Gold Label Tackle Pro-Distance

Gold Label Tackle have been around the angling scene for many years now. I can remember using a lot of GLT products back when I was a teenager, and on every trip to the tackle shop, it was always products from the GLT stable that were first placed into the paying arms of my mother (thanks Mum!!!).

GLT have been one of the front runners in specialist lines, and a lot of match anglers are also finding that they also have a place in the competitive world with Pro-Gole being a favourite of many top flight match anglers including Mick Wilkinson for their feeder fishing work.

Pro-Distance is one of Gold Label Tackle's newer lines and has been designed with low diameter, suppleness and high breaking strain in mind.

We have had a spool on test for a while now and it was about time we put our findings down into words.

Gold Label have looked at line manufacturing processes over the years and determined that most lines offer a compromise between strength and diameter which can leave the angler at a disadvantage. Due to the advanced manufacturing program that GLT use, Pro-Distance turns the tables on this which puts the angler back in the drivers seat. Each spool is labelled with the lowest possible breaking strain from a poorly tied knot as well as a straight line breaking strain which is what the line has been tested at with no knots in the material. We tested the stated breaking strains on the spool which was labelled as 12lb breaking strain at 0.35mm. This may not sound that impressive, but the straight line breaking strain stated on the label is 20.5lb! This puts Pro-Distance up with the best lines with regards to breaking strain to diameter ratio. As per usual with all reel lines that comes through the UKMA office, the first thing that we did was to put a digital micrometer on the line along a 10 metre length. The stated diameter is 0.35mm and the average diameter that was recorded over 10 measurements was 0.348mm.

With regards to the breaking strain, Gold Label Tackle recommend that to obtain the best breaking strain from the line, the only knot that should be used is the twice through the eye, 5 turn Grinner knot. This is a very strong knot anyway and one that works well with any line. To test the breaking strain at the knot, we carried out a variety of knots in the line and pulled for a break using the highly technical "weight in a weigh sling" means. This "highly technical" method of testing is carried out by placing bags of groundbait or boilies into a weigh sling to set weights and placing on the scales to get the true amount in the sling. Once a weight close to the breaking strain of the line is reached, leads are added in 1oz increments until the line breaks. We have found that this gives a more accurate test than attaching to a set of scales and pulling until a break occurs (or the scales get damaged). With the twice through the eye 5 turn Grinner knot, we achieved a breaking strain of 17lb 6oz. I am sure that you will agree that for a line with a stated breaking strain of 12lb, it is pretty impressive. We also tested with other knots that anglers might use including Palomar (14lb 10oz), 5 turn Half blood knot (15lb 2oz) and figure of 8 loop knot (14lb 7oz). To test the straight line breaking strain, instead of knotting the line (which would make this test impossible), a 3m length of line was taken and a 1.5m loose loop was formed. Using a butchers hook to hold the sling to the line, the loop was marked at the 1m length and the remaing half metre length of doubled up line was wrapped around a storm pole to secure. As the butchers hook is over a single strand of the line, the weight is distributed over a 10mm area of the line which stops any weakness caused by the line pinching. The straight line test was started with 21lb of weight in the sling and the line managed to lift this weight. The straight line test recorded a breaking strain of 22lb 11oz (in excess of the stated breaking strain).

Distance casting lines also need to be as supple as possible to allow smooth exit off of the reel spool during the cast as well as to allow fast reduction in the coil size when it goes through the rings. The first test that we do is to pull a length off of the spool in a straight line allowing the spool to rotate between the fingers - this puts a couple of twists into the line as it comes off the spool. With a gentle run between finger and thumb, Pro-Distance straightened almost perfectly. On most lines, a couple of runs between finger and thumb are required to straighten the line.

When in use, we manged to easily hit the 100 metre mark with a typical over head chuck using a baited rig, and if the lake was bigger, I am sure that 120+ could be reached with ease.

Final Thoughts

For a line that is designed to be a distance casting line, we were impressed with the other factors such as breaking strains as well as how supple the line was. Knots tied easily and tightened down nicely with lubrication (something that EVERY knot should have when being tightened). The line feels smooth after several uses and we have noticed nothing that tells us that the line is not doing what it is supposed to do. Unlike some of the other lines we have tested over the years, Pro-Distance is usable straight after spooling without the need for bedding in for a few casts.

The larger spools are all loaded with 1000yards of the line, which is more than enough for the average angler to fill at least 3 spools with and something that a lot more companies should do rather than supply as 4oz or other weight spools.

UKMA are looking forward to putting the Pro-Distance through it's paces over the winter months on a variety of venues as we move over to targetting other species than simply carp on the rivers, drains, canals and lakes.

GLT Pro-Distance line is not the cheapest on the market at around £24.95 per 1000 metre spool, but the benefits it gives over some of the more popular cheaper lines make up for the price.

For more information on the Pro-Tough line or any of the other products in the Gold Label Tackle range, please click the image below.