Tell me something

[numbskull]

Well I use whatever I got, but I've had a swivel fail on a big Danny troller, a brass wire break on an older Gibbs bottle, and smaller swivels go on several plugs. I've never had a screw eye fail that I can recall. Go figure. By the way, the squidding line I used as a kid stretched more than mono.

[capesams]

I'm thinking the same Karl...crank her down...haul them in quick.Yes brass get's brittle when old..so may some hardware..but after all,, it's being soaked in salt........but the question still remains...is 304 soft wire just as good??..if you make plug's or not..you can always replace the hardware come winter..nothing is forever.

[Charleston]

The "softness" of the wire is determined by amount of the antifouling alloys. In this case nichol. IMHO (without looking it up) the tensil strength of the wire should not be appreciably different. Atleast from a plug building stand point.
If your tail wraps are good and your tail loop is not excessive in size, you should be good with 304 or 308 stainless wire.
I have had reports where the fish have cracked the plug inhalf and straightene the siwash hook (5/0 VMC) but the through wire was still in fine shape (304L).

[ProfessorM]

Curious why you ask Steve. Do you have a bunch of 304? I don't consider 304 very soft. It is a bitch to machine just like 316. I use the 308 till I run out then who knows, but for larger plugs, trolling types, I like 316. The reason for the 316 is I have had the front nose loop straighten out or distort the loop, lose it's shape, against the lip when I pull the tail loop up tight and wrap so I think the softer 308 is the reason. All pretty much the same price and I don't find either one more difficult to work with than the other, some do but not I. I would think the only possible way the thru wire will fail would be the nose loop pulling out. I can't see the tail loop coming undone, could distort, but not unravel. I also epoxy most of my stuff after wiring so rewiring later is not an option so got to use long lasting components. I would think 304 would be fine as it has excellent corrosion resistence slightly behind 316, which has more nickle, and is highly formable and weldable. Reels do have drags on them. P.

[capesams]

When I said soft..I should have said "annealed"it's the wire you can wrap around your finger....I know about metal content..more shine, more nickel..longer lasting etc...beachmaster..gibbs[older]..some blue streak used/uses this wire.

Again...has anyone heard of any complaints about the 304 annealed wire that's in beachmaster plug's? I've heard nothing and if that's true, then it must be fine an dandy to use.yes?no..maybe.

[Backbeach Jake]

If there were andthing wrong with a grade of wire or brand of hardware, rest assured that the hue and cry would be long and loud. Watch, I'll show you: Van Staal. (Jake jumps back)

[ProfessorM]

Didn't mean to tell you what you already know. I say it will be fine. Days gone by the fish were heavier and those plugs are still in existence. Plenty strong IMO. P.