DAIWA PRODUCT FOCUS: Daiwa Tournament 8 Evo Braid by Darren Weda

I’ve been lucky enough to been trialling some Daiwa’s newly released Tournament 8 Braid Evo for the last 6 months and running it through its paces on all my favourite light tackle species.

Targeted at the mid range line market, Tournament 8 Evo is a step above their popular and excellent J-braid, managing to keep the toughness but with a thinner diameter. As per all Daiwa products the Evo 8 braid comes packaged nicely with all the relevant information stated clearly on the packaging, including all its features. Available in chatreuse and multicolour, and plenty of different line strengths, Daiwa has given us another braid to suit all our different fishing applications.

FEATURES

•  8 ply weave
• High Visibility Chartreuse PE
• Round profie
• Extra high abrasion resistance
•   Super smooth surface coating
• Super soft and flexible

ON THE WATER

Traditionally for my light tackle fishing I have always tried to use 3, 4 or 6 lb braids to help increase my casting distance. The 10lb Evo 8 I have been using has well and truly met my demands for casting distance. Being able to cast my preferred small hardbody lures and lightly weighted soft plastics as far as I have needed, and on par with lighter braids I have preferred in the past.

Being able to use the greater strength braid but not sacrifice casting distance has given me confidence to target those bigger or more aggressive fish with the same set-up that I would normally finesse fish with, thus giving me a more flexible rod/reel combo.
I have the 10lb evo8 on a 2004 sized freams and have used it to successfully target bream, bass, and estuary perch around heavy structure, and also trout in lakes and streams. I also wouldn’t hesitate at all to grab that reel/line combo if I was heading out to chase bigger pinkies, salmon or flathead etc.

I find the Chartreuse coloured line is easy to see in the water, and allows me to watch my line for bites, an important aspect of lure and soft plastic fishing. The Evo 8 seems to ties knots well, with no excessive slippage that can occur with some super smooth lines, and wind knots have been at a minimum.

CONCLUSION

I have definitely been happy with the line to date, and actually reach for that reel now over the j-braid as I know I can cast slightly longer with it and have that bit more line strength as a bonus. So if you are in the market for some new mid range line, put the Tournament 8 Evo Braid on your shopping list.