My friend and charter boat captain, Jerry Sparks, got me hooked up with the Varivas line company. This Japanese line company was looking for a surf fisherman that could be a field tester for them for their premium braided lines and fluorocarbon. He recommended me, and I'm now using Varivas braided line.
I'll bet most of you haven't heard of this line. I don't know if it's sold locally but they are hoping to expand their market. The staff at Varivas sent be a bunch of samples to try out along with some info about this line. One specific important detail is that the line breaks at the lb. test listed on the package. She suggested I up my line strength from what I currently use (for the most part, Power Pro 30 lb. test). Generally US made lines break above their lb. test. So, I spooled up with Varivas' 37 lb. test. I spooled my Daiwa BG with the Varivas 8 line in a blue color. I've used it now for several outings.
Here's my initial reaction. "Wow!" This line is super smooth to the feel, limp and seems to be thinner than my Power Pro 30 lb. test. I also think it's a better casting line as I seem to get better distance. I used light lures and heavy lures, casted into the wind and with the wind at my back, and I did not get a single wind knot, not even close.
I guess the true test of any line is how well it holds up when it counts. I'm hoping to land a few big stripers in the coming weeks in some real rugged spots. How well will this braided line hold up when a big fish pulls drag out and runs along the rocks and weeds? We'll see, but for now, all is great with the line.
Here is what an Ai generated review had to say about the line:
Varivas braided line is generally well-regarded for its thinness, smoothness, and strength, making it a good choice for various fishing applications. It is often praised for its casting performance and ability to handle tough situations, like pulling lures out of snags. While it can be more expensive than some other braids, its quality and performance often justify the price for many anglers.