finished cleaning out my old 704Z and put it back together....on the surf rod now....my question is, for this reel, surf fishing, what should I spool it with, fireline or PowerPro? and in what # test?:confused:

Fireline, 20 or 30 lb. !!!

Power Pro is a no-no on that reel!

-WW

O i see thanks FWW. yea heard of problems with powerpro on spinning reels, especially Penn. So, back it with what, 20# test? than add 150 yds. 30# PowerPro?

Yeah, 20 or 25 lb. mono backing fine, I think 1/3 of spool. You should get 150 yards of 30 lb. Fireline on the remainder.

704z doesn't have cross-oscilliational line winding that most braids require. Fireline isn't a true braided line per se but it has all the performance characteristics of braid (except for the windnots).

Don't use Power Pro on the 704.

-WW

got it - thanks FWW. :D

I know a lot of people say you don't need to and that it is a waste of money, but after all my years of using briads, especially Fireline, I have found it to be better to get more than 150 yards of braid. many times I have gotten the spool with 150 yards of braid on top of 30# mono for backing and run out of line.

Granted It is very difficult to cast 150 yds, especially with an eel, the problem I ran into is that if you get one wind knot or snarl, or break off, then you are more than likely down at least 15 yds. of braid. Now when you cast, you are casting all the braid and down to the mono backing, which not only reduces casting distance when you need to be able to reach that outer bar, but also have one more knot in the equation that you have to worry about letting go.

My recommendation is to spend the extra bucks and get at least 200 +yds of braid, that way if you have problems and lose some line, you can always have them run the braid off and put on more backing to keep the spool loaded enough.

But I highly recommend frieline over any of the other braids. Tried them all this summer (not that I had problems with Fireline, but just wanted to see what I was missing,) and I am back to 30# Fireline after a lot of aggravations with the others.

My current setup is a 8 ft Tica and a 704z loaded with 30 lb power pro.. and yes.. I get wind knots! all the time. My backup reel (704z) has 40 lb(i think) fire line and have far less wind knots with that brand.
Come to think of it, I should switch spools:D

I have 50lb power pro spooled on my 704z and have had very few wind knots with it-fished all season 2-3 times a week or more. maybe it was a bad batch of line eben:D
After fishing 30lb on my fin nor reels-and switching back to the 704z, I have come to the realization that it is better for me to just throw on a full 300yd spool in case of any long breakoffs-then I won't be casting out the backing-get my drift? I haven't had any with the 704z.

sry meant "or" in the title.....thanks for the help everyone...yeah PowerPro is on all my conventionals and I love it but im loadin the 704Z up with the Fireline....
the rod im using is a 9' daiwa sealine Z (no guides,line runs thru blank) does anyone know if fireline/braids have problems with this rod? I heard it is impossible to get a wind knot with it and it looks like it....

Get a 300 yard spool of either 20# or 30# Fireline and use just enough mono to vover the arbor of the spool to give the Fireline something to dig into and grip, so it doesn't turn under a load. If you have the kind of fish on that's gonna take you beyond 150 yards of line, you really don't want to run the chance of a mono to Fireline knot failing.

You'll get the whole spool of 20# on there and about 230 yards of 30#. Both lines break way higher than their rating--30# Fireline breaks at over 50#.

yea thats wat I think im gonna do....but my rod is rated for 12-30# line, is it OK if I put on a 30# fireline that breaks at 50#, my rod will break first right? then again i have 65# powerpro on my 12-30# penn boat rod.

Don't sweat putting 30 lb. Fireline on that outfit...just adjust your drag accordingly.

-WW

I have 30# fireline on my 706 and it works well. I fill it all the way with fireline except for some mono backing like the way Ditch described. You can always reverse it at some point to extend its life.
Don't worry about breaking your rod while using fireline unless you get snagged. If you do, pull straight back and don't use the rod to break the line and you should have nothing to worry about.
The only thing that I don't like about fireline is that it will cut you much easy than power pro will.

Yeah---what they said :D Pretend yer using 20# mono when you set yer drag, and if you get snagged, point the rod at the snag and pull straight back.

I wonder with all the knotting and bind issues with braids & fireline if it would be wise not to use those on the rod where the line runs thru the blank and not thru the guides... Never used one of those but might that be a problem?

Power Pro is much easier on the eyes. Your ceramic won't get damaged as quickly.

I've used both these braids and I have come to the conclusion they are more trouble than they are worth. To me it's not worth the knotting problems that always seem to arise in the heat of battle, for the extra casting distance over mono.

I have only tried the 20-30lb versions, maybe the 50lb would be better.

I discovered a trick that seems to help with the Power Pro birdnesting. I soaked the line (right out of the box) in water for a few hours then I loaded it (over 20# mono on a 6500SS.) I had only one snarl after about two hours fishing the first night (lost about 15') and have not had a single one in the weeks since. Only tried it once, but loading it wet seems to have helped the line settle in better.

50 # Whiplash for the past 3 years fishing the canal and the outer beaches and I wouldn't change for anything .No problems with knots, wind or otherwise. Can't be beat for distance . 50# with the dia. of 12 means great capacity for distance and big fish.
I've been hording it since I heard that thier discontinuing it. Damn shame It's great stuff

My 704z wears 65#PP. I fish it hard and have had zero problems. Not one wind knot not a single loop around the drag knob. Of course now I've jinxed myself. My 5500ss has 20#PP and the problems are many. Had no trouble with 30# Fireline on that reel. Going back.

are there any trix, like taping up ur finger or something, that you fireline guys use so u you dont cut up/off ur finger??:confused: :rolleyes: sounds like im gonna have to develop a calus on my finger after casting with this stuff for a while, but id rather tape my finger up or something, does that work? they should sell a little leather peice or soemthing taht goes over ur finger for surfcasters.....:)

Definately tape your finger. If you have a little slip in your drag the braid will saw right through your finger. I use J&J waterproof suggical tape. BTW, after a little thought, I think most of my windknotting is caused by line that is too light. Had a little with 30# and a hell of a lot with 20#. Just a thought..

The 99 cent leather finger guards that the Surfcaster catalog sells also work well, and are easier than tape.