Berkley X-9 in Flame Green

Tuf-Line (Western Filament) and Cortland were the most "overzealous." Remember though, this was like 6 years ago. There may well be a whole new generation of exaggeration, these days.
 
Here's a chart that provides some insight into the PE/Diameter/lb test enumerations - note that 8-strand and 4-strand are listed, which is helpful

PE Line.webp
 
So referencing the above chart (which really is based upon Momoi's braided line), the new X-9 comes in at 0.17mm (or so Berkley states), and so should max out at around 27lb test.

So what does this say about X-9, what with a manufacturer's stated diameter of 0.17mm breaking at roughly 37lbs, with which rating I completely agree - based on my own use?

Is it that Berkley X-9 over-tests, relative to Momoi, or is it something else?

Interesting to ponder on a cold Winter day, no?
 
Great thread...will have to check out the x9. I did fish mostly suffix 832, and like the line but I did feel like it “swelled” up a bit after a few trips, wondering if anyone else had ever had that experience. I since have gone back to original power pro, and also like the diamond braid. diamond I have found is very strong for its diameter/rating.
Regarding wind knots and braid...a couple things I have done for years that have stopped wind knots for me when plugging and casting with spinning reels is to cup the spool and feather the line as the lure hits the water, and close the bail manually. Has become second nature and do it even if I have mono on the reel. Also found with the k guides and most of today’s guide layouts, wind knots are just about non existent.
 
I haven't seen this swelling of 832 myself.

I'll tell you one thing and I'm well aware that it has plenty of fans out there, but original Power Pro? I wouldn't go near that stuff for love or money. Not after several spools of it exhibited the "Mystery Break-off" syndrome, one of which costing me the largest fluke I've ever hooked. Never ever again. Too many other far better, more modern line options out there to go backwards to THAT um, "stuff."

I too hear good things about Diamond Braid, also Yozuri's 8-strand braid as well. Never tried either myself, but both get good press on the Interwebs. The Yozuri product is VERY well-priced, maybe the lowest cost premium braid out there. Or at least it was, the last time I checked.

If I do try another braid, (though its doubtful now that I've found X-9), it would be one or more of the following - the new Sufix 131 (thirteen strands!), YGK G-Soul X8 Upgrade (the FW LMB crowd LOVE this stuff), Hitena 12 Strand, or the latest in Gosen's line technology - their X16, which just might be the most expensive stuff out there. I really do like their X8, which is around $35/150 meters. I talked it up on this thread:

Daiwa Catalina TW 100P - A really good Dealeo on a top-shelf baitcasting reel, - but you gotta move FAST!

So, I've been saving up my fishing shekels for a new reel to replace my 2005 Curado 200E5, and thought I was gonna put it towards another Abu Revo4 Winch. Well, til this deal came along. This is why I read the various fresh and SW boards every morning, with my first cup of coffee. Sometimes...
nyangler.com nyangler.com

All three of the other above-mentioned super-premium lines are in $50+ for 150yds category except the Gosen X16 - that's more like $100/100meters!, or so I hear. Geez!

If you have LOTS of time, Here's some vids from Nick/Scoobydoo - Tackle Advisor on YouTube - his channel is well worth subscribing to, if you do the YouTube thing:





 
@Leprechaun, I too was plagued with PowerPro mystery breakoffs a few years ago. I'm sure you're more conscientious than I am, but after losing a cod or two and 1/2 dozen diamond jigs, I took the rod off the boat and examined every guide with a magnifying glass. I found a slight nick in the tip top, which had passed the finger and tissue test, Admiral doesn't wear nylons so nothing available for the nylon exam.

Since then and the rigor it taught me, I've had no mystery breakoffs. All my conventionals are loaded with PP, including a couple of tuna/shark set ups.
 
Yeah, I hear that A LOT whenever I bring "My" PP story up - check your guides.

I did, of course, and found nothing. So I put another brand of braid on that outfit (Sufix Performance, I think) and never ever had another weird "mystery" break-off. That was some years ago, and that Sufix is STILL on that outfit, happily cranking 'em in, whenever that rod/reel combo comes along with me. It was definitely that PP line.

I do have 50lb PP in hot yellow on my three Avet/Calstar "bunker drifter" rods. Never had any trouble with the 50lb PP. This is the problem, imo. Inconsistency of production. Who the hell wants to deal with that these days, with about 30 other braided line choices out there? Not me, that's fo' sho'.

Sufix 832 and Berkley X-9, and I'm good to go. Never an issue, ever.

Oh, and I have one heavily-used tog rod loaded with 40lb PP MaxCuatro, just to see if a PP line introduced after Shimano bought up the PP company was any better. No issues at all. That's also pretty good stuff.
 
I guess I have been lucky with the power pro! My local shop has the yozuri braid and forgot to mention I did try it last year blackfishing. I have no complaints about that line so far.
 
I stopped using PP a few years ago also for the same reason.
Went to Daiwa 8strand and it has served me well.
Can't wait to actually put the X-9 to use.
 
I do a lot of surf fishing, and when bait fishing, i experienced quite a few PP mysterious "line parts". I called it that because the line just seemed to part, not violently break. I switched to 832 a few years back , with the same tackle, and never replaced any guides and have had no issued with break offs.
That said, I use PP Super Slick for all my Plugging/Casting and really love it for that application.
 
Here's a vid of breaking strength testing of the EXACT line/lb test I use, and recommended here.

He also tested the breaking strength of both the FG and PR knots - with pretty interesting results. I've used the FG knot for the past 6 or so seasons to attach my blackfish shock leaders - all good, not a single failure. But wanting to remain one of the "cool kids," this past season I learned to tie the Bobbin PR knot - also very strong, zero failures.

Using the bobbin takes a bit of practice, there's a learning curve. But the knot is even slicker than the FG. I like it a lot. The PR in this test is about double the length of the ones I tie, btw. His results seem to show the PR to be the best of the bunch.

 
For reference, here's 30lb Yozuri Super Braid 30lb:



And here's 20lb PP MaxCuatro. It appears to me to be a bit more inconsistent than the X-9. The testing of the various knot type's ABS was interesting:

 
I bought my 1st spool of Berkley X9 back in the summer of 2019 to spool my Abu Revo Gen3 for heavier fluke appilcations. I went with 15# test and the color white. I liked the line immediately and had planned to spool at least one of my blackfish reels with 30# test. I'm pretty sure my intention was to use the X9 on a reel for tog jigging and because I have NOT caught the tog jigging "bug" yet, it's still on my to-do list. Maybe something will trigger my enthusiasm to get a reel spooled with it in 2021.

My "go-to" lines the last several years have been Sufix 832 in 10, 15 & 30# test (lime green & blue camo), KastKing in 30# test (blue), Cortland Master Braid in 6 & 10# test. However, my FAVORITE braid of all-time is Cortland Spectron Black Spot in 30 & 35# test. I have been using black spot line over 20 years since I made an "ill-advised" cod trip up to Green Harbor, MA. and was introduced to it by the Captain. He told me it held up like no other line he'd ever used - He wasn't kidding. The line is indestructible. Doesn't discolor, break down or "mysteriously fail!" I have a few reels spooled almost 10 years with the same line and NEVER have an issue. I wish they made it in 10, 15 & 20# test!
 
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