This premium “solid core” super braid is constructed using all the best features of Cortland’s legendary Spectron braided line, but with a unique coating that makes the braid permanently stiff. Introduced approximately seven years back, but constantly upgraded with new colors and enhanced technology, Cortland’s Master Braid truly lives up to its namesake.
Master Braid is constructed in a way that makes it rounder, which means less twist, greater accuracy, longer casts and extended life. A proprietary Cortland process bonds the color and finish into the fibers of the braid, eliminating fading or flaking of the color and stiffening agent. With only 4% stretch, small diameter pound/test ratio and a unique hydrophobic coating that slices through the water and comes back dry, this new Master Braid delivers greatly enhanced fishing qualities and performance. Master Braid is very easy to use and works equally well on both spinning and conventional reels.
I first learned of Master Braid line from my good buddy and Long Island Fishing School instructor Capt. Nick Savene of the Oceanside, Long Island based charter boat No Time. As a full time professional that fishes hard seven days a week to earn a living, Capt. Nick always uses the best tools to insure that his charter clients will hook the highest ratio of fish and bring them to boatside for either capture or tag and release and Cortland Master Braid is his super braid line of choice. Capt. Nick used Cortland Master Braid to capture the current NY State Record Tautog back in December of 2011. Angler Gene Pitaro was on the rod to ice an impressive 21.55-pound blackfish that was weighed over at the Bay Park Fishing Station and graced the cover of The Fisherman Magazine for 2012’s Issue #2. Gene’s reel was spooled with Cortland’s Master Braid and the big tog was pulled out from some heavy rubble in the 17-Fathoms area, which is strewn with countless obstructions and rocks. These sharp-edged and crusty obstacles are the absolute bane of all super-thin diameter braided lines, which are very hard on this high-tech material and causes it to lose a considerable amount of its strength and integrity when nicked. But Cortland Master Braid did the job for Capt. Nick and angler Gene, toughing out the big tog from the rubble to be the biggest blackfish yet landed from NY State marine waters.
ONE TOUGH LINE
Utilizing the latest materials and innovative manufacturing techniques, Cortland Line assures the consumer that Master Braid will perform when it matters most, with a big fish on the business end of your line. What makes Master Braid stand out from the competitive pack of super braid lines is its proprietary “Fiber Tech” protection treatment, which was scientifically developed and tested to ensure consistent performance, color retention, line stiffness (backbone), in addition to extreme durability when out on the briny. Cortland’s Fiber Tech treatment penetrates the entire braid, not just the surface to ensure that the super braid line is treated and protected inside and out.
As part of the research for putting together this product review, the Cortland engineers sent me some very interesting images that were taken by very a high-power electron microscope at the research labs over at nearby Cornell University. What was apparent from these magnified pictures was how Master Braid compares to other competitive products after harsh use. After 75,000 revolutions through a set of fishing rod guides, the Cortland Master Braid looked about 95% intact with a stray frayed end here and there along its length – nothing that would seem to compromise its integrity for the task of battling a big gamefish to boatside. Leading competitive super braid brand “A” looked like someone had whacked a tall blade of grass with a dull knife, with chopped up edges that produced conspicuous frays and inconsistent diameter along its total length. Brand “B” looked even worse and didn’t seem like it was too long for this world, with the obvious compromise in its stated strength rating.
A VARIETY OF CHOICES
Cortland Master Braid is available in white, dark green, blue, hi-vis yellow, bronze, red and in a new metered pattern that features ten different colors that change their hue every 30 feet. Master Braid line is offered in a variety of strengths including ten- , 15-, 20-, 30-, 50-, 65-, 80-, 100-, 130- and 200-pound. The spool capacities currently offered are 150 yards and 300 yards for the ten-, 15-, 20-, 30-, 50-, 65- and 80-pound sizes; and 600 yards, 1,200 yards, 2,500 yards and 5,000 yards, which are offered in all line class sizes from ten- through 200-pound-test.
Cortland Master Braid is competitively priced and is a great choice if you fish hard and put a lot of time on your tackle going after large gamefish. It’s made in the USA at Cortland’s plant located up in Cortland, NY.
