New Power Pro Super Slick V2 or Daiwa J Braid Grand BOTH GREAT SO FAR 

You bring up some great points.. Last time I looked a few years back there were 5 major companies overseas doing the weaving and a few in the states. And a loooong wait in line to get your brand on the loom. That may have changed and I assume it has. Raw materials differ but are in general very similar. Diameter of braid will effect break strength when a certain percentage of fibers are compromised... Larger diameters will have more left to carry the load... Then there are coatings.. Coatings wear off and depending on the application process will leave voids which means a loose rope weave is left. That's where V2 seems to do better than the last Gen. The j braid grand seems to fail much earlier than original x8 as in over 20 years of using braid.. I can't recall a line failing as much as it did in varying diameters over a number of different spools over the past year. Braids with high and low spots usually coarse 4 strand braids can hold up better due to the high spots taking the brunt of the damage in certain situations... Not a huge differnce maker but they shred veg easier which is why I prefer it. Then there is knotting... That's where some of the true differences come to light

@@TackleAdvisors The strongest line I have ever used is Diamond braid style weave though it's like fishing with a woven steel leader on you spool . The smoothest casting and cranking line I have ever used it Daiwa,slick 8/Jbraid or Original suffix perhaps but they all have the same weave . The most abrasion resistant line I've ever used is still the original power pro weaves used by several companies . The truth is spectra line is only as good as the weave used to thread it . Coating is a detractor and the best thing that can happen is when you use the line enough for it to come off ! As far as I know there are now 3 places that make all the braided line on the market . Berkeley has their own company and they cover all the brands under their wing only as far as I know . Then the main one who makes 80% of all the line for all brands which has 2 factories and 3 year waiting list for companies who want to use them to braid lines . The 3rd company is a rope making company and you can tell by the way they weave their lines that they are not fishing line specific in their weaves but if you do not mind a bit of noise when you cast this stuff is really as abrasion resistant as line can get . It will never be a revolution in fishing line but it won't break when you tag mr 50'' on a figure 8 . Anyone else who makes woven line is new if they exist at all but it is only a matter of time before this industry is given competition and other Hong Kong and other countries factories will open with luming line as their focus now that the military contracts for spectra fibers are becoming obsolete . The best line on the market is really the one that you like most . There really is very little bad braided super line (slick8 Jbraid) on the market these days and you cannot really go wrong . If you are rich and can buy new line each month you can go with the super soft stuff that feels like you are cranking a cloud especially if you do not plan to fish rock bottom . If you are river fisherman get yourself the diamond braid style weaver and because of river current that deadens the sound of the line coming into your reel so it probably will not drive you nuts all day. The truth is the only line brand that has never let me down is Daiwa Saltiga and other Daiwa offerings and even in that I have gotten terrible batches that fray easy and become white line in under 2000 casts on Musky gear . Trust me i use 80 and 100 lb line almost exclusively and it is not any more abrasion resistant as any other braid of lesser diameter as long as it has the same number of strands . In fact I have more issue with heavy braid fraying more than thin stuff because of the added surface area . So really I like to have different line on all my gear so I dial in for the structure I run into or which aids in the type of lure I use on that specific rig . I will never use J braid as long as I live as it is made to garbage variants and the thread consistency used is very underwhelming and I believe this line is ripe for failure when big mamma eats your lure . I lost the biggest Musky of my life because of Slick 8 and a rub to the right rock and so I will never use that line ever again though I have heard that they have worked out the issues with that line these days I still won't touch it.

@@TackleAdvisors I think you and I come from the same world when it comes to looking at fishing gear . My dad used to freak out when I was a young lad for buying new reels and then taking them all apart before fished them much if at all . I have a thing for fishing gear and your videos are always 100% about the best things about fishing . Thanks for the videos . I would love it if you showed people who are cheapos how to take a cheap reel and put high end parts into the reel to convert it into a top end performer . Tuning up reels so crap can function like gold is one of my weird hobbies and I have made some bullet proof reels for pennies on the dollar and I sure you have too .

@@jesusoftheapes where do you find bearing size info for different reels and where do you buy them?

@@rino5381 I measure them and the bushings you can replace with a micrometer and hit up bearing world online . Also if you look up your reel specs you can get sizes for most of the big name brands off the scat sheet that comes with the reel . You lose yours and google images will have one for sure . Another way is you can just google the replacement bearing area you are putting it on the reel and the model of the reel you are looking to include it on and some blogger reel improver on the web will have a parts list they shared at some point . If you have a specific bearing you are looking for I have thousands of bearing in stock for all kinds of reels let me know if you cannot find whatever bearing you are looking for and I probably have it .

Hey man....thanks brotha! I guess it comes down to just being used to posting on forums for years lolol.

@@TackleAdvisors yea stripersonline is great

I like the jbraid however do you tie the the FG not?

The power pro slick v2 is a more durable line... If j braid grand held up like the power pro v2 and everything was the same.... It may be the best line ever made.. But it's not.... I've had as well as others some failures

Would love to see a review on Berkeley's flouro leader material as well. It's seriously cheap and I found it to be very supple and effective. I mainly fish higher test lines than freshwater guys so it's a different feel but for like $10 for 100 yards of 20# flouro on Amazon it was great. 25 yards of the 40 and 60# was under $10 also and worked great.

I'll look into it. After that finatic braid debocle I'm wary of new braids from companies coming out this late in the game. As it can't be anything special in my eyes. I'm still waiting for the super slick version of maxcuatro that I used 2 years ago when helping with some guide layouts on the tiralejo surf rods. The v2 may be it as it didn't have a name at the time. And it was black. But was inky black.

Hey brotha!! Hope all is well! I look at it like this...Offshore....tuna fishing. 700-2000 yards of line on each reel. Jerry brown line one white hollow core uncoated spectra. Never once did we have to cut back due to abrasion. Yeah we used top shops. But countless hours spent in outrigger clips and such. And it's held up for a decade and a dozen reels. HMPE is HMPE. The coating will add a bit of durability when new. But outside of that as long as your guides and line rollers are good. The line should hold up fine. I used the x8 multicolor on talicas and tranx 500's tuna jigging and it performed fine. With every new to you braid. Practice your knots. I was going to do KBS tests. But I like doing them with KBS. Aquaholik I assume will have those numbers out soon. Him or Paulus

Tackle Advisors yea im still waiting for aqua, i believe he just received the grand but anyway, your video is great ! you are the man 👍👍👍

ooof.... remember when red power pro first came out...I jumped......my calcutta te dc was permanently stained lolol...My first braid was Fenwick Iron thread back in the late 90s. It was a bronzish color.....Friend of mine used power pro kite string and turned me on to it lol

Hey man! I used the x4 and really didn't like it. ENough that I have a spool of 8lb untouched. I thought it was going to be great like an updated power pro original. But man........after 3 outings using the 30lb it turned into loose ropey spongy crap. I never had many difficulties with abrasion between 4 and 8strand lines. I get the "science" behind why 4 carrier could hold up better since only the ridges make contact.....but if you heard me mention that fins 40g stuff....I wasn't exxageratting a bit about it lasting and still appearing to be in like new condition. I went on about amonths worth of trips chasing giant brown trouth....constantly casting lucky craft wander, stream drive hd, and jackall sierra minnows 150' distancess allllll day...And twitching every handle turn in rocky rivers. Never a fiber out of place. And that is an uncoated super smooth line. I spend quite a bit of time bottom bouncing rivers as well. I never found 8 to chaff any worse than 4 in my rivers when I go leaderless. At the same time I wouldn't expect izanas to perform any different than the post patented hmpe. As it's as far as I can tell through what i"ve read. Izanas is literally just a new name given to the same material. ( I think sunline had a line out early last year using it)

I have to say while I am enjoying the smoothness of the 8, I know deep down I am an abrasion resistance kind of a guy. If I encounter just one snap, I can just see myself going back to a 4-carrier, probably Tuf-Line XP. Part of fishing is a mental game and it is never a good thing if you are not confident with your line. But, let's see what happens, I am trying to stay open-minded. You know in Japan they have 12-carrier braids already, fancy giving it a go? LOL. Both Shimano and Daiwa have it.

That's the ballistic for ya its like reeling air

How good is the casting distance? I’m thinking about going 20 on my spinning. I currently using fins windtamer. And it’s a 4 strands. Noisy going through guides

Looking at when kairiki launched. It may have been the line I used when helping test guide lay outs in the new tiralejo surf rods

What you describe is right on par with my findings... Only I find on baitcasters the power pro stays quieter longer.. Which is the case more often than not as there's significantly less ribboning due to twist. I found that the grands abrasion resistance is less than the x8. To the point that I don't trust it under 20lbs. I find that after a few long casts on the beach or in general when the body of the line starts to hold water power pro starts pulling away in the distance dept... Lighter lines grand still wins.

Good stuff... Thank you very much for the well though out and detailed response

Hunter Flannigan I’ve heard of too many people randomly snapping Daiwa braids for me to even try it once. I agree that most of the time it is user error but I won’t risk throwing several ounce swimbaits when there are lines out there that are known to be consistent and not have these stories.

@@Jon-nz3dm For my heavier set ups I use different braids as well. Should probably have clarified that I'm talking about finesse set ups. Just like Nick explained, it's not too abrasion resistent which makes it rather unsuitable for other types of fishing I do. I don't know anyone who uses it for heavy jigging and stuff either.

You didn’t spool it right enough. User error

Thanks man appreciate it. I may try some but am wary after not being very impressed with their other products. Is with fish went down that rabbit hole the other day. Funny thing about diameter.... When talking to another company who makes very expensive line. When I told them their 8lb was off. When I asked how they measure they didn't know. They tell the company that makes it what diameter... So they didn9even bother testing their own product lmao.

It's the same line ! It is made in the same factory on the same production lume with the same kind of weave as slick 8 ,J Braid and most 8 strand braids available today . It has more useless coating that will come off in a 500 casts to make it smooth out of the box but that coating makes the actual diameter thicker not thinner . Do not fall for the idea that lines are different through brands . They are not in most cases different in anyway . All the major line brands hold Berkeley and the company who makes Diamond braid are made at the same place by the same lumes .

Ive used kairiki not abraison resist...😢

@jbollom1 that's a load of shite, I spool line all day and there's a huge difference between the braids you just mentioned. . Jbraid is no where near the same as kairiki, nomad different again fireside different again Grappler and Ocea completely different lines

Onyx seems to last longer than blue.. Never used green... Moonshine seems to be a little ropier in 65 compared to onyx as well

For starters....test your knots.......I found personally with gliss....I needed to tie in a leader to get good knot strength. Standard knots on Gliss, nanofil, and fireline ultra slip out or break. I found PR and FG knots are the only good line to line join knots for it as well. Which kinda sucks.....alberto knots hold....but not very well compared to the same diameter braids....The package rating is a bit closer to it's acutal break strenght compared to same diameter braids. Which means if peaple are used to suffix 832 6 or 10lb.....Gliss is not going to be near as strong before you even tie a knot. I use the 18lb now for albies on a stella 4000 and 6kg which is from the first batch I bought from the UK before ardent got the distribution and jacked the price up. (this stuff was supposed to be 20$ for 300 yards..that lasted a week) I used the 40lb in the surf but found I need a bit more body in my lines for plugging in surf conditions. Its great for max distance applications....as there still isn't a line that can cast as far....crazzy thing is. Some lures wont' cast as far because without the resistance of th eline coming off the reel to keep the lure flying like a dart. It can tumble. WHich is pretty interesting. But get that bait flying straight and you can get more than 20% gains.

I'd go power pro.... I've really been digging it in the 8 20 and 65lb

@@TackleAdvisors Thanks! Respooled with 30 lb power pro.

Over time I've moved away from grand and to super slick v2 and regualr j braid x 8. Just spooled a few tuna jig reels with x 8 metered

Never compare anything to Berkeley because they just do not make the same kind of lines as anyone else . If you really are the type that likes the outlier go with Berkley line in braid . Berkeley has always been on a different page than every other braid company . They never push the technology market very far because they are not super innovative when it comes to braids . They are a mono company who banks on clear lines as their meal ticket . their braids are not in the same world as the company who makes the best line for everyone . They just do not spend enough money developing the braided line they produce . It's never going to fail you but it's probably not going to give you the best of what a line can offer in a super braid . If you want good braid and do not have a sponsorship with Berkley use anything else .

Hey man... Hmmm not sure any braid will make a differnce. 2 friends of mine live there and braid doesn't last very long. Pr knot to a leader and pray you don't get reefed. Braid under tension and abrasion won't last at all. Give Don Becker a call at Donstacklehawaii.Com. One of the nicest guys you'll ever talk to. Tell him Nick, Scoobydoo told you to give him a call.

I'm curious for his review as well

I dig it as long as you get a good one. I probably would go with a curado for freshwater but for the salt. I don't think there is a low pro as rugged. I'd prefer a brass gear but the alu in this one seems to hold up OK. It casts OK but I didn't like it for light braid and jerk baits which is something I use 6.5oz reels for often. The brake didn't handle that well at all throwin megabass 110s and 8lb suffix 832 (which with a pr knot to a leader is probably 20lbs) but jigs spinners and saltwater plugging it was fine

I think it's tournament braid in the USA

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I don't really have a favorite mono. I generally use them as leaders. I do like Maxima products and Suffix.

One more question, I was going to get two new reels the tatula lt and the exceler lt, I wanted to get one in the 1000 size and the other in the 3000 I've went back and forth on what size I want on each of these reels.. Thanks for your advice

O my question is what size should I get on each of these do you have an opinion

@@daltonfishing8872 If you can swing 2 tatulas....you'll thank yourself later. The gear upgrade, weight savings and how solid they are compared to the fuego on down is signifcant. I found that with the insane light weight of the 2000 tatula. I don't need a 1000 to pair even with my 5' ultra light tennesee handled loomis. For all around the 2500 is a good size....the 3000 may be better to deal with mono or fluro. Due to the larger spool diameter. I'd go tatula in the larger size to shave off as much weight as possible.

I put that on a few setups.....I prefer the new ss v2 over it. It's not bad...but it's nothing special.

@@TackleAdvisors Yeah that's what I said when I tried the V2. Obviously better than the original but still wasn't something that "wowd" me.

I never used that stuff. I'd recommed fishing it to see if it's a negative. Some people need the limpest line they can find. But it's a coating that permiates the weave and after use it will break in and soften up. And in some cases it's a positive having that wireyness. I'd say hold off.

Thanks Nick.

@@Zodiackilla1 you're welcome brotha!

It's on my list...Just watched Tac bassins vid on the antares......................ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGG same weight as the 100....what a let down that was. That rod though looks sweet!!! Friend of mine has the Exsence rod which uses it. I like the grip. Very comfortable. I wonder if my lifetime warranteed cumulus breaks if they'll upgrade it to a poison adrena lol

I can also only find medium light i wonder if theyl have other rod powers i would rather have at least medium and or med'heavy

Thanks man! When I started I didn't want to be a live vicariously through me fishing channel. And Im as old school as it gets. As are those I fish with. If I start spot burning my relationships and receipt of Intel goes out the window. Alot of those fishing youtubers aren't welcome in some of my local waters. They even get harassed. But you never see them mention it in videos. Part of why Elias left the NY is due to that as well. Although he's gonna be in the area in the next two weeks

@@TackleAdvisors Ah. That explains alot of the mystery surrounding the whole RU-vid/fishing/spot burning phenomenom. Personally, I understand the spot burning thing as I have a secret spot of my own that I wouldn't want to advertise publicly, but other people fish there that I don't know. I can"t control what they do. But harassing youtubers for exposing fishing places is wrong. First of all knowing a secret spot doesn't guarantee you're going to catch fish. Secondly productivity changes and new spots have to be found. Lastly fishing should be for everyone to enjoy.

@@robertgerber2533 the main issue here in my state is access... Expose a location and not long after no trespassing /no parking and park hours signs get enforced.

As far as braids.. Absolutely.. It's tough stuff in that department (pp superslick v2)

@@TackleAdvisors thanks! but what about its sinking qualities - did you say it sinks faster than j-braid cause its heavier or does it tend to form bellies/curves on water surface?

I always use a flouro leader for abrasion resistance and you're right on but mainline abrasion resistance is still critical. I just fished a pier in NC heavily over two weeks and I went to 65# braid to avoid cutting off on pilings. Used 6' 30# flouro leaders to start but usually ended up with a foot after Spanish Mackerel missed my jig and cut it clean. Did land a 6# citation though and the flouro saved my butt it took at least two good runs against pilings loaded with sharp shells and such.

Hey man. Honestly I don't really use anything other than braid to a leader......I really can't figure out an advantage to stick with 100 stretchy stuff. I can tie in a long topshot if i really want or just a leader and have that braid last forever.....I can take 6-10lb braid that would break at 20lb plus with a pr knot. And all the negatives associated with floating line vs neutral/ sinking really go out the window. I handled them at the show for the fist time saturday.....wasn't overly impressed......I was expecting feather light but the models I handled weren't.....that. WHich one are you rolling with?

It's already in the mail lol saw it a few weeks ago looked cool to

On penn spining reels?

Jbraid holds more water and results in more water finding its way to your hands than the power pro... I think after about 50 trips or so with the new power pro. It's the best none buzz sawing baitcaster line I've used south of the stoopid expensive gosen or hitena lines

I agree with you about the ratings. And how they should be measured. I specifically went into this solely focused on the experience and handling. I didn't want to open up the abs and KBS aspects and how the power pro is the diameter somewhere between 15lb or 20lb grand. So strength tests would blow j braid out of the water. Once I pull super slick to 25lbs and j braid to 18. .. There's no going back it becomes power pro is stronger.. Game over for 90 percent of the internet that goes by what's solely on the package.

The slammer 3 is proven a tank and I'm still seeing quality control issues pop up way more than the gosa. So if you get a good one it'll be great. But the gosa is probably the more reliable and consistant. And after the spinfisher suffered the same water intrusion issue the slammer did. Gosa all the way for its sealing

Fished it again for the first time in awhile.... Next to Berkley x9 and pp ss v2.... Man is it rough (which can be good)

@@TackleAdvisors how long have you used it for? I've found when you first spool it it's very stiff and noisey but I've had the same 20lb on one of my baitvasters for about 2-3 years now used it many hours a week and it's butter smooth after about a month. I've used normal pp wasn't impressed and I can't justify the extra $10cad for the ppss

Dude....I was thinking exactly that. I'm amazed nobody did a black and red. Spiderwire has a pink white and black...But red and black would be a line I'd be alllll over...not just for the cool looks. But for line watching and the supposed benefit of the whole light transmission thing. lol.

@@TackleAdvisors also just picked up a 275vs few weeks back... I usually stick with spiderwire ultracast but wanted to get your input on the samurai braid. 55lb seems to have a similar diameter to 40lb spiderwire ultracast