Gosen Guidus PEx9
I've been fishing with the Gosen Guidus PEx9 for a while now, and I have to say that my first impression was very simple: It's very soft. Really soft. That was the first thing I noticed when I put it on the reel. But after using it in real fishing conditions, I also realised that there is much more to this line than simply being a smooth braid. At Ajing Store, the Gosen Guidus PEx9 X9 Braided Line is available in five options: Purple 150m for €19.95, Purple 200m for €23.50, Purple 300m for €34.75, Light Green 150m for €19.95, and Light Green 200m for €23.50. All prices include VAT. Available in two colours and three spool lengths, the Gosen Guidus PEx9 offers anglers different options for their Ajing and Light Rock Fishing setups.
The Guidus PEx9 uses a rather unusual construction: eight outer strands around one central strand. For me, this is the main reason to be interested in this line.
I don't think an X9 is automatically better just because it has nine strands. What I like about the Guidus is that the central strand helps the braid keep its structure instead of deforming as easily.
And after fishing with it, I think that difference matters.
What Is Gosen Guidus PEx9?
The Guidus PEx9 is a Japanese 9-strand PE braided line built around a central core and eight outer strands.
That sounds like a small difference on paper, but when you actually fish with the line, the construction becomes much more interesting.
The central strand gives the braid a structure that I really like. It feels stable, but at the same time the line remains very soft.
That's probably the best way I can describe it: soft, but structured.
And that combination is one of the reasons I became so interested in the Guidus.
The First Thing I Noticed: The Smoothness
The Guidus PEx9 is extremely smooth when it's new. There is very little to complain about here.
It comes off the spool beautifully and feels very soft between your fingers. When you start casting, that smoothness is immediately noticeable.
I tested the PE 0.5, which might sound quite heavy if you're used to very fine Ajing lines, but even at that diameter the Guidus casts exceptionally well.
I'm normally fishing PE 0.2 with a braided X4 line, so I know what a very fine PE line feels like. That's why I was genuinely impressed with the Guidus 0.5.
I used it on a Shimano Vanquish C2000S, and the combination worked extremely well.
The Casting Really Impressed Me
If I had to pick one thing that surprised me most about this line, it would probably be the casting.
The Guidus PEx9 0.5 is very smooth coming off the spool. And that's impressive to me because I'm used to fishing PE 0.2 X4.
I expected the larger diameter to make the difference more obvious, but the Guidus still casts beautifully.
It's one of those things that is difficult to explain properly with specifications.
You put the line on the reel, make a cast and immediately understand what I'm talking about.
What About Sensitivity?
Here I have to be a little more careful. I'm used to PE 0.2, so I'm probably more demanding about sensitivity than someone fishing a much heavier setup.
The Guidus I tested was PE 0.5, and obviously that changes things.
But even with the 0.5, I still had good contact with the lure and good tension in the line.
For LRF, that's important.
You want to know what the lure is doing, especially when you're fishing light presentations or working close to structure.
I wouldn't tell you that PE 0.5 is suddenly going to give you the same feeling as PE 0.2. It won't.
But for a 0.5, the Guidus gave me a surprisingly good connection.
Wind Is Still Wind
There's no magic here. Wind is the enemy of braided lines.
The Guidus doesn't change that.
When the wind gets stronger, you sometimes have to increase the jighead weight simply to keep control of the line and presentation. That's just part of fishing PE.
I don't see that as a weakness of the Guidus specifically. It's something I expect from braided lines in general.
The Albright Knot
For my leader connection, I use an Albright knot. It's simple, I know it well and, most importantly, it works for me.
With the Guidus PEx9, I haven't had any problems with it.
The knot stayed where it should and I didn't have any issues with it slipping.
I don't really believe that you need a complicated knot just because you're using an expensive PE line.
I'd rather use a knot I know how to tie properly.
It Has Taken Some Abuse
One thing I can say with confidence is that the Guidus PEx9 is strong.
I've fished it around mussels and rocks, and it hasn't given me any reason to doubt its resistance.
Obviously, no PE line is indestructible and I wouldn't deliberately drag it through structure just to prove a point.
But after using it in those conditions, I'm comfortable trusting it. That matters a lot in LRF, where you can find yourself fishing very close to structure and don't always have the luxury of giving the fish plenty of room.
After 25 Fishing Sessions
This is probably the part that wouldn't appear in a normal product description. I've now used the line for around 25 fishing sessions. And yes, the colour has changed.
There's no point pretending otherwise.
When it was new, the pearl effect was much more noticeable. Now the line is considerably duller and you can barely see that pearl finish.
But here's the important part: The strength is still there.
The colour changing doesn't bother me particularly. It's fishing line. It goes into saltwater, gets exposed to the sun, goes through the guides thousands of times and gets rubbed against everything that happens to be in the water.
What matters to me is whether the line continues to do its job.
So far, it does.
But You Need to Look After It
This is important with all braided lines, not just the Guidus.
When you come home from fishing, rinse the line with fresh water. I know it's easy to get home, put the rod in the car or garage and forget about it until the next trip.
I've done it too.
But saltwater leaves salt crystals in the braid. With more strands, there are simply more places for those crystals to get in.
Over time, that can make the line feel rougher and effectively increase the diameter.
And you lose some of that beautiful smoothness that made the line so nice in the first place. So don't leave the Guidus drying in the car.
Don't put it away and forget about it.
Rinse it, let it dry properly and then store it.
It's a small thing, but it makes a difference.
Is It a Line for Ajing?
Here I'll probably surprise some people.
If you're specifically looking for a line for Ajing, I wouldn't recommend this. Not because the Guidus isn't good. It is.
But I'm used to fishing PE 0.2, and using PE 0.5 for that kind of fishing would be a bit like using a Ferrari to drive three kilometres to work.
You can do it. But why?
For me, the Guidus PEx9 makes much more sense in LRF and broader light-game situations, where the additional diameter and strength can actually be useful.
That's an important distinction.
The best line isn't the best line in the catalogue.
It's the line that makes sense for the fishing you're doing.
Who Would I Recommend It To?
I'd recommend the Guidus PEx9 to an LRF angler who wants a line that is:
Very soft.
Very good for casting.
Strong around structure.
Stable in its construction.
And, importantly, something a little different from a conventional X8. I also think it makes sense for someone who is already paying attention to their equipment and wants to try a more sophisticated PE construction.
If you're just starting LRF, though, I wouldn't tell you that you need an X9.
You don't.
There are plenty of good lines that will catch fish.
Is Gosen Guidus PEx9 Worth It?
For me? Yes. Absolutely.
I think it is clearly better than a conventional X8 because of the central strand running inside the braid.
That central structure helps the line maintain its shape and, in my experience, gives it a very different feel. It's soft. It casts extremely well. It's strong.
And after around 25 fishing sessions, despite the change in colour, the line is still performing well.
The only thing I'd insist on is looking after it properly after fishing.
If you rinse your braid and don't leave it sitting in saltwater or drying in the car, you'll give yourself a much better chance of keeping that smoothness for longer.
And considering the price of the Guidus PEx9 at Ajing Store compared with what this line can cost elsewhere, I think it's a very good proposition.
My Final Thoughts
I don't think you should buy the Guidus PEx9 because it says X9 on the packet.
Buy it because you understand what is different about the construction and you think that difference will help your fishing. For me, the central strand is the big thing.
It gives the braid structure without taking away the softness that makes it so pleasant to fish.
After using it for around 25 sessions, fishing PE 0.5 on a Vanquish C2000S, dealing with wind, structure, mussels and plenty of normal saltwater abuse, I would buy it again.
And that is probably the simplest recommendation I can give.
If I didn't trust the line, it wouldn't be in the Ajing Store catalogue.
If you want to try the Gosen Guidus PEx9 yourself, you can see the available PE sizes, colours and lengths below.
Gosen Guidus PEx9 – Available PE Sizes
Colour | Spool Length | PE Sizes |
Purple | 150 m | PE 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 |
Purple | 200 m | PE 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 |
Purple | 300 m | PE 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 |
Light Green | 150 m | PE 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 |
Light Green | 200 m | PE 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 |
The One Thing to Remember
The Guidus PEx9 isn't special just because it has nine strands. It's special because of how those nine strands are constructed.
One central strand. Eight around it.
A braid that keeps its structure while remaining remarkably soft. That's what I like about it.
Fish it. Look after it. And judge it on the water.
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