Trilene XL problems

[Ufatz]

In other words it was a flaw in the tip top material, not an uncommon problem and often caused be BANGING the rod tip against something. I have also seen instances where the actual guide frame can break or become rough and it will quickly ruin your line too.

Aside from providing folks with the correct names of rod components this thread also will help people diagnose line or rod problems in the future so the thread HAS served a useful purpose.

And now it can end.

[Igor Drackenwolf]

In other words it was a flaw in the tip top material...

I'm sensing a compromise in the works....

Tip-top eyelet. Whaddaya say Ufatz? Shall we shake on it?

[delcecchi]

[Jim Almquist]

I'm truly interested to know if eurolarva discovered the cause of his problem. Trilene XL is a reliable product. I've used for years and years and never had an issue with it (aside from my aforementioned cracked eyelet), so I would be very surprised if there was some kind of quality issue.

If it isn't a nick, chip, or crack in one of his eyelets, I would be extremely surprised.

I have had a bad 1000 yard spool of Trilene XL 6lb. Some spots were good and others were at about 2lb test. Lost many a nice fish that year and I lost out on what could have been the best day of trophy walleye fishing. My buddy landed 6 walleyes over 27" and I broke my line every time I hooked one.

I never buy more than a 330 yard spool and never 2 from the same store.

[delcecchi]

I was used to Stren, but one time I put Trilene XL on a couple of reels. This was back a while and I forget whether it was on sale, or I got it free with subscription to In-Fisherman, but anyway I had terrible luck with it. It broke all the time. I finally decided those lost lures and lost fish weren't my fault and dumped it. Went back to Stren and all was good.

[Stick in Mud]

Funny....I've had very good luck with Trilene and bad luck with Stren.

[delcecchi]

Funny....I've had very good luck with Trilene and bad luck with Stren.

I know. Lots of people have good luck with Trilene and swear by it. I just had a bad experience for some reason.

[Raider4ever]

I will stand by Trilene XL. Buy my own 300 yd spools and put it on myself. You don't know how long the store has had that bulk spool laying around. Haven't had one line related issue that I can recall. I'm sensing the OP was a line guide issue.

[Gorby]

I was used to Stren, but one time I put Trilene XL on a couple of reels. This was back a while and I forget whether it was on sale, or I got it free with subscription to In-Fisherman, but anyway I had terrible luck with it. It broke all the time. I finally decided those lost lures and lost fish weren't my fault and dumped it. Went back to Stren and all was good.

​I had the same issue, i bought 10lb test Trilene for bass fishing and spooled all mine & my dads reels. went fishing and we were braking our lines on 2lb fish, it was terrible. we were camping so when we got back to the dock, we dug around and found 5-6 year old Stren in the bottom of the boat. put it on in desperation and never broke our line on a bass all weekend, although them silly lake snakes got us once or twice. that has been 5 years now and i still will not go back to Trilene, there are just so many options i don't need to worry.

[eyeguy 54]

  trilene, XT for bass, if you like mono for bass.   spool the xl up for eyes.  I use 6 pound xl for lindy rigging eyes for almost 40 years now and no problems.  8 pound xl on my leaders.   plenty of lines out there to use. 

[Tom Sawyer]

I use both Stren and Berkley mono products, but not for my main line anymore. Only reason being it's cost, never had a problem with either brand. Spooled up miles of Berkley XL and XT. Stren Magnathin was my main line choice; but now along with Berkley Vanish and 100% Fluorocarbon, and Transition, are just used for snells and tying spinner rigs. When you fish a lot It's easier to spool up several times a year when the price is right. For over 10 years now I have been spooling up with Bass Pro Shops Excel, with positive results. This year I have been giving Cabela's brand in 4 lb. a try, and so far it has been performing well. Normally I use nothing over 6 lb, usually 4 lb. for my spinning gear setups. When Lindy rigging my snell is always a pound or two lighter than my main line, allowing live bait to swim as natural as possible, and to break if snagged, rather than breaking your main line. Spinner rigs usually 10 lb. 100% Fluorocarbon.

 

 

  

[half-dutch]

For about a decade now, I haven't found any mono type to beat GAMMA copolymer (now named Polyflex).  I normally fish GAMMA 4# ice line (diam 0.006) in cold water and switch to Polyflex 4# (0.008) when the water finally warms up.  Excellent knot strength, abrasion resistance, resistance to coiling, and still nicely supple.   IMO none of the Trilenes are in the same class.   Contrary to some reports GAMMA fishing line never went out of production although it did get sold, but it still has the same quality and gives the same performance from the new owners.