, but never thought of using a bucket of water will try this.

little johnny's picture

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Date Joined: 04/12/11

I always thought

Mon, 2022-06-13 11:19

Fg was ducks nuts . ( strongest) Apparently the GT Knott is . Agree with comment above ( cheap or not) line should break At strength quoted or above.

sea-kem's picture

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Date Joined: 30/11/09

 I only ever use GT LJ ,

Mon, 2022-06-13 11:25

 I only ever use GT LJ , never ever had a problem with it. The only problem we had up north this year was sharks swimming past the braid and fray breaking it. We worked out after a while what was happening. 

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Mark_M's picture

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Date Joined: 10/04/15

Which GT?

Thu, 2022-06-16 12:38

Horses for courses again, heavy gear (above 50lb braid, 80lb leader) probably the strongest?
Drop to 20-30lb gear I think the FG still rules, especially if you are casting that union through the guides all day.


There are several versions of the 'GT' knot around LJ, with many more knots on youtube, called GT but are not (pun intended).
Best demo of the 'original' is in this video by Perth guy, Get Fishing website. He uses a simple figure 8 in the leader as the stopper knot and the 'proper' way with a bimini in the braid.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjcFEKJEhHw


Alternate version the yanks call the 'actual' GT uses an extra turn in the figure 8 stopper knot, but still with a bimini.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXkBzrnazIk


Most of the other, quick versions that use a single strand of main line are simply a type of uni knot pulled up against a stopper.

little johnny's picture

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This post got me looking

Mon, 2022-06-13 12:33

Easy to do . Very consistent outcome 100 percent . Can not beat that

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Date Joined: 31/08/17

 I went through this, best

Mon, 2022-06-13 13:07

 I went through this, best I've found is the Daiwa J-Braid.  Consistently breaks above the rating on the packet.  I use 30 lb with 2m or so of 80 lb mono leader, this combo is what I've settled on after lots of experimentation.  

 

As others mentioned, you need to be careful with knots if you're just trying to test the braid strength.  I made up some dowels wtih heatshrink on them, I wrap the braid around these a few times (careful not to cross the braid on itself) before pulling my knots tight.

I bench test all knots in my workshop, replace my leader after every trip, I don't like losing fish.  When bench testing my final two knots (FG for braid to leader, uni for leader to Hawaiian Snap) I attach the snap to a piece of wire in my vice, crank the drag all the way up and walk backwards out the door of the shed letting the drag unspool the reel.  The drag on my reels normally tops out at around 8 kg.

When having to break the line in a snag situation on the boat, I have to put in a tremendous amount of force, at least double what the drag can exert.

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Date Joined: 26/03/17

yeah i use jbraid, and have

Mon, 2022-06-13 13:18

yeah i use jbraid, and have never had an issue. usualy will be the leader that breaks.

scotto's picture

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Date Joined: 21/04/08

bimini twist

Mon, 2022-06-13 15:04

I have pe4 diawa boat braid on a torsa 30. I put the line on the reel when I bought it new about 12-14 years ago, and its is on a pe8-10 diawa demon blood. it is basically an up-north, shark-beating, power-winch setup, that lives generally on full drag. this combo has boated more fish than I've had wanks over taylor swift.  

 

I only ever use a bimini twist, and tie it straight to a snap swivel. I can count on one hand how many times that I have snapped that braid over the last 14 years.... honestly. at one stage, I had the same knot tied to the same swivel for around 3-4 years. I snapped the original rod (an alutecnos pe6 blue jigging rod) on a 30kg+ cod, and the braid still didnt part. 

 

anyway, bimini twist for the win for me, and I have never had line that snapped in what felt like under the breaking strain of the line. 

davewillo's picture

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 What about leader Scotto? Do

Tue, 2022-06-14 10:15

 What about leader Scotto? Do you tie a bimini in the braid and then to leader, then to the snap? That's how I used to do it but now do FG to leader for going through guides when casting.

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scotto's picture

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Date Joined: 21/04/08

nope!

Tue, 2022-06-14 12:01

I tie my bimini straight to a snap swivel, then clip it straight to my rig, or less than 1m of leader to a lure. 

 

if im casting, i tie my bimini a bit longer. 

davewillo's picture

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Date Joined: 08/09/16

 Makes sense to do that for

Tue, 2022-06-14 15:56

 Makes sense to do that for bottom bashing. Do you use a Palomar to the snap or another knot? I am generally rigged for trolling, casting etc. so a leader I can wind onto the reel is important a lot of the time.

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little johnny's picture

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Date Joined: 04/12/11

It’s actually quiet funny

Mon, 2022-06-13 19:52

Many good fisherman . Everyone stuck in there ways .( what we feel comfy with ) I’ve always said you must believe in what you do , you can not beat that . Must admit I changed to j/braid from whiplash pro . Whiplash shit with abrasion.

Pete F's picture

Posts: 306

Date Joined: 07/01/18

Price doesn't seem to be a

Fri, 2022-06-17 07:33

Price doesn't seem to be a great indicator nor thickness. I bought some bulk spools of a dirt cheap japanese line 10 years back and I wish i could find more now. Super thin and strong, and it's proven so durable lost some colour but seems to be just as strong. 

One to look out for that seems to go under the radar is the platypus braid. It's a little thick for the rating but tests well above, because it is supple it still casts really well. I have 50lb on my drone reel and never managed to break it yet and I get snagged all the time. I use a quality 100lb wind on, 100lb to each hook and 70lb to the sinker. Last time out had the drag turned up to max fingers locking the spool pulling with all my weight it took several attempts to break off two hooks and the sinker yet the platypus held!

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 Cheers

Posts: 99

Date Joined: 14/02/22

 i dont normally care for the

Fri, 2022-06-17 08:45

 

i dont normally care for the consequences of globalisation but i would hate to see platypus go the way of alvey, i'd be happy to pay a few extra $ to keep them around as well.

big fan of their mono super 100. will look into their braid options in the future.

 

 

Pete F's picture

Posts: 306

Date Joined: 07/01/18

Fluorocarbon leader is good

Sun, 2022-06-19 08:02

Fluorocarbon leader is good too. 

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little johnny's picture

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Date Joined: 04/12/11

Platypus

Sun, 2022-06-19 08:09

Been around long time. Before braids come into effect all I used . 40 lb blue for pinks.6 to 8 lb grey colour for trout ..