In my initial review of this new brand of lead core line, a significant and catastrophic issue surfaced.
Several other Sufix Advanced 832 lead core users also experienced this same problem, which was twist in the line. End result, shards of lead would break and poke through the sheath weakening it considerably.
I myself and many if not most other regular lead core users had always tied our leaders directly to the lead core and this is where the problem was said to originate. Things happen once you deploy you lure out behind the boat. Baits tick bottom, smack logs & rocks, pick up weeds, and especially when not tuned properly, tangle with other lines. All of which can cause a lure to spin. I have seen tangled lines and weeds picked up on the hooks of lures both cause severe spinning. In this case, spinning lures are extremely bad when tying leaders directly to the lead core.
The issue was said to be curable by adding a swivel between the lead core & the leader. I might add that the first person to mention the proper fix was “roadhunter”. He of 22 post on IDO at the time, called it correctly. I myself had doubts as I saw damage 2 colors down into my spool.
Since that time, I had new lead core provided to me free of charge by Rapala. (Normark Company)
As a matter of fact, they replaced it so quickly, I was able to re-spool three lines and continue to stay on top of what may be the best late spring bite we’ve ever seen on Lake Wisconsin.
I did the initial review after using Sufix 832 Advanced lead core for three full days. (30 hrs on the water)
The newly re-spooled lead core has now been used on my last seven guide trips consisting of one full day trip & six half day trips. Full day trips are 10hrs and half day trips are 5hrs so this new line now has 40hrs on the water. Granted, not every minute was spent with lead core in the water but trolling lead core was used 90% of the time on every one of those trips.
Results using a swivel between the leader & the lead core:
The Sufix 832 Advanced lead core line for the most part is still in pretty good shape. I did lose one full color off one of the lines but I can’t blame Sufix for that.
What happened is the swivel flipped over and became wrapped in the lead core, basically making it a leader without a swivel. Note to self: check the lines frequently!
Will I consider this line to be a good value for its price? ($29.99 per 100yds or 18lb test)
Tough question! The old lead core we ran was some pretty durable stuff and in the end, I imagine that’s what most of us will end up comparing it to. It wasn’t uncommon to run the old stuff for a year or more before it needed to be replaced. I’m not so sure this new Advanced lead core is going to make it that long before replacement becomes necessary.
But….on the other hand, this new Advanced lead core has some very unique advantages that someone who uses it a lot, can get used to pretty quickly.
With a sink rate of 7’ per color, you can get a lure down to 15’ with only slightly more than two colors behind the boat, (65′) where as the old lead core, required almost another full color to do that. (90’)
Let’s break some of the advantages down a little further.
Full day of trolling crank baits with lead core = 10hrs
Total fish caught from 15’ deep = 40
Sufix Advanced lead core behind the boat = 65’
Regular lead core behind the boat – 90’
Difference in line reeled in and let out per fish caught = 50’
Difference in line reeled in and let out for 40 fish = 2,000’
And that’s not even counting all the times you reel in and out just changing baits or cleaning lures or just to take a look at your lure because it’s not vibrating anymore.
2,000 feet…….are you serious! What if you were catching walleyes in 20’ of water?
As a guide or especially if you’re a tournament angler, can you really afford not to use this stuff?
That’s one heck of an advantage you’re giving the rest of the field.
The last thing I want to talk about concerning this new lead core is knots. Knots were always somewhat of a hassle and everyone had their favorite when it came to joining lead core & leaders.
Guess what? You may find yourself looking for a new knot once you decide to make the switch to Sufix Advanced lead core line. At least I did.
Always a fan of the Albright or Willis knot, I’ve learned the hard way that neither of these is not the knot I’ll be using with the new Advance lead core line. No, I didn’t lose a big one and neither did a client. I did however spend more than an hour trying to retie lines one Saturday night last week before the light went off in my head.
Trying to remove the lead from the sheath on used Sufix Advanced lead core is something you need to experience before you can fully understand what you’re up against.
The lead core knot I’m now using is the simplest knot I’ve ever known. That simple knot is now what I’m using 100% of the time when it comes to Sufix Advanced lead core line.
Fold 4″ of the tag end back over itself. Tie and overhand knot creating a loop. Trim the tag end. Thread the tip of the loop thru a swivel, then loop it around and pull the swivel thru the loop. Cinch it tight.(not a palomar)
No need to remove the lead. Simple to tie, works great and it’s very strong!
No doubt as more of us begin using Sufix Advanced lead core, more will be learned about it and shared with other anglers.
I do think Sufix has some room to improve this product. Especially concerning the alloy of the lead.
But like many other new products, I think this is only the beginning and this line will keep getting better.
I’m hoping the durability of this new line is somewhat close to the old lead core but even if it isn’t, after using it for a month, it’s going to be extremely hard to give up and go back to the old stuff when it comes to walleye fishing.
Picture – our biggest walleye to date using Sufix Advanced 832 lead core. Caught on a Perigrine 4′ shorty rod by Luke Johnson.
