| The very first fishing line was probably a length of | | | | the rod, classified as light (6 or 8 to 14 lbs.), medium |
| some plant fiber an aborigine man used to catch fish. | | | | (15 to 30 lbs.) or heavy (above 30 or so). Of course |
| And possibly without hook to boot: just a gob of bait | | | | the classifications vary in many areas or |
| yanked to the shore when the fish grabbed it. But | | | | manufacturers. |
| the lines used by resourceful boys trying their luck in | | | | But breaking strength is important only as related to |
| rivers, creeks and shallow water are more likely | | | | diameter. The smaller the diameter relative to |
| lengths of sewing thread, unraveled knitting or | | | | strength, the better, because it means the line is |
| tied-together horsetail. Whatever it was, it served as | | | | stronger and you can spool more in your reel. The |
| the magical connection between a young imagination | | | | longer the line in your reel, the better, because you |
| and a grandfather's tale, or hunger and some food on | | | | can let out more line when playing the fish without |
| the table. Depends on whether the angler was fishing | | | | resorting to a second combo. Also, a thinner line is |
| for food or enjoyment. | | | | less visible to the fish, which can be important when |
| In any fishing with hook and line, the line is the most | | | | the quarry is wary of strange things in the |
| important item inasmuch as it is the 'umbilical cord' | | | | environment. Fish also learn from experience, you |
| connecting the angler and the fish. You can play | | | | know. |
| around with a hook - make it barbless, thin wire, dull | | | | The third factor to consider is line memory. When |
| point, over large or over small--- but you cannot | | | | the line stays in its curled form even when unwound, |
| compromise on the line you are using without | | | | it has great line memory. Lines with significant |
| potentially very serious consequences for you and | | | | memory factors are not good in casting because |
| the fish. | | | | they tend to rub more against the spinning reel's |
| Yes, many anglers use thin lines and try for | | | | spool lip, slowing the cast somewhat, or counter the |
| improbably large fishes, but they are mostly | | | | unwinding act from the conventional reel. Also, they |
| record-chasing sportfishermen who take their pursuit | | | | tend to curl up when out of the reel, thus |
| of piscatorial fame and posterity very seriously | | | | telegraphing fish bites less punctually. But the most |
| indeed. In short they are professionals and for them | | | | important reason is that they are very difficult to |
| fishing is their life and existence, and sometimes the | | | | untangle, owing to their tendency to form loops and |
| means to fortune. But for us lesser mortals, to | | | | curls. |
| whom fishing is fun and enjoyment, we can less | | | | Another fishing line is the braided line, more |
| afford to monkey around with our fishing line when | | | | commonly called Dacron due to its name when first |
| the full stringer is the proof to the wife and child | | | | popularized. Others call it parachute line or something |
| (hopefully) of a good time we had. Stories of the big | | | | similar, owing to the use it was first put into, but that |
| ones that got away don't count when we relate | | | | term often refers to bigger lines than that for fishing. |
| them at the dinner table; only the cooked ones do | | | | However, using Dacron lines for fishing has in my |
| matter. So lines are terribly vital to fishing, and it | | | | opinion disadvantages that outweigh the advantages, |
| makes sense to learn a few things about them. | | | | so that Dacron lines are not often used except by a |
| Most fishing lines are monofilament; that is, a long thin | | | | few who prefer less stretchy lines. |
| line made up of one substance (mono: single/one; | | | | One major advantage (and at the same time |
| filament: line), and often called nylon per the invention | | | | disadvantage) is its little stretch. Braided lines by their |
| of DuPont company of France. Today's fishing line is | | | | nature have less tensile 'give' and therefore more |
| much more improved than the original synthetic | | | | unforgiving to the novice angler. A hard yank on the |
| product the company produced: thinner, stronger, | | | | rod can snap a thin braided line, while it will simply |
| more supple, more abrasion resistant, in various colors | | | | embed the hook in the fish's mouth in a mono line. |
| including fluorescent and clear, and much more. There | | | | Dacron lines have less than 5% stretch, while |
| is even a line labeled co-filament (not monofilament), | | | | monofilament can have as much as 15%, which can |
| composed of one less tensile line inside another more | | | | be an advantage as well as disadvantage depending |
| supple. Very much like the fiber optic cable so | | | | on the circumstance. |
| famous today, except that the center of the line is | | | | Another characteristic of Dacron is its suppleness. |
| filled with a stronger line, not empty. | | | | While this can help in winding the line, it is a negative |
| When choosing monofilament as fishing line, be | | | | factor if the line gets easily tangled and more difficult |
| mindful of three things: pound breaking strength, | | | | to untangle. The fibers also unravel when you try to |
| diameter and memory. Monofilament is rated in | | | | untangle the ones using some pointed object, |
| breaking strength, usually stated in pounds, which is | | | | weakening the line somewhat. Also, they are a bit |
| of course the strength the weight that line will break, | | | | difficult to tie into knots, and might voluntarily |
| ranging from two (2) lbs. to 600 or more. Choose the | | | | un-knot themselves under pressure. |
| strength appropriate to your rod or style of fishing. | | | | Both are major reasons why many anglers don't use |
| The recommended line strengths are usually stated in | | | | Dacron as fishing line. |