Lead Core Line Review

[Outfishing13]

This past spring I put Tuf-Line lead core on my Ambaseur reels. Boy was I disappointed in the quality of the line. If it even got a little twist in it (from tangles or fish) that kinked the line the lead core would poke out. Snagging the bottom and stretching the line causes issues if the lead broke. It would poke out and not like going through the eyelets on the pole

My cousin has had Gudebrod on his reel for ten years with no problems. But, alas, Gudebrod no longer makes lead core fishing line (I couldn't find any online anywhere.)

Recently went fishing on Deer Creek and had a great time. We did get one small tangle when a little fish tangled our lines. I undid the tangle and my Tuf-Line broke when I just barely tugged on it! So I tied a good knot in it and with just a small amount of pressure the knot would break. I am talking about around 3-5 pounds of pull on a 12-18 pound lead core that is just 8 months old. Junk.

So I am taking that line off and will send it back to the company with my opinion.

I shopped around and decided to go with Sufix lead core, since it had the best reviews. The reviews for the Cabela's lead core was not to favorable.

What has your experience been with lead core lines? What brand has been good for you?


By the way, Deer Creek did well for us on Saturday.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Wish I knew what kind I have on my pole now it is pretty good, but I have had the same experience as you have with other line... Got down to the Gorge and had Kokes tearing my line up and lost a lot of tackle.... So I would be very interested in what the good stuff is because I want to set up another lead core pole.... Thanks for setting up the topic... J
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[Outfishing13]

I put the Sufix on my pole last night and hope to have it in the water this Sat. I will come back and post my findings for you. I bought mine on Amazon for the same retail price offered at the store and shipping was free. I will let you know what I think of it when I test it thoroughly.

I guess Tuf-line must have had a lot of complaints since they changed their line and moved from a dacron type poly and went with a kevlar braid. But it is a lot more expensive. I still don't trust it though.

Just a little searching shows the following brands out there:
Bass Pro - MagiBraid
Cabela's brand
Sufix
Tuf-Line
Woodstock - good reviews on Amazon
Mason - good reviews on Amazon
Cortland Kerplunk - a few positive reviews on Amazon


From reading the reviews, MagiBraid has some of the same problems that Tuf-line has... the lead core will poke out of the braid sheath... Cabela's has the same problem.

I really think the problem is, these line companies are going with Chinese manufactures. Even the Sufix, which is a Rapala brand is maid in Taiwan... hopefully the QC and testing the company has done will ensure the quality...

What happened to good stuff made in the USA!?
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[SkunkedAgain]

Nice break down on what is out there.... I think my bad stuff was from Cabela's come to think of it....(which is strange, usually Cabela's has really good quality gear.) The line I have on now is really old stuff I had twenty plus years ago and the colors are fading so it's hard to tell the difference in colors, but it still lands lots of fish and bad line I had was my newest stuff so I haven't been in a hurry to replace the old stuff... Yup quality is worth five or ten bucks more versus losing one set of tackle at $7 per flasher and $5 per lure.... Don't take long to make up for poor quality line... Later J
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[BearLakeFishGuy]

I've always used Mason lead core line and it has been great. Never any problems like you described above. I used to use it for handlining for walleye back in Michigan and now I use it occasionally for trolling for lake trout at Bear Lake. Tough stuff. Oh, I use the 27 lb test.
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[drowning_flys]

My wife me and my daughter all fish with lead core, we bought western filament for my pole and the wife's and it was junk colors were gone within one season and kinks as well as lead breaking and sticking out. My daughters pole was purchased a little later and all they had was Cortland lead core. That is a fantastic product she is still going on it and no fade of colors or twists breaks. I bought enough last month to re spool our poles this spring []
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