Crystal Fireline

[Newby]

G'day,

I've just got some questions about the new "Crystal Fireline" I seen it in the local tackle shop a few days ago and asked the bloke if I could have a look and feel of it. He took it down, got it out of the packet and I had my little play. Its incredibly clear, I was having a look at the 4lb stuff, very thin also 0.10mm. And for $24,95 I want me some.

--Questions--
1). Breaking Strain: Like I said before, I was looking at the 4lb line. But does it mean it will break when more than 1.9kg of pressure if applied to the line?

I've been reading some threads latley about lines and it seems that they can bend their own rules a little bit. Not breaking at their given strengh but somtimes doing better, 4lb line breaking at twice its strengh. Is this actually true? if so does "Crystal Fireline" do this?

2). Air Tangles: Its very, very thin stuff and my 4lb flurocarbon is 0.14mm and that tangles in the air. Does the "Crystal Fireline" do this too, or is it nice to cast?

3). Knot Strengh: How does it perform when it comes to knot strengh, does it hold well, slip, cut through itself or is it really nice to tie knots with?

4). Life Span: I know it hasn't been out for long. Kamikaze said he's seen it out for one month in Queenslan. But, does anyone know how long this stuff will last up to, if treated right.

Cheers, Newby.

[Shortlite]

Not a fan of the fused lines, having moved over to the better handling true braids.

I expect the Crystal will be similar to the old Fireline, except that it's available in thinner diameters, and the fibres are opaque. That is to say, it will fluff over time, and lose strength.

Now, the strength issue is common to all lines made from Spectra/Dyneema. The fibres are so strong that the line routinely overtests. What manufacturers have done is to make to a fairly consistent diameter, then rate it closer to break strengths achieved with knot testing. On a straight pull, 4 lb fireline breaks at nearly 9.5 lbs when brand new. Worn in, slightly less.

Air tangles/wind knots are down to line twist and how your reel lays down the line, especially under less tension. You experience this more with slack line retrieves, like hopping plastics on the bottom. No reason why the line would twist less/more. The reports I've heard so far are that the Crystal is much better behaved, and knot strength is good.

Life span depends on how hard you fish it, and the ground you fish. You can easily get a year plus out of one spooling, especially if you reverse the line once some wear becomes evident. Always check your line, cut back if necessary, and reverse it when it starts to wear and become furry.

Or just go for a better product. Nitlon PE, FINS PRT, Sufix Performance, Spiderwire Stealth, Sufix Matrix Pro, Stren Super Braid, Bionic Braid, Power Pro, Platypus Super Braid, just to name a few, offer rounder profiled, better handling true braids.

[Newby]

Awsome, thanks for that.

"Or just go for a better product. Nitlon PE, FINS PRT, Sufix Performance, Spiderwire Stealth, Sufix Matrix Pro, Stren Super Braid, Bionic Braid, Power Pro, Platypus Super Braid, just to name a few, offer rounder profiled, better handling true braids."

If their better than "Crystal Fireline" I'll have a look at them than. I'll go back to the tackle store and talk to the owner some more, see what he thinks.

[bunga]

G'day Newby,

A quick answer to a few of your questions;

In reference to breaking strain, with fused and braided lines there really is no true guide as to what they will break at.
Manufacturers try to give an approximate catagory to fit there lines into based on a mix of both breaking strain and more so line diameter.
As opposed to pre-test mono lines that must break before the claimed breaking strain, lines such as Crystal Fireline that you are talking about will usually break at double or more of the breaking strain catagory they are in. So you can certainly fish these lines with confidence!

Air tangles are a problem that lure fishers experience regularly, and i hear anglers blame the problem on lines as well as reels all the time. Unfortunately the style of fishing most guy's are doing these days lays a lot of line on the reel very lightly and at times in small loops with the retreive styles used. The result is after repeat casting the line eventually comes off the spool in a cluster and results in a tangle.
It is something we are coing to have to put up with for now until a new line is developed to compensate for not winding line onto the spool under some pressure.

As for knot strength and life span, i have been using the line for a couple of months now and it has been fantastic.
Only time will tell on the durability, but i certainly havn't had to replace mine yet!

Cheers Bunga...

[Newby]

Awsome, thanks for that. Getting some good information so far.

[Gaffer]

I just bought some crystal fireline in err... 1lb which I intend to use with 3lb Nitlon leader when the fish are really spooky.

What was I thinking

Having only ever been fotunate enough to hook one jew whilst fishing in this style... I can just imagine that my hook up and bust off rate will increase dramatically now

[AdrianK]

If a line says "test" on the box, it has been tested (like every 300m) to ensure it breaks EXACTLY AT the designated strain, so if you want to claim a record for the line weight class, it is accurate. Most lines we fish with are not "test", and will be AT LEAST as strong as the line class, and usually is much stronger.
That's my understanding, anyway. I am however wrong at least as often as I am right in most things!

[Yardi]

Howdy Newby,
I have been using the Crystal 4lb fairly solidly for about a month now.
IMO it is great value for money line, I like the idea of adding more stealth i.e. making the line and leader harder for the fish to see.
It takes a bit of getting used to if you have been fishing a coloured braid, as it is difficult to see where the line lays in the water.
At this stage I would say IMO its comparable to the Finns and Super braid, not any worse or any better when it comes to wind knots, strength etc.
Give it a whirl, I dont think you will be dissapointed
Yardi

[Newby]

G'day Gaffer, AdrianK and Yardi.

*Whipes Sleep Away From Eye's.*

Gaffer:
"I just bought some crystal fireline in err... 1lb which I intend to use with 3lb Nitlon leader when the fish are really spooky"

You're game lol. I just recently took my 4lb flurocarbon off and replaced it with some 6lb because I was too scared it would break easily, and I wouldn't have that much power over the fish. 1lb line is insane lol, I wish I was that good.

Gaffer:
"Having only ever been fotunate enough to hook one jew whilst fishing in this style... I can just imagine that my hook up and bust off rate will increase dramatically now"

I've never hooked into a nice Jewfish whilst flicken plastics around, but you've been fishing a long time longer than me. If you hook into another one, and actually catch it with 1lb line I'll praise you as a fishing god.

AdrianK:
"If a line says "test" on the box, it has been tested (like every 300m) to ensure it breaks EXACTLY AT the designated strain, so if you want to claim a record for the line weight class, it is accurate. Most lines we fish with are not "test", and will be AT LEAST as strong as the line class, and usually is much stronger"

Great, that "Test" thing was annoying the hell out of me. Couldn't figure out what it ment. I'm definently going to buy some 4lb Crystal Fireline now, if I get 4lb if I'm really lucky it could be the strengh of 6lb line with an awsome diamater.

AdrianK:
"That's my understanding, anyway. I am however wrong at least as often as I am right in most things!"

You're not wrong most times. I've been reading alot of threads latley and your information is always helpful and correct. You've helped me with your replys, for example. Right now lol.

*Great name by the way *

Yardi:
"I have been using the Crystal 4lb fairly solidly for about a month now"

Thats awsome, I'll send you a PM also with some questions about it. Can you tell me how long it takes for it to fluff up like most people have been saying?

Yardi:
"IMO it is great value for money line, I like the idea of adding more stealth i.e. making the line and leader harder for the fish to see.
It takes a bit of getting used to if you have been fishing a coloured braid, as it is difficult to see where the line lays in the water."

Its good priced only $5 more than normal Fireline, can't go wrong in my books. As for the stealth thing I've never used anything but clear lines except for when I bought some 6lb green normal Fireline. But I didn't really find much difference in that when I was using a clear leader.

Thanks for all that lol, I'm awake now

Cheers, Newby.

[PMac]

I like the sound of 1lb for flats Does the crystal have the same "feel" as previous Fireline?
Thanks
Pmac

[AdrianK]

Forget 1lb - find some sturdy spiderweb in the garden and wind that onto your spool.

[Newby]

G'day PMac and AdrianK,

PMac:
"I like the sound of 1lb for flats Does the crystal have the same "feel" as previous Fireline?
Thanks
Pmac"

To me it's got a totally different feel. Can't really describe it, it's just nice lol. Haha, I'm a great help aren't I?

Don't answer that

AdrianK:
"Forget 1lb - find some sturdy spiderweb in the garden and wind that onto your spool."

I think I'll pass on that

[Gaffer]

Originally posted by AdrianK
Forget 1lb - find some sturdy spiderweb in the garden and wind that onto your spool.

Nah mate... I don't like Spiderwire

I like the sound of 1lb for flats

Me too... although I took some convincing at the time... Right Shauno? . I still wonder if I should have bought 2lb really just for that peace of mind factor.

I don't see myself wrestling a horse from heavy structure on this stuff, but it may prove invaluable on the flats.

I was fairly convinced about the Crystal stuff when Dagga fished with it as my NB on day one of the Adelaide comp. He did really well on it coupled with a light leader and some baby vibes.

I used to think high line visibility was essential when fishing with softies, but I couldn't help but think that the fish were thinking how nice and pink my line was too. Even with a 3m leader

On day 2 I dropped my leader size and fished with much older fireline that had lost a lot of its colour and had a much better day catching heaps of fish... but only 3 legals... dropped a lot though

I am yet to even put the crystal fireline on my reel, but I will be trying it out either at the Vicbream comp in Nelson, or maybe on the port river if I get a practice session in. That's if her indoors says I'm allowed out to play!

[Newby]

'ello,

Gaffer:
"or maybe on the port river if I get a practice session in. That's if her indoors says I'm allowed out to play!"

Just curious, but where in the Port River do you go for a "Play" lol. I've been trying under the Brikenhead bridge and I've been getting zilch.

I've been fishing down the Port Adelaide Rowing Club these last few days and I've had a few good hits but, yet again nothing. I hooked into a nice one, got it right up *wait for it...* *Twang* Farg! I wasn't using a leader though so that'd probbably have helped lol.

Cheers.

[Gaffer]

You sould be scoring fish under the birk and all around the front of the birkenhead tavern.

If you're there at the right time of day and you have everything right tackle wise, you should get fish.

Change plastics, HB's, retrieves etc until something happens... and take note of what you were doing when it happened so you can do it again.

Trial and error mate. You can only learn so much online, the best lessons come from being there.

With this style of fishing you have to think a lot more than when you're soaking a bait sitting on a deck chair... you're now more like a hunter, and in order to to get your quarry you need to learn the art of deception.

Gaff