I decided to retest

it only matters what it holds to a hook or swivel with a terminal tackle knot like the palomar which is what I tie most often

I even went out to the Berkeley website to make sure I was remembering to tie it the right way

2 swivels with a palomar knot to each one and some heavy bank line loops one to the 50 pound weight and one to the scale

Scale, loop , swivel , line , swivel , loop ,weight

36 pounds and it broke at the knot

it did point out that I need heavier swivels as I was stretching the eyes on both swivels on the line side the thicker nylon loop was not stretching the eye

I did find it interesting Berkeley Big game braid is no longer listed on the web site

my son got home and decided I must be doing it wrong , he ties what he proclaimed to be the best knot 42 pounds some variation of a uni knot 64%

I tested some 30 pound Spider wire and it got to 24 pounds before breaking at my Palomar knot 80%

I will get some better swivels and give it another try but I can live with 36 pounds like someone said my rod probably isn't that stong

I absolutely agree , fight the fish wear it out , enjoy the fight I have landed some decent fish on 6# test I make sure it pulls off the drag well before it breaks

I just thought is odd this particular line was breaking around 50-60%of advertised and that it is no longer listed on the Berkeley's website.

Try a double improved clinch knot and see where it breaks. Same as an improved clinch knot only double the line when you tie it. You will have 3 tag ends when completed properly. It can be a pain in the butt to tie sometimes but it is the strongest knot I have ever used and have compared it to others like the Palomar in a friendly competition comparing knot strength during a musky tournament. The double improved clinch knot is the only fishing knot I use now..

Something is definatly wrong with your test. THE 65 lb won't break that fast unless it is rotten. Get you some 65 lb spider wire and tie it to something and try to break it by hand. NOPE you will be cutting it. I use 30 lb braid on top water and have lost some lures in trees and HAVE NEVER been able to break it unless I wrap it around the boat and use the trolling motor to pull. 112lb thrust.
I use 20 lb big game to flip trash with and it is almost impossible to break.

Post a pic of your set up you are using to test.

Yes I keep all my line in refrigde

That’s my only drawback with any type of braid...you ain’t getting a lure back, lol. I have to wrap mine around a stick/paddle/wood and pull for all I’m worth to get it to even break and normally it will be at the knot. I’ve pulled in logs I couldn’t lift, but do get my lure back!!

the 40 pound mono Berkeley Big game gets 100% of advertised weight without breaking.

30 pound spider wire braid gets 80% of advertised then breaks at the knot

the Berkley big game braid keeps breaking at 36-38 pounds some knot breaks but almost half mid line breaks once I started using different knots



next question should an line swivel swivel under tension and how much tension before they stop swiveling

Just curious what you plan on catching and with what rod and reel? I’ve caught a 61” sailfish on bass tackle with 10# test mono. Used a Shimano Stradic 4000 with a 7ft med/light inshore rod, lol. Unless your trying for a line class record of some sort I’d think your average 30# braid with the right rod/reel would haul in just about anything you’d want.

was setting up a pole for catfish , there was 65 braid on the shelf so I bought it , I would have probably never know had I not tried to test it , I just thought it was off to be only about half of the advertised strength.

for the price I can live with calling it 35# line , I just dislike false advertising I recently bought some swivels that claimed 132# at 70# they eye stretches at 12# it won't swivel at all I will use them but dislike claims well beyond what something will actually do.


I will probably just buy the 30# spider wire EZ-braid from here on but I though I would try heavier once

I just think if you put the knot instructions on the box and I tie that knot it should be able to slowly lift 100% of the claimed weight using that knot and that line.

the 40# mono did it just fine

the real issue is I spend to much time on land in my office where I happen to have easy access to a 50 pound weight , my fishing tackle and my scale and not enough in the boat fishing


hoping to have the boat all back together and the paint dry by Monday and go out for a run up and down the river

I think there are so many different factors playing into line strength. I've caught big fish on ultralight setups, and I've had small fish break off heavy gear. Knot, drag, rod action, age of line ect. Any defect on said line is going to affect the breaking strength.

Are you testing shock loads or static loads?

If the line is breaking like that on static loads, it seems it's falsely advertised.

Jim

Like I said before, nearly lines have been independently tested and the results can be found online. If your test is good and it's breaking under the rated strength, you got a spool of old or compromised line. It's not "false advertising". Pretty much every "test" line sold will test over it's rated strength. It has to because they can't legally claim a specific strength if they can't prove it. "Class" lines will test at or under the rated strength, but that's not what you're testing.

slowly lifting so that the scale can keep up definitely not a shock