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Line is arguably the single most important
equipment item for fishermen. It plays a key role
in bait and lure presentation, in hooking fish, and
in landing the fish one hooks. Yet most anglers remain
confused and uneducated about the types of line now
available, and the special properties each exhibits.
That's unfortunate, because understanding the pros
and cons of different line types, and using that knowledge
to employ the right lines in the right situations,
can greatly improve one's fishing success
Monofilament products remain popular,
accounting for more than two-thirds of all fishing
lines sold. As the name suggests, this is a single-component
product. It is formed through an extrusion process
in which molten plastic is formed into a strand through
a die. This process is relatively inexpensive, producing
a less costly product--that being the main reason
monos are so widely popular. But it's important to
remember that cheaper brands of monofilament usually
don't receive the quality-control attention, additives
and attention in the finishing process that premium-copolymer
grade lines receive. As a result, they may not offer
the superb blend of tensile strength, limpness, abrasion
resistance, and knot strength characteristics of more
expensive monos. In other words, you get what you
pay for. Cheap off-brand monos usually don't perform
as well as more expensive name brands, so "buyers
beware."
Fluorocarbon is a polymer that's nearly invisible
in water because it has an almost identical refractive
index (an indication of the degree at which light
refracts or bends as it passes through a substance).
It is inert, so it resists deterioration by sunlight,
gasoline, battery acid, or DEET. And it doesn't absorb
water.
Fluorocarbon fishing leaders originated in
Japan, where anglers are particularly fussy
about baits presentations. Japanese fisheries are
heavy pressured, so life like bait presentations is
important. Nearly invisible fluorocarbon lines enhanced
this quality.
Ultimately, U.S. anglers began using fluorocarbon
leaders, primarily in saltwater and fly fishing applications,
for the same reason the Japanese were using it --
low visibility. It caught on when anglers reported
catching more fish with it. The original fluorocarbon
leaders were stiff and very expensive, but new technologies
have produced more flexible fluorocarbon at more affordable
prices.
Fluorocarbon certainly offers advantages
in clear-water situations where fish are
heavily pressured or slow to bite. Also, because fluorocarbon
does not absorb water, it won't weaken or increase
in stretch like nylon fishing line. Added density
makes fluorocarbon very abrasion-resistant, so it's
ideal for rough conditions, and makes it sink faster
than nylon lines and because fluorocarbon stretches
slower and less than nylon, particularly when compared
to wet nylon, it's much more sensitive.
No single type of line is perfect for all
fishing conditions. To choose the best line,
anglers should consider the size and species of fish
being targeted, the type of water being fished, the
type of tackle being used, and other factors. Then
one must consider all the qualities needed in a good
line for those situations, including proper breaking
strength, diameter, abrasion resistance, stretch,
flexibility, knot strength, visibility and durability.
You might simply pull any spool of line off the tackle
dealer's shelf and luck into one that will work right
for you. But today more than ever, with the many types
of lines available, it's important to devote time
to studying each line and its characteristics so you
will have the best for each fishing situation. By
doing so, you'll improve your catch rate. And catching
more fish, after all, is what we all hope to do. |
