Power Pro Spectra Question

[grey zone]

30lb mono joined by 38 turns of 65lb Power Pro in a Albright knot and the spectra breaks six times in a consistant location by the knot, something is not right. I use 50lb Power Pro and combine it with either 30,40 or 50lb Maxima and the mono almost always loses when tested. Not meaning to criticize, I would seriously consider your knot tying technique as the problem since the Power Pro tested out.

[esdees]

Can you tell how much pressure you're putting on the line before it snaps? It's hard to tell from the picture, but that mono looks heavier than 30. It might help to have someone watch over your shoulder.

[1Flatfish]

Is it possible that your power pro is breaking at its rating, but the mono is actually much stronger than its rating? In other words, you would expect the mono/spectra combo to fail somewhere around 30 lbs. But actually, it didn't fail until you put 65 lbs. or more pressure on it. You actually got better than expected...and your knots held! The only problem is you WANT the combo to fail at the mono. What to do? I used to use the spectra/mono combo, but am slowly migrating back to straight mono or fluorocarbon depending on the application.

[THE DARKHORSE]

But I think this experiment is flawed by the length of the two lines that are being used. It all comes down to stretch, and with two feet of spectra (with no stretch) and two feet of flouro (that stretches a little), the flouro is doing it's job and the spectra is too. All of the pressure in your experiment is on the spectra, not the flouro.

I've heard people talk crap on Power Pro (power pop as some refer to it), but I've never had a failure with my two year old 65 lb Power Pro, works for me. Especially if it tested out on the scale at the shop, end of story.

[Billy V]

Originally Posted by THE DARKHORSE

But I think this experiment is flawed by the length of the two lines that are being used. It all comes down to stretch, and with two feet of spectra (with no stretch) and two feet of flouro (that stretches a little), the flouro is doing it's job and the spectra is too. All of the pressure in your experiment is on the spectra, not the flouro.

I've heard people talk crap on Power Pro (power pop as some refer to it), but I've never had a failure with my two year old 65 lb Power Pro, works for me. Especially if it tested out on the scale at the shop, end of story.

You have a point.
Just for the hell of it, tomorrow I will tie the Power pro to the left over stretched out mono I used in my test to see what happens.

Its clear Ande Mono I tested.
I just noticed the seaguar floro label in the pic, but that was used for a few leaders I was mocking up earlier.

[T-Rex]

Where did you buy your Power Pro? I've never had a problem with the 65# Power Pro I bought at Squidco a few years ago. I understand there was and maybe still is a lot of counterfeit Power Pro being sold on eBay.

[THE DARKHORSE]

The most important aspect of the experiment is that your knots held up, go back to the lab "if you lose a fish from spectra failure".

The best experiments are done while floating on a piece of plastic, go fishing .

[j mo]

Hi Billy,

Josh is correct about the line lengths. In a normal situation the "stretch" Josh refers to is being absorbed over a long distance ( hopefully with a on the other end). That distance is key as pressure is distributed over the length of the line. In your experiment the pressure has only a few feet to travel across, which I think could be part of your "test" problem.

The other aspect you might want to consider is doing a blind test. Testing each line independently to see if you achieve a break point similar to the manufacturers to rule out bad batch.

Here are a couple of good links that you might find helpful.
http://www.stripersonline.com/surfta...d.php?t=497830
http://www.sportfishingmag.com/article.jsp?ID=43557

best,
Josh

[Billy V]

Originally Posted by esdees

Can you tell how much pressure you're putting on the line before it snaps? It's hard to tell from the picture, but that mono looks heavier than 30. It might help to have someone watch over your shoulder.

Its #30, The flash from the camera is reflecting on the line.
-It makes me wonder how much the Mono will take before breaking. It some durable stuff.

I'm going to buy myself a spring scale on ebay.

[Billy V]

Originally Posted by grey zone

30lb mono joined by 38 turns of 65lb Power Pro in a Albright knot and the spectra breaks six times in a consistant location by the knot, something is not right. I use 50lb Power Pro and combine it with either 30,40 or 50lb Maxima and the mono almost always loses when tested. Not meaning to criticize, I would seriously consider your knot tying technique as the problem since the Power Pro tested out.

No offense taken.
The knots never failed in any of the 6 times I tied the mono to the spectra. They didn't even deform, I was able to untie the san diego jam knot in the mono with a small pic. I was also able to untie the double palomar knot on the spectra end.

It didn't break by the knot.
It was always the spectra that failed somewhere near the middle of its length.

There must be some weak spots in the spectra to cause it to break first.
-------------------------------
The mono was bulk Ande #30 that has been fished a dozen times.
In the pic the top palomar knot has been untied from the metal ring, so the line appears longer.