Fireline Crystal

birdman · Jun-23-2007, 11:13 AM

I picked up some Fireline Crystal in 14 pound test. 6 pound diameter. Weird stuff. This stuff is strong. It is supposed to be clear under water. It is white and feels like waxed dental floss. I was skeptical at first. I had read that Jimmy Decker was using it though and that gave me some confidence in it. Soooo, I spooled up 3 reels with it and fished Nepwort Harbor with the family on fathers day. I mostly trolled the crankbaits around with the rear drag spinning reels I use for trolling the Harbor and freshwater. It casted nicely off the spinners and trolled great. My cranks were getting deep due to the thin diameter. We nailed about 15 fish in a couple hours. Mixed bass and a few Halibut. Good stuff. I also spooled up my Sminano Curado 201 Baitcaster. It casted decently. Not better than mono. But ok. Did not have a chace a fish that set up very much but envision some viscous hook sets in the future with that set up. Thursday Night, my brother in law took the spinning reels with the fireline down to our local golf course for some night time ninja bassing. We nailed four bass and lost as many. The fish were definetly not line shy. It was night though. I thought the Fireline would be great for hammering the hook home and it was. Maybe too good? Anyone else using Fireline Crystal?

Afry · Jun-23-2007, 12:14 PM

Tried the 20lb on my Diawa Inshore Coastal baitcaster on a Seeker Inshore rod. Thought it would be great for calicos in the kelps but it is lumpy and doesn't feed through the guides (even when dropping a 1 1/2 oz jetty worm through the canopy) I had to hand line it out. This is with a new bad ass reel (I had the spool tension backed off) and great guides on the Seeker.

I talked to the Berklely guy at BDYTSO awards and he said it is designed for spincasters...thanks for the info Berkley.

Agreed it would work for trolling small stuff but any small braid would.

Phoenix 29 · Jun-23-2007, 12:22 PM

I also have 2 baitcasters spooled up with 14 # crystal and yes it is kinda weird stuff BUT it works i have fished it at Long Beach Rigs and the LB Breakwater also this week at Mission Bay and i caught SBB, calicos, sandies,sculpin, jonnie bass, short barrie,and a cabezon all on the crystal.

With a 3/4 oz lead head swimbait it casts a mile, no line memory, it still looks like new " no flaking of the white stuff" oh also i got it stuck in the rocks at the Breakwater with a leadhead and Couldnt break it !!!!! i had to cut it off the stuff would just cut into my hands / arm/jacket sleeve/ so i cut it off and retied another lead head, i think next time i hit the Breakwater up im going to try a couple ft of flouro in case i get hung up.

So the jury is still out on this line , im still not sure if its the best thing since sliced bread its ok but weird stuff ???

Anybody else, would like to here your .02$

Bob...................

birdman · Jun-23-2007, 12:32 PM

Thanks for the feedback Afry. Spincasters???? That is funny. That is bad if your 1 1/2 ounce leadhead can not freefall of the spool. That is a nice reel too ! My buddy was saying that he heard the fireline did not come off the spool well and it dug in. I am looking forward to more field testing. I guess I will have to transfer it to my little girls spicaster if I am not liking it. HAHAHAHAHAHA. I will tell you one thing. I like using braided line. You can feel everything. And I love trolling with braid. It gets the plugs deep and the fish do not seem to get sppoked by seeing the line. I have used alot of different brands. Power Pro, Izor, and a few others. No favorite yet. Do you have a favorite?

birdman · Jun-23-2007, 01:19 PM

Sounds like you give it a thumbs up Bob. I too will be using it on the LB Breakwater. I have used spectra their before, but like you said always with a mono leader now. Braid will not break off!!!! Cut my hand trying to pull out of the rocks. I like fishing the braided lines though for specific applications.

tuner · Jun-24-2007, 09:08 AM

Hi Ken,

I use the tiny 6lb fireline on my Luna 103 and the 14lb on my 250 GTB, both are the smoke color.

The 6lb has the most time/casts on it and it is awesome. The line needs to "break in". I fish the surf with the 6lb and throw 3/8-5/8 oz castmasters. The 6lb has thousands of casts on it (second season).

The line will become more supple and the color will lighten some. The tendency for the line to "stick" to itself will diminish as well.

Berkley does not recomend the lower test Fireline for bait casters. It may cost you a few jigs at first as the lack of line stretch will cause the line to snap if you encounter any "mid-cast spool stopage" issues

All aspects of the line are not positive, yet, I run "spectra" braids on all of my outfits (except the dacron on my flyrod). For the last year or so I have used a 3ft flouro leader best suited to the bait.

Now I can tie a Uni knot with my eyes closed.

Steve

fishstick-er · Jun-24-2007, 03:44 PM

I cant believe the "lumpy" issues in Afry's line is normal. Bob Hoose, you out there? I can see the point that the small diameter line is not appropriate for the baitcaster and the "digging in" would be the trade off for the small diameter of any limp line. If your use is for reaction baits, this line is no different than any braid. Actually you are risking fish by tearing the bait out of the fish's mouth. Mono is the most appropriate for that application. Jigs, surf fishing and spoons are what the line is made to fish.