J-Braid – Its No Cheesy Line – Andrew Badullovich

J-Braid.

By Andrew Badullovich.

#BeAStrongFighter Fishing line; whether it is braid or mono, is an important component of fishing. With a plethora of variety on the market these days, we are spoilt for choice. This said…there are lines, and there are lines! Let’s focus on braided line. Most brands retail between $30 and $40, which form the mid-range market. These “standard” lines are subject to abrasion and colour loss, not to mention knotting in random scenarios. Spend upwards of the $50 mark, and you are purchasing quality; however, it’s worth noting that these more expensive lines are not without their flaws. So: what key factors make some particular braided (or gel spun polyethylene) lines better than others? In my personal opinion, there are three important elements that make a great line:

– Longevity of colour

– Thin diameter for breaking strain

– Abrasion resistance

So, we are naturally talking about a spool of braid that is going to retail for around $60 right? Well – maybe not!

I have had the privilege of testing a new product from Daiwa Australia: a new braid called, J-Braid. The best part of the test period was, I had absolutely no idea of the recommended retail price of the line. This enabled me to produce an accurate report of the line’s performance without assuming where the line “should” rank among other line types and brands. I spooled four different reels with the J-Braid, ensuring that I covered most angling situations from working top-waters to bouncing plastics…and here are my discoveries.

Firstly, I ‘m a big fan of the chartreuse colour, as it is highly visible when working plastics and detecting subtle bites. High-vis braid is also handy when tracking hard-slogging (hooked) fish through obstacles. What I am really happy about though, is how well the colour has held up over the test period! Most braids, (even expensive brands) will fade slightly, but the J-Braid is holding colour well.

Secondly, the line is ridiculously thin in diameter for its breaking strain, which is welcomed when casting light hard-bodied lures for bream and trout. The amazing discovery with this thin diameter feature was how seldom I endured wind-knots or loops in the line. The J-Braid has a round profile, and wraps onto the reel spool neatly. This ensures longer casts with less knots.

Thirdly, there are NO abrasion marks on the J-Braid after an extensive test period! This is extremely important to the longevity of the line, as abrasions will allow salt water to penetrate the line…effectively weakening the breaking strain of the line. Abrasion also promotes colour loss, and shortens the length of your cast. This hasn’t been the case with J-Braid.

To say that I was impressed with the line is a gross understatement. I chose to use J-Braid during a DVD shoot for Daiwa’s, The Next Level, as I knew it wouldn’t let me down in front of a camera! So the million dollar question is, “What’s it worth?” Well, I have been informed that Daiwa’s J-Braid will retail for around the $30 mark. Simply amazing, as I thought it would have been at the high-end of the market – given that it is “made in Japan”.

Is it strong? Well, I have been knocking over some nice snapper in rugged country with 6lb (0.06mm diameter) J-Braid with ease. It is super smooth and pliable, and great value for money. The 8 strand weave helps protect against abrasion, and reduces the overall stretch.

I’m a fan!

See more on J Braid here