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Posts: 759
| I'm not sure I believe new products are all better than the old. Since the issue here is line, Cortland's Musky Master Black Dacron has stood the test of time. Was around for at least 30yrs. now since I first started Musky fishing. If it's not a good product why does Cortland still make it, and various musky shops still sell it?? Musky Master gets my vote. Kdawg |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | I tried invisibraid this season and was a little bummed that after about 75 hours it started to fray more than other lines I've used. At first I thought it might be something with the rod or the reel but as my other three rods with invisibraid started to hit the 75 hour mark those also started to fray more than I would like. Up to the point that the fraying started I was very happy with the line.
Edited by Will Schultz 12/17/2008 1:21 PM
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | The 3 lines I like is INVISI BRAID, BERKLEY TRACER BRAID & CODE RED SPIDERWIRE, as far as fraying goes at the end of every day or Big Fish I always cut off 1-2 ft of line and retie a new knot. |
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| i've had only good experiences with Spiderwire Stealth, and Cortland Bronzeback. both are strong lines that cast well. i'll probably be spooled up with 80lb Bronzeback on all my reels this year with the exception of maybe one that i might test something else if there's something new that catches my eye.
i tried Invisi-braid last year as well, based on my good experiences with the regular Stealth braid, but had similar outcomes with it fraying as some others describe. i expect that to happen with any line in the first couple feet, but the real problem for me with the Invisi-braid was that it was fraying well down inside the spool, i assume from friction on the levelwind and line guides during casts and high-speed retrieves.
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | lambeau - 12/18/2008 9:51 AM
i expect that to happen with any line in the first couple feet, but the real problem for me with the Invisi-braid was that it was fraying well down inside the spool, i assume from friction on the levelwind and line guides during casts and high-speed retrieves.
Yes, that was my experience as well. I expect to cut off a few feet and re-tie often but the fraying into the first 60' of line was a concern. This was also after a considerable amount of time (around 75 hours). That is a season for many anglers and most people probably aren't going to see the fraying until season two. The fraying also cause the invisibraid to hold a ton of water and I had to re-spool in the fall because it got so bad. The people I've talked with that use Stealth haven't had this problem so there must be something different w/ the invisibraid.
I wanted to try invisibraid because it was white and I needed to re-spool all of my rods for the 08 season. I never had a single problem with white powerpro but I thought the invisibraid would be worth a try - should have known that the grass isn't always greener...
Unless another company comes out with a white line I'll be back to the white powerpro in 2009.
Edited by Will Schultz 12/18/2008 10:24 AM
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Posts: 2
| POWER PRO FOR ME TOO! |
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Posts: 16
| I used to used Tuff Line, which for the money is a great product ! Now using Daiwa Samuri braid because it is a 8 weave braid...way smoother through the guides and very easy to pick out backlashes. |
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Posts: 1237
Location: South Portsmouth, KY | Anything besides power pro!! I have broken the 80# and the 100# pound test line |
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Posts: 253
Location: On the water | Ive used Cortland Spectron for many years, great line. But I want to try something different to see if the lines got any better. I wanted to try Ultracast but after the last few posts, thats out. Maybe I'll give Stealth a try.
Tom |
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Posts: 1453
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | I've always used 80# Spiderwire Stealth w/no problems....until this last year when I was tossing 10s off my Saltist and struggled with some backlashes when tossing into the wind. THe backlashes must've put some stress on the line as on three occasions, my line snapped, and off went my lure trailing 15-20 feet of line. Was out with a guide at the time and he said he, too, struggled with the same issue of breakage with that brand when tossing 10s off a high speed saltwater reel and now uses only Powerpro for that specific application. Not sure what I'm going to spool up with next season. I like the teflon coating on the stealth for most applications, but not sure I want to run different types of line on different reels. |
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Posts: 82
Location: Minneapolis,Mn | Cortland Masterbraid are on all my reels, have been for the last 3 years. Also have had good results with Sufix Braid! |
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Posts: 485
Location: On my favorite lake! | I too like tufline over powerpro, stren, powerbraid, spinderwire. I also like the cortland spectron. Only negative on the tuffline is the color bleeds after a while. I keep a marker handy after out on the water for touchups. |
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| I had powerpro for a couple years, until 2 weeks after opener breaking off 2 fish in the same day. 80# line that is 3 weeks old shouldn't snap. My drag was not locked down either. Peeled the PP off and tried tuffline XP and spiderwire ultracast invisibraid. Liked both, but when I let up with my thumb on the cast the ultracast would shoot 1 or 2 wraps of line under itself on the spool and then lock down. That got annoying so I put on regular tuff line. So far happy with both tuff line series, although I did manage to fray the original on a tree/log/record fish? when my bucktail got snagged. I'll be trying cortland masterbraid next year me thinks. |
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Posts: 156
Location: Oconomowoc, WI | Cortland Spectron for me. I had power pro snap on me one too many times and never went back. I will try the bronzeback also based on what I have read here.
For those who have used both the Spectron and Bronzeback, what are the differences? |
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Location: Suburban Chicago | Another thumbs up for Power Pro. It's very round, real strong and never given me any trouble.
I use 65# & 80# on the casting rods and 50# on my inexpensive trolling setups.
Edited by Cheech 12/22/2009 11:22 AM
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | Kevin Mahlberg - 12/20/2009 11:18 AM
For those who have used both the Spectron and Bronzeback, what are the differences?
Kevin,
Bronzeback is simply the color. You're referring to the Masterbraid with that one which comes in several colors. Bronzeback and Green being the most common colors used by musky guys. Here's an answer direct from Cortland explaining the difference between Spectron and Masterbraid.
"The difference between the New (Masterbraid) and old (Spectron) is that we have added a fiber tech protection treatment. This treatment penetrates the entire braid so that the braid is treated inside and out protecting it from all elements to last longer. The question about the difference between Spectron and Masterbraid is a question that we get asked often. Difference is we do not coat the Spectron with the fiber tech and it only comes in black spot and green."
This response was from a couple years ago. They no longer make Spectron in green.
Aaron |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | I thought I'd figured out what happen towards the end of the season when I respooled some old line. I bought the Masterbraid accidently instead of the Spectron that I had been using. (Loved the spectron.) However, I wasn't able to get half has much line on my reel with the Masterbraid as I was with the Spectron (same test strength, 80lbs.) I loved the green Spectron that I had been using. Not only was I thinking the diameter of the Masterbraid was greater, I kinda thought it held more water (wet hands in the cold sucks). I thought Masterbraid was dacron. Is Spectron made of dacron as well (I didn't think so)?
After what Aaron just reported I must be crazy. What I do know is that I'd like to find a big spool of the green spectron that I had been using. The stuff hadn't given me a single problem...yet (except now...seeing that I can't find it in green.)
Edited by hawkeye9 12/22/2009 12:28 PM
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | Hawkeye, I've never used the Spectron but I use the Masterbraid and love it. It's the driest line I've used. It's odd though because I've heard people give feedback on the line from it being very wet to very dry. So I don't think you're crazy. But I also don't have an explanation for that one. I've got Masterbraid on several reels from several different spools and they all have the same characteristics to me. Very dry line compared to others I've used.
What I was told by Cortland is that the Green Masterbraid is the same as the Green Spectron was...they just changed the name. This contradicts what I quoted them as saying above...with the Spectron not having the Fiber Tech coating. But this is what they told me...that they only changed the label.
Aaron |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | Wow...now I'm as confused as ever. (Glad to know I'm not crazy...well, at least for this.) What's amazing is how many people like Cortland line. What's strange is that nobody knows exactly what we're using. (That's not fair of course...I'm sure lots more people may chime in on this...and be helpful.) Aaron, what about the line diameter? Is there a difference between Spectron and Masterbraid? And, is Spectron made of dacron? I didn't think so (before what I've learned here). While I get the fact that we all have different opinions about gear (which is why there are lots of products to choose from) it's still surprising to me that there is the wide difference in opinion about wet or dry for masterbraid. I mean, serious difference. My hands are sopping wet after reeling in only a couple of times. I'm gonna double check the box again, but I'm pretty darn sure it was materbraid I bought this last time, and this black dacron line seems to be much different than the Spectron on my other reels. Thanks for your response, Aaron.
Why reanme a product that had as many good reviews as I've heard about green Cortland Spectron. (They seem to be taking marketing advice from the wrong people, IMHO) |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | hawkeye9 - 12/22/2009 1:24 PM
I thought I'd figured out what happen towards the end of the season when I respooled some old line. I bought the Masterbraid accidently instead of the Spectron that I had been using. (Loved the spectron.) However, I wasn't able to get half has much line on my reel with the Masterbraid as I was with the Spectron (same test strength, 80lbs.) I loved the green Spectron that I had been using. Not only was I thinking the diameter of the Masterbraid was greater, I kinda thought it held more water (wet hands in the cold sucks). I thought Masterbraid was dacron. Is Spectron made of dacron as well (I didn't think so)?
After what Aaron just reported I must be crazy. What I do know is that I'd like to find a big spool of the green spectron that I had been using. The stuff hadn't given me a single problem...yet (except now...seeing that I can't find it in green.)
I'm guessing you bought Musky Master (dacron) and not Masterbraid. If that was the case then what you describe would be spot on concerning the larger dia and how it holds water. |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | Alright, alright...now that makes sense...bingo! Thanks, Will. That's what I did (I don't even need to look at the box). Problem solved. Now tell me that Masterbraid still comes in green and I'll place an order and quit whinning (I'll look on the sites for myself...now that I've got it straight).
However, I'll stick by my comment of marketing...seriously, musky master and masterbraid? Who has that much confidence in fishermen not messing that one up? Let me guess...someone who wouldn't mind selling an extra spool of line to a dufus? 
Edited by hawkeye9 12/22/2009 2:07 PM
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Posts: 2015
| Will Schultz - 12/18/2008 10:21 AM
lambeau - 12/18/2008 9:51 AM
i expect that to happen with any line in the first couple feet, but the real problem for me with the Invisi-braid was that it was fraying well down inside the spool, i assume from friction on the levelwind and line guides during casts and high-speed retrieves.
Yes, that was my experience as well. I expect to cut off a few feet and re-tie often but the fraying into the first 60' of line was a concern. This was also after a considerable amount of time (around 75 hours ). That is a season for many anglers and most people probably aren't going to see the fraying until season two. The fraying also cause the invisibraid to hold a ton of water and I had to re-spool in the fall because it got so bad. The people I've talked with that use Stealth haven't had this problem so there must be something different w/ the invisibraid.
I wanted to try invisibraid because it was white and I needed to re-spool all of my rods for the 08 season. I never had a single problem with white powerpro but I thought the invisibraid would be worth a try - should have known that the grass isn't always greener...
Unless another company comes out with a white line I'll be back to the white powerpro in 2009.
What rods were you using? - I wish Okuma would put a different tip on there rods - I have never had issues with Stealth fraying - but I do now that I fish Okuma's almost exclusively.
Edited by IAJustin 12/22/2009 2:09 PM
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | Hawkeye, Will beat me to the punch in his response and it sounds like your question has been answered there. The diameter should be identical (to the best of my knowledge) on both Masterbraid and Spectron. 80# is equivalent to 18# mono. And if you're looking for Green Masterbraid, I can help you out with that for 80#.
Aaron |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | IAJustin - 12/22/2009 3:08 PM
Will Schultz - 12/18/2008 10:21 AM
lambeau - 12/18/2008 9:51 AM
i expect that to happen with any line in the first couple feet, but the real problem for me with the Invisi-braid was that it was fraying well down inside the spool, i assume from friction on the levelwind and line guides during casts and high-speed retrieves.
Yes, that was my experience as well. I expect to cut off a few feet and re-tie often but the fraying into the first 60' of line was a concern. This was also after a considerable amount of time (around 75 hours ). That is a season for many anglers and most people probably aren't going to see the fraying until season two. The fraying also cause the invisibraid to hold a ton of water and I had to re-spool in the fall because it got so bad. The people I've talked with that use Stealth haven't had this problem so there must be something different w/ the invisibraid.
I wanted to try invisibraid because it was white and I needed to re-spool all of my rods for the 08 season. I never had a single problem with white powerpro but I thought the invisibraid would be worth a try - should have known that the grass isn't always greener...
Unless another company comes out with a white line I'll be back to the white powerpro in 2009.
What rods were you using? - I wish Okuma would put a different tip on there rods - I have never had issues with Stealth fraying - but I do now that I fish Okuma's almost exclusively.
At the time I was using all St Croix rods. I have noticed an increase in the time it takes the PowerPro to look used w/ the Okuma rods and I'm changing all the tips to Fuji concept. |
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| I've always been a fan of Cortland Spectron, but received a free spool of 80lb Power Pro this summer. I spooled it onto several reels - Calcuttas and a Saltist - all on Okuma rods. It looked like someone had taken a hack saw to the PP on the Saltist and removed all of the green dye, but after roughly the same amount of use the PP on the Calcuttas looked almost as it had coming off the original spool.
My question is could the Saltist have something to do with the fraying line? I remember seeing here that people were having similar problems and someone suggested removing line so that the line would not rub on the levelwind. I did this and cut even more off to where I had about 1/2 the spool and still it continued to fray. Suggestions? |
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| What rods were you using? - I wish Okuma would put a different tip on there rods - I have never had issues with Stealth fraying - but I do now that I fish Okuma's almost exclusively.
At the time I was using all St Croix rods. I have noticed an increase in the time it takes the PowerPro to look used w/ the Okuma rods and I'm changing all the tips to Fuji concept.
Good plan! think I will do the same  |
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Posts: 582
| i have been using PowerPro for years without any issues. Its on at least 3 of my rods. The others have Stealth 80# and have used spectron as well. They all work well imo.. I think i am going to try VICIOUS next year as i am hearing good things. Anyone have experience with that line? |
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Posts: 102
Location: Bowling Green, KY | I have had good luck with P-line Spectrex for the last couple of years, but it has become no longer locally available, so I guess its off to something else. |
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Posts: 646
Location: In a shack in the woods | I gave up on power pro after losing a couple lures. It's all master braid for me now. |
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Posts: 477
Location: Iowa | Spectron exclusively for me the last few years. I tried a few different lines, and saw baits fly off rods with different lines. I've never had this happen with spectron. Only complaint is it does hold more water, and that kind of sucks in freezing weather, trying to cast. If I ever change it will be to master braid.
Edited by Lone Stone 12/23/2009 9:48 AM
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