James RickardMono line is the way to go
November 2nd 2008 00:54
This is just a small representation of lines on the market today.
All you have to do is look and you'll know there's a lot of fishing line out there. Nobody is paying me to promote their product so, I hope you believe me when I tell you every company makes at least a few good lines. I'm not going to go so far as to say you should use one over the other because, although I've used a lot of them, there's still a lot I haven't tried.
When it comes to experimenting with different lines, it helps to have several rods. Believe it or not, right now I have most of the lines in the picture accompanying this post on my rods! The line I'm not using right now is the Trilene on the big round spools and the Berkley Gorilla in the yellow box. The reason I'm not using the Berkley or Trilene Big Game is simply because I don't expect to go up against fish big enough to warrant line like that. The Trilene in the red box, Trilene XL, I DO have some 10lb. strung on one of my rods.
At the risk of sounding as if I'm blowing my own horn, I'll refer you to a post I made just a few days ago.
Needless to say, that situation has been on my mind or I probably wouldn't be writing this.
If you're new to fishing, how do you pick the right line from everything that's out there?
One of the first things you'll think about is cost. You can probably pick up a spool of line at the convenience store for a couple or three bucks but that is the LAST thing you want to do. That line is going to have so much "memory" that it will probably never straighten out and will lead to difficult casting which will result in frustration for the user.
When it comes to a balance of cost and quality, everyone wants to know what's the "best" line. To be honest, I don't think there is a "best" line. Although you'll see "super lines", braids and fluorocarbons, on the market, if you're just starting out, your best bet is going to be a good mono filament line. I'll explain the super lines later but, until you know what's what, stick with the mono. A decent mono is going to run half the price of some of the super lines and unless you know how to exploit their advantages, why spend the money on braids and fluorocarbons?
A question about line people often ask is what weight to choose. Quite simply, go with the lightest you can get away with! That's not to say you should chose two or four pound test line. That stuff is usually the domain of ice anglers. However, if you can get away with 6 or 8lb. test line, you'll be better off. You'll be able to cast better and often get longer casts. This weight equates to around 2.5 kg.-3.5 kg. That being said, you have to consider the waters where you fish. One of the areas I frequent is VERY prone to snags so, I have to use 10 or 12 pound line.
People often wonder why they need line that strong when the fish weigh maybe two pounds.
That's a very valid question but quite simple when you think about it. When you catch a fish and bring it in, that fish is usually going to shake its head as it tries to get free. That puts a tremendous stress on the line. You'd be surprised how many lines snap at that critical moment! Your only option is to choose a line heavier that the fish you anticipate.
Mono is a forgiving line. It's easy to learn to tie knots or cast. It also has some stretch that can make up for beginner hook sets when you get excited and yank a little too hard after hooking a fish.
When choosing line, look for one which has good "castability," over all strength, knot strength, abrasion resistance, shock resistance, and smallest possible diameter.
Now you know why there are so many lines on the market!
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
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