Bass Fishing Forum

Hi everyone ...I have been looking at the Bass Pro....Excel line does
anyone use this line......or have use this line...if so I would.......... appreciate your pros or cons about his line......looks like my local... store is not going to be caring all of the Stren lines...something is getting ready to happen....with the Stren Products...so if you have used  Excel...please let me know what you think of the line.......

Topcat

Topcat

I used it most of the year two years ago. I switched away from it because it seemed to break easily. It is a co-polymer line and I think that is the problem with it.

TopCat, :)

I use excel line almost exclusively. I mostly use 10lb & 14lb. I have never had a problem with it. I re-spool after every tournament. I can't afford to use other lines. I have a tourney almost every weekend. It has a lot of stretch and is almost impossible to break. It also has great knot strength. In all the years I have fished I never had the line break especially break at the knot. When I have hung up in the rocks or wood and have to break it, it always breaks at the main line not the knot. Bring some clippers because if you try to break it by pulling it you will cut the heck out of your fingers or hand. :'( The other guy must have got some old line. I use the clear line not the clear/blue I have used the green at times. For the money I don't know a better line for the money. You can get around 4500 to 5000 yards for 9.99 a spool & Bass pro Shop has a deal that if you buy two or more spools then you get it for something like 6.99 a spool. I store mine in the fridge.
( makes the wife happy ). lo I really like p-line also but simply can't afford $30.00 a spool when I re-spool everyweek. Some people use a backing to save on line but it seems like a pain to me. I know someone disagree with me but that has been my experience. It kind of like the Ford/Chevy some like them some don't. Opinions are like noses everyone has one. but a fact is a fact. The fact is I have used it for years and NEVER had a problem.

my opinion,

Doug Grimm
Midwest Sportsman
Director of Promotions &
Watts Bar Lake Director
Cell # (865)-680-6400
E-Mail:
www.ultimatebass.com

I also use Excel almost exclusively. I live by the 17 pound green here in Louisiana. I can honestly say that I have never once had a complaint about this line. Very tough, never had a knot break and like Doug said you better bring some clippers, when I have tried to break it off it always breaks back at the spool and creates a nightmare trying to dig it back out.

Very strong line yet pliable and easy to work with.

Thanks Doug and Mike...I really appreciate the input on the line.....

Topcat

Bass Pro Excel is an awesome line.  I used it exclusively for till last year when I started to use Suffix do to some obligations.  I still have and will use the Excel as well.  As top Cat you can't beat the line for the money.  Only once did I get a bad spool and they replaced it. 

I use this line in 10 # test exclusively on my cranking rod and reel.  I have never had an issue with it.  I think the line lays nice when spooled up, and it casts like a dream.  I haven't experienced a line break, but since you can get so much line so cheaply, I change it religiously. 

I do not use it on anything else.  I would worry about it in rocks and other sticky places, but when you re-tie frequently and re-spool often....you think less about that being an issue.

Eric

~c~ Warpath that is one of the application I want to use the line for....but where I fish 50% of the time when I am not in a tourney is full of rocks and tree limbs and ledges......with regular re spooling do you think it will hold up under those situations..........

Topcat

Top Cat, I through into some places that most fisherman wouldn't even comtemplate casting. I have had great success with this line but I do throw the 17 pound exclusively  :-* I have found it to be abrasion resistant and have great knot strength

I can't tell you that it will work 100% of the time, but from my experience, it will.  I change out half the spool each and every time I fish it in a tourney setting.  I like the line, but only for crankbaiting.  I also re-tie very regularly.  If I'm in the rocks or spindly stuff (which I usually am), I re-tie twice as much.

Eric

Thanks....Mike and Warpath........I am going to try some of the Excel...I will let you all know Sat. evening...how me and the Excel fared..............

Topcat

Cool, make sure to keep us posted  ;)

~c~ ~c~ ~c~.....Mike ,Warpath , Doug and Trintonrob I love the line...I didn't get. to use it as much as I wanted my lower unit went out today...so I had to walk around the bank and fish....... :'(

the Excel is soft and smooth.and I get more distance on long cast I fished  in the rocks and had no problems...love the abrasion resistance this line has...all of those rocks and not one nic...I am impressed......Thanks to each of you.....Topcat

Good deal  ;) thanks for the follow up  ~c~

Congrats glad you liked it. 

I just spooled up with some Excel flourocarbon onto a Curado 100B to use for Senkos.  Haven't caught a fish on it yet but made a bunch of casts :(!  So far, at least the handling characteristics of it, I like.  Much better than a previous try with Vanish floro line.  I actually went to BPS to buy some Seguars Carbon Pro floro, on advice from a friend, but they were out of the 15 lb test so I went with the Excel.  So far, so good.  The real test will be when I hook into a hawg!   I've never tried the regular Excel mono line, yet!

Marty

Marty keep us posted, I use the regular excel exculsively and love it. Guess I might otta try the Flourocarbon and see what I think. I will be looking forward to your feild tests with it  ~c~

I have 20# test for my jig and I can yank or do what ever and havent had a problem out of it and 16#test for my spinnerbait

Excel is the only mono I use and I love it.

I use excel for my flippin rod as well as catfishin. 30lb on my flippin rod and 25lb for the other and it's great line, especially for the price.

~c~ ~c~ ~c~ Mike..Warpath..Doug...TritonRob...  I just had to tell you guys I caught 3 fish in the rocks...4 1/2 lb  Large mouth...a 2lb large mouth and........a 1lb large mouth and did not retie.....to test the line Knot strength and abrasion in those rocks....did not lose a fish and the line had no nicks...........

went back with the same line and caught 1.... had one to throw the hook...but the line is still going...this is got to be the best line I have used..and it dose not cost a arm and leg....

Mike I am going to use the 17 pound in some slop I do mean slop and I will let you know how it goes ....thanks Guys for sharing......

Topcat

Glad to hear you really like the Excel line.  I still use it on my crankbait rod and just respooled the other day for the tourney this weekend.  I still re-tie after I catch a fish when throwing it, but that's just to eliminate the possibility of the knot coming undone or a weak spot in the line breaking off a fish.  I have never had an issue with it around rocks per say, but I do retie as a precaution.  I can't afford to lose any fish, especially after last year.

Eric

I use the BPS Excel Flouro and really like it, except for when it gets cold and the water gets really cold (below 50).  Then I switch to Sufix because the flouro felt like it was too stiff.

Nlareau...glad to hear that report about the Excel Fluorocarbon did you have any problems with the knot strength or abrasion...I really like the excel Mono.......

Topcat

I think the knot strength was OK.  The only time I ever have a problem with knots breaking (flouro or mono) is with a palomar knot.  I use a trilene knot all the time and don't seem to have problems.

I fish a clear lake with very little cover/structure and I never catch big fish, so I guess I don't ever tug too hard on knots.

 :roll2:

Well I am going to test the 17 pound Excel today as soon a I can get my gear together........going to be flippin in some slop......

Topcat

well I tried the 17 pound test....and the line did great I caught one 5lb Bass...the Excel stayed with Old Bucket Mouth....he tried to bury himself in some slopy and sawgrass but the line is so strong I could feel it being rub on a rock or stump in the sawgrass....I got the bass out and checked the line...no damage...if a person fish in the slop I fish in......you need to try this line..........

the reel is not so good of a report my reel stooped winding half way back to the boat.....it was a BPS extreme reel.....I might have caused the problem it is set up for 12lb test line but I had 17 pound
test on the reel and it just stopped ...I pulled the fish with the line wrapped around my arm to the boat........got to find a reel that can handle that line.....any suggestion......

Topcat

Great report about the line, sorry to here about your reel though. I figure that the reel should have handled the line just fine. The 12 lb rating is usually in reference to line diameter and making sure the reel will hold enough line and cast properly, it's not really a damage control. Your drag should prevent you from tearing up the real.

I am 50/50 with BPS extreme reels I have had two of them and tore one up on the first trip. They replaced it and I haven't had a problem with the new one  ;)

Thanks Mike I really love the Excel line you were right about the Excel line it is great line.........appreciate the information on the reel...I will return it to Bass Pro....I thought that the line messed up my drag because.......... the line was to heavy for it

the reel handle would turn...but no line was being taken up...so I thought it was my fault for putting the Excel line on that reel.....
something in the reel just stopped working...never had that happen before.........

Topcat

If the handle just spins super freely then your pinion gear is broke or out of place. If there is some resistance to it then you migh have an issue with your drag system or the spool is bound up ;)

I use it and like it too.  Doesn't seem to have the memory that a lot of lines have, which is a big plus to me.  its keeps on casting and casting.  I only replace mine twice a year.

I agree with yo FoulMouth.....Excel is great line...and not expensive...... great line..... great value.......

Topcat

Mike...........you are good not only do you know your fishing line but you gave the same diagnosis as the man at BassPro.......he said something was wrong with the pinion gear........Thanks Mike......

Topcat

I have used Excel eclusively the past 5 years and have yet to have any break off on fish. I even caught a 15# channel cat while drifting a senko on Brownlee reservoir a few years ago, 8# test at that.

Welcome aboard Navy Chief, and glad to hear you've had similar success with Excel.  I don't know why more people don't use this line, its a great line and it has a great price. 

Eric

Quote from: topcat on April 25, 2006, 03:14:06 AM
Mike...........you are good not only do you know your fishing line but you gave the same diagnosis as the man at BassPro.......he said something was wrong with the pinion gear........Thanks Mike......

Topcat

the pinion gear on the extremes is made of plastic, I am now batting 100% I have had 2 and the pinion gear has broken on both of them. since they are only slightly cheaper than Curados or the new cruxis reel by shimano I am pretty much done with them
papa

Papa....thanks for sharing your troubles with the reels...I am not going to invest in another one either.......

Topcat