Gaining an Edge by Choosing the Right Type of Line

By Staff
Waterhead™ Watersports
October 22, 2011

One of the most relaxing recreational activities enjoyed by many is fishing. For some, the relaxing activity may just be a hobby, while others found a fruitful career out from it. A basic component of the fishing tool is the fishing line and numerous products are available just for this component. Picking the right product can be tricky since it involves a set of criteria to be satisfied depending on the fishing environment.

Criteria in Choosing a Fishing Line

Although different fishing conditions require a specific type of fishing line, a general set of criteria can be used as a guide when deciding for the most appropriate material for angling. A variety of products available in fishing stores is numerous and can easily overwhelm buyers. Foremost, strength must be a major consideration. This value is measured in pounds of force that is needed to break the material. High-performance materials can withstand up to 100 pounds of force before breaking apart, while casual materials are also available for withstanding at least 10 pounds of force.

Another criterion to be considered is abrasion resistance. This property ensures that the line will not break easily when rubbed against an abrasive cover. While thicker lines are more resistant to abrasion, these are more difficult to cast and are highly visible to the fish. Hence, a balance between thinner diameters with good abrasion property must be carefully thought of.

Finally, stretch and stiffness properties of the fishing line must be kept in balance. Lines that allow some degree of stretching are also more resilient to breaking but may be less resistant to abrasion. On the other hand, stiff lines are more resistant to abrasion but are more difficult to cast. Balancing these two properties will ensure better fishing experience.

Different types

Modern fishing lines preferred by most fishermen nowadays are typically made of synthetic materials such as nylon, fluorocarbon (also known as polyvinylidene fluoride or PVDF), polyethylene, and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW). These materials are used to manufacture various fishing line types.

One of the most common types is the monofilament fishing line. It is made from a single fibrous material or plastic. This type is available in various thickness values offering different tensile strengths. Since the structure of monofilament lines is fairly simple, production cost is low compared to the other types.

Another type of fishing line is multifilament, which is also referred to as the super lines. Multifilament lines are braided and the braids are made of synthetic materials such as polyethylene. Because of its fabrication process, multifilament lines have great overall power for every given diameter. Compared to steel, it is up to ten times sturdier. These properties make the multifilament type considerably more expensive than an equivalent monofilament.

A braided fishing line, on the other hand, is very similar to multifilament but braids are made from different substances. Traditionally, braids of cotton or linen constitute this type. Modern braided lines, however, take advantage of better synthetic materials such as Dacron and Spectra. Synthetic substances enable better resistance to abrasion and actual breaking strength. A common drawback though is the opacity of the braided line making it visible to fish.

Exclusively made from Spectra fibers, the last common type is known as Power Pro. Made from a single strand, it is comparable to monofilament lines. It offers similar breaking strengths but is amazingly just a fifth of the diameter. Hence, a Power Pro line of the same diameter as a monofilament line with 12 pounds of breaking strength offers up to 50 pounds of sheer strength. Power Pro, however, is less stretchable than monofilament.

Tips for Handling Lines

To extend the life of a line, proper handling must be taken. This product must not be exposed to reactive substances such as gasoline that will degrade its overall structure. It must also be checked consistently for signs of nicks and abrasions since wears of this nature can easily affect the actual breaking strength. When signs of wear begin to appear, these portions must be immediately replaced so as to keep the overall integrity of the line.

To save on material length, buying bulk spools is recommended so as to avoid wasteful excess lines around filler spools. In addition, several inches of the line must be clipped off and retied frequently to the lure. This tip is highly advised to be followed when fishing for heavy cover or capturing large catches.

Spooling a fishing line onto a reel

There are two common ways for spooling the product onto the reels. The first one is bait casting. For this process, the line is run through the rod guides along the level-wind device. Using an arbor knot, the line is then attached to the reel spool. As the line is being fed onto the reel, the spool should turn which indicates that it is installed properly. Finally, tension must be added to the line by applying some controlled force using the thumb and finger as it is being wound onto the reel.

The second process involves spinning and spin casting. One must make sure that the line spool does not rotate the same as the reel spool. With the label side pointing up, the line is first uncoiled and allowed to run through rod guides. With an arbor knot, it should then be tied to the reel spool. The reel handle is then turned from 10 to 15 times while the tip is lowered to give a line slack. Coils must be consistently rolled neatly until the reel is filled. Kinks or twists must be entirely avoided.

Products from WaterHead.com

WaterHead.com online store markets a comprehensive listing of various water products from swimwear to accessories and from fishing reels to fishing boats. They have over 80 fishing line products hosted on their site. Among the bestsellers are Berkley Trilene Big Game Monofilament and Spiderwire Stealth Braid 300-Yard Spool. The former has a breaking strength rated at 12 pounds while the latter is rated at 8 pounds. These breaking strength ratings are the most popular since most of their customers engage in recreational fishing who prefer affordable fishing lines.

Among the cheapest lines include the Sufix Ice Magic 100-Yard Spool and Catfish Line 190-Yard Spool. Sufix and Catfish have breaking strengths of 3 pounds and 50 pounds, respectively. Sufix has a very good stretching property but could easily break. Its very small diameter is ideal for catching sensitive fish since this line is hardly visible. Catfish, on the other hand, is very strong but has poor stretching capability. This product is ideal for applications where target fishes are not very sensitive to visible lines.

A fishing line is a very important component of the angling instrument for catching fish. The kind of material used must be considered when choosing the most appropriate product. Length and weight are other properties that need to be carefully thought about. Depending on the fishing environment, other properties such as breaking strength, stretchability, and castability are crucially important. Abrasion resistance as well as visibility of the line must also be considered. Online stores like WaterHead.com provide a great selection of these products that would fit every requirement of any fishing environment.