Introduction: When it comes to fishing line, braided technology has come a long way from the early days of rough, noisy strands that felt more like rope than refined tackle. These days, the bar keeps getting pushed higher - and at ICAST 2025, Daiwa and YGK's XBRAID's new 9 strand line is designed to keep line rounder to improve handling over continued use.

XBRAID X9 Fulldrag is a new premium line from Y.G.K.

The Next Step: 9-Strand Braided Line: Not that long ago, 8-strand braided lines were the new gold standard, offering anglers smoother, rounder lines with better casting and less noise through the guides than their 4-strand predecessors. But in typical tackle industry fashion, anglers always ask, What's next? For XBRAID, the answer is FULLDRAG X9, a 9-strand braid designed for throwing big baits and pursuing big game fish.

The key feature of this line is the ability to stay round over time

The brand behind FULLDRAG X9 is more than just a new name in the line aisle. XBRAID's parent company, YGK, has been refining braided line since the early 1950s, and anglers worldwide know the Japanese brand for its premium construction and relentless pursuit of performance. With FULLDRAG X9, they're hoping to deliver a braid that doesn't just add another strand for marketing points - it adds tangible advantages on the water.

Under pressure and extended use most lines get flat. AT ICAST we could see X9 staying rounder under pressure (left) versus traditional braid. It is able to do this due to the unique construction that wraps the weave around a core strand

So why even go beyond 8 in the first place? According to Daiwa Field Marketing Manager Chris Martin, who has been working closely with XBRAID on the U.S. rollout, the answer is durability and performance.
"Over time, especially under the load of repeated big fish battles, an 8-strand braid can flatten," Martin explained at ICAST. "Flattened line doesn't lay as cleanly on the spool, can fray more easily, and adds friction when it hits the guides - which means you're losing distance and efficiency."

FULLDRAG X9 addresses that weak spot with a new construction: eight carriers wrapped around a central core strand that reinforces roundness. The result is a line that is designed to stay round under heavy loads, runs quieter through the guides, and casts farther and smoother.

Despite the extra strand, the line's diameter stays slimmer than many 8-strand options at the same pound test, so anglers can pack more on reels without giving up strength
 

Of course, construction is only half the story here. The raw material within the braid matters too. XBRAID uses IZANAS, an high molecular weight polyethylene fiber boasting strength nearly eight times greater than piano wire of the same weight. Unlike some brands that stretch a single base fiber to hit different pound tests, which can create thin spots and inconsistencies, each FULLDRAG X9 diameter is built from a dedicated base fiber sized for that specific break strength.

XBRAID is manufactured by Y.G.K. in Japan and distributed by Daiwa in the U.S.

The Secret Sauce? WX Weave: The braiding itself happens on proprietary in-house machines using XBRAID's WX Weave. Instead of relying on multiple bobbins that can introduce twist and irregularities, XBRAID's system aligns strands uniformly for a denser, more consistent braid - about 50% denser than many competitors, according to Martin.
That tighter weave means more material per inch, which translates to better abrasion resistance, heightened sensitivity, and more robust performance when grinding through guides or scraping past structure. Anglers who like to deep jig for tuna, slow-pitch for big reef fish, or troll for salmon and lake trout will appreciate the difference.

XBRAID is also introducing new finesse lines

XBRAID Finesse X8 is designed to be a premium finesse braid. By using proprietary WX weaving technology, this braided line boasts nearly double the weaves per inch compared to its competitors. This denser weave pattern helps increase abrasion resistance, stiffness for easier line management, and energy transfer to the rod

Easier Handling, Easier Life: Braided lines have always had a love-it-or-hate-it reputation when it comes to handling. FULLDRAG X9 aims to tip the scales back to love. The tight WX Weave gives it a slightly stiffer feel than typical braids - more like mono - making it easier to tie, manage on the spool, and even untangle if anglers manage to create a mid-cast mess. Yes, we've all been there.

"The micro stiffness keeps it from digging in on the spool and helps prevent bird's nests," said Martin. "If you do get a backlash, it's easier to pick apart too."

Jordon Horita of Daiwa shows us the new XBRAID X9 Fulldrag designed for big baits and big fish in both fresh and saltwater
 

Our Quick Take: Braided line can sometimes feel like a race to the bottom, more strands, more X's, more marketing fluff but XBRAID's approach with a weave around a core strand is intriguing. If the FULLDRAG X9 holds up to its promises on the water, big game anglers will have a new tool in the box that's not just a new number, but a true upgrade where it counts. The line is clearly built for functionality. Even the metered colors every 33 feet is designed for anglers to count out distance when dropping or setting back spreads, day or night. While I personally wont be able to hunt big pelagics anytime soon I'm excited to see what X9 will do when jigging iron, and slinging a few giant glides.