Trakker Sinking Braid Reel Line 300m

Strength & Abrasion

The choice of strains is a big plus. The 30lb is 0.29mm, the 40lb is 0.33mm, the 60lb is 0.41mm and the 80lb is 0.49mm, so you can go light for casting or heavy for snags without changing line.

Trakker pair high knot strength with abrasion resistance, and knot strength counts for a lot with braid, because a slick braid can slip in a knot that holds fine in mono. I'd tie a knot I trust for braid and test it properly before casting out.

Is it the toughest sinking braid around? I'd put the Thinking Anglers SBX a step ahead for out-and-out robustness, as it's built specifically for demanding venues.

Trakker's braid still has strength to spare for weedy carp fishing, though, and the 60lb and 80lb give you real stopping power if you need it. Overall, it's a strong, dependable braided mainline.

Casting & Handling

Distance is what Trakker designed this braid for, and the spec reads well. The ultra-smooth finish should cut friction through the rings, the build is supple, and the diameters are slim for the strain, with 40lb at just 0.33mm.

Braid holds very little memory, so it should come off the spool cleanly without the coils you can get from a stiff mono.

Low stretch also means a direct feel of the lead touching down and sensitive feedback from the rig, which is handy when you're trying to find a clear spot at range.

The flip side is the usual braid admin. You'll want a shock leader for hard casting with a heavy lead, and a mono or fluoro leader at the rig end too, which is a bit of a faff the first time.

Overall, I think it's built for casting first, and for long-range work I'd pick it over the RidgeMonkey Descend.

Presentation

So, how well does it hide? Trakker make it supple and fast sinking, so it traces the shape of the bottom rather than cutting across it, and that's what you want from a mainline braid. The slim diameters should help it get down quickly as well.

Dark green is a sensible, low-key colour for most lakes, and from the close-up shots the weave is a muted, dark green.

It's a single solid colour, though, rather than the broken camo of the Thinking Anglers SBX, and braid is never as hard to see as a fluorocarbon like the Korda Kontour.

A fluoro or sinking mono leader at the business end keeps the last few metres discreet, and I'd always fish one with this braid. Overall, it presents well for a braid, and I'd be happy with it on most carp waters where braided mainline is allowed.

Is it good value for money?

Spool size is the one thing holding the value back. You only get 300m per spool, so a three-rod set-up means buying several, whereas the RidgeMonkey Descend also comes on 1000m spools for filling a few reels at once.

So, does that make it poor value? Not really. The range of strains is wider than the Descend or SBX offer, and you're getting a smooth, fine-diameter braid with real stopping power, so I think the price is fair.

Do factor in leader material, though, and remember that a low-stretch braid needs a softer rod and a gentle touch near the net.

Overall, I'd recommend it to carp anglers who fish at range, over weed or on big waters, want direct contact with the rig, and are happy to fish a leader. If your venue bans braid, or you'd rather not bother with leaders, a sinking mono is the easier route.