Buying Guide: Best Fishing Line
So what is fishing line, and when should I use it?
Well everyone who has ever been fishing should know what fishing line is and what it is used for, but did you know about the different types and weights of lineand what types of fishing they are best suited to?
Fishing line is the main component of any fishing setup. It’s the crucial connection between rod and fish and without it, well… fishing wouldn’t be possible. As mentioned earlier there are 3 main types of fishing line, these are;
Monofilament
Monofilament, or just mono for short, is the a clear single line made up of melting polymers with various chemicals and additives to create a strong, abrasive resistant fishing line. It is both cost effective to make and purchase and almost invisible in the water which makes it ideal as a fishing line. Since is creation in the early 1930’s mono has come a long way from the stiff, difficult to work with characteristics to a new easy to work with line that we use today.
Benefits of using Mono
Braid
Braid has been around for a very long time is a variety of shapes and forms. It dates back to ancient times and was one of the first types of fishing line invented. Whilst the strength and quality was not ideal back then, the technology has come leaps and bounds and the braid of today features ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (uhmwpe). This fibre is known to be stronger than steel,
stretch free and ultra light, and when combined together in multiple strands creates the popular forms of braid used by fisherman all over the world.
Benefits of using Braid
- Ultra strong
- Lightweight
- Floats
- Variety of colors and lbs
Flurocarbon
Flurocarbon is most commonly used as leader when fishing with braid as your main line. Flurocarbon provides clear abrasion resistant qualities which are ideal in the leader section of your fishing line. Without a fluorocarbon leader, you run the risk of abrasions on your braid from rocks, pylons and even the fishes body and scales. Flurocarbon being clear will ensure fish do not see your main braid line and therefore increase chances of hook-ups.
Benefits of using Flurocarbon
- Strong and abrasion resistant
- Clear-Non stretch
What line to use and when
The most common line to use especially for spin reels, baitcasters and fly fishing is braid. It’s ultra high strength, lightweight and floating abilities make it ideal for these types of reels and fishing activities. When fishing with lures, the use of lightweight line will allow for a longer cast of your lure, but the good thing about braid is that lighter line doesn’t have to mean less strength. The ever increasing braid fishing line technology means companies are constantly coming up with lighter, thinner line that is still just as strong as previously thicker heavier versions. Braid also doesn’t have memory, therefore when used on a spinning reel it won’t try and loop or twist when unwound like mono or fluorocarbon will. Braid is also ideal when fishing surface lures or fly fishing. The lightweight line will float and assist with keeping the lure on the top of the water, where as other line is heavier and will sink.
Choosing the right line weight
Not only are there a wide range of lines to choose from, they all come in different weight ranges. If you only have the one rod setup and only target the same specie of fish, you can get away with having just 1 line weight, but when you fish for different fish in different locations you are going to need a range of fishing line weights. Basically each line is rated to a certain breakpoint, this is typically measured in pounds (lbs). It is recommended to use a line with a breaking point suitable to the size and weight of the fish you are targeting, ie. Don’t use 4lb braid when trying to catch tuna, you won’t stand a chance. It’s a common practice to use a stronger leader than your braid mainline to prevent bite offs, or abrasions against the fish itself, or rocks. You may wonder why many fisherman have lots of rod and reel setups, this is because each rod is spooled with different weighted line and is setup to target specific fish.
