Thread: 30lb braid breaking at 8lb

I recently purchased some 2nd reels and wanted to know for sure what their line strengths were, some had mono and others with braid. I first measured the line and compared those measurements with online charts, I also decide to check lines from new pre-spooled reels. Then I rigged a strength tester using a small chain block hang from the garage roof, large fish scales attached to the bottom of the chain block and a 20kg weight to hold the line test pieces in place. The mono lines on all the 2nd hand reels broke more or less at the strengths the online charts stated. The reels with braid however broke far below the rated strength, according to the charts. What I believed to be 30 and 20lb braid broke around 8lb, some of the braid look a little old but one reel had brand new braid which had never been used. Is it normal for braid to break that far below what it should?

Some of the new reels I tested were three new Okuma Revenger reels, the RV30 with advertised 12lb mono, RV55 with 20lb and RV80 with 30lb. No, the 12lb line broke at 8lb, the 20lb broke at 16 and the 30lb broke at 22lb. These results were quite disappointing.

The lines on the new Shimano IX and Fishtech reels I have broke at their advertised strength. Good.

Braid normally breaks at higher breaking strains than advertised. What knots are you using?

Originally Posted by MB

Braid normally breaks at higher breaking strains than advertised. What knots are you using?

I was tying surgeons knots at both end but the lines were breaking between the knots. I tested each line three times and only one test broke at the knot.

Originally Posted by Three O'Three

I was tying surgeons knots at both end but the lines were breaking between the knots. I tested each line three times and only one test broke at the knot.

If the braid is breaking predictably and you can live with a reduced breaking strain, then OK, otherwise bin it.

Braid does decay over time had it happen a few times, how old is it

Is it definitely braid and not dacron?
Dacron deteriorates.

Maybe it was UV damaged. You could try half unspooling it and trying some that hasn't been exposed to light but then I don't suppose you only want half a reel of braid I would chuck it all and respool everything. Last thing you need is to be unsure on the line as you are trying to land a good fish

just a thought is it the test you are giving it- to much to soon instead of a steady increased loading but I suspect deterioration to be one factor

My understanding is that braid doesn't degrade. I can't find a single reference that says it does and this reflects my experience. I have braid on reels that I don't use from one year to the next and it's in top condition. That said, braid is easily damaged by rocks and shitty rod guides.

okay MB you could well be right I do know mono does but braid is a very different beast -- would not hurt to have a look at the guides though - with kids I run a 1/2 in piece of jandal on line ( just drill a hole thru ) above swivel - stops them cranking the swivel into top guide -

Originally Posted by MB

My understanding is that braid doesn't degrade. I can't find a single reference that says it does and this reflects my experience. I have braid on reels that I don't use from one year to the next and it's in top condition. That said, braid is easily damaged by rocks and shitty rod guides.

I have had seen rotten braid, could snap it by hand piece of piece, was on my mates bait runner

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

okay MB you could well be right I do know mono does but braid is a very different beast -- would not hurt to have a look at the guides though - with kids I run a 1/2 in piece of jandal on line ( just drill a hole thru ) above swivel - stops them cranking the swivel into top guide -

I do the same with a soft rubber bead.

Yeah I'm sure its all braid, not dacron, The braid on two of the reels looks a little faded, the other two the braid is brand new, never used, could be cheap braid. I might just cut my loses and get them respooled with top quality braid.

Originally Posted by Three O'Three

Yeah I'm sure its all braid, not dacron, The braid on two of the reels looks a little faded, the other two the braid is brand new, never used, could be cheap braid. I might just cut my loses and get them respooled with top quality braid.

Probably for the best. Short story. A mate bought a secondhand rod and reel and was told to change the line. He didn't. I was teaching him to softbait and he hooked a kingfish. This is a guy who has fished all his life and never landed a kingfish. He really wanted that fish. Anyway, we were fishing over sand, so no drama, the fish ran and ran. Spool was emptying fast and it became apparent that the braid had some shitty old mono underneath it as backing. Guess what happened as soon as the backing knot came off the spool? He was gutted.

Originally Posted by MB

Probably for the best. Short story. A mate bought a secondhand rod and reel and was told to change the line. He didn't. I was teaching him to softbait and he hooked a kingfish. This is a guy who has fished all his life and never landed a kingfish. He really wanted that fish. Anyway, we were fishing over sand, so no drama, the fish ran and ran. Spool was emptying fast and it became apparent that the braid had some shitty old mono underneath it as backing. Guess what happened as soon as the backing knot came off the spool? He was gutted.

Poor bugger. Thanks for that story, yeah I'm definitely gonna get these reels respooled, not gonna take any chances. Do tackle shops do it for you? The only ones close to me are Smartmarine and Burnsco. Doubt Burnsco will?