Fox International Reel Lines

Fox International are well known for constantly working on improving existing products in their vast range of tackle, until they are as close to perfect as possible. Many anglers have been using Fox reel lines religously for numerous years without thinking of changing brands because of trends and phases. For 2010, Fox have completely revamped their range of reel lines and UKMA were recently sent a selection of these to put through their paces, and as usual, no test was left out.

Fox Aquos

The first line we looked at was the Aquos line. The Fox consultants and product development team have sat down and looked at what anglers are looking for in a reel line - Low diameter, high abrasion resistance, good casting potential, low stretch, low memory, low visibility and sinks. The end result of combining all of these factors is the new Aquos reel line.

The Aquos line is clear in colouration, and upon pulling a length off the spool, feels extremely soft and supple. A quick single rub between finger and thumb made the line perfectly straight.

Fox state that the 15lb Aquos has a diameter of 0.309mm. On the calibrated UKMA digital micrometer, we got a reading of 0.312mm on average along a length pulled off the spool (measured at random intervals along the length). Even with the slight increase in true diameter, the breaking strain to diameter ratio is extremely good.

On the UKMA breaking strain test, we got some very good results with numerous knots, and even with an overhand knot tied in the middle of a length of line, we got breaking strains close to the stated 15lb. With a good knot, the breaking strain was higher than stated. The best knot we found for loops was the "no slip" or Rapala knot, which gave a breaking strain of 16lb 7oz. With a Grinner knot, we got results of 16lb 5oz. Very impressive for a low diameter supple line.

On the bank we wanted to test the casting and sinking potentials of the Aquos lines. Aquos casts extremely well as we had expected from a line of the properties that the line has. The sinking of the line was a little strange. On a clear water and looking through polarised glasses at the line in the water, we witnessed the line sinking well for the first foot or so of depth where after that it seemed to just hang in the water. This demonstrated that Aquos line was a neutral buoyancy line rather than a true sinking line. After giving the line a quick spray with a line sinking agent, the line did sink a bit further down in the water but still showed plenty of the neutral properties. This bought me to the conclusion that if the angler wanted the line to sink to the bottom fully, the use of back leads would be needed. I tested this theory along the margins of the venue I fished and with a back lead and treated with a line sinking spray, the Aquos line did stay along the bottom. This is not just unique to Aquos though, and I have yet to see a true casting monofilament line actually sink properly without the aid of a line spray and back leads. Aquos is no worse or better than any of the other casting lines that I have used over the years in this aspect.

One other small aspect I must point out is that because of how soft and supple the Aquos reel line is, I cannot recommend that it is placed into a permanently affixed line clip that may be on the rod. I put the Aquos line into the clips on my rods that I have used with many lines, and even with just light pressure, when the line was pulled out of the clip there was visible marking and flattening of the line. When I tried a Solar Strong Arm line clip on the rod and put the Aquos into it, there was no visible marking of the line at all upon pulling it out.

Overall, the Aquos line impressed me and for distance work, it will be my first port of call, as it casts like a dream.

Fox Soft Steel Adaptive Camouflage

When you speak to most anglers about Fox reel lines, the first one that springs to mind is the Soft Steel family. These lines are used week in, week out by so many anglers, that it is almost certainly being used on the waters that you fish. With the new lines from Fox for 2010, the development team and consultants have taken the popular Camo version and"adapted" it to a better camouflage pattern.

When you look at the Adaptive Camouflage line, the first thing that you notice is that the camouflage pattern is much more blatent than the older version. This is due to that the patterning has been done to suit all substrates and blend in by breaking up the straight line.

Straight off the spool, it is apparent that it is not as soft and supple as the Aquos, and after a couple of rubs between finger and thumb, the line lay straight.

UKMA were given the 12lb breaking strain version of the Soft Steel Adaptive Camouflage line. The stated diameter on the spool is 0.309mm (the same as the 15lb Aquos). When the digital micrometer was put on the line at random places along the length pulled off the spool, it was found to be fairly accurate with the actual average diameter being 0.314mm.

During the breaking strain tests, we had to perform the process twice as we could not believe the results that we got. The average across the tests done were that the line broke at the knot at a staggering 15lb 2oz with the "no slip"/Rapala loop knot! This is 25% higher than the stated breaking strain!

On the bank, we did not expect the Soft Steel Adaptive Camouflage to be as good a casting line as the Aquos, but it was not far behind. It flowed off the spool straight and did require a little more effort in the cast to get to the same distances as the Aquos line.

The line did sink better than the Aquos, but this was to be expected as the line is not as supple and usually is heavier because of this (we do not have a set of scales that can measure such light weights). The Soft Steel Adaptive Camouflage line sank well once under the surface tension and during the margin test that was carried out with the Aquos, the line did sink to the bottom within a few minutes without the need for back leads. I also noticed that when the line was hanging in the water whilst sinking, it did stand out more than the Aquos, but when it was on the bottom, it was still visible to an extent but the camouflage pattern broke up the straight line very well.

With the line clip test that caused me a little concern with the Aquos, the Soft Steel Adaptive Camouflage passed with flying colours with no visible marking or compression on the line after being put in the permanent line clips.

I have to be honest and say that I was not a fan of previous Soft Steel lines, but after putting the Adaptive Camouflage version through the tests, I can honestly say that I am a convert now and can see myself using the Adaptive Camouflage for most of my angling needs other than for extreme distance casting.

Conclusion

From taking a look at two of the new reel lines from Fox for 2010, I am impressed (and that takes a lot to do!) overall. The Aquos was a little disappointing with the sinking capabilites and the issues with the line clips, but other anglers may find that it fits in well with the equipment that they use and the circumstances that they face. The Soft Steel Adaptive Camouflage was the true eye-opener for me though, and has opened my eyes to it's properties. As always these are my personal findings, and we won't tell our readers that they have to use this or that, but to make their own mind up.

For more information on the range of lines, or any other item in the Fox range, please click the image below to visit the Fox Carp website.