Product
Review – PowerPro Fishing Line
By Jeremiah T. Bagwell
Every
angler knows that one of the most vital aspects of fishing is
your fishing line. Still several anglers ignore this fact and do
not
take the necessary steps to ensure that they will land that catch
of a
lifetime once it is hooked.
Myself and several other anglers
have done several hundred hours of “on the water” research to try
to determine which line best suites our needs. The line that I
use for nearly every application is PowerPro. In this review,
I will get in detail about some of the different characteristics
of the fishing line of the future.
General Information:
PowerPro is a braided
Spectra® fiber. When PowerPro is manufactured, the company
uses Enhanced Body Technology™ to produce an extremely round and
ultra sensitive fishing line. The line lies very nicely in any
reel.
Putting PowerPro on your reels:
Because
of the material that PowerPro is produced from, it is necessary
to place some sort of backing on your reel before spooling up with PowerPro.
This will prevent the line from slipping on the spool when pressure
is applied. I have found that one of the best materials for backing
the spool is monofilament. Simply place the monofilament on the
spool as you would if you were going to fill the reel. Once the
entire width of the spool is covered use a Uni knot to Uni knot
to attach the PowerPro to the monofilament. After the knot
is secure, continue to fill the reel to its maximum capacity with PowerPro.
Best Knots for use with PowerPro: Although
there are a handful of knots that will perform well when using PowerPro line,
one of the most popular is the Palomar knot. This knot
provides great strength and durability. Another
knot that offers superior strength is the Uni knot. Although
it is a little more difficult to tie, it is extremely
strong. Regardless of which knot you tie, it is a good
idea to pass the line through the eye twice (if your
tackle will allow) before tying the knot to get
the absolute strongest knot possible.
Cutting
PowerPro:
As a result of the lines
extreme durability, you can not cut this line as easily as
monofilament without the proper tools. You will need to purchase
a very sharp
pair of scissors. Several companies make scissors that will
effectively cut PowerPro, but it is not necessary to spend
a great deal of money. A pair of sharp Fiskars® children’s scissors
will do the job. The scissors that I used during the testing of PowerPro were
braided line scissors from Wal-Mart. They retail for about $3.50
per pair.
Setting your reels drag:
Although
I use high quality Rogue rods it is important to properly
set the drag as to not cause damage to the rod. Not every company
designs their rods to handle the amount of power unleashed during PowerPro hook
sets. There are several methods that you can use to effectively set
your drag. You can set it to match the weakest point in your equipment,
set to the rating of the monofilament that you normally use or in
my case, I just set it to the point where I can pull out the line
with an average amount of pressure by hand. You can adjust your drag
while fishing if it appears to be too tight or too loose. No stretch
lines can be tough on the gears in light reels. Also, since you are
not losing power down the length of the line as with monofilament,
you will not loose hook setting ability.
Casting:
Casting
with PowerPro line
is excellent because of the round design and super smooth qualities
of the line. In most cases, I have been able to cast farther
using PowerPro line
than I could in the past with monofilament. You will also experience
a significantly reduced amount of wind knots, guide and rod
tip wraps and most importantly, very little backlashes. PowerPro also
has no reel memory which is a common problem with monofilament.
Because of the super slick design, you will not have to worry
about the line
cutting your line guides. PowerPro will sail through
your line guides like a Sammy Sosa home run ball flies through
the air
at Wrigley field. One easy tip to remember when using Spinning
reels, that will eliminate 90% of any problems that you may
have, is to
close the bail by hand, then pull on the line against the drag
before beginning your retrieve. This will assure that the loop
at the bottom
of the retrieve is properly seated, and not cause a renegade
loop on a subsequent cast.
Setting
the hook:
When
setting the hook it is not necessary to exert as much power as you
would if using monofilament. A good quick hookset (a gentle snap
of the wrist) will drive even the biggest of hooks deep into the
fish. If you are like me and can not break the habit of setting the
hook very hard when fishing with lures like a Jig and Pig, simply
set your drag to a more loose position. This will reduce the amount
of stress on your rod and reel.
Line
Stretch:
It
is a well known fact that monofilament can stretch as much as 25%.
For example on a 20 yard cast, the stretch can be as much as 5 yards.
This figure sounds unbelievable but tests and research will back
this statement. The negative result of line stretch is greatly reduced
power on hooksets.
PowerPro has a
near zero stretch even when wet. This will result in most power at
the point you need it most, the hook. In return, you will be able
to land a much great percentage of the fish that strike your bait.
Abrasion
Resistance:
A very important characteristic that
I require in fishing line is abrasion resistance. Most of the areas
that I fish are filled with submerged wood, weeds, and rocks. These
obstacles will shred an inferior line. PowerPro is a super
tough line that can withstand even the most extreme of fish holding
cover and structure. Recently I pulled a large bass out of a tree
using 30lb test PowerPro. I pitched a jig as deep into the
submerged tree as I could and just let it sink to the bottom. Once
the bait hit the bottom, I began my slow retrieve. After hitting
about 20 branches, I felt a strike. I got a good solid hookset and
slowly worked the bass out of the heavy cover. Although PowerPro is
super tough, it is not invincible. If you start to notice fraying
in the line, simply pull out a few feet and retie your lure.
Line
Diameters:
Below is a chart that
will give you a more detailed look at how PowerPro compares
to monofilament in diameter.
When selecting PowerPro, it is best to choose
a line of similar diameter (not test), especially
for a new super line user. Since PowerPro has
near zero stretch, it will not give you the shock
strength of monofilament on a sharp hookset. As you get
more familiar with the performance of PowerPro, you may want to choose
a smaller diameter for longer casts and less current drift, but it is still
recommend that you use a PowerPro line of higher
strength than monofilament in any particular fishing
application.
Line
size recommendations:
If
you are replacing:
2
to 6 Lb Monofilament use 10 Lb PowerPro
6
to 8 Lb Monofilament use 20 Lb PowerPro
8
to 12 Lb Monofilament use 30 Lb PowerPro
12
to 20 Lb Monofilament use 50 Lb PowerPro
For
heavy tackle applications, match the test of the monofilament
that you would be using.
For
light tackle applications, match the diameter or use a PowerPro size
that is just slightly smaller in diameter than the monofilament
that you are using. Since the super lines have no stretch,
their shock strength is not as good as mono. You compensate
for this lack of shock strength by using a stronger PowerPro line
than the monofilament you would normally use in an
application.
Closing
Statements:
As
you can see, the advantages to using PowerPro are numerous.
From the durability, cast ability and the extreme fish fighting
power, this line has no equal. Whether you fish solely for enjoyment
or as a basis for income, PowerPro will help you get more
fish in the boat. My number one reason for staying with PowerPro is
security. The idea of never having to worry about line failure
is priceless. I know that no matter how big the fish or how thick
the cover, PowerPro will get the job done. Having PowerPro, is
like having Bass Insurance, it always has you covered. To try PowerPro check
your local fishing supply retailer or visit www.PowerPro.com.
Copyright© 2003,
Jeremiah T. Bagwell, All Rights Reserved.
Spectra® fiber
is a registered trademark of Honeywell.
