power pro - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

pmbrac · 05-30-2004, 11:46 AM

I've been fishing 30 lb big game for years in the canal and was thinking of switching to 50 lb power pro. Looking for the pros and cons of this line for Livelining, Jigging, and top water plugging. Is braid good for all three or does it benefit just certain methods of fishing. I was gonna switch all my conventional reels over but wanted top see what you guys who use it think. Will be using it in open spool as well as level wind reels if that makes a difference.

Notaro · 05-30-2004, 12:04 PM

check the old threads about powerpros.

Mike P · 05-30-2004, 12:07 PM

I like braid for jigging. 65# Whiplash was my favorite but Berkely decided it had to be replaced by Spiderwire Stealth

I tried 65# Stealth, was the thickness of 30# mono or darn close to it. And it casts like crap. They tell me 30# is closer to the diameter of 65# Whiplash and probably as strong

I tried 50# Power Pro when it first came off and lost a lot of plugs due to unexplained break-offs. I gave it a second chance last year, noticed some differences just in appearance, and so far, so good.

Whiplash didn't affect your thumb as much as other braids, if you used an open spool convench. Some of the others cut a groove in it. I've only used Power Pro on level winds and spinners, so I can't help ya there.

I still like mono for topwater plugging in the Canal. You might find yourself catching buck fever and hitting too quick with braid--it's so sensitive that you can feel the fish before it has the plug in a position where the hook'll set into something solid. Plus, you often have to horse a big fish in the Ditch, and you can tear treble hooks loose and even straighten them with heavy braid. Braid will give ya longer casts and a better set on a fish out in the middle---so it's a trade-off for plugging.

Notaro · 05-30-2004, 12:10 PM

i used a powerpro for chunking. it was around 80 lbs and it snapped off when i made a cast. whiplash isnt my favorite either. it snapped off once. so i stick to the fireline and im comfortable with it.

Mr. Sandman · 05-30-2004, 04:00 PM

I use PP 30 on spin reels 50 on conv. I too have had a few mystery breakoffs but not this year. (so far) Although I saw one when a tackle dealer was showing a knot tying braid to mono...50# mono to 50# PP...the knot held, the PP snapped during a hand pull test...everyone was surprised.
It is (usually) very strong and cast excellent but not on all reels. Some are better the others. the 30# cast like 8# test mono.

The feel is unmatched for bottom fishing. It has its problems but IMO the benifits far outweigh the drawbacks so I use it

IMO the SW stealth is just too thick. It is stiff too and I think that is why is casts poorly. Some guys like it.

There is a lot of personal preference in this and IMO you need to load it on a spool or 2 and try it out. (Have the shop load it for you )

Give it a shot....(if you put it on a spin reel...tape your finger befor casting a 3 oz plug into a headwind

)

IFG · 05-30-2004, 06:03 PM

I use 50lb power pro on my abu 7000 for jigging in the canal
it has superior casting distance and abrasion resistance. Power pro isnt forgiving when it comes to bird's nests and wind knots but those are few and far between. The sensitivity when jigging is higher than wiplash and the laine has lasted a full year of use in the canal.

Pros
Sensitivity
Abrasion resitance
Strength
small diameter

Cons
a real pain in bird's nests
can cut you up pretty bad (espcailly on spinning)
a little on the Pricey side

all around a the best bet for the rigors of the canal.

Bob Senior · 05-30-2004, 09:59 PM

I use it on all my spinners and have for about four years. Never had a problem with breaking or with anything. (I use Suffix on the conventionals.) PP will tear up your hands if you're not careful, especially in lighter weights (as stated in earlier post). But its strength, sensitivity, round confirmation (many braids are flat), small diameters (amazing casting distances), and slick surface (casting distance due to lower drag) are well worth the impossible occasional bird's nest, IMO (I don't even try to pull it out when it happes, BTW, and just pull off line and bird's nest, cut it off, retie, and keep going. Oh, and yes, I pocket the cut off line and dispose of it properly--that stuff would shred any critter that got tangled in cast off bunches of it.)

I don't think it was mentioned in earlier posts, but the virtual absence of memory in PP (and most other braids, as well) is a big plus, also, at least to me.

Flaptail · 05-31-2004, 10:50 AM

I don't know what Power Pro did but they obviously did something and it is way better than my first experiences with the stuff. Right now all my reels are carrying it.

Mike P · 05-31-2004, 12:36 PM

Also---the original striperman (Tony S) is giving a big thumbs-up to Stren Super Braid on FFSW.

jkswimmer · 05-31-2004, 01:45 PM

I use 50# powerpro on a 6500 black big gameit works great for jigging . 30# Fireline is also good for jigging it seams to over test because 40# leaders break for it does. For plugging mono works best for me.

Mr. Sandman · 05-31-2004, 02:55 PM

how is the dia on that new stren braid? Similar to PP?
I may load a spool with it and give it a few test casts.

Pete_G · 05-31-2004, 08:48 PM

That new Stren better be good, it's really expensive...

$32 or more for 300 yards of 50lb

afterhours · 06-01-2004, 07:42 AM

been using pp #50 on my conv. reels for past 2 seasons aside for a couple of mysterious breakoffs i like it. casts far, no strech, holds knots well.

PurpelNoon · 06-01-2004, 09:30 AM

I just started using Power Pro and I like it. An important thing to keep an eye on is the knots. I found a knot that is not tied 100% correct can slip.

Its also harder to check a knot, epcially PP to mono leader (like an albright) because it can be tough to hold the PP to pull hard enough. For this reason I put a whole 300yd spool of PP on my spinners because the less I have to rely on a mono to braid connecton, the better I feel.

Good N You · 06-01-2004, 12:04 PM

I use Power pro 30 braid on standup spinning gear with 9500 for small bluefin tuna. no problems on fish up to 75lb. The knots are the key. A 30 turn albright with a lock should hold if tied correctly. I dont think there are many things that will put stress on a knot more than the initial run of a bluefin.

Flaptail · 06-01-2004, 12:25 PM

With any braid or tech line it is a wise fisherman who keeps a small bottle of Zap-a-Gap super glue in his gear back. A tiny dab of this non-water soluable glue insures no knot slippage and takes only a second. I never leave home without it.

DaveS · 06-01-2004, 12:33 PM

I use PowerPro exclusively and have never had it break on the cast, or with a fish on. Whachu' guys doing to your line?

tlapinski · 06-01-2004, 12:38 PM

i have been using spiderwire stealth since in came out and my whiplash stock ran out. i really like it! after a trip or two, it feels very similar to whiplash. the two spools of PP i tried both had way too many mysterious breaks for my liking.

as far as knots, i have been using a trilen knot since i started using braid and it has never loostened up on me.

TRILEN KNOT