6 minute read
DAIWA J-BRAID
Dave Barham reveals why he chooses to use
Daiwa’s J-Braid for nearly all of his fishing
Long gone are the days when I used to edit sea fi shing magazines and rarely had to buy any fi shing tackle. Back in the day I used to get sent gear for review each month, and a lot of it never had to be sent back. ese days I buy all my fi shing gear like everyone else, so it’s important to me that I buy what I know I can rely on.
I’ve long been an advocate of Daiwa kit. In fact, I’ve been using their Saltist BG20H reels for many years, and just this week I’ve bought myself a shiny new BG4500A to take to Norway later this year. Guess what I’ve loaded that one with? Yep, 40lb J-Braid.
As you would expect, over the past three decades I’ve been privileged enough to see and use just about every braid brought to the UK marketplace, from the dark and dingy days of Dacron, to the revelation of Dynon 3000, and then the rapid development of today’s modern super braids. However, there was one braid that really did it for me, and it’s one that I stuck with for many years until they stopped making it – that was Daiwa’s ‘Shinobi’. It had a really tight weave and a round profi le, which most other braids of that time just didn’t have, and it cast like a dream from a multiplier off the boat.
DAIWA J-BRAID REVIEW You can understand how disappointed I was when I heard that Daiwa were discontinuing it, but I soon found out that the replacement was equally as good, and that was the original J-Braid x8. I must admit, I did wonder whether or not it was Shinobi relabelled at fi rst. e profi le and performance was nigh on identical, but I’m reliably informed that this wasn’t the case. Anyway, I’ve never looked back, and J-Braid is my line of choice for pretty much all of my fi shing these days, apart from my carp and coarse fi shing – even my pike reels are loaded with 40lb J-Braid! Not only does J-Braid perform extremely well, it’s also very reasonably priced too with many shops selling a 300m spool of 40lb braid for around £25. Recently there have been a couple of additions to the J-Braid family. J-BRAID X8 By using ultra-thin materials Daiwa’s J-Braid is super soft and smooth, which you will instantly notice when you feel it. e eight strand weave results in very round profi le and a super smooth surface that contributes to longer casting distance as well as quieter line travel through the guides, and also a better line lay on your reel. In comparison with many braids out in the market J-Braid delivers ultra-low stretch and high strength for a small diameter thanks to its high quality, Japanesemade yarn. And as I have already mentioned, it is great value for money. J-Braid went through extensive testing around the world before its release to market. It was tested as a light lure braid in Australia right through to deep ocean jigging and hitting GTs on poppers off tropical islands. Having used this braid myself for the past three or more years, I can confi rm that it’s exceptionally good stuff ! e multi-coloured (depth counter) version features fi ve diff erent colours, separated in 10, fi ve and one metre increments. When you drop down you can keep a count of what depth you are fi shing at by noting the colour of the braid as it leaves the spool. is is particularly handy when jigging or
working other lures in deep water, such as Norway for example. It’s also handy when catching baitfi sh, like mackerel. Original J-Braid x8 is available in three colour choices; Chartreuse, Dark Green and MultiColour (depth counter) on 150, 300 and 500m spools. Breaking strains available are: 9lb, 13lb, 18lb, 20lb, 26.5lb, 29lb, 37.5lb, 40lb, 58lb, 79lb and 103lb. J-BRAID GRAND X8 J-Braid Grand x8 is the latest advancement in braid technology from Japan. is braid has been made using new ‘Izanas’ fi bres for improved resistance and it is claimed that the braid is now four times more resistant to abrasion. I haven’t had the opportunity to prove or disprove this claim yet, but it’s a really interesting concept. You see, braid is not as abrasion resistant as people like to think. Place some 20lb braid under tension with a fi sh on the end and let it touch a jagged rock or, even some barnacles around a pier leg, and it will snap like cotton – whereas mono will survive a lot longer in the same situation. If Daiwa’s claims about this new ‘Grand’ are true, it really is a breakthrough in braid technology. With this version, the threading process has packed the strands in ever tighter to give the braid a perfectly round shape, increasing both aerodynamic and hydrodynamic performance. is new compact and round profi le will surely help increase your casting distance while benefi ting from the improved behaviour of the braid when fi shing, bringing greater sensitivity and responsiveness. I’m looking forward to giving this stuff a long-term test. Gand x8 is available on 135 and 270m spools in Dark Green and 150 or 300m spools in Multi Colour, its comes in the following breaking strains; 11lb, 15lb, 19lb, 22lb, 28lb, 35lb, 43lb, 49lb, 58lb, 79lb and 103lb (300m multi colour only). J-BRAID X4 As the name suggests, this version of J-Braid is woven with four strands instead of eight. It’s basically a much cheaper option for those who want to give fi shing with braid a go, or for those who get through a lot of braid, like charter skippers with hire rods. You can pick up a 270m spool of 41lb J-Braid x4 for around £15 (even less if you shop around). Unbelievably, it still has a round profi le like the x8 versions, but the weave isn’t as tight due to there being fewer strands to work with. A really good test to see if the braid that you use is round or not is to take a length and hold it between the thumb and forefi nger of both hands, then roll the braid back and forth in opposite directions – you’ll soon see if it’s round or has fl at spots. J-Braid x4 is available on 135 and 270m spools in 5.5lb, 9lb, 13lb, 15lb, 19lb, 23lb, 27lb, 32lb, 41lb There’s a very comprehensive range of and 50lb breaking strains in either Dark Green or breaking strains and colour choices. Multi Colour.■
EXPERT CHOICE
