Choosing the Right Fishing Line
When we were much younger, everything seemed to be so much easier when we wanted to fish. All we really cared about was having the pup travelling along with us, any rod would do and the little two-tray tackle box. We didn’t need much, hooks and sinkers did it for us. We didn’t really pay much attention to what we were using for line and regardless, we felt that we caught the best fish! Today, look around and see how many rods and reels you now own and check out how many different types of line you now have stashed away in the closet.
Today’s tackle industry offers a wide variety of fishing line types. For most mainstream fishing needs (such as freshwater, offshore, and saltwater), there are three basic categories of fishing lines: monofilament, fluorocarbon and braided. Each serves a unique purpose and has its own exclusive characteristics.
Monofilament line is perhaps the most used – simply put, it’s the least expensive, it’s readily available and it’s sufficient for most type of fishing. Monofilament offers pliability which can be a great benefit. If you have a fighter on your line that simply doesn’t want to be caught, monofilament is strong and has enough give to allow you to reel him in.
The biggest problem with monofilament line is that it tends to spiral off of the spool while you cast, and the springy coils caused by this “memory” turn into knots and similar negative effects. The stretch can also be a problem, especially when you are trying to pull a largemouth bass from thick weeds, or trying to keep a big striper from ducking between rocks and getting away.
These problems are why braided line can be so handy. This fishing line is made from braided miniscule synthetic fibers. Unlike monofilament line, it does not have the memory problem nearly as bad, and is extremely strong for how thin it is. A 30-lb braided line usually has the diameter of an 8 lb. monofilament line, making it feasible to fill a small trout or bass-sized reel spool with 20 or 30 lb. test. Braided line isn’t without its drawbacks however, including little abrasion resistance and high visibility. You should fish with this line only when using a non-visible leader.
Fluorocarbon lines are the premier line for many fishermen. Fluorocarbon lines had a bad name when they first came out because so many felt that it was too rigid. This rigidity often created issues spooling and casting. Since technology has evolved, these problems seem to have lessened over time and far more fishermen feel this line solves far more problems than it had initially created. Many anglers have discovered that fluorocarbon is perfect for creating leaders – this is because fluorocarbon line is highly abrasion resistant. If you’re fishing in deep water that reflects a lot of light or shallow waters, the fluorocarbon line could be just right since it is nearly invisible.
The right line can make all the difference between a successful fishing trip and a trip that lands you back at home staring at your empty freezer. Sure, fishing might have been a lot easier when we were children but just think about how much you’ve learned since then. A fishing trip should still offer as much adventure as it did when you were a child, but today, having the right tools and understanding how those tools work can make your fishing trips a lot more productive than they were all those years ago.
There are many different fishing supplies out on the market today. Some of the most popular supplies include: Daiwa BG90, Shimano Calcutta Fishing Reels, and Daiwa Fishing Poles.