the reports i recieve shows , that the black waters floro carbon catches 50% more fish is this true and has anyone tried it yet. debating on seagar or try this blackwater stuff, whateya think.

I've also heard it looks good. Catches 50% more fish? I think not.

how can you explain, what with the 50%.

Gimme a break. There have been no conclusive tests demonstrating anything like that. What? A Blackwater sponsored trip caught 50% more fish than the prior and next trips? People fishing Blackwater on the same trip caught more fish than those using other brands? There are plenty of fishermen out there that will catch 50% more than me with no fluoro at all just because they're a lot better fishermen.

That being said I'm going to give it a try.

I'm with you Mark. We are now stocking the product and will update the website this week to reflect that. But, to separate hype from fact a little explanation of the product's benefit seems appropriate. Fluorocarbon leader material is stiff and does not stretch much. With more experienced anglers opting to run shorter top-shots these characteristics prove not so advantagous. The trick with the Black Water FL line is that it offers a bit of stretch. That's a unique characterisitic! It's a better product for folks trying to run straight Fluorocarbon leader on top of the mono at 25-50 yard lengths.

(The other angle that made us interested in Black Water was their 16 strand spectra. This stuff is much nicer, but pricier, than the typical 12 strand product. It's an advantage for folks running mono/Fl inside the spectra for the connection -ala Sato crimp and served connections.)

So, back to the comparison that was mentioned, it is indeed possible that there was a 50% higher catch rate, but I'd be willing to bet that a big part of that improved catch came from running a shorter topshot ~25-50 yds on top of spectra. The advantage of this rig is less line drag and better swimming bait which promotes better presentation and can indeed result in more fish caught on a competitive rail.

GS<
MS

So disreguarding price, the blackwater 16 strand spectra is better than any 12 strand spectra? Does anyone else make 16 strand spectra? What is the benefit of extra strands? Any downsides?

Is the Black water Fluoro better than the competition or is it too early to tell? How much is determined by personal preference?

Good questions, and I don't have great answers for you...yet. BW has the only 16 strand spectra on the market. It's advantages are that it's much easier to work with for inserting mono. I personally believe that with 16 strands it will cinch down better under pressue, thus making for a better connection (again, only an issue when you run the mono/fl inside the spectra).

The big benefits to their FL line is probably only pertinent to folks opting to run the short topper over Spectra. When using 3' or so of Fl tied directly to a longer length of mono there's probably no big difference - you've got some stretch. In the case of their FL line, it is very price competitive. So, I think on this one a lot of folks we know and trust will give it a try and then we can both gain some good feedback.

GS<
MS
---------Point of clarification, Black Water is NOT SPECTRA (by definition, licensing, and material used). Also, it is not the only 16 strand product on the market. JB's 60 is also 16 strand for instance.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Chark,

Sounds good to me.

I think you are right on the money Chark, there will definetly be a better grip on the mono due to the increase in surface area of the extra strands.

Tuffline ( Western Filament) just sent me some 18 strand hollowcore spectra samples 40,60 and 80lb. 300 yards of each. They were on my doorstep when I returned tonight.
I had spoken with the young man @ Charkbait last week concerning hollow spectra and doing some linechanging. But wound up spending the whole day @ the docks checking out my accomadations for the next 4 months.
If he reads this board and still wants to do some linechanging and is handy with the splicing needle i'll run it over and ya"ll can check it out. I would have posted earlier but was out on the BG90 the last 2 days getting some yellers fer din-din and just got in.

Regards,
MMM

Is this a promo by tuffline that anyone can do?

We'll be doing some comparison tests on this one too. FYI, after spending time on the phone with their sales manager, the TuffLine Hollowcore is 16 strand, not 18. Same as for the BW, but the dynema is a different material, a bit thinner in diameter (stated). Proof's in the pudding, so we'll be playing with 'em.

GS<
MS

Mark - I'll stop by the shop this weekend - need to check this stuff out.

I have had the good fortune to have used Blackwater Hollow 50# - 16 strand. This product is very smooth to work with. Best I have ever used. With the 16 strand there is more hold capacity on my fluoro top shot. I find I do not have to run the top shot in the hollow as far, then I serve the connection. The 50# is great to splice 15# - 60# top shots. If you are looking for small hollow that is easy to work with this stuff is for you.

Recently I had a trip to the high sierra's and I used Blackwater (Toray's) "Upgrade" Fluoro 3# & 4#. It was very strong and held up every well with limits of fish on the same leader. I use the same Fluoro but 4# & 6# for my kayak fishing in the SD bay with great results.

I put a 25 meter topshot of Blackwater 40# Flouro on my JX 6/3 and fished it on a recent 8 day and I DO NOT recommend it. Wiry, lotsa memory, and it seemed to drag the bait. It caught 100% of nothing for me and got ditched for Seaguar.

WreckinBall, which 8 day were you on? And did you switch to the old Seagur in the roll (stuff sucks) or the new stuff in the box?
MMM