Whether fishing freshwater lakes or covering miles of ocean water, there are times when anglers have to go deep to catch. Adding outriggers and downriggers with heavy weights to your vessel isn’t the right answer for most fishermen. It certainly is if you fish deep all the time, but lead core lines offer a cheaper solution for the majority of anglers. When fish hang deep, no line gets your trolling lure lower than Tuf Line Lead Core. Don’t miss a single detail in the following review.
Tuf Line Lead Core Trolling Line
Product: Tuf Line Lead Core braided fishing line.
Overall Ranking: 92 out of 100.
Price: Middle range for braided lines.
Company/Owner: Western Filament, Inc.
Website: Tuf-Line.com.
Intro To Tuf Line Lead Core
Tuf Line weaves a tight braid of high tenacity polyester around a solid lead core to produce this weighted line. It features a change in color every ten yards, alerting anglers to exactly how much line is unspooled behind them. Tuf Line Lead Core claims a thinner diameter than similar lines as it uses 99.9% true lead material. Read on for the complete breakdown of spools by tests as well as their diameters. Catch the Tuf Line trolling speed to depth formula in the Features Section below.
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Tuf Line Lead Core Spools, Specs, & Features
Lead Core Spools
Spools of Tuf Line Lead Core come in tests starting at 12 lbs and going as high as 45. Anglers have the option in spool lengths of 100, 200, or 1,000-yards. Its multi-colored depth telling feature is the one and only color pattern to choose from. Check the list below for details on tests and lengths.
- 12, 15, 18, 27, 36. & 45 LB Test x 100, 200, or 1,000 Yards – Multi-colored
Tuf Line Lead Core Specifications
Anglers can check the claims that Tuf Line’s Lead Core is thinner than other lead core lines as they provide the diameters for each test. They also give the line’s true breaking strength along with its monofilament equal. Have a look at the details below:
- 12 LB Test (18 LB True Break): 0.662 (MM) 0.026 (IN) – 20 LB Mono
- 15 LB Test (19 LB True Break): 0.687 (MM) 0.027 (IN) – 25 LB Mono
- 18 LB Test (23 LB True Break): 0.738 (MM) 0.029 (IN) – 30 LB Mono
- 27 LB Test (35 LB True Break): 0.840 (MM) 0.033 (IN) – 30 LB Mono
- 36 LB Test (38 LB True Break): 0.891 (MM) 0.035 (IN) – 35 LB Mono
- 45 LB Test (51 LB True Break): 0.941 (MM) 0.037 (IN) – 40 LB Mono
Main Features
Tightly Braided High Tenacity Polyester
The statement begs the question. What is high tenacity polyester? In the case of the material in Tuf Line, it’s a yarn with properties of incredible durability, toughness, and resistance to extreme environments. Polyester holds color better than polyethylene braiding and it protects rod components from the lead core.
99.9 Percent True Lead Core
If you’re in the market for a lead core line, be sure to read the fine print. Though it may be cost effective for some brands to use a blend of metals, they don’t offer top performance. Tuf Line uses a true lead core, bringing anglers the most possible weight at the thinnest diameter.
Thinner Than Most Lead Core Lines
Because of the true lead core, Tuf Line produces a thinner line than most standard labels. Companies that use a mix of different metals typically have to add mass to achieve a similar weight. With 99.9% true lead, Tuf Line is able to keep the weight up while minimizing the diameter of each line test.
Colored Metering For Depth Finding
As lead core line should be, Tuf Line changes color every ten meters. The sequence starts over once 100 meters of the line is out, providing anglers with near precision depth markings. On the straight drop, the metered colors give close to exact readings. But the main reason anglers use lead core is for extra weight while trolling. You’ll want to use Tuf Line’s formula below to figure depth while your vessel is in forward motion.
The Tuf Line Sink Rate Formula
The very nature of water makes it so any depth formula is an approximation. Readings can still be fairly precise with low to no water current. Other factors that affect depth are boat speed and lure weight, as the formula explains.
Using a one-ounce lure in no current, the depth will be 6 to 6.5 feet per line color. This formula works for slow to medium speeds of 1.5 to 2.5 mph. Every 1/4 ounce change of lure weight, whether up or down, will alter the depth by about .25-feet. Line test has little effect on this formula because of the drag created by the larger diameter lines.
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Pros & Cons Of Tuf Line Lead Core
Benefits
Tuf Line puts more depth on angler’s trolling lures without having to resort to downriggers. If you plan on trolling very deep, there is no substitute for clip on weights and downriggers. For those anglers that simply need to get lower than the first water column, lead core line will do the trick.
Disadvantages
Although Tuf Line uses a high tenacity polyester braid, the metal center is tough on rod components. It’s best to look for equipment that’s suited for using lead core and wire lines. You’ll find that line guides for wire lines use a material that’s tough enough to withstand the rigorous line. Again. lead core line will only drop your line so much below the normal trolling range. Any deeper needs will require downriggers and heavy clip-on weights.
Best Times To Use Lead Core
It’s not uncommon, as anglers who’ve covered many trolling miles are aware, for fish to hang down on certain days. Even during the hot bite of the summer months, tuna and other species stay down sometimes. There’s no reason to stop using Rapalas and other diving lures to reach greater depths, but Tuf Line Lead Core can provide the extra feet you need. If you hook up and lift the entire school to the surface, you’ll be the lead core hero.
Customer Support
Tuf Line offers quality help to customers via their website. There, anglers can find contact info, advice from the pro-staff, or educational videos. You can even share pictures of your best catches on their Wall of Fame. Visit their website at Tuf-Line.com to view all Tuf Line products and don’t forget to read their full reviews on FishtFight.com.
In Conclusion
92 out of 100 anglers approve of Tuf Line Lead Core line
Keep in mind that the above ninety percentile ranking applies only to lead core lines. A score against all fishing lines would come in much lower due to the restrictions in use. Tuf Line leads the pack in lead lines, but it does have its limitations to freshwater lakes and lighter saltwater applications.
Do you have a question about using Tuf Line Lead Core or an experience you’d like to share? Please spend a minute and type out your thoughts in the comment section below. I truly appreciate your feedback as do all other anglers who happen to read the review. Thanks for reading and tight lines until next time. FishtFight.com.
It really ticks me off that tuf line is too lazy to create a a sink chart for their lead core line. They don’t even give the diameter of it. There has to be a formula to plug in trolling speed, lure weight and line size to figure out how deep your lure is or needs to be. The vague chart they give is way off and of no use . I’ve used their lead core for years and it isn’t bad considering but am going to find a different brand due to rude/ piss poor customer service.
Sorry to hear about your experience with Tuf Line customer service. Would be interested to hear what you end up switching to. Always looking for a new find. Geoff.
We use Tuf Line Micro Lead 18 lb for Kokanee fishing and upon reading the article above I really appreciate it mentioning lure weight as it is often overlooked. I was also wondering what 12 lb – 30ft leader does to the elevation of the lure. Does it travel at the elevation of the lead line as indicated on the chart or does it travel a foot or two higher than anticipated?
Hey Tracy that’s a great question and I don’t have any experience with that leader length to offer you. Being that the 30′ of leader (mono or flouro) has some weight and also likes to sink, I would think your lure would travel slightly lower in the water column. But, just a guess. Geoff.
Usine lead core especially Tuf line requires some work; who said fishing is suppose to be easy. Lead lengths can vary form 10″ to 100′ and vary from 6 lb. test up. The usual diving depth of the lure being used is usually added 50% of its usually depth to the depth of the lead core. By running the lead core to determine the depth it is running at a certain speed is helpful in determining rhe approx. depth. Hard work never hurt any fisherman or fisherwomen.
Great take on what it’s really like using lead core line when on the water real life. Will leave your input here for anglers to devour.