Englishman
Well-Known Member
From the Sooke reports thread……..
Uh-oh you have started something now “J” LOL
My response is below.
I ran braid on one side for about 8 months. Then I got two catastrophic failures on the same day, losing the ball and clip each time. The first break was close to the stop. The second one came about 40 feet up from the ball, long before the stop got out of the water. Never again!
I have since done lots of research on this and had discussions with many on the forum. Braid is definitely more of a "prima donna" product and will fail without warning unless treated exactly right. This has happened to me, R.S. Craven (albeit after 5 years) and to the guy with the Go-Pro camera (see posts last year). This is because:-
1) Any nicks, grooves or imperfections in the pulley will abrade the braid and weaken it.
2) If the pulley is at all stiff and not free running you get braid sliding on plastic which is terrific friction (polymer on polymer). I could always hear an elastic "pinging" like a really tightly stretched elastic band as my braid went over the pulley. Especially first drop of the day when all the gear is dry!!
3) UV will deteriorate the braid over time.
4) You get more blow back with braid because it is not as heavy (dense) as wire.
The only strikes against wire are:-
1) The possible rusting of lower quality SS (which is visible unlike weakened braid) and which can be mitigated by rinsing with freshwater after a trip.
2) If you get a break off on a reef it is more of a hassle to crimp a new clip then tie on a new swivel onto braid.
So now I am a confirmed wire man. Like all the Sooke guides it seems…..
Uh-oh you have started something now “J” LOL
My response is below.
I don't use wire anymore. But when its working correctly it can give an advantage.. The advantage for me to braid was only its easier to use in the event of snap my changeover is fast. Esaier to tie dont need crimps...That is really only reason I went to it myself. I also found I spend more on it requiring more changeovers through seasons... I do agree with these statement made below on this forum way back ( where are you Trevor?)... Anyway sorry for derail I am sure we can have the ongoing braid v cable debate if its slow in winter! It has been on my mind lately of switching back though.
Quote from Trevor of No Bananas on past thread:
ya wire doesn't work i'm going to switch to.Not lol.
The braid and wire both catch fish the braid is more user friendly for sure.
Lets look at the sooke highliners just for example 1st one comes to mind is Gibby probably won more derbies than anyone on the coast he uses wire and swears by the black box,next would be Dave Kennedy he's won his fair share and uses wire,Karma won many derbs uses wire,
Wolfy he uses wire and has done good getting the odd biggie,Rollie uses wire.I'm not talkin about just catching fish i'm talkin about getting big fish over 35lbs consistantly.I bet if you did a servey 90% of the consistant guys getting big fish are using wire.
In reny i know a couple of the reg guys not guides who used to get a few over 40 every year they switched to braid and get just as many fish but not as many big one's one guy switched back this year and started getting bigger fish rite away.
I'm not saying wires the end all be all but thats just what i've noticed.
I ran braid on one side for about 8 months. Then I got two catastrophic failures on the same day, losing the ball and clip each time. The first break was close to the stop. The second one came about 40 feet up from the ball, long before the stop got out of the water. Never again!
I have since done lots of research on this and had discussions with many on the forum. Braid is definitely more of a "prima donna" product and will fail without warning unless treated exactly right. This has happened to me, R.S. Craven (albeit after 5 years) and to the guy with the Go-Pro camera (see posts last year). This is because:-
1) Any nicks, grooves or imperfections in the pulley will abrade the braid and weaken it.
2) If the pulley is at all stiff and not free running you get braid sliding on plastic which is terrific friction (polymer on polymer). I could always hear an elastic "pinging" like a really tightly stretched elastic band as my braid went over the pulley. Especially first drop of the day when all the gear is dry!!
3) UV will deteriorate the braid over time.
4) You get more blow back with braid because it is not as heavy (dense) as wire.
The only strikes against wire are:-
1) The possible rusting of lower quality SS (which is visible unlike weakened braid) and which can be mitigated by rinsing with freshwater after a trip.
2) If you get a break off on a reef it is more of a hassle to crimp a new clip then tie on a new swivel onto braid.
So now I am a confirmed wire man. Like all the Sooke guides it seems…..