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NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE |
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The 9 Lives of Line |
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Available in August, XBRAID’s new FULLDRAG X9 brings big game fishing the pinnacle in 9-strand braided line technology and advanced manufacturing techniques |
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FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 14, 2024) – Not so long ago, 8-strand – aka 8-carrier – braided lines were all the range. New offerings were popping up like prairie dogs. Now, legitimate fishing line brands offer at least one 8-strand variety. But no, 8-carriers weren’t enough. It was inevitable that somebody would push the envelope and develop a 9 strander. But like the goldrushes for who could pack the most ball-bearings in a reel or slap the most X’s on a graphite blank, smoke and mirrors are aplenty. Just because a spool reads 9-strand, doesn’t mean it’s worth the tiny cardboard box it’s packaged in. Fortunately, the fishing world has dependable and time-honored brands like XBRAID... Its parent company, Japan’s YGK, traces its lineage back to 1945 and the pioneering company’s first braided line to 1953 – spun threads for hand fishing. Over the decades, YGK has earned a reputation with anglers worldwide for producing the highest quality fishing lines, especially those sporting the XBRAID name. And now, the fishing line master craftsmen present XBRAID FULLDRAG X9, a technical and purposeful 9-carrier braided fishing line that surpasses all others. |
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Why 9-strand? DAIWA Field Marketing Manager, Chris Martin, explained. “Believe it or not, 8-strand braids do have one Achilles Heel,” teased Martin. “Over time, especially when subjected to big fish after big fish, an 8-strand braid can flatten, which can create a weak spot that encourages fraying. Flattened line doesn’t lay as smoothly and evenly on a spool, either. And when casting, the damaged line has more surface area to rub against the guides and blank. That means more friction.” On the other hand, XBRAID FULLDRAG X9 staunchly maintains roundness because of its novel 9-carrier construction. “It’s about how the 9 strands are configured rather than just the inclusion of one extra strand,” said Martin. “With XBRAID FULLDRAG X9, 8-carriers are wrapped with exactness around a center strand, which acts as the line’s inner core and fortifies the line’s longtime roundness.” The rounder profile is also smoother and more compact, which reduces friction against the guides for quieter, longer, and more accurate casts. Moreover, stretching is further minimized, delivering heightened sensitivity for better bite detection and more effective hooksets. The tightly woven construction and high-quality fibers provide increased resistance to abrasion, too. |
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The hits just keep on coming… The dense 9-strand composition of XBRAID FULLDRAG also greatly reduces water absorption and twist, while the all-bonded body also reduces drag in the water and improves casting distance. And, remarkably, XBRAID FULLDRAG X9 has a narrower diameter than 8-strand lines of the same pound test – despite the extra strand – to maximize line capacity on the reel without sacrificing strength. Before the braiding ever begins, XBRAID FULLDRAG X9 filaments are formulated with the best raw material on earth. For years, braided lines woven with Dyneema® were considered the most advanced, but that’s changed since XBRAID brought IZANAS® to the fishing market. The ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material has the highest strength and modulus of any manmade fiber. How strong? Try nearly 8 times stronger than piano wire of the same weight. “Beyond IZANAS being an unrivaled base material, it’s how individual weights of the entire XBRAID family are manufactured that makes them far superior to the competition,” said Martin. “Other companies take a single base material and stretch it to achieve the desired diameter and weight. This creates inconsistencies, which can lead to weak spots.” Uniquely, each diameter and weight of XBRAID FULLDRAG X9 is produced from a dedicated spool. So, for example, if 10-pound FULLDRAG X9 is the desired final weight, the base material fiber is 10-pound. No stretching or thinning that can create irregularities. Some brands will literally stretch a heavier strand to achieve a lower pound test, which dramatically jeopardizes integrity. Martin goes on to underscore the weaving process employed for all XBRAID lines. “The actual weaving machines are proprietary and built in-house to create the ‘WX Weave’. In the traditional weaving processes used by other brands, the line comes off multiple bobbins. That means in a 9-strand weave there are 9-bobbins spitting out line. That results in line twist and irregularities.” |
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With XBRAID’s “top secret” WX Weave, the strands come together uniformly to yield exceptional consistency. Moreover, the XBRAID process produces a denser weave – 1.5 X the competition – with more material in the finished product. That tighter weave results in a smoother, more abrasion resistant, and exceptionally sensitive fishing line. The meticulous process also takes twice as long as the competition, and anglers are the beneficiaries of the patient process. Additionally, XBRAID’s WX Weave generates a rounder and slightly stiffer line. This modest amount of stiffness makes it much easier to handle and tie, nearer how monofilament feels. This manageability translates into fewer bird’s nests on the cast, too. But if you happen to snarl, the micro stiffness makes it much easier to untangle the knot. XBRAID FULLDRAG X9 is a champion with deep jigging and trolling applications. “Although I expect FULLDRAG X9 to gain popularity with anglers of all stripes, it was developed for big game and long fights,” said Martin. “Those are environments where over time, heavy use combined with big fish can flatten the average braided line.” According to Martin, key applications include deep vertical jigging, trolling, and night fishing in saltwater. In freshwater, he sees great opportunities for trolling salmon and trout on the Great Lakes and long-lining walleyes across the northern states and throughout Canada, day and night. What do all these applications have in common? A need for metered line. “XBRAID FULLDRAG X9 is color metered every 33-feet, making it easy to count out distance by the 100’s of feet,” said Martin. “Pretty simple – every three colors equal 100-feet.” Those colors are vibrant, too, lending high visibility during lowlight periods – colors being white, red, green, pink and blue. |
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XBRAID FULLDRAG X9 FEATURES:
Available in 11 weights:
MSRP $35.99 to $349.99 |
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For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: CSR@Daiwa.com. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us |
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