Post by fishing_in_israel on Jun 21, 2011 13:08:52 GMT -4
I got out this morning to do a bit of saltwater fishing and to test the Hi-Seas WildFire 6 lb Fluorescent Yellow line that I recently got.
It is a thermally bonded braid with a proprietary inner and 4 strands of Spectra.
I had previously given it a short test at our kibbutz swimming pool and noticed how much like mono it is but without the stretch or the memory. This time it was in a real [saltwater] fishing environment and initially in the dark (we got there about 3:30 am).
There is a bit of noise whilst casting, which is a good thing fishing in the dark as it gives some indication of what is happening that normally being able to see the lure would otherwise do.
Even after repeated casts I never felt any spray on my hands from moisture retention by the line. There was some moisture around the baitcaster front but that was all. Definitely a plus in cold weather.
The line came off the spool in a very controlled way and I could feel it building up under my thumb midway during the cast but never made any problems - it just gave me another indication of what the lure was doing (don't forget this is fishing in the dark).
I did manage one bad backlash but not because of the line; I was having to stand next to a concrete obelisk, which had the harbor wall navigation light atop of it, and there wasn't much room at all. Needless to say I managed to smack my only silver X-Rap -10 into the upper section of it during a cast fracturing the X-Rap
and the sudden momentary stop of the lure caused the huge backlash. Actually it looked worse than it was - especially in the dark - but, tightening down the drag, pressing hard against the spool whilst retrieving a few turns, then repeating a couple of more times, and the backlash was no more. Additional points for the Wildfire 
Another plus point is that the color doesn't come off at all! Honestly! Nothing, nada, not even a hint of staining on my casting thumb nor on the level wind guide on the baitcaster - a big
Tying knots is also a breeze. All your favorite mono knots will tie no problem with the Wildfire. Personally I like to use the Palomar knot wherever possible.
There is one unresolved issue however: The actual line diameter and breaking strain are nothing like the stated numbers on the packaging and spool.
The package states:
6 lb Test
.003" Diam
2.7 Kg Test
0.008 mm Diam
I tested it in our factory's quality control department, which has precision measuring equipment, and it really is (I don't understand imperial measurements so only in metric):
4.5 Kg Test
0.17 -0.21 mm Diam (I tested several sections over a meter length of line).
I did send a nicely worded email to the company, asking for any possible reasons, nearly a week ago but I still haven't heard anything back as of yet.
I did actually want the line for my ultra light outfit but after checking the line diameter and breaking strain I spooled it onto my Orra SX baitcaster - a nice combination
If any of you folks want to give it a try I would definitely recommend it - just try and check the diameter first if possible.
Nigel
It is a thermally bonded braid with a proprietary inner and 4 strands of Spectra.
I had previously given it a short test at our kibbutz swimming pool and noticed how much like mono it is but without the stretch or the memory. This time it was in a real [saltwater] fishing environment and initially in the dark (we got there about 3:30 am).
There is a bit of noise whilst casting, which is a good thing fishing in the dark as it gives some indication of what is happening that normally being able to see the lure would otherwise do.
Even after repeated casts I never felt any spray on my hands from moisture retention by the line. There was some moisture around the baitcaster front but that was all. Definitely a plus in cold weather.
The line came off the spool in a very controlled way and I could feel it building up under my thumb midway during the cast but never made any problems - it just gave me another indication of what the lure was doing (don't forget this is fishing in the dark).
I did manage one bad backlash but not because of the line; I was having to stand next to a concrete obelisk, which had the harbor wall navigation light atop of it, and there wasn't much room at all. Needless to say I managed to smack my only silver X-Rap -10 into the upper section of it during a cast fracturing the X-Rap
and the sudden momentary stop of the lure caused the huge backlash. Actually it looked worse than it was - especially in the dark - but, tightening down the drag, pressing hard against the spool whilst retrieving a few turns, then repeating a couple of more times, and the backlash was no more. Additional points for the Wildfire Another plus point is that the color doesn't come off at all! Honestly! Nothing, nada, not even a hint of staining on my casting thumb nor on the level wind guide on the baitcaster - a big
Tying knots is also a breeze. All your favorite mono knots will tie no problem with the Wildfire. Personally I like to use the Palomar knot wherever possible.
There is one unresolved issue however: The actual line diameter and breaking strain are nothing like the stated numbers on the packaging and spool.
The package states:
6 lb Test
.003" Diam
2.7 Kg Test
0.008 mm Diam
I tested it in our factory's quality control department, which has precision measuring equipment, and it really is (I don't understand imperial measurements so only in metric):
4.5 Kg Test
0.17 -0.21 mm Diam (I tested several sections over a meter length of line).
I did send a nicely worded email to the company, asking for any possible reasons, nearly a week ago but I still haven't heard anything back as of yet.
I did actually want the line for my ultra light outfit but after checking the line diameter and breaking strain I spooled it onto my Orra SX baitcaster - a nice combination
If any of you folks want to give it a try I would definitely recommend it - just try and check the diameter first if possible.
Nigel
