Charlie I love Drennan, problem is that when tying leaders you have to be careful.  I use Trilene XT for leaders. Say if you tie a leader with 20/15/10 and then a tippet of 6# drennan many times the tippet is stronger than the 10# end of the leader.  I go by the diameter with Drennan. Also with Drennan you get 50m and with many others it is 25 or 30m so price is comparable or better.

My salt leaders are 50-25- then tippet, Clint, to turn over big flies (some 12" long) and heavy eyes.  I bought 2 spools of the 12# and imagine they'll last the striper season. A lot of the snags are on mussels or weed or barnacle covered rock. The Drennan pulls out of the snags without breaking. You end up using and losing less. Too bad the SR wasn't as forgiving.  I'm with you on the 50m spools, too.  For the money, Drennan rocks. I've been using Airflo Sightfree tippet for steel, but I think I'll just stick to 4,6,and 8 Drennan , and if I have any left at the end of the season, I like it for bass, too.  The dispensers are cool, I NEVER lose the end of the tippet, like you tend to do with other tippet spools. I wouldn't trust in on bluefish, but I bet the 12 would help with pickerel teeth. 

I have been using P-line for tippet for several years and for the price I have no complaints.

pafisher
I have been using P-line for tippet for several years and for the price I have no complaints.

Jack, I found some P-line and some Berkley Vanish spools I had kicking around. I did some simple tests with abrasion and strength comparing these 2 with Drennan and Orvis Mirage, all in the same dia. The P-Line is good for the money, and a buddy of mine that's a well known striper guide uses it on his boat, but the Drennan had better knot strength, overall strength and a little more abrasion resistance.  I'm on a mission to catch some cows like Rich does from his boat. Harder to do, splashing around out there in the estuaries and beaches. I need every little help I can get to herd them in with a silly fly swatter. 

Charlie, the fishing you do is amazing.. I believe you put a ton of acquired skill, knowledge and dedication towards the pursuit of your quarry..  You have been on some of the same streams, rivers , oceans , lakes and ponds as me,
many, many more I'm sure..  Your skills with a fly swatter are not even in the same league (imo) as myself and many folks I know, you may say the same to those you know as well..
Point is , your pretty dam good to say the least at how you chose to fish..  I try as well in most of my adventures..
We both know the spawning migration on the Mighty Hudson is a beast of it's own.. I learn more every season and been fishing this river since the mid 70's , Heck I'm still learning  ..
To me, being out there and gaining confidence by our results is very healing..
You will catch and hope you post that cow this year  !!!
 
 

I notice you did not even mention the vanish. That stuff is not good in my book. Knot strength and breaks easily when nicked. At least with the stuff below 10#

I attended a pay as you go bass fishing seminar about ten years ago and the main speaker was Hank Parker.  Parker is a rep for Berkeley and he said in his opinion Vanish was the worst line the company ever made. 

No Vanish was used in the making of this post.The large bass   in any number haven't shown yet, I made do and got a few near the 28" mark. Two were over the top of a shallow mussel bar and the stripers absolutely went bezerk, even breaking water. They hammered a 7" yellow over white Deceiver.  Fun!  The big tides floated tons of debris off the marshes, so the water was filled with crap. I had to find the times and currents that limited it.
A blimp made an appearance out of the fog. Haven't seen one in years. I got a decent number of fish, albeit small ones.  I complain and  moan, but even the 10"ers put a bend in the 9 wt., whereas a trout would  provide about as much fight as a leaf.  The pic out over the estuary is called Clamhouse Landing on the Essex River. Kayak is getting launched from here on the next trip.  2 hrs. towards the Ocean on the outgoing, flip around and come back on the incoming. At least you hope it works that way. If no one minds I'll keep this thread as a place to share salty trips until the river starts in. 

Some pretty places can be found if you like to walk. I just try to keep the walking from not getting in the way of the fishing. Just like the  SR, only different.

Keep them salty posts coming Charlie,I enjoy them!