G’day Possums !

On my travels, I’ve at last managed to get my hands on three 150 spools of this TUF-Line XP green braid manufactured by Western Filament, and for the equivalent of only about 8 quid each. Has anybody used it?

My first impressions are that it’s a lot thicker diameter than the manufacturer’s claims. For example, the 15 lb B.S. is claimed to have a diameter of 0.006 inches i.e. 0.15 mm. Well I’ve quickly checked it with a micrometer and I reckon it’s more like 0.28 mm i.e. 0.011 inches, which is what they claim for the diameter of their 30 lb B.S. !! I usually reckon on a ballpark figure of about 0.20mm for the diameter of a 20 lb BS Spectra® or Dyneema® Super-braid.

I haven’t yet had a chance to do any Poledark B.S. tests on it yet but when I do, I’m hoping that its Palomar wet-knot strength will be good, bearing in mind the diameter.

I’d very much appreciate any feedback from anyone, especially AN’s braid buffs Paul D & Poledark among many others including, of course, Newt over there in the United States of Sensible Prices!

I have to say that travelling about overseas, you do realise that, with a few exceptions most notably Tacklebargains, it’s definitely RIP-OFF BRITAIN when it comes to fishing tackle as well as lots of other things such as digital cameras etc.

Take Rapala lures for example: they’re made in Finland & Ireland and most are shipped to the States where, for example, a typical price for a certain Rapala plug might be say $6 …. that’s about £3.50. They’re also shipped to Australia and even there they’re only the equivalent of about £4 - £5 ……. And what price are they in UK?? ….. anything from £6.50 - £8.50 for the same thing. A rip-off! And I’ve noticed that some of the tackle shops specialising in lures for game fishing are the worst offenders of the lot. They won’t be getting my business for sure!

It’s no good UK tackle shops grizzling about losing business to mail-order companies like BassPro in the States, when you can get most of what you want, £ for US$, including being shipped to the UK (and with VAT & Duty if you’re very unlucky) especially at the current Exchange Rate US$s for £s. It can even work out cheaper buying from South Africa or Australia. These days, more than ever, it really pays to shop around, and to take advantage of the Exchange Rates.

That said, I also like to give my local tackle dealers a chance to match prices, and to shop around in the UK first.

I see that most of the rivers in the south are almost in flood and the water is very coloured. Even my local canal, the Grand Union, is coloured, so I guess the new lures and XP braid will have to stay at home while I do some chubbing …. now where’s that luncheon meat?!

DG

P.S. Nugg, many thanks for posting my New Year’s message.

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Blimey DG my gob is smacked, I'm very much a novice at this Braid lark so I'll leave any technical type comments to those that know what they're talking about. The discrepancy you highlight is a bit naughty though I must say.

Totally agree with you as regards 'Rip Off Britain' though, I even get my Mum to choose soft lures/worms etc for me and send them over from Germany - and she knows even less than me

Welcome back BTW

Hi Paul

You're too modest! Isn't there an ace article by you right here ? ... and one to follow ? here

I think you know a good braid when you see one. Just wondered if you'd used this TUF-Line XP stuff? Maybe I'm gonna be AN's guineapig

ATB

DG

hello suffolk lad!

[ 16. January 2004, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: jeepster ]

Meant to add that printed on the inside of the box is quite a bit of info about TUF-LIne, including the knot that Western Filament recommend, and they should know!

I'll try to copy it and post it, as I can't scan it in without wrecking the box

DG

Hi DG, back from the depths of Suffolk then! Great county. Yer genuine Suffolk Lads are the salt of the earth, yer no wot I mean Jon

By the way, welcome back, you have actually been missed, by a few of us misguided folk !

Yes, first impressions were good. Knot strength was excellent. B.S. was as stated. Price looked interresting for future purchases. Feel was good, not over soft. I was pleased and felt confident.

But, once spooled up and fishing it wasn't long before I had a snap off on the cast. No, it wasn't a jerk bait on 10 pound line. 30 pound with 35 gm plug. Not long before the second snap off, baaaaa, and so off it came.

In fairness mine was a rep's sample. It MIGHT have suffered in the sun on the back shelf of a car, it might have been old. But either way I was not impressed.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paul_D:
The discrepancy you highlight is a bit naughty though I must say.

---

Paul

The good news is that I've just done 3 Poledark bucket tests on the 15 lb BS stuff and, using a wet Palomar, it broke from about 16.5 lb to about 18 lb ... not bad. Maybe that's why its diameter is a tad on the thick side

DG

Hi, Poledark

Are you out there?

Maybe you've used this stuff?

DG

P.S. How often do you get soaked legs & feet when doing your "bucket of water" Breaking Strength Tests ??

[ 18. January 2004, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: The Diamond Geezer ]

Hi DG Nice to see you back, no I have not tried the Tuf line but the Daiwa sensor is spot on.

I printed out your test results and took them fishing with me to mull over, just the sort of tests we need.

Even so I will still check all my lines myself.
I have never been averse to "getting my feet wet" but I rarely get out of my depth

Den

Rip Off Britain is so true - I've been shopping around for a light baitcasting reel and decided on a Ambassadeur 4601 C3, to be fair there's not a lot of stockists in the UK for that particular model but I can't find one for under £60. That was until I logged on to Cabellas and found out that even with import duty it comes to under £40 (Not including shipping).