James RickardSelecting fishing line
July 9th 2007 23:01
One of my favorite sporting goods stores put up a new display the other day and it really drove home a point. There’s a heckuva lot of line out there!
Going to “get some fishin’ line” used to be an easy task. Now days, more and more manufacturers are claiming low stretch or super durability or a combination of both.
Early fishing lines were made from horse hair or silk threads. Technology grew, clearing the way for quantity production and by the mid nineteenth century anglers were enjoying flax and cotton lines which were treated with waterproofing solutions.
Finally, at the end of the 1930s, DuPont introduced nylon and there was finally an alternative to natural fibers. Things muddled along with nylon lines sharing the stage with braided Dacron until 1959 when Stren monofilament was introduced as a thinner line that could be used on a wide range of reels.
Braided lines, although relatively new to the average fisherman are not really new at all. In fact, salt water and fly fishermen have been using braided lines for years because of their durability and relative thinness in relation to their strength. Also, as stated earlier braided lines co-existed with the introduction of monofilament lines.
As is often the case with any “super-line, the quality which makes it superior for some is a downfall for others. Although braided lines are durable, they are so tough that they can abrade other items-- important items such as your hands or rod guides. Additionally, braids are opaque in the water, producing a profile which fish can see and avoid. To counter this problem, those in the know often use a leader of monofilament so as not to spook the fish.
However, braided lines do have their place or they wouldn’t be on the market! Their strength makes them ideal for flipping and pitching the “big ones” out of cover. Their strength and the fact that they don’t stretch means that when you feel that tug on the line start to surrender, you can be sure that the fish is getting closer instead of reeling in stretched line!
Fluorocarbon line is another product that seems new to a lot of anglers but has been around a ling time. Again, it was the saltwater anglers and fly fishermen who were using it for line-shy quarry since fluorocarbon disappears under water. Any technique requiring stealth is a candidate for this super-line!
Despite advantages of the “super-lines,” monofilament is still found on most reels out there. One big reason is the cost. A spool of inexpensive monofilament is only going to cost a couple of dollars. On the other hand, some of the braids sell for between ten and fifteen bucks! Granted, $2.00 isn’t going to break you up but, an uneducated consumer thinking with his pocketbook may go for the “bargain” line.
One problem you often run into with cheaper line is memory. This is where the line has conformed to the shape of the spool its on. This isn’t quite so bad if we’re talking about the spool on your reel. However, this can be a real mess when you buy line that maintains the shape of the manufacturer’s spool. This is especially evidenced in “no name” bargain lines that often turn up at gas stations and convenience stores.
Looking over this information, the question one could ask is, “What IS the right line?”
Quite simply, there is no “right” line! Granted, there’s a lot of monofilament line out there but, I certainly wouldn’t want to use it to wrestle “big ones” out of hydrilla nor would I use it if I was going after bonefish in the crystal shallows of the Florida Keys!
The flip side of this argument may sound cheap but you have to step back and think. “What’s the use of paying for premium line if you aren’t going to get the most out of it?”
Knowing what line is for and what it does may make the bewildering task of buying it a bit easier!
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
LARGE IMAGE BORROWED FROM MORGUEFILE.COM
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