berkley bigcat
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I think the same thing. It's either Big Game Solar in a smaller package, or it's the old Trilene XT Solar repackaged. They dropped the XT in Solar Green after they introduced Big Game Solar and Big Cat line.
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I have never used the big cat line....I just use big game line..I want to try the solar But no one carries it around here
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241 Posts
To me it has less memory than Big Game.
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i really dont care for it that much i think its to stiff but thats jmho
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309 Posts
I have only messed with the 40# Big Cat. I spooled up a hole reel with it and it is the only mono I will use now unless I try to get some heavier test Big Game for leaders. That stuff has crazy amounts of stretch and strong too.
l did a little test today with 40 pd bigcat and 40 pd big game, l tied it to something solid, put out 5 ft then pulled on each one. there was a big differance, didn't think there would be to much but there was. the biggame stretched almost 2 feet, but after that it stayed stretched out a ft witch l don't think is good for the next time you have to pull on it. the bigcat stretched about 7 inch's and went right back to 5 ft. then l pulled till they broke and the bigcat was deffently stronger. the only thing was the bigcat was thicker and alot stiffer then biggame with l don't really like. well thats my 2 cents, l had fun doing it out of the heat this morning. anyone else try doing the same and find different results?.
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That some interesting info,, Sounded fun,,Thanks for posting it!!:Happy:
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241 Posts
The Big Cat is quickly becoming my favorite line, and you don't break the bank when you buy it. I love how well it casts.
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1,192 Posts
If you REALLY want to judge line, you need to look at the diameter of the lines. The American "lb test" rating is so off the wall that you can't compare line based on it. In essence, you can take a 40lb test line, put it in a box that says 30lb test, and sell it as the "world's strongest 30lb line". That's exactly what Berkley does with Big Game, as told to me years ago by a person in the industry.
If you look at Trilene for example, the same lb tests lines in XL and XT have different diameters, with XT being promoted as "stronger and more abrasion resistant". Well of course it is, it's the thicker line of the two.
A thick 20lb line will have more abrasion resistance than an ultra thin 50lb line will, as people who hate braided lines will rant about all the time when comparing mono to braid.
When I shop lines, I compare diameter to stated breaking strength. I am generally looking for the thinnest line I can find, in either mono or braid. Thin line means more capacity, it's easier to tie knots and manage overall, and it's less visible to the fish in any color. I don't shop for lines based on being abrasion resistant, because all lines are resistant enough for what I plan on using them for. If I need additional resistance, then I use a leader of thicker line.
All over the world, they label lines with diameter first then breaking strength. That way, say, you want to fish a light test line (for a record) for a fish that lives in or around thick cover, you can find a line that is more ideally suited for your requirements.
Line diameter measurement is also the only true way of knowing about how much line your reels will hold, unless you actually measure it. If you look on the reel, it will say LB test capacity on one side of the spool and usually either MM or hundreths of an inch on the the other side (a spinning reel spool). Baitcasters usually have them listed under each other. A reel that's rated for 200yds of 20lb line will hold more than that in a thin line, and less than that in a thicker line.
Here's an example. For Father's Day, my oldest son (10 years old and always looking out for me!) bought me a Shakespeare Alpha spinning reel. It's rated on the spool for 190yds of 20lb line. He bought a 225 yard spool of Zebco Outcast 20lb line for me too. I could tell that it was a thinner line compared to some 20lb lines, and the whole 225yds filled that reel perfectly.
Just for giggles, I had an old spool of Spiderwire Super Mono (hate that stuff) from last year that I spooled on before the Outcast. It was a 220yd spool, and there was 25yds left when I was done. Yes, I measured it, I'm goofy that way.
Conversions from mono to braid will also affect capacity. An example here would be a Shimano 4000 size spinning reel. Just because a reel holds 160yds of 12lb line, doesn't mean that it will hold 160yds of braid with a 12lb mono diameter. It will hold 145lbs of 50lb Power Pro, with is a similar diameter to most 12lb monos.
You said yourself that you could tell the 40lb Big Cat was thicker and stiffer than the 40lb Big Game, so, in theory, it should be a stronger and more abrasion resistant line.
If you look at Trilene for example, the same lb tests lines in XL and XT have different diameters, with XT being promoted as "stronger and more abrasion resistant". Well of course it is, it's the thicker line of the two.
A thick 20lb line will have more abrasion resistance than an ultra thin 50lb line will, as people who hate braided lines will rant about all the time when comparing mono to braid.
When I shop lines, I compare diameter to stated breaking strength. I am generally looking for the thinnest line I can find, in either mono or braid. Thin line means more capacity, it's easier to tie knots and manage overall, and it's less visible to the fish in any color. I don't shop for lines based on being abrasion resistant, because all lines are resistant enough for what I plan on using them for. If I need additional resistance, then I use a leader of thicker line.
All over the world, they label lines with diameter first then breaking strength. That way, say, you want to fish a light test line (for a record) for a fish that lives in or around thick cover, you can find a line that is more ideally suited for your requirements.
Line diameter measurement is also the only true way of knowing about how much line your reels will hold, unless you actually measure it. If you look on the reel, it will say LB test capacity on one side of the spool and usually either MM or hundreths of an inch on the the other side (a spinning reel spool). Baitcasters usually have them listed under each other. A reel that's rated for 200yds of 20lb line will hold more than that in a thin line, and less than that in a thicker line.
Here's an example. For Father's Day, my oldest son (10 years old and always looking out for me!) bought me a Shakespeare Alpha spinning reel. It's rated on the spool for 190yds of 20lb line. He bought a 225 yard spool of Zebco Outcast 20lb line for me too. I could tell that it was a thinner line compared to some 20lb lines, and the whole 225yds filled that reel perfectly.
Just for giggles, I had an old spool of Spiderwire Super Mono (hate that stuff) from last year that I spooled on before the Outcast. It was a 220yd spool, and there was 25yds left when I was done. Yes, I measured it, I'm goofy that way.
Conversions from mono to braid will also affect capacity. An example here would be a Shimano 4000 size spinning reel. Just because a reel holds 160yds of 12lb line, doesn't mean that it will hold 160yds of braid with a 12lb mono diameter. It will hold 145lbs of 50lb Power Pro, with is a similar diameter to most 12lb monos.
You said yourself that you could tell the 40lb Big Cat was thicker and stiffer than the 40lb Big Game, so, in theory, it should be a stronger and more abrasion resistant line.
yes good point chris.
So ya made me cureius about how close the diameter reading's are on the box, so l measured with my verner.
diameter's- biggame spool reading for 40pd test is .021", my measurment is .023", bigcat 40pd test box reading is .024", my measurment is .o23". l thought just by looking at the two lines the big cat was going to be alot larger, it must just be the super bright green that makes it look that way. so they are the same diameter, but the bigcat still feels a bit stiffer. then again on both the lines they say avg diameter. so who know's how big they get somewere in the spool.
So ya made me cureius about how close the diameter reading's are on the box, so l measured with my verner.
diameter's- biggame spool reading for 40pd test is .021", my measurment is .023", bigcat 40pd test box reading is .024", my measurment is .o23". l thought just by looking at the two lines the big cat was going to be alot larger, it must just be the super bright green that makes it look that way. so they are the same diameter, but the bigcat still feels a bit stiffer. then again on both the lines they say avg diameter. so who know's how big they get somewere in the spool.
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It's hard to measure diameters with hand tools when it comes to line. Whether using a caliper or a micrometer, it's SO hard to tell if you are compressing the line or not. You might not thinkg you are, but a tad too much pressure on that small portion of line can make a 1/1000th difference or more.
if you have any sence at all you would know how to measure the thickness of something soft such as line, l'm sure anyone could realise that the harder you compress a soft material the thinner it will get. "example if you have a banana and you measure the thickness of it, and then you take your banana and step on it, then measure it, you will get a thinner measurment. so any ways my mesurments are closeer then 1/1000th, l didn't bother putting the full 5 digit measurment that the digital verner's was giveing me, because l new that ya can't get it that exact on something soft, nor do you need to. and let's say l was 1/1000th off on the measurment it would be about the lenth of a few banana's on a 220yd spool.
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1,192 Posts
Hey buddy. :time-out:
There's no need for attitude. I didn't say that you personally couldn't get an accurate measurement with your equipment, I just said it's hard to to with hand tools.
According to you, on the section of line you measured, Berkley's state of the art extruding equipment couldn't get even it right.
Jeez.......
There's no need for attitude. I didn't say that you personally couldn't get an accurate measurement with your equipment, I just said it's hard to to with hand tools.
According to you, on the section of line you measured, Berkley's state of the art extruding equipment couldn't get even it right.
Jeez.......
ya sorry chris, l didn't mean to ofend you, l was just trying to compare the two lines to see if they really are the same. have you ever tried bigcat?. l only use it when l know l'm going to be in the tree's and that. other then that l use braid in the open water.
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I've used just about every common line available in the U.S., except for Momoi and High Seas. I haven't used any of the Japanese lines like Toray or any of the solely European brands. I have used some of the Berkley lines made for the European market though.
All I fished for years was either Big Game or Stren Original Clear Blue. Honestly, it would have all been Stren Clear Blue if I could have gotten it in tests over 30lb. Never had any reason to not like Stren lines. I've got some 14lb Magnaflex Gold on the kid's rods right now and it's a great line.
My two favorite "mono" lines are Stren and P-Line CX Premium. I'd like to try some of the Gamma copolymer lines, as they are very thin for their lb test ratings.
On my gear, it's almost all braid. 14lb, 40lb and 65lb Stren Superbraid in Yellow. I have one reel with some 10lb Cabela's Ripcord Si yellow on it.
Couple of my smaller reels have 6lb Trilene Maxx on them, another has some 8lb Stren Original Clear Blue. Couple of my spare spools have the 14lb Stren Magnaflex 14lb Gold on them.
As you can tell, I like line that I can see. I'm an inveterate line watcher. Drives me crazy not being able to see the line. I know that I've caught fish by watching the line that I'd have never caught if I couldn't see it.
I don't think that line visibility is as big an issue with any kind of fishing as people make it out to be. Certain applications, sure. For the most part though, I can't see where using high visibility line affects any of my fishing, regardless of the species.
I know lots of people that will only fish with clear or green line "cause the fish can't see it". A trip I took in April to go hybrid striper fishing is an example. The two guys I was fishing with were using 12lb BG in green and some 20lb Spiderwire, also green. I had two rods with 14lb Stren Superbraid in Yellow on them, with 18" clear leaders of 14lb Trilene European Sensation Clear. They said "Man, you're not going to catch anything on the bright line." We were throwing Rooster Tails and others inline spinners. I caught just as many fish as they did. They couldn't believe it.
Same goes for largemouth. My kids and their bright yellow line kill the bass at family ponds. Whether using bait or artificials, we catch as many or more than everyone else does.
All I fished for years was either Big Game or Stren Original Clear Blue. Honestly, it would have all been Stren Clear Blue if I could have gotten it in tests over 30lb. Never had any reason to not like Stren lines. I've got some 14lb Magnaflex Gold on the kid's rods right now and it's a great line.
My two favorite "mono" lines are Stren and P-Line CX Premium. I'd like to try some of the Gamma copolymer lines, as they are very thin for their lb test ratings.
On my gear, it's almost all braid. 14lb, 40lb and 65lb Stren Superbraid in Yellow. I have one reel with some 10lb Cabela's Ripcord Si yellow on it.
Couple of my smaller reels have 6lb Trilene Maxx on them, another has some 8lb Stren Original Clear Blue. Couple of my spare spools have the 14lb Stren Magnaflex 14lb Gold on them.
As you can tell, I like line that I can see. I'm an inveterate line watcher. Drives me crazy not being able to see the line. I know that I've caught fish by watching the line that I'd have never caught if I couldn't see it.
I don't think that line visibility is as big an issue with any kind of fishing as people make it out to be. Certain applications, sure. For the most part though, I can't see where using high visibility line affects any of my fishing, regardless of the species.
I know lots of people that will only fish with clear or green line "cause the fish can't see it". A trip I took in April to go hybrid striper fishing is an example. The two guys I was fishing with were using 12lb BG in green and some 20lb Spiderwire, also green. I had two rods with 14lb Stren Superbraid in Yellow on them, with 18" clear leaders of 14lb Trilene European Sensation Clear. They said "Man, you're not going to catch anything on the bright line." We were throwing Rooster Tails and others inline spinners. I caught just as many fish as they did. They couldn't believe it.
Same goes for largemouth. My kids and their bright yellow line kill the bass at family ponds. Whether using bait or artificials, we catch as many or more than everyone else does.
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