LUBRICATED  BRAIDS
Cabela's  Ripcord Si  and Si PLUS !
reviewed by Kenny Mason

From some of the empirical results that I've heard about and from some of the more accurate scientific test results that I've seen, I don't think there's much doubt that monos, braids and perhaps even fusion lines, do benefit from some lubrication to improve casting distances, especially with medium and lightweight lures.

There are two main ways of achieving this — you can either soak your line, e.g. braid, in one of those proprietary silicone-based line-lubricants designed specially for the purpose, or you can buy a braid that's "Ready-coated" with silicone lubricant, such as Cabela's Ripcord Si  and Si PLUS  Dyneema™ braids.

A Fan of Both Methods
To be honest, I'm a fan of both methods! I use Relum's Rod Hutchinson's "Slick Horizon" line-lube for my everyday monso and braids, and, as a treat, I buy-in by mail-order spools of the two types of pre-coated Ripcord braids from Cabela's in the USA http://www.cabelas.com/ , Ripcord Si and Ripcord Si PLUS

I've done quite a few rough empirical tests myself and have pretty much convinced myself that lubricating your line does make a difference and that the extra effort and cost is probably worth while, especially when fishing with not very large lures.

I have to say that most of my own amateurish checks have been with monos and with braids, with and without line-lube, and that I haven't got much experience with fusion lines for the simple reason that I don't use them very much, these days, now that braids have come down so much in price.

Also, I should day at the outset that getting stuff mail-order from the States isn't always plain sailing though; there can be delays, especially since Sept 11th, and, depending on the total value of your order, you may get caught for Duty and VAT, and of course there's carriage too.

Ripcord Si
Ripcord Si is a tightly-woven Dyneema braid that's been pre-coated with silicone lubricant to reduce the dynamic frictional resistance forces when you're casting. Whether you use pre-coated lines or add line-lube yourself, the silicone lubricant soon gets on to every surface that the line touches e.g. your rod rings and the contact-parts of your reel.

Normal braids have got pretty poor abrasion resistance and although I have read claims that these silicone coatings improve abrasion resistance, personally I think that the improvement in true abrasion resistance to underwater snags is only marginal, if any.

As with all these HPPE Dyneema and Spectra braids, Ripcord Si has very little stretch, with a very high tenacity i.e. high strength and relatively low diameter. It's tightly braided and this makes it almost waterproof.

As far as the cost of Ripcord Si goes, it's best to check on-line the current price directly with Cabela's  because they'll be able to give you all the latest info. Once you've got the "delivered UK" price, you can decide whether to try some Ripcord, or to get some line lube to use on your everyday braid.

Ripcord Si PLUS
I'm also a fan of Mason's Tiger Braid which is a co-braid of HPPE and polyester and so I suppose it was quite natural that I got this urge to try Ripcord Si PLUS when it was launched because it's also got some polyester fibres woven in with the Micro-Dyneema filaments.

From personal experience, these co-braided polyester fibres seem to help casting and reduce wind-knotting, although it's very difficult to know which is doing more to help, the silicone lubricant or the polyester— the answer, obviously, is a combination of both.

Knots are Ultra-critical
With lubricated braids and braids in general, whether they're pre-lubricated or if you add the lube yourself, you have to be extra specially careful when it comes to tying knots, so I always follow the manufacturers' recommendations when it comes to which knots to use for their braids! Grinner, Trilene and Palomar knots are the main ones that manufacturers recommend.

Summarising Ripcord
To be brutally honest, Ripcord is very nice to use but it is rather expensive and a bit of a luxury, but who doesn't like to treat themselves once in a while?

Out of these two pre-treated lubricated braids, Ripcord Si and Ripcord Si PLUS with polyester, I have to say that I prefer the latter — I have tried them both almost side by side but because Ripcord Si PLUS behaves a bit more like some of my other favourite braids, I feel more at home with it.

The only thing I can suggest is that you at least also try some Ripcord just the once to compare it with your normal braid and to see if you like it, or, at the very least, put some line lube on your nomal braid ! Kenny Mason.

Nick's Notes: If you've got any questions or comments about this or any other article, tackle test or review on this website, please contact directly via our dedicated "QUESTIONS" button on the Main Menu.

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