Berkley x9 Braid Fishing Line

I've been fishing with braids for years, and there's MANY brands out there now, almost too many to choose from. And now the latest entrants are the 8 strand and 9 strand.The advantages of braid are apparent, the one thing I like best about braids is the NO stretching, it REALLY makes a huge difference on hook setting and feeling those pesky nibblers. In fact, if I fish with mono or Fluro on a reel, it's almost like I can't imagine how I didn't notice the stretch on those over the years. Hook setting is instant and the castability with Braid is second to none.This X9 braid is very nice and casts very well, it's also nice cause it doesn't flatten out over time. Is that a huge issue? Probably not, but the round shape retention could possibly affect castability and distance over time, so I like to think it matters in the end. Good product and has upheld to saltwater conditions so far.NOW, you also have inherent challenges with braid, especially on spinning reels. You can, over time, develop wind knots, which is basically like a small tangle which turns into a tangle, in line, when you're casting. You'll feel it when it happens, as it abruptly goes through your eyelets and lets you know you have one. Hold up your rod to the sky and reel in, you'll find it. You may have to splice or remove a head section of line if it happens. SOMETIMES you can just pull on the knot, from both sides, and it'll clear itself, other times they don't and you have to cut them out. If you do cut them out, roll up the extra line and keep it with you, don't leave it outdoors or on the beach, not good for wildlife or critters that could get tangled in it.One way to avoid wind knots is to not load the spinning reel up to the very limit of the edge, leave about 3mm's behind the spool face. Also, when you get to the water, do a few casts, gradually in distance, and get the line wet, that helps too..Another challenge is the ability of the line to cut you. If you're using 40 pound or more it's not as bad, but if you're using 8, 10, 20 or 30 pounds, pulling hard enough and you could cut yourself so be careful on that.FWIW I also use braids (heavy braids) for fly line backing too. I mean, why not? You get a 75 or 90 pound braid and it's inexpensive, much MUCH stronger than Dacron and comes in longer lengths, it doesn't rot and it's cheaper..

It really is the best braid on the market. 9 strands yet it's thinner than a lot of 8 strand braids. It's super smooth and super strong, works great. Since it's so thin and light I can cast it super far with ease. However this also means it's not super visible in most lighting conditions. I guess that may be a good thing, as far as fishing line goes you don't want it to be too visible. All this being said I still think the price is a bit steep...

The best braid I have ever purchased

Decent line

Unbelievably smooth and castable, pluse ultra low visability under water.One of my 3 go to choices for my reels. No unfavorable issues, which means no headaches and more fishing.lets face it, braid is braid except for smoothness, tight weaves which create good spooling, and castability. Other than that braid strength, sensitivity, no stretch, and durability is almost the same for braids across the board.. Priced resonable for the quality. Crystal (white) almost invisable underwater. sometimes knot tying with white is a little more of a challange, but not a factor to me

Great value. I would purchase this Again and again

X9 30#, 15# seems to wind on the spools entirely than other brands PPro,Suffix,Jbraid with same capacity spool. The yellow is great visibility and has not affected the fish I target. Equal or better line strength from my uses and pulling out from snags. I had on a stingray 15# X9 with 20# mono leader fluking and the mono before the knot at the hook broke off before the braid did, a testament to its strength. I don’t think it’s abrasion resistance is as good as Suffix or PPro. Jetty fishing stripers I don’t recall touching anyrocks slightly landing one.. I lost a needle fish lure casting where the line snapped above the leader swivel or possible my casting spot on the line caused a break. I cutoff a few yards periodically to avoid that spot fraying. I can recommend X9 without hesitation it works as well as other big brands or better and I get it cheaper on sale.

Decently smooth and durable casts good but is severly prime to getting wind knots.