LIKE many other anglers, I enjoy using particular brands and types of fishing line. After years of hard fishing and memorable catches, you develop reliance and tend to stick with what has performed well in the past. As fishermen, we need reliability and confidence in our gear. If only one part of the connection to the prize on the other end fails, the fish becomes another tale – just a story of the one that got away.
Over the years, I have been a fan of a couple of the Spiderwire braids. Code Red was a favourite on my heavier gear and on the lighter outfits I opted for Spiderwire Camo Braid. The two served me well and I believed there was no need for change. After all, when you’re on a good thing you stick to it and they had both caught countless big fish without failure.
I was surprised to hear that Spiderwire had made some big changes to its braided fishing lines. They were dropping some products from the range and adding some brand new ones; boasting they had developed a product thinner and stronger than ever before. When asked by the distributers of Spiderwire braid, Pure Fishing, if I would like to give the new product a run, I was more than happy to put it through its paces.
Spiderwire has been around for some time. The company was first to manufacture a “Superline” which is braided fishing line as we know it today. It is made from manmade fibres called Dyneema which are arguably the strongest fibre on the planet. The same fibres are used to manufacture bulletproof vests, helmets and riot shields. Today, technology has allowed the development of even more superior fishing lines. Spiderwire lines are still manufactured from Dyneema but now the product has a higher molecular weight creating a fishing line which is up to 30 per cent stronger for its diameter.
The line-up of new Spiderwire lines is made to suit just about every fishing situation. We now have Ultracast Ultimate Braid, Dura Silk, Glow Vis and Code Red to choose from.
Download general info on the Spiderwire range HERE.
Testing
There is only one way to put a new product to the test and that is to fish it hard in different conditions over time. I was lucky enough to be granted that privilege. Almost a year ago I spooled up with samples of the new range of Spiderwire Braid. It has been a great year for fishing with plenty of species caught in the salt and fresh. The lines have undergone assessment in varying situations catching reef fish, pelagics, estuary dwellers, river, creek and impoundment fish. The same lines are still on those reels today and considering I fish at least once or twice a week, they are holding up well. The tight weave and applied coating to Spiderwire braids is hard wearing enough to endure at least a season or two on my reels.
One of the best aspects of this line is its ability to avoid wind knots. The wind knot on a spinning reel is a braid fishermen’s worst nightmare. A big, nasty one can soon see you cutting or breaking off a fair portion of your braid. A couple of these horrid things are costly as your spool can be so low it is time to retire the line.
Some braids and superlines are worse for getting wind knots than others. As far as the new Spiderwire goes, it is the best I have seen at dodging them. Even when I have had a knot in the line it has always been small enough to pull out. I have noted with some brands of braid when you give up on pulling at the loops of the knot and decide to pull both ends to see if it undoes itself, the line bites into itself and it cuts and breaks with very little tension. Spiderwire isn’t one of these lines. A knot does very little to effect its breaking point.
Jason has put the new Spiderwire range through its paces in a range of fresh and saltwater fishing situations.
Spiderwire lines are coloured and they claim this colour won’t bleed over your hands, boat or reel. I have seen earlier braids lose their colour quickly and make a big mess. My early samples of the new Spiderwire still retain some of their colour but it is no longer as vivid. This fading has occurred slowly over their lifespan and there was never any bleeding onto my hands or gear. I am told the new versions will be even longer lasting than the prototypes I have been using. The Colour Lock technology was still being developed when I was given my testing samples.
Knot strength is an important characteristic of any braid. Some braids are shockers for cutting or breaking the leader when making this crucial connection. To be honest, I don’t tie many knots when whacking on a leader. I have gone away from a double in the braid and now tie the FG knot on everything. The fast and easy version of this knot takes about a minute to tie and it has a slim profile and is about as strong as you will ever get. I think it is the knot which makes my connection so strong rather than the knotability of the braid so I can’t really comment on how it holds up to the use of different connection knots. All I can say is with the FG you will be able to push the braid to its absolute limit without the fear of having your braid to leader join let you down.
Jason reckons the ability to avoid “wind knots” has proven to be a bonus with the new Spiderwire braids. No doubt a welcome attribute when targeting big impoundment barra like this.
The newly released range of Spiderwire braids will rival every other braided fishing line on the market. The prices vary as do the applications and features of each line. For the best performing braid, anglers will spool up with Ultracast Ultimate Braid. The line has eight carriers to make a rounder stronger line in the manufacturing process. A smooth coating protects the braid and reduces friction to offer effortless casting.
Glow Vis is perfect for use in the freshwater and estuaries. The UV reflective coating makes the line glow in sunlight but as UV rays don’t penetrate water well, the colour fades quickly below the water’s surface. The coating applied also makes the line a Stealth product. It will slide freely through the guides during casting and be more silent than uncoated braids.
Code Red is also a Stealth Braid. The bright red colour is easily visible when fishing to help in bite detection and tracking where your lure is. Red is the first colour to disappear and fade in the light spectrum so despite being highly visible to us, it will blend more in the deeper underwater it goes.
The last braid in the line-up has been made specifically for Australian anglers. Durasilk has no applied coatings. This gives the line next to no memory at all. It reduces loose coils when the line has no tension on it and will suit some lure fishing applications.
Between these four lines, Spiderwire has most bases covered. With these quality products on offer, anglers can trust their connection to tough fish and push their gear to the limit. The new range of lines are set to turn the heads of both fishermen and fish. With less wind knots than ever before, you can enjoy spending more time catching fish.
Make sure you keep an eye out for the new Spiderwire braids in a store near you.
More info: www.purefishing.com.au
