Vanish that bad??!!

[GregM]

I don't come here very often but have been catching up on some posts and noticed a lot of negative press with Vanish. I used this line on a 4 day fishing trip last sept. and loved it (8#). I never had a problem and I caught a lot of nice fish. 2-26.5",2-24.5",2-23" and a zillion between 20-23". I was using a 1/2 oz bead link weight with crawler harness's beating the wood/rock bottoms. It never broke, not even when snagged, the harness broke first. I was all pumped about this line, since I had bad problems with stren(dont remember the kind of stren), now I'm not sure. What problems are you folks having? thx much.



I fish cuz the voices in my head tell me to"

[punch1]

I too have noticed a ton of people hate the stuff but I have never had a problem with it in the two years I have been using it. I use 20lb Vanish for leaders trolling salmon/steelhead and the lighter stuff for the walleyes. What gives?

Pat

[water_wolf]

You 2 are lucky....had nothing but problems and break offs with Vanish. Even bought 3 different spools at 3 different places. Had aprox a 3 lb walleye break off 8 lb. test right beside boat. Tried lubricating knot like your supposed to and knot would break while snugging up a crank bait or jig. I swore off all fluoro line until Kevin Clark told me to try Seager. I will give it a go this season, but I am still a little skeptical.

Rich Ferguson

[Capt. Denny Bergeman]

GregM,

I use Vanish on all my leaders, and weapons. Never had a problem. Works great for me. My results are like yours. Good Fishing.

[Jack Neuman]

I have never had any problems with Vanish. I use it for ice-fishing, and leaders in clear water. Like any other line, you have to check for weak spots and scrapes. I have found that it wears a little easier than regular monos, but no break-offs for me to report.

[RANGER]

I won't buy it again unless massive changes are made to it. My experience has been the same as water_wolf - lousy! :'( It was probably the second worst behaved line I have ever used, the first was Spider Wire. I'm glad your experience(s) have been positive. I can't say the same.

[Tom (mich)]

I used 10# Vanish as leader material for about a hundred or so harnesses I'd tied up last winter for the 2001 season. I lubricated every knot, every snell religiously.

On several occasions, I had even moderate sized fish break the line. This occurred enough times to eliminate coincidence as a factor. My opinion only is that 1) knot strength suffers and 2) the line frays where the clevis spins. These are opinions only, based upon only my experiences. Vanish may be useful for other applications.

Do you know how much work it is to un-tie 100 harnesses?

[Don in Denver]

I hated it. I tried 8 and 10 lb on spinning and baitcast reels used for throwing jigs, soft plastic and cranks. After very little use (a few hours) I noticed the line had frayed badly. It came apart in strands almost like string cheese does. It happened on both spinning rods and the baitcasters. I've never seen anything like it. If it works for you - great. I stripped it off and won't be buying any more.

[PW]

I have used it for about 3 years now as leader material for both open water and ice fishing..........works great for both for me, and my wife says I fish way too much!!

[frosty]

Greg; You're catching way too many fish with vanish line. You should change lines after reading all the neg posts about it, don't you think? Nuff said.

[Ralph]

It's OK when its fresh but after a while, it becomes rigid and brittle


I had several small walleyes break me off when the slammed a Husky Jerk near the boat. I lost two fish and two plugs on two casts and the third a bit later.

That was enough to put down the rod.

I will never use that stuff again.

[Eyecrosser]

I too have had nothing but trouble when I tryed to use it. Very week knots. The line was pretty much rotten after the first use. I personally won't use any mono execpt stren.

[byron]

I have tried 8, 10, and 12lb vanist to use as leaders. I found that vanish only held half the knots i tied (tied correctly and wetted), would fray with lots of casting, one nick and it broke, and was not that abrasion resistant. Its funny though, the 8lb line seemed to be the strongest of the 3. Now all that line i had is backing to keep my powerpro full on the spool.

I switched to real leader material: Seaguar grand max and P line. The difference was amazing. Held knots, was strong, didn't fray, and was abrasion resistant.

[Jawjerker]

I only use 6# Vanish for leader material with 10-4 Fireline and a 3ft leader when jigging and up to 10-12ft lg for fussy walleyes on Mille Lacs, but I can normally get by with about a 6 ft snelled leader. I always make sure that I tie my knots wet and must say that I have never had the problems with the stuff many of you have. I will only retie the leader after I catch a few eyes if necessary, however I always check the last foot or so of line quite often when the action is hot and retie when I feel it's necessary, donig this has put eyes in my livewell with the biggest so far being a 31 1/2 incher. Perhaps the secret is using fresh line, ie., changing frequently, don't know for sure, I'm only stating my opinion here and what seems to work for me. Hope this may help some of you. Think SPRING.

[flyman]

I have been using vanish for leaders for over a year. Didn't like the stuff for a main spinning line because of the stiffness. Also, won't use it for topwaters when bass fishing because it sinks too fast. I have noticed that I have to be more selective in the knots I use, and more carefull that they are tied properly. Initially, I was using 6 lb. vanish and a Trilene knot worked fine. I started using 10 lb. on a different rod, and had knot problems. Switched to a palomer knot and haven't had any knot problems since. Maybe the stiffness of the heavier line plays a role, I don't know, but those are the results I have had. I use the stuff because, to me, the advantages (I believe I catch more fish with it than a mono leader) outweigh the disadvantages (limited selection of knots, less margin for error in setting the knot). Others may have different results.

[CarpetBagger]

just plain garbage when your buyin floro...there are just so many better brands and better quality floro on the market...Seaguar and Pline have worked great for me. But i still have faith in a few choice mono companys.

CB

[Gilligan]

I also sold off Flouro..and not just Vanish until ETT talked me into the Seaguar.

The'other' stuff was terrible with break offs. Used Seaqguar all last year without 1 break.