Choosing the Right Fishing Line
Remember when you were younger and you wanted to head out for a day of fishing? You thought little of the tools you were using, you cared was that there was line in your reel, a rod in your hand, that tiny two-tray tackle box and your best friend (your dog) at your side. Add a couple of sinkers and hooks and you were in business. It didn’t matter to you what kind of line you had, as long as you had some you knew that you’d have the best fish regardless of their size or type. Most fishermen have long outgrown this notion and have a stash of tackle, rods, reels and every type of filament tucked away ready to pull out at a moment’s notice for a day of fishing.
The fishing tackle industry has managed to come up with a staggering variety of line types. The categories are easily defined as monofilament, braided and fluorocarbon and depending on whether you enjoy freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing or offshore you’ll want to use the line that is most beneficial to what you’re doing.
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.
Monofilament is not without its problems. The coils of monofilament tend to get coils in them that are remembered when you spiral off your spool and cast. This can create knots in the wrong places at the wrong times. Other issues are created by the stretch that’s available in the line – stop and think what could happen if you’re trying to pull a large fish out of a thick of weeds or preventing that oversized catch from sneaking off between some rocks – monofilament won’t be a big help in these cases.
Braided line which is made up of tiny braided synthetic fibers resolves some of the issues that are inherent to monofilament lines. Unlike monofilament, braided line doesn’t tend to remember how it was sitting on your reel, so it is less likely to develop knots. While very strong, it’s much thinner than monofilament too – in fact a 30-lb braided line is about the same diameter as an 8-lb monofilament line. The best thing about this braided line is that even its small size is great for filling your reel if you’re going to be fishing for small trout or bass. One of the biggest drawbacks of braided line is that it is likely to be damaged easily as it has low abrasion resistance and unfortunately it is also highly visible. If you decide to use a braided line it’s highly recommended you use a low or non-visible leader with it.
Fluorocarbon solves many of braided line’s problems. It is much like monofilament line, and is nearly invisible underwater. It is excellent in shallow water where fish spook easy, and is effective in clear and deep water where light penetration is great. Fluorocarbon is very resistant to abrasion, and is used to make leaders. When it was first introduced, Fluoro was viewed negatively because it was somewhat rigid, making spooling and casting more complex. However, technology has offered fluorocarbon line much advancement since that time, and it is now a very popular and dependable product.
Regardless of what type of fishing you are doing, you will find the right line to make your experience fun and exciting. Remember, that the right line can make a difference between the numbers of fish you bring home at the end of the day. While fishing might have been a lot easier when we were young, familiarizing ourselves with the tools that allow us to keep bringing home bigger and better fish makes it even more exciting. Combine your knowledge of lines with your knowledge of lures and while it may not seem like it’s as easy as it used to be, fishing is still an exciting adventure regardless of your age. Sure, it may not be easier, but your increased knowledge and wisdom make it more fun and even more productive.
There are many different fishing supplies out on the market today. Some of the most popular supplies include: BG90, Shimano Calcutta Fishing Reels, and Daiwa Rods.