Recently, I've been using 5lb clear Maxima, which unfortunately ran out. Now instead of going straight to the same I looked at the others. I came across Drennan Double Strength, which looks promising, but would like to know how it compares.

I know its thinner in diameter, which is why I was looking at it instead of Maxima, but how stiff is it? would you avoid it due to its colour? Knot strength? etc.

all opinions welcome.

I recently switched from 6lb maxima to Frog's hair and I'm very pleased.

Got a 3 spool selection from fleabay for £8.

The 3x is 8.5b BS and thinner than the maxima. I usually use the 4x or 6x depending on the fly though.

Tried the double strength a while back before i moved over to Fluro had very little stretch and a tendency to break but maybe thats just me coz i like a little give on my line to strike quite hard into fish,but im sure back then i just went back to ordinary Drennan as it didnt suit me.

maxima is the best nylon for leader butts and tying droppers its a very stiff mono compared to some its been on the block for years and could be discribed as a standard very reliable mono.The double strenght is soft in comparision and thinner in dia better for dry fly and dead drifting.

gary nicho

i find maxima mono tends to twist alot but i do recon its the best for knot strength never had a fish break me of on it

Drennan Double Strength, I am surprised this stuff is still on sale. When it came out years ago everybody & their granny bought it. Some found out quite quickly it was wanting. I have lost count of the fish I have seen lost by anglers using this stuff. I remember an article way back in T&S I think it was, when that doyen of loch style Mr Headley bemoaned about loosing nine Trout in succession & I swear it was this stuff he was using. Why he did not reallies the problem sooner still is a wonder to me. Stan Yes/NO. Poor knotting & no give seem to be main reasons. Remember an angling on the Endrick signing its praises but he had to tie up his tippets (casts) prior to fishing in controlled conditions of his house because if he did it "quickly" by the water he had problems. Something I thought strange at the time but in hindsight I can now see why.There are far better lines out there. I only use two now.
Maxima Chameleon for the darker lochs Sea Trout & Salmon & Drennan Sub Surface for rivers
Tight Lines

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"The Future's Bright The Future's Wet Fly"

Not seen Double Strength in years....nasty stuff with poor knot strength, and very shiny.

Maxima green is my favourite line for teams of wets....its bombproof, quite stiff and despite its relatively wide diameter it it hard to see. Not ideal for delicate dry fly/emerger and tend to use low diameter.

I have also been using Riverage, Rio and Frog hair which seems to combine low diameter with the other necessary attributes.

Drennan double strength is very shiny 'specially fishing just sub-surface...takes just died when I used it and it "wrinkles" way too easily

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an interesting mix of apathy and panic

Clive M

Drennan Double Strength......,I think you either loved the stuff or hated it,no middle ground.Me..,I thought it was a total revelation when it came on the market. Yes it was certainly less robust than the nylons we were used to at the time and did require a bit of babying, especially in the lower b.s. However,as far as I was concerned ,the benefits far outweighed any weaknesses it might have had.In fact once I learnt how to handle the stuff,I very,very rarely lost fish through breakages with it.
I'm not sure if its still on the market.....these days I use Tectan which is basically the same stuff.

Throwing another name into the hat, Preston Powerline.

It's cheapish (£5 a spool) low diameter and strong.

I've used it for years for coarse fishing without a problem and now use it for tippets when not using flouro.