Berkley X9 braid review
Over the closing weeks of the river season Angling Times News Reporter Chris Haydon was out on the banks in search of perch and pike on lures. Whilst catching a few fish, including a new personal best, he’s had the perfect chance to fully test Berkleys New X9 braid in a number of conditions, here are his thoughts…
I’ve had a brilliant experience whilst testing the X9 Lo Vis Green braid in both 10lb and 20lb breaking strains. These low diameter and low visibility braids are perfect for crystal clear water conditions which are common in the colder months. This attribute is particularly beneficial when fishing for species such as perch as the low visibility enables a shorter fluorocarbon trace to be used, which can greatly improve bite detection. The diameter also proves beneficial in other areas too as I only use a small 2000 size reel when perch fishing, which the braid sufficiently filled and sat neatly on.
Casting is where this product really comes into its own though. Great distances can be achieved effortlessly and accurately due to the zero stretch and low noise properties of the braid. Like all braids most anglers choose to spool up with, the Berkley X9 offers superior bite indication to a monofilament mainline, again, due to its zero stretch properties. This enables the angler to feel everything that the lure comes into contact with on the bottom. Whilst using the braid I found I connected with 90% of the bites I had from perch, which I caught up to 3lb 4oz.
An issue often encountered when using braid is tangles, but this wasn’t an issue with the X9, despite its extreme suppleness. In terms of strength the X9 also appeared reliable with all knots holding and pike up to around the 8lb mark landed with ease. I used a variety of lures including some big plugs and the braid cast them all without cracking off.
Despite several sessions the braid showed little signs of deterioration, even when often being left set up running through the rod rings for ease of use on my often short sessions. Overall this product is great for the mobile lure angler and will suit a variety of applications from roving with small lures on rivers to chucking plugs for big Stillwater pike.”
TECH SPEC
· Available in Fluoro Green, Lo Vis Green and Crystal Clear
· 150m spools
· Designed for optimum strength and casting distance
· Smooth for long and quiet casts
· High knot strength
· 9-carrier construction
· PE Core
Price: £42.99 (If you shop around you’ll find it cheaper)
Korum Feeder Fishing Line
Korum’s first dedicated Feeder Line will meet the demands of modern feeder fishing techniques.
It's denser than water, giving it super-fast sinking properties, and other key features include high knot strength, a smooth, round profile and a non-glare olive green finish.
Available in breaking strains of 6lb, 8lb, 10lb and 12lb on 250m spools.
PAY AROUND
£5.99
Avid Outline Fluorocarbon Leader
PAY AROUND
£9.99
Fluorocarbon can be quite conspicuous when it’s off the lakebed, but the algae-tinted two-tone construction of these leaders makes them very hard for fish to spot at all levels in the water column.
New Avid Outline Fluorocarbon is indeed a very special leader or hooklink material. It combines supreme sinking qualities with new levels of invisibility, with great knot strength and abrasion-resistance.
On 50m spools in 18lb (0.35mm), 20lb (0.38mm) and 25lb (0.41mm).
Avid Carp Outline reel line
PAY AROUND
£19.99
Due for release this week, Outline reel line from Avid Carp is sure to prove a big hit with bivvy-dwellers.
The outline of the two-tone reel line breaks up underwater, making it harder for the carp to detect than standard mono.
Its clear finish is combined with an algae-coloured tint to offer new levels of invisibility. The material itself has excellent knot strength but remains smooth for casting.
Its abrasion-resistant qualities marry beautifully with its slightly absorbent nature, making it fast sinking and ideal for all modern carp fishing tactics.
On 1,000m spools in 12lb (0.32mm), 15lb (0.35mm), 18lb (0.37mm) and 20lb (0.40mm).
Gardner GT-HD mainline
Gardner has a great reputation for producing durable mainlines and this latest offering only enhances it. GT-HD is a low-stretch mono that offers improved feel and connection with fish, while also remaining supple and fast-sinking.
GT-HD casts very well and has that trademark Gardner toughness. The low-visibility colour is just right and it’s exclusively manufactured for Gardner so you won’t see this line anywhere else.
It’s available in 12lb (0.33mm diameter), 15lb (0.35mm) and 18lb breaking strains in 4oz bulk spools.
E-S-P Zig & Floater Mono
This clear, semi-buoyant mono is ideal as a hooklink material for all zig rig and floater fishing situations. Featuring a fine diameter to knot strength ratio, it is tough and durable, with just the right amount of stretch to make it perfect for combining with smaller hooks. It has superb knot tying qualities, with optimum strengths achievable when using carefully tied five-turn Grinner or Palomar knots.
Available on 100m spools in 8lb (0.23mm), 10lb (0.26mm) and 12lb (0.28mm).
Price: £4.95
E-S-P Tungsten Loaded Coated Braid 20lb+ Soft
Tried and tested by big-carp legend Terry Hearn, this matt camo coated braided hooklink material has a tungsten coating that helps to pin it to the lakebed. It’s easily stripped and, impressively, it can be straightened out without the need for steaming. The super-strong Dyneema core has achievable knot strength of over 30lb.
The Soft version is perfect for subtle presentations using small boilies, plastics, nuts and balanced or buoyant baits. There is also a Semi-stiff version that is rigid enough to push the hookbait away from the lead, ideal for use with hinged stiff rigs. Both types come in muted camo Weedy Green, Camo Brown and Choddy Silt colours, supplied on 10m spools that fit most tackle boxes.
Price: £8.95 per spool
Tronix Rockfish HTO Ultrabraid
THIS four-strand braid is highly resistant to abrasion, ideal for fishing by man-made structures. Its zero stretch factor and super-thin breaking strain to diameter ratio mean that you will feel every knock.
Price: £10 per 100m spool
Daiwa J-Braid
This ultra-thin, eight-strand Japanese reel braid is super-soft and very smooth. A rounded profile makes for longer casts and quieter travel through the rod rings.
It can be used for everything from long-distance carp and feeder fishing, through to spod and marker float work, all lure tactics and even sea fishing. It’s available on 150m spools in sizes from 0.06mm (9lb) through to 0.56mm (137lb) in Chartreuse, Dark Green and Multi-Colour.
Maver Profile 8 Braid
Maver’s ultra-soft, round profile eight-strand reel braid has exceptional abrasion resistance and knot strength.
Hard to see in water, Profile 8 Braid’s zero stretch factor makes it perfect for spotting shy bites at distance. On 150m spools in sizes 0.10mm and 0.12mm.
Price: £29.99
TF Gear Banana Braid
Peeling off the reel like no other, the new TF Gear Banana Braid has an ultra-low diameter to add yard to the cast. With its abrasion-resistant coating, this is probably the most durable braid available.
The hi-viz material has incredible knot strength, and its supple finish makes it ideal for all heavy-duty spodding and precise marker float work. On 250m spools.
Price: £29.99
Garbolino Topix hooklength and rig line
Garbolino’s Topix hooklength and rig line is a premium quality clear mono with a supple feel, excellent tensile and knot strengths and abrasion resistance – so it won’t be seriously weakened when you pinch shot on and slide it up and down.
The line is loaded on to its spool with a parallel winding process, so it will lie flat and evenly on the spool of your reel. In its larger diameters I am assured that it makes a great predator fishing line. On 100m spools, 0.8mm-0.22mm.
Browning Quantum Exofil
Ideal for use with all light lures and drop shotting techniques, Browning’s Quantum Exofil is a hi-tech monofilament reel line with a Nano Fluorocarbon coating. This creates an ultra-smooth and abrasion-resistant surface. Made from the highest quality Japanese materials, this superb line has faultless linear and knot strength. The inside core is a molecular compressed compound, which basically reduces its stretch and helps to prevent it spinning-up.
Sizes 0.12mm-0.45mm, on 300m spools.
Price: £13.99-£24.99
Drennan Supplex Fluorocarbon
New Supplex Fluorocarbon is available in no fewer than 12 accurate diameters and breaking strains, from 0.075mm (0.9lb) right up to 0.30mm (10lb). It is 100 per cent fluorocarbon, and therefore exceptionally abrasion-resistant. It sinks well and doesn’t degrade in sunlight.
A similar refractive index to water makes it virtually invisible once submerged and, as it is fairly stiff, it is less prone to spinning up on the retrieve than standard mono, making it a great choice for when you are continually casting out and reeling in. Each size comes on 50m spools.
Price: £4.99
MAP Power Optex Line
This supple, clear monofilament will withstand prolonged exposure to UV and still retain its integrity and strength.
Each diameter and breaking strain is manufactured to fine tolerances, so you know just what you’re fishing with. Supplied on 100m spools in 0.08mm, 0.10mm, 0.12mm, 0.13mm, 0.15mm, 0.16mm, 0.18mm and 020mm.
Price: £4.99
Browning Quattron Line
Low-stretch Quattron line has a special surface treatment to give it qualities halfway between those of ordinary mono and braid. Its lack of memory makes it an ideal drop shot reel line. Iin sizes 0.20mm (7lb) to 0.35mm (17.5lb).
Price: £7.95
Korda Kable Leadcore
This advanced leadcore, in a choice of Weed Green or Gravel colours, offers excellent camouflage properties, simply melting away into most lakebeds. Importantly, Kable is very easy to splice. Obviously, it sinks like a brick and is relatively thin for its 50lb breaking strain. It is also remarkably supple, allowing it to hug the contours of the bottom. On 7m and 25m bulk spools.
Price: £5.99 (7m), £14.99 (25m)
Guru N-Gauge
Guru has added 0.11mm/3lb breaking strain line to its range of N-Gauge hooklength material. Incredibly supple, with accurately stated breaking strain and diameter, it is well suited to waggler and pole tactics, especially in clear winter waters.
Price: £4.99 (100m spool)
Sufix Super Quick Strike 21
Many anglers use braid for drop shotting or lure fishing, but if you struggle to keep it from knotting up, or find it a bit on the expensive side, then the superb low-stretch Sufix Super Quick Strike 21 nylon reel line could be just what you’ve been looking for. Its almost total lack of memory gives it plenty of ‘feel’, allowing immediate contact with any biting fish and a quick, clean setting of the hook.
Price: £4.99
Shimano Aspire
For drop shot leaders, Shimano Aspire and Ultegra fluorocarbons are among the best available. Aspire is a top-shelf product with a particularly high strength-to-diameter rating. It’s almost invisible underwater and comes in a foil barrier pack to ensure a long shelf life.
Price: £8.99
