PB Products
Control Monofilament

First Impressions

PB Products may not yet be a "household name" when it comes to angling products, but with a new range of products that were displayed at the Five Lakes Carp Show earlier in the year, anglers have already been talking about them and the online forums have been alive with questions about the company and the range. UKMA recently received a box from PB Products containing the new products for this year as well as some of the existing products. Over the next few weeks, we will be reviewing the products that have been received.

Reel lines have always been a matter of personal preference amongst the anglers using them, and when it comes to monofilament lines, anglers have always been reluctant to change from what they know and are used to. Control monofilament reel line has been developed to offer the angler the majority of positives that anglers look for when choosing a line. PB Products have chosen to supply the large spool of line in a round tin, which ensures that the line reaches the angler in the optimum condition by keeping UV light away from the contents. When spooling up, it is recommended that the line is soaked in warm water for a couple of hours, and reeled on to the reel spool with the label side facing upwards (if the spool is upside down, notches placed on the outer rim will cause the line to catch as it comes off the spool as well as potentially cause damage to the line in the way of nicks). Spooling up the line in this manner will also lessen the amount of twist as the line goes onto the reel.

UKMA were sent two diameters from the range, which we feel are the ones that are most suited to the UK market, in the 0.30mm (18lb) and 0.35mm (24lb). The 0.35mm (24lb) spool is what we have chosen to spotlight on, although the 0.30mm (18lb) line will be used by another member of the team and the review updated.

Anglers are nowadays concentrating on diameters more than they have done in the past, as a lower diameter line will generally cast further than a thicker diameter line for most anglers. Breaking strain for the diameters is the next factor that the angler will look at. As a general rule of thumb, most anglers will choose a general purpose line around the 0.30-0.40mm range, which will allow most to reach the 100 metre mark on the cast with the majority of big pit reels on the market and mid-range rods. Breaking strains can vary amongst diameters by a staggering amount, with some 0.35mm lines given breaking strains as low as 12lb through to the other end of the spectrum with some lines given breaking strains of over 30lb! Mention 0.35mm diameter to most anglers and they will give a breaking strain of between 15lb and 20lb, depending on which lines they currently use. Mention using 24lb breaking strain to most anglers and they will look at you with a strange look wondering why you need to go so heavy. I am of the school that fishes as heavy as they can to land the fish without risking loss to much. Obviously you cannot use a 50lb reel line and reach your range (unless using braid), and there is no point in using a 10lb reel line if you are fishing a water where there are snags or other underwater obstructions. PB Products have reached an in-between point with regards to both diameter and breaking strain without losing the important factors such as suppleness, abrasion resistance and knot strength.

Control at 0.35mm stated diameter has a tested breaking strain of 23lb 7oz at the knot (5 turn Grinner or Palomar) with the breaking strain dropping slightly with a Figure-Of-8 loop or 5 Turn Half Blood Knot to 22lb 13oz. For a 0.35mm stated diameter line these are pretty impressive strength statistics. On the digital micrometer, the average diameter taken at 10 points randomly selected over a 10 metre length of line comes out at slightly over the stated diameter with an average of 0.357mm. Even with the slightly higher average diameter reading, the breaking strain results are higher than some of the other similar diameter lines on the market.

Control also has a low memory which will help in preventing overspills on the cast or if the bail arm is open. The line is also very supple and on pulling a length off of the spool, a simple run between finger and thumb will straighten the line.

The matt low visibility light green colouration of the line also looks very carpy and will be easily camouflaged against most substrates.

Final Thoughts

Given the measured diameters and breaking strains obtained from the spool we were sent, Control could be seeing itself being placed on a lot of anglers reels in the coming months. I fish a variety of venues and for other species such as Pike, and I will be putting this line through its paces over the colder months this winter, especially when using larger deadbaits. Some of the winter carp venues I fish become quite snaggy during the colder months when the weed and rushes die back below the waters surface, and using the higher breaking strain, but being able to still keep the diameter low, should give me confidence in landing the vast majority of whatever I manage to hook.

The 0.35mm (24lb) Control Reel Line is supplied on 1250m spools which gives more than enough line for filling 3 or 4 spools, and sells for around £21.99 per spool.

For more information on the PB Products range, please visit their website by clicking the image below.