Super Premium, Super Slick, PowerPro's 8 Strand Braid Take 2

Total Score: 8.00 - GREAT

Introduction: Next to Fireline, PowerPro is the earliest braided line product I can recall, and technically, Fireline isn't a braid - it's a fused line. Yet for all that time out on the market, I can't recall every really spending much time with Power Pro. I think that's because the original product was a 4 strand braid and notorious for being rough and noisy through your guides. I didn't really start using a lot of braid until manufacturers began offering the quieter 8 strand varieties - again, Fireline not withstanding. Well, I recently corrected my personal oversight of PowerPro by picking up a couple spools of their Super8Slick V2. Here's how it all turned out.

Background: PowerPro Super8Slick V2 made its debut at ICAST 2018 where it won Best of Show in the fishing line category. It is an eight strand, Spectra braid wound together with a tight weave and given a special coating for smooth, quiet performance through your guides, but with still rough enough resistance to cut through vegetation like traditional four strand braids. In 2019, PowerPro won the ICAST award for Best of Show in the fishing line category once again when they introduced a new, high visibility color, Moonshine that's not only bright in daylight, but glows when illuminated by a black light to benefit night fisherman.

Introducing PowerPro's Super8Slick V2

Impressions: PowerPro offers Super8Slick V2 in four different colors but the only one that interested me was Onyx. This color is essentially black and really intrigued me from an aesthetic perspective. I acquired this line in both 40 and 50 pound strengths. First thing I did when the line arrived was to strip off a section on one of the spools to see how limp the line was and how it felt between my fingers. Super8Slick V2 is worthy of its name because it is indeed super slick between the fingers and is actually quite limp despite the coating. PowerPro did well putting this product together and first impressions were very good.

The 40 pound measured, on average, at 0.263mm in diameter while the 50 pound measured 0.286mm

Taking both spools of line under the scrutiny of our micrometer to check diameter revealed surprising results. I acquired two spools close to each other in strength because I expected one of the two to measure out at roughly 0.30mm in diameter. This is the size of braided line I prefer to fish. The 40 pound is specified at 0.31mm and the 50 pound at 0.36. If there's a discrepancy, actual diameters are usually larger than stated. What I discovered was Super8Slick V2 goes the other way. The 40 pound measured, on average, at 0.263mm in diameter while the 50 pound measured 0.286mm.

Zander has been fishing with Super8Slick V2 for a full season now and uses it often with certain swimbaits

Real World Tests: When it came time to spool Super8Slick V2 on a reel for some real world tests, my 50 pound spool somehow went into hiding. I could not for the life of my tackle, locate the spool, and with a testing trip quickly approaching, I ran out of time to search so chose the 40 pound spool for the tests. I matched the line up with my 13 Fishing Concept C2 reel and tied on a leader of 10lb Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon leader and mounted the reel on my first generation Edge Rods Black Widow 705-1 cranking stick.

40lb V2 Onyx loaded on a 13 Fishing Concept C2

Turns out Zander had similar designs with this line and actually had the 50 pound spooled on a couple of his combos: his 13 Fishing Concept Z SLD paired with a Savage Gear Squad SQFC73MH and his KastKing Bassinator Elite Ninja paired with a Savage Gear Black Ops BOFC73MH. His color of choice, however was the traditional moss green.

Zander making a series of casts to see how the line casts when wet versus dry

Casting: Any time I have a spool of braid with an obvious coating over the line, I'm wary of how it will handle out on the water. If you've been keeping up with our braided line reviews of late, you'll know I'm not very tolerant of lines that require a break-in period. I'm happy to report PowerPro's Super8Slick V2, despite its coating, does not require a break in period. It fires off your reel very reliably right from the get go and actually handles extremely well.

Success with Nishine Lure Work's Erie jerkbait. While we usually fish ripbaits with mono or fluorocarbon the instant energy transfer with braid like PowerPro makes for incredibly fun strikes

Abrasion: Super8Slick V2 is a somewhat traditional 8 strand in that it's smooth overall in texture, but it does have just enough bite to it to help get your lure out of sticky, or rather, weedy situations. Zander was chucking away with a Zman/Evergreen Jackhammer while I was throwing a straight, Jackall Rhythm Wave paddletail through the weeds testing out Woo! Tungsten's NeverChip swimbait hook. While I did have a short leader of 10lb Sufix Advance FC, Zander was fishing without a leader.

Closeup of Super8Slick V2

Unraveling the end for a closeup of the strands

In both situations, Super8Slick V2 held up just fine bumping and cutting through the weeds. Of course, weeds don't really provide a lot of abrasion, but in braid fishing terms, the ability to cut through the weeds is what most anglers are seeking. Super8Slick V2 may not cut like a 4 strand, but it can certainly hold its own in these situations.

Zander having a field day with the Z-Man/Evergreen Jackhammer

Noise: I didn't find Super8Slick V2 noisy at all coming through the guides of my 705-1 cranking stick nor did I notice any noise when Zander was chucking away with is Jackhammer and I can usually notice when he's using a braid that creates a lot of noise through the guides. There are some exceptions, but most 8 strand braids are pretty quiet. Super8Slick V2 is in the majority and one of the less noisy braids to fish.

A pairing of 13Fishing's new Concept Z SLD and Savage Gear's Squad rod makes for a brightly covered combo

Zander appreciating the knot strength of PowerPro Super8Slick with a number of swimbait fish

Another Jackhammer fish? Dude!

Available in strengths from 8 through 80 pound test, Super8Slick V2 is suitable for a wide range of applications.

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Make no mistake, Super8Slick V2 is a premium quality braid product