Lately I've been helping people set up their Spinning reels for wind-on leaders, and I got a spool in the mail the other day that was loaded with 70# Daiwa Boat Braid. Daiwa makes a good line and the line on this spool was in very good condition. It's a nice, smooth, thin, 8-carrier line. The line is metered and it is a pleasure to fish with. I would not hesitate to recommend Daiwa Boat Braid.
However, what Daiwa calls 70# test (PE5 line), PowerPro and many others would call 50# test line. I know this because last year, I tested hundreds of knots in 50# Powerpro. Every regular knot I tied in the 50# PP broke in the 30 to 35 lb. range. So that brings me to the spool I got in the mail.
The 70# PE5 Daiwa Boat Braid was in like new condition. I tied some knots and started breaking them. They all broke between 32.5 and 37.5 lbs. I have to admit, I was mildly surprised. In fact I was so sure that the line would hold 45 lb. knots that I tried that weight with the first knot and ... POP! It took 3 or 4 knots for me to believe that I wasn't doing something wrong.
Next, I tested the unknotted strength of the 70# line. I could lift 62.5 lbs. but the line broke with 65 lbs. I'd say that the Actual Breaking Strength is 64 lbs. (With many 50# lines, I have been able to lift 60 to 65 lbs. In fact, with a sample of Daiwa 55# PE4 line, I have lifted 57.5 lbs.) This particular sample of line on this particular spool, is probably undertesting a little bit.
So my advice is, consider the number on the box of line that you're buying as an ADVISORY number. It is not a number that you can take to the bank--in my case Stellwagen Bank. If you can't test the strength of the line (it can be hard to rig unknotted line for testing), tie a Uni or Surgeon's Loop knot to a swivel, wrap 10-15 turns of line around a 1" dowel, put on leather gloves and safety glasses and pull the swivel against a scale and see where the line/knot breaks--be cautious as you do this, it can be dangerous.
When you find out where your knot breaks, multiply by 1.4. That will roughly be the breaking strength of the line without knots.
Just to close the loop--for big Spinning reels I suggest that you take the initial drag you set, say 20 lbs., and multiply by 3. That is the peak drag your line will ever see as you get to the bottom of the spool (unless you wrap the line around your hand and yank). So if you start at 20 lbs. then your knots and line should be able to hold 60 lbs. or you run the risk of a break off.
BTW, I spliced 10 yards of JB 60# hollow on top of the 70# Boat Braid. The strength of the 60# JB I'm using is over 90lbs. so spliced End Loops are better than 90 lbs. and knots in it are 65 lbs. So this spool is now set for the peak drag it might see, without replacing the line.
Last edited by pametfisher : 08-15-2009 at 06:49 AM.
Lately I've been helping people set up their Spinning reels for wind-on leaders, and I got a spool in the mail the other day that was loaded with 70# Daiwa Boat Braid. Daiwa makes a good line and the line on this spool was in very good condition. It's a nice, smooth, thin, 8-carrier line. The line is metered and it is a pleasure to fish with. I would not hesitate to recommend Daiwa Boat Braid.
However, what Daiwa calls 70# test (PE5 line), PowerPro and many others would call 50# test line. I know this because last year, I tested hundreds of knots in 50# Powerpro. Every regular knot I tied in the 50# PP broke in the 30 to 35 lb. range. So that brings me to the spool I got in the mail.
The 70# PE5 Daiwa Boat Braid was in like new condition. I tied some knots and started breaking them. They all broke between 32.5 and 37.5 lbs. I have to admit, I was mildly surprised. In fact I was so sure that the line would hold 45 lb. knots that I tried that weight with the first knot and ... POP! It took 3 or 4 knots for me to believe that I wasn't doing something wrong.
Next, I tested the unknotted strength of the 70# line. I could lift 62.5 lbs. but the line broke with 65 lbs. I'd say that the Actual Breaking Strength is 64 lbs. (With many 50# lines, I have been able to lift 60 to 65 lbs. In fact, with a sample of Daiwa 55# PE4 line, I have lifted 57.5 lbs.) This particular sample of line on this particular spool, is probably undertesting a little bit.
So my advice is, consider the number on the box of line that you're buying as an ADVISORY number. It is not a number that you can take to the bank--in my case Stellwagen Bank. If you can't test the strength of the line (it can be hard to rig unknotted line for testing), tie a Uni or Surgeon's Loop knot to a swivel, wrap 10-15 turns of line around a 1" dowel, put on leather gloves and safety glasses and pull the swivel against a scale and see where the line/knot breaks--be cautious as you do this, it can be dangerous.
When you find out where your knot breaks, multiply by 1.4. That will roughly be the breaking strength of the line without knots.
Just to close the loop--for big Spinning reels I suggest that you take the initial drag you set, say 20 lbs., and multiply by 3. That is the peak drag your line will ever see as you get to the bottom of the spool (unless you wrap the line around your hand and yank). So if you start at 20 lbs. then your knots and line should be able to hold 60 lbs. or you run the risk of a break off.
BTW, I spliced 10 yards of JB 60# hollow on top of the 70# Boat Braid. The strength of the 60# JB I'm using is over 90lbs. so spliced End Loops are better than 90 lbs. and knots in it are 65 lbs. So this spool is now set for the peak drag it might see, without replacing the line.
Pamet
You should alway assume pe-3 is 30lb,pe-4 is 40lb, pe-5 is 50lb and pe-6 is 60lb and so on. Once you forget about the manufature's ratings and stick to the general rule for PE lines you wont be in as much shock when pe-5 breaks at 64lbs.
You should alway assume pe-3 is 30lb,pe-4 is 40lb, pe-5 is 50lb and pe-6 is 60lb and so on. Once you forget about the manufature's ratings and stick to the general rule for PE lines you wont be in as much shock when pe-5 breaks at 64lbs.
d-a
I understand your point of view on this. However, I would rather have the manufacturer put the Actual Breaking Strength on the box, like Daiwa is doing, so that I wouldn't have to assume that the line that says 70# is really 90#. We are so used to line overtesting by 10-30% that it's a "surprise" when the label on the box matches its real strength.
Until then, I'll be checking them so I know what's on the reel.
I understand your point of view on this. However, I would rather have the manufacturer put the Actual Breaking Strength on the box, like Daiwa is doing, so that I wouldn't have to assume that the line that says 70# is really 90#. We are so used to line overtesting by 10-30% that it's a "surprise" when the label on the box matches its real strength.
Until then, I'll be checking them so I know what's on the reel.
Pamet
The problem is in the way the Japanese classify there lines versus the way the US does. There's is based off of a diameter of line and we are accustomed to having a breaking strength. This is why a reel will take 300 yards of 50lb power pro and 350 yards of 50lb tuffline xp all the while it will hold 400 yards of pe-5.
I personally like the classification by line diameter. It's a constanant that I can base all my lines off of. Yes a higher quality pe-5 will have a higher breaking strength than a lesser one, but if you stick to the general rule of PE lines you will not have any problems.
Ahh, finally some evidence to support my claims on Daiwa Boat Braid (DBB). IME, is is very overrated in its strength and the marketing is very deceptive. They sell PE 6 as 80 pound and PE 8 as 100 pound. DBB is at most compatable with typical PE 6 and 8 lines in that they break closer to 60 and 80 pounds, if that. Otherwise it is great line, but it definitely is not strong, IMO, for its size. I have a problem with this as it is marketed as being stronger than its size.
i agree pe5 is 50lbs, pe8 is 80lbs and so on. the advertised breaking strength is appealing to anglers but after being disappointed its not hard to overlook what the rating is and just fish it conservatively
ive always heard boat braid broke close to its rating. consistency is good though.
From The past 3 years experience, daiwa boat braids has been the most dependable line I've used and I would not hesiatate to recommend it to anyone. Their pe6(which is just about he only thing I've used for just about everything including big AJ's to big BFT's(up to 260+#) and it has never givin me any grief. I will continue to use it until it proves me otherwise.
Roger: Did you try a 40 turn bimini twist in that 70lb Daiwa Braid? I tied a few and they tested over 40lbs.. I stopped pulling against my drag scale at that point but now you have me curious how much farther I can go.
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