Looking for a SUNLINE 101

[Pred]

Can someone post the types and applications of Sunline?

There seem to be a number of products with different pricing etc. Can someone clear up what the differences are? and what each type performs like? IE abrasion, sensitivity, castablity, etc

[big_gorilla]

You should probably PM either Ray L or Gary Collings they are the resident experts on Sunline.

[Brian Linehan]

Check out Tackletour. I believe they did a huge write up that would answer all of your questions.

[Pred]

Thanks guys. I wonder if it would be worth an sticky or something to get some background on some of the stuff we all fish with or are thinking of trying. That way we have a background on the product instead of a shameless plug

I for one would like opinions and reviews on lots of stuff. I know tackletour does a great job, but I'd like to see the laymans thoughts.

[Ray L.]

Tackle tour is great for most of the info you are asking about.
As far as Sunline there are a lot of products besides fluro.
As far as fluro.
There are multiple types of that.
You can go from basic f.c. to siglon to sniper to shooter.
Basic F.C. is hard to find but it is what it says. Basic Fluro.
Siglon is the next generation up from that. Siglon is a good allaround.
Sniper is great for light line aplications. I myself prefer it 10 pound and under. It has less stretch than the siglon or the basic fc. Many people strickly use it. The price is good and within many peoples budget.
It is the 3rd. generation fluro from Sunline and is just great stuff for allaround use.
Shooter is the top of the ladder.
It is the highest of there quality. I use it most of the time.
I would not tell you to buy it first time out unless you have some expierience with fluro.
It is stiffer than all the rest therefore you hookset changes according.
It is the most abrassion restant of all the lines I mentioned. Shooter is also the highest technology on the market. Once you understand it more you will see why. It just takes a little time to get used to but once you do it is by far some of the best on the market.
I am not trying to push a sponsor here just telling you what you asked I think.
Also go to this website and you can see the process
www.srtroutsupply.com

Now as far as other products there are many. Machine gun is great stuff for ripping but you must have control of your reel. It is some of the smoothest stuff to come off a reel but at the same time if you are not on your game you will have some problems. I know a bunch of fishermen who swear by it for rippn' and cranking.
Defier is a nylon product that has some stretch to it for cranking and other techniques. Defier is just incredible stuff. I can't say enough about it. It casts a mile and the diameter is second to none. It is a line I try and get many people to try for topwater and other techniques with hard baits. Like big cranks and such.
For topwater I know the in thing is braid with a topshot of mono but for me and the way I like to topwater fish I like the stretch. I make long long casts with a super spook or vixen or nay other big walking bait and I like to work the bait fast. When a fish hits it at a long distance I set and still have some stretch for the fish to take the bait down. I rarely loose fish this way and as many of the guys on this board know I fish topwater fast and all day when I can. Like Shasta in the fall or Mead or even Isabella in that summer wind.
Please though make up your own mind by going to tackle tour and other places such as SR trout to see the technology. You can also go to Sunline Japan if you read Japanese and learn a lot.
Still the best way is to cave in and get some line. You need to try it for yourself that way you can find out what you can and can't do with the lines.

[buddy brown]

What do you think about the yo-zuri hybrid? I've been using the 12 lb for jigs and worms and I still get bit at DVL w/ zero wind and clear water. I got a few spools of the 4 lb that I'm gonna try out. I do like the sunline FC snipa in 6 lb real good stuff and it doesn't shred on the guides after a few big fish like some flouro out there.

[Ray L.]

As far as Yo Zuri don't ask me. Never used it.
I have on the other hand used Sugoi, Torray and a couple of others.
If it works for you great. I am glad you found something you like.
Sniper is great stuff and it is what most at D.V.L. Use.
I know Kyle uses Sunline and I know a few others out there use it as well.
During the Ironman last year many of the guys were asking me if I had line with me.
I did and freely offered it up for guys to re spool up with.
If any of you ask and I have my line with me I will let you spool up and try most any of the Sunline products. I have most with me and am willing to spool up anyone. Just ask and if I have it you can try it.

[buddy brown]

Thanks Ray, You are the KING. What I'm really looking for is jig line for casting and pitchin 3/8 and 1/2 oz. jigs in brush and rock something you can beat down 6-8 lb fish without worrying about rocks and knot strength. I've never really used flouro for jigging only for d-shot.

[Ray L.]

never... Son you are missing the boat.
Try 12 pound sniper to start with.
Or maybe 14 pound. Unless you are talking about Havasu or the Delta or even Clear. Then try 16 to 25 pound test.

[Ray L.]

What am I doing.... I fish against you.
Hire me for a guide trip and I will give you all the info....

[buddy brown]

OK guide me on Casitas the week before the Reg. 7 there. I'll even throw in some Izorline first string in neon blue.

[Ray L.]

sure thing...
Casitas..... I hate the place....
Castaic, Piru, Pyramid, Perris and Havasu are the places I guide on....

[Ricky-S]

OK Ray I've got one for you.

It it true that Seaguar and Sunline are made at the same place?

I asked this question and was pretty surprised by the answer.

How would you compare the Seaguar to the Sunline?

[Ray L.]

Can't say.... not sure about that one....

[DL]

Why doesn't someone ask Ray about his new tank top?



PS Ray is telling the truth about letting people try Sunline. I hit him up at the Ironman at DV and he handed me a spool and said just return what you aren't going to use. Stuff is nice but out of my price range...after all, I own a Nitro

[jwick22]

I believe Sunline buys its raw materials from Seaguar.....

As Toray does also.......

I believe these two(Toray and Sunline) are made in the same factories....

I use to fish Seaguar...Great line.....now I use Sunline and it is definately in my opinion on the next level.......

I use the Sniper for all around apps.....The siglon in the bigger sizes for swimabaits.....The shooter for jigs and worms.......

The machine gun cast in my opinion is some of the best mono around.....Where this line excels in its thin diameter compared to its competitors.....Strong and Thin.........I use it for Carolina riggging, Topwater, crankin, and rippin......

But if you want the best for Crankin and rippin......Get the DEFIER.....NONE BETTER....in My opinion..........Silky smooth......Casts better then any line I have ever used............


HOPE THIS HELPS.....

JOHN

[hippie]

did rays wife cut out the racing stripe first

[DL]

Ya, but only so he could get the tank top over his head

[Pred]

Ray, you mentioned some drawbacks if you arent on your game. Do you mean stuff like a backlash or line breaking?

I'll probably try some shooter unless you recommend a different one

[gt5bass]

Pred,

My quick take:

• Sunline Shooter (fluorocarbon) for Jigs and most other bottom water column baits. Great strength, toughness, water resistance, high density and low stretch...very sensitive!

• Sunline Sniper FC (fluorocarbon) (10 and under) for Spinning and Finesse Applications. Bottom of the water column again

• Sunline Machine Cast (mono) for Cranking and Jerkin' dem Rip Baits. BTW this stuff can really fly off the reel ie. Casts Great! Just watch the backlashes if you over cast...they are a no no with this line. It does not like to be kinked due to the real small diameter.

• Sunline Shooter Defier (mono) for Top Water, upper water column and swimbaits. This stuff is the Bomb!

Like Ray, if you see me around and would like to try a spool of Sunline Products ask me. If I have my lines with me, I will spool ya up!

ps. A little thin on line right now as we are waiting for our 2008 bulkl orders to come in.
ps. ps. Yes, Sunline products can seem to be pricey but they have some of the longest reel life of any line I have used. I very rarely have to change out my lines until I start seeing/feeling my splice knot I find instead of changing my line every couple of weeks, it is every couple of months. And that was even while fishin' 40+ tournies for the '07 season!

[Guest]

Gary,

What kind of line size recommendations/types would you recommend for jig fishing, shakey head and drop shotting ultra clear waters like Lake Pleasant, AZ?

[gt5bass]

Vince,

I usually don't size my line up or down for water clarity. I usually size up or down based on Depth, the shallower, the heavier the line.

• Jigs - In most reservoir situations I pretty much use 14# Shooter for fishing 3/8 - 3/4 jigs. I will go down to 12# if I am primary fishin' over 25'

• Shakey Heads - I am an odd duck here...I never fish them on "skinny" line, I fish them on 10-14# Shooter. Yes, even in water with 20' visibility

• Drop Shot - Line weight is determined by depth. Baitcasters: 0-15' - 12# Shooter | 15-25' - 8# Shooter. Spinning: 0-15' - 10# Sniper | 15-25' - 8# Sniper | >25' - 5# Sniper

Hope this helps

[Pred]

Well I wasn't looking for a free spool up, but thanks a lot for the offer. I'll take ya up on it if I do.

I think I'll pick up some Shooter and see how it goes.

[Guest]

Thanks Gary that's the info I was looking for. By the time the WON comes around aside from a few areas I'll be fishing deeper than 25' and will give Sunline a try.

[drew]

What is the difference between Super FC Sniper and BMS FC Sniper?

[gt5bass]

What is the difference between Super FC Sniper and BMS FC Sniper?

Sunline BMS FC Sniper is the same as Super FC Sniper but with the addition of an alternating 2 inches of color, Fluorescent Pink and Orange every 2 feet.

[jsoregon]

Love Sunline! Gary and Jwick and the other guys know what they're talking about here.

Good luck...

[mark poulson]

Does the color go away under water?
I never understood color in flourocarbon line. Isn't the whole deal that it's invisible?
I tried the Berekly Transition, which is supposed to turn invisible underwater, and it peeled like a banana. Kind of put me off of colored flourocarbon.
Besides, I can see the line fine without the color, if it's only there to make it easier for us to see above water.
I don't get it, but, maybe it's just me.

[Pred]

if ANY line is peeling off check your guides. I wasted a 30.oo spool of flouro on a chipped guide. Worst thing was I was all mad at my Berkley Trans ( which I didnt like) put the seagar on and destroyed it too...all because of a chipped Guide


JB

[Oldschool]

You can check your guides using a cotton Q Tip. Slide the Q tip into the guide, rotate around a turn and slide back out. Any cracks will snag the cotton.
Todays guides are small and it's easy to miss the guide ring and slide the line between the frame brace instead. I watched my favorite Huddlestons fly about 50 yards and slash down after a load pop as the line was cut by a missed guide a few days ago. Oh darn it or something like that could be heard for a few miles.
Tom

[Kenneth Haring]

Take a look at Seagur, (Invisex) think I spelled that right. Any way for the price cant beat it. Casts great, I love the 15 and 20lb test. Tony Lain turned me on to it and it is far less than Sunline.