Fishing Line

What kind of fishing line should I use?

Fishing line certainly is a key component of any fisherman’s gear. Without the correct line for his equipment and for the type of fishing that he is doing, he will certainty catch fewer fish. Therefore, the choice of fishing line is a serious consideration for all anglers. There are three primary types of fishing lines: monofilament, braided, and fluorocarbon.

By far the most commonly used line is a monofilament fishing line. This line is usually low cost, strong, has some buoyancy, and can stretch substantially without breaking. Commonly, monofilament lines are used in rivers and lakes. However, monofilament lines are also used in salt water. As an example, surf fishermen will often use 17 to 20 poundtest monofilament line

Fishing lines used for deep-sea-fishing are usually some form of braided lines. Lines used in this kind of fishing, need to be very strong in order to handle large fish. They also need to resist abrasion well, as many ocean species have many sharp teeth. In the past, Dacron braided lines were commonly used. However, in the 1990’s “supperlines”, also called “microfilaments”, began to be more generally used. The advantages of these supperlines are that these braided fibers are ultra thin, producing a less visible profile to fish, superstrong, have a high abrasion resistance, are extremely sensitive, and allow very little stretch. This kind of line is also denser than monofilament lines, thus it sinks faster and stays closer to the bottom with the use of smaller weights. Another style of line used in deep-sea-fishing is fluorocarbon fishing line. This line, like supperline, is dense, very sensitive, very strong, and very abrasion resistant. Further fluorocarbon line has one additional advantage, it is almost invisible in the water. This polymer possesses nearly the same refractive qualities as water. Hence, in a situation where the water is very clear this line presents tremendous advantages. Both braided and fluorocarbon lines are also used, to some degree, in fresh water fishing.

Fly fishing lines incorporate all three primary types of lines: monofilament, braided, and fluorocarbon. Fly lines have a core material, one of the three primary types, surrounded by a water proof PVC sheath. The stiffness of fluorocarbon and its low visibility make it a useful product in fly fishing leaders. Fly lines come in two main styles: floating and sinking.

As it has been discussed, each kind of fishing line has certain attributes and characteristics that should be clearly understood. This is fundamental in order for a fisherman to be able to make the best selection for the kind of fishing he wants to do. Additionally, it is important to do some research to see which companies are well known for their good quality products.