View Full Version : Silver Thread
JerryA
03-14-2002, 07:33 AM
Getting ready to respool all my reels with 8 and 10lb line. I have been a long-time Trilene XL user but I'm switching due to all the problems I've had with it over the last several years.
Based on previous posts, Silver Thread seems like a good choice. Are there any special considerations or negatives with copolymer line? How will it compare to XL as far as castability and limpness? What's the diff between Excalibur and AN40 - other than twice the price?
Appreciate the input from users of Siver Thread. It'll be a real bummer if I put it on 12 reels and find I don't like it.
Paul Neumann
03-14-2002, 08:08 AM
I've used Silver Thread once or twice and it was really nice. Casts very well and is extremely limp. I use the Excalibur all the time. I love it. It's extremely strong and has a fairly small diameter. It definately has the best abrasion resistence of any line I have ever used. It doesn't coil much and if it does it straightens right out when you stretch it. The only down side to the Excalibur is that it has some significant stretch. That's not a bad thing if used in the right situation. I recommend Excalibur over just about any other mono. If I want no stretch I'll switch to braided line.
rmitchel
03-14-2002, 08:56 AM
I have never heard of Silver Thread -- until a recent thread about lines.
Where can you buy Silver Thread? I looked in the BP catalog -- did not notice it (Master and Angler catalog). Did not check Cabelas.
Thanks.
JerryA
03-14-2002, 09:06 AM
Cabelas has three different size spools. Some retailers carry it but hard to find.
Try it on a couple of reels first. Don't change over on all of them. I tried it and didn't like it. Got it at the sports show two spools for the price of one. Never tried the second spool. It ended up in the burning barrel.
JerryA
03-14-2002, 02:41 PM
BD,
Probably a good idea but I was thinking of getting the 1000yd spools and taking care of all my reels since I have to change them out. Don't really want to mess with XL anymore.
What was it about Silver Thread you didn't like?
Just returned to edit my last reply and saw you had posted the question on why I didn't like it. The reason was knot strength plain and simple. After losing a couple of nice fish I tried all different kinds of knots and the failure rate was 100%. Using 6 lb. test the knots held to 3 lbs. at the most. This was a few years ago and the line might have been improved since then. My personal preference is Maxima Chameleon (Cabela's Master Catalog) in 4 or 6 lb. test for eyes. It is a straight mono not a copoly.
Duck Hunter
03-16-2002, 08:20 AM
I've used the AN-40 when ever I could find it and thought it was great . Then they quit making it. I've heard that they started to make it again but I can't find it . If anybody knows where I can get it let me know. Thanks .
stevefellegy
03-16-2002, 08:33 AM
The number for info on Silver Thread is 800-531-1201.
You can buy Silver Thread At eangler.com .3000 yd spool $19.00
chuckwall
03-16-2002, 04:41 PM
When silver thread took AN-40 off the market I had a very hard finding a line with the overall strengh that AN-40 had. At such a small diameter I could always go up one higher pound test to give me more strengh at the same diameter. The only draw back of AN-40 is it has a little memory after a little use but it is not that bad. Excaliber takes care of that problem with a line that has very little memory and not much strech which means no loops buried in your reel
which can result in respooling your whole spool. Excaliber just
flys off your reel giving you much longer casts. The only drawback of Excaliber is knot strengh which you can remedy by tying a non friction knot like a palamer knot which gives the line plenty of strengh. It was a good day for fisherman when silver thread decided
to bring AN-40 back and a bad day for the fishes. As with any line it helps to have the freshes line you can buy it don,t take much shelf life for any line to go bad. I highly recomend AN-40 or Excaliber its a premium line.
vetspet(ind)
03-16-2002, 04:49 PM
tried silver thread a few yrs ago...4lb test...did not like it..broke too easily compared to trilenexl in my opinion....did cast well...steve...if use in cold water it loses strength big time...
nosnoots
03-16-2002, 05:03 PM
Not sure how you ended up with 100% knot failure with this line. I have been using it for years in cold weather and warm weather and I have never had 1 knot failure. You would think that if knot failure was a problem, I would have had atleast 1 knot failure. I fished with it on the Rainy river a few years back just prior to ice up. Pulled many fish including 5 between 6 and 11 pounds. Not a single knot failure. Not sure where your coming from here sir????? Tie your shoes with one knot and your lures with another. I think you have them reversed.(kidding of course, nothing nasty intended)
nosnoots
W'eyes Guy
03-16-2002, 11:43 PM
I do alot of fishing on Green Bay, and we switched to Silverthread several years ago due to its abrasion resistance. All other lines we used were torn up by our ever-so abundant Zebra muscles. I haven't noticed much difference in limpness or line memory from that of other lines; and have not had any problem with weak knot strength. As far as the availability, I'm not sure where to find it at the moment; I bought a number of the 3000 Yd. spools as part of last year's NPAA "members- only" program.(great price- had to jump at it)So, I hope this helps in your decision, I strongly recommend this line.
#610
eye lund
03-17-2002, 07:49 AM
Duck Hunter
I was at Cabela's last friday and picked up some an-40 they had
a good supply of it at Sidney, Ne hope this helps.
Bradnd
03-17-2002, 08:37 AM
I am happy with the excalibur line, but not familiar with the AN40 silver thread. I notice the price is much cheaper in Cabelas than the excalibur, is their any difference other than price?
Take care,
Brad
Sorry but I do know how to tie knots. :) This was early on when Silver Thread was on the market just over a year. As I said it may have been improved since then. The knots I tested were the clinch, improved clinch, uni, palomar, rapala knot etc. None held up at that time. It may have been a bad production run with a QC failure or just that the company didn't do it's homework before pushing the product onto the market. I expect quality when I put my hard earned $ out for a product and I don't use that company's products without a great deal of caution thereafter.
"If all fishermen were true sportsmen, we would have no need for game laws and game wardens, and we would have better fishing." --- O. Warren Smith