I’ve long been converted to braid for my lure fishing due to its limpness, low diameter and above all low stretch. The first two properties increase casting distance, whilst the latter is a godsend for feeling knocks, whether caused by fish, the bottom or even weeds.
However one of the disadvantages is braid’s poor resistance to abrasion. It’s usually way inferior to nylon in this respect – despite what many suppliers claim! My own gravel pits at Wingham are full of bars and flints, and as a result no braid has lasted more than a few months before needing replacement – and some only one trip!
That is until now. In fact, I’m still using the same spools of Bullet Braid as I started with in the autumn, and so I’m certainly impressed!
Unlike most of its competitors Bullet Braid sinks, although only just. This could well be helpful for hooklengths when carping etc, and I thought it might mean less of a bow in the line when lure fishing, and thus increased sensitivity. However, I can’t say I’ve noticed any improvement here, and the downside is that it’s thicker in diameter, which adversely affects casting. Having said that, the breaking strain seems very conservative, and my tests showed it was consistently much stronger than it says on the box, even when knotted. Bear this in mind when choosing which breaking strain to buy.
I haven’t tried it for carping, but for lure fishing on snaggy waters Bullet Braid is the best line I’ve used to date. Because it’s been aimed at the carp market lure anglers seem to have missed it so far. It’ll be interesting to see how it compares with the latest generation of braids that lure fishing friends have already tried. However, they’ll have to go some to get me to change from Bullet Braid!
Available in nominal breaking strains of 15, 20 & 25lbs (but remember they are very conservative), 200 metre spools cost £19.95 and 350 metre spools £34.99.
Steve Burke
Copyright Steve Burke 2002
