Snagly
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Skeena Swim Team Blood Donor
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Reged: 08/08/00
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Loc: Singapore, Bangalore, Sri Lank...
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About a year ago, Brewer was bragging about how he still fished Kings with 20 year old 20lb Maxima Chameleon mainline. As something of a fishing line and knot nut, I voiced skepticism at that claim and offered to test said line in Snagly Labs. Brewer obliged by mailing Marty 12' of said line which Marty handed to me in Smithers Go-Go Bar about 2 a.m. one night last October. Back in Singapore, Mrs. Snagly had moved homes (this time, letting me know where the kids and her were living!) putting my fishing stuff into a big heap in the corner. It took a me a looong while (and a couple sports teams seasons to end) before I found the magic envelope. Ladies and gentlemen, the test results (drum roll):
1. Line: as supplied by the Brewer, 20lb Chameleon
2. Appearance: brown, springy and definitely not fresh
3. Testing apparatus: I used doubled line uniknots with 5 wraps, spit-lubed and tightened up with one end on a screwdriver (which I held between my feet) and the other on the hanging hook of a Manley 2072 scale which has a maximum weight plastic collar which is very handy for marking the maximum weight
4. Test results: three 4' lengths knotted on either end and broken with a steady pull. Each length broke in the middle (making the choice of knots moot) with the breaks at 22, 20 and 21lbs .
So The Brewer was right: he can certainly fish 20 year old fishing line that breaks at or near the strength of brand new line. (From past tests, new Chameleon breaks at about 22-23lbs -- near enough to 100% to call it as much.)
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My one caution was that the line was so springy I was able to tie that doubled uniknot, then untie it completely once it had been tightly seated. The re-tie it even more tightly before breaking the line. (I didn't like the way the first version of the knot seated, so I undid it and re-tied since I didn't have a lot of line to play with.)
Conclusion: use old mono in a pinch if you much. But in general, use fresh line. It's cheap insurance (just like good knots and sharp hooks). 
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Skeena Fall 2009 trip already in the planning stages . . . you can never be too ready!
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BorntoFish
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Team Old Phart
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Reged: 12/12/03
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Loc: Boise, Idaho
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Had me on the edge of my seat waiting for these results.  
Based on your findings, I guess I'll go out to the public landfill and see what discarded fishing line I can find for this coming steelhead run.   
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CCA Member
TEAM JACKSON BALDWIN
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AuntyM
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Looking for a few good fish!
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Loc: Harstine Island
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Great. Now we'll have to deal with Brewer's crowing. Thanks a LOT Snagly.
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Landslide: Stevie Nicks greatest song!
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The Monster Breathes!
"Don't fall in!" Doug Richert Sr. 10/18/2008
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Will fish for food
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Thick Tail
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Reged: 08/28/02
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Born I'll save you the dig time. I have a bag of old line with a mix of Big Game,Ande,Maxima,Stren and some other light blue stuff that I took off some reels I picked up at a yard sale.
WFFF
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Take A Kid Fishing It Will Be Good For Both Of You
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alanmikkelsen
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The Bass Ackwards Captain
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Reged: 09/10/05
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Loc: St. Ignatius, MT
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Actually, I've used a lot of old Maxima for leader material, but I keep my line spools in the dark, in a refrigerator, and IMO, it'll keep almost indefinately that way.
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50 years of foolin' fish.
Bass Ackwards: The art and science of hurtling blindly in the wrong direction with no sense of the impending doom about to be inflicted on one's sorry ass. Usually applied to procedures, processes, or theories based on faulty logic, or faulty personnel.
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CaughtSteelin
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recovering and prepareing to do it again
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Loc: Sky Country
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Snagly,you got too much time on your hands.you need to fish more
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Let our kids enjoy fishing...Join CCA today
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Southfork
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Not Normal......
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Reged: 04/01/03
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Loc: WATER
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Quote:
CaughtSteelin said:
Snagly,you got too much time on your hands.you need to fish more
Don't we all....... WFF any 6lb UG in that pile? I'll take it
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KEEP IT FUN!
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Brewer
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Then They Turned @ Last To Me, We Shall Call You Brewer, The Slayer Of Salmons You Shall Be'
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Loc: The Mass Production Zone.
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it crossed my mind to send up some fresh 20# as a gag. but chose not to. not wanting to taint or damage my respected reputation.
i've wondered several times if there would ever be a snag test on the line. as for the heavy coil memory, i think that comes from being in the coil for a solid year. not wanting to be exrtemely bulky to marty on his trip. brewer had to make the coils small enough to fit inside a manilla evelope.
i can say that the same line never failed me on a fish. i primarily use a 1143 style rod lommis or the lonnie gains lami i got at a kalama tilla. both rods seem to do the job in being soft on the upper end of the rod. not really putting the 20 yearold line to a true test.
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Brewer's reel cleaning service is up and rolling. Contact me through PM for info and address.
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Will fish for food
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Thick Tail
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Reged: 08/28/02
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Loc: South West Washington
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SF its yours but you have to take the the whole lot and untangle it your self.
WFFF
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Take A Kid Fishing It Will Be Good For Both Of You
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Brewer
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Then They Turned @ Last To Me, We Shall Call You Brewer, The Slayer Of Salmons You Shall Be'
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Loc: The Mass Production Zone.
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i've gone by the theory that if the line has strong knot strength.... well its good to go! no matter how old the line is. there are some lines i don't trust more than year though.
however i would change my tune on this if i was heading to big trophy water, say BC the OlyPen or Alaska. fresh line on everything.
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Brewer's reel cleaning service is up and rolling. Contact me through PM for info and address.
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