The quintessential tether between prize and stalker is a thin synthetic strand. The best applications for inshore pursuits cast well, and are quiet and tough enough to withstand the jerks, tail-twisting pivots and stress of battles with powerful gamefish. PowerPro Super 8 Slick V2 microfilament braided line meets all these criteria and then some.
Fabricated using eight-carrier strands and a process known as Enhanced Body Technology, PowerPro SSV2 offers many benefits over four-carrier-strand braided lines. The additional strands form a durable round profile that loads evenly onto the reel spool and resists digging into previous wraps. The EBT process also produces a smoother texture that makes barely a whisper as it zips through the rod guides. A denser weave construction increases abrasion resistance while creating a smooth coated surface. That translates into greater casting distances for subtle presentations to wary skinny-water targets when every advantage counts. And because SSV2 is so tough, it lasts much longer than other options.
Gossamer diameters are another advantage of this latest generation of line. A spool of 15-pound-test line is equivalent to 4-pound-test monofilament. That means you can pack more line on the spool of your favorite spin or baitcasting reels to maximize capacity and casting distance. Don’t discount sensitivity either. Unlike conventional monofilament, there’s virtually no stretch with SSV2, so the slightest tick of a gator trout is instantly transmitted to your palm. It lets you power-drive the hook into that tarpon’s bony jaw. Or when max stopping power is needed to keep that 40-inch snook from reaching those crusty dock pilings, you’ve got it.
“PowerPro SSV2 microfilament line was a game-changer during my decade-plus years as a light-tackle guide on Florida’s Forgotten Coast,” says Capt. Dave Lear. “The smaller diameter increased the spool capacity of my Shimano reels considerably, and that made the difference when a triple-digit tarpon was heading toward Cuba. It held up when the fight got down and dirty close to the boat too. On trout and redfish tackle, my anglers could cast easily without fear of wind knots and detect even the subtlest nibbles. The longevity of the SSV2 also meant I was getting more bang for my buck. I can’t imagine fishing skinny water with any other line.”
PowerPro Super 8 Slick V2 comes in eight sizes (10-, 15-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 65- and 80-pound-test) to fit any inshore applications, from flounder to the heftiest silver kings or spinner sharks. Color options include shades that blend in most shallow-water environments or stand out to keep track of the action. This line is super-easy to tie using all the popular knots, but a few extra wraps are recommended to lock down the connection to monofilament or fluorocarbon leader material because of its slick surface coating. Fishing scissors or snips part the fibers, leaving clean tag ends.
