All You Need to Know about Fishing Lines
Last Updated on April 30, 2020
To improve your fishing performance, you need a good fishing line. A wide variety of fishing lines exist but there is no definite best among them because their different types are designed to be used in different occasions.
Therefore, it is important to choose the best fluorocarbon fishing line for each occasion and to do this, you need to know the strengths and weaknesses of different types of fishing lines and their corresponding properties.
This information will help you select at least one of the top 10 fishing lines for every occasion and help you have full control when angling.
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Types of Fishing Lines
1. Monofilament fishing line
It is made of a single thread of nylon material. Because of this, it is strong enough to pull up fish weighing up to 25 lbs. anything heavier than that will most probably make it snap.
It is recommended for use in fishing along small streams and river banks and is a good starting line for beginners because of its low price. However, it is not durable.
It easily loses its strength after repeated exposure to sunlight and water. It also tends to take a spiral shape after being spooled around the reel, meaning that it’s harder to spool it around different sized reels and also hard to cast.
2. Braided fishing line
This contains multiple stands of dyneema fiber lines braided together to form a very strong fishing line. It is recommended for use in deep sea fishing because of it strong enough to withstand saltwater abrasion.
Despite its slimness, it is also strong enough to haul up big, heavy fish. Its major disadvantage is that it is quite visible to fish, especially in moving water, therefore, it is recommended for use in deep, still waters.
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3. Fluorocarbon fishing line
This is made from one strand of polyvinylidene fluoride. It is close to invisible in water and can be used to fish in clear water. Regarding strength, it is a good monofilament substitute but cannot match braided lines. It is recommended for use when fly fishing.
Factors to Consider Before Buying Fishing Line (Fishing Line Properties)
1. Diameter
For the same material, a fishing line with a bigger diameter is stronger than a slimmer one. However, a thicker line is more visible to fish and might end up reducing the effectiveness of your bait.
Thicker fishing lines are also very rigid and might reduce flexibly, stretch and running depth of your baits. On the other hand, thinner lines give you more control over lures such as crank baits and grubs.
2. Abrasion resistance
Fishing lines are greatly affected by the sun’s UV rays as well as moisture and impacts underwater from rocks and trees. Generally, thick fishing lines are more resistant to abrasion than thin ones.
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3. Visibility
The fishing line color is a major factor. Transparent lines are better because fish won’t see them and get scared. However, when fishing in dark conditions, such as at night, dawn or dusk, a more visible line would be better so that you can spot its movement when you catch a fish.
When fishing in swampy areas (where there is vegetation), a green line would blend perfectly and look natural in the fish’s habitat.
4. Material
Different materials give fishing lines different strengths, durability and flexibility. Nylon is the most commonly used fishing line material but has the least strength, durability and flexibility. However, it is cheap. Other better materials are Dacron, Spectra and Dyneema.
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5. Stiffness
Stiffness gives a line strength. However, the stiffer a line is, the more difficult it will be to cast.
Final Words
Selecting for instance, the top 10 fishing lines, is quite difficult because the best fishing line depends on the waters you will be fishing on.
However, considering these factors and the recommended usage areas for the different fishing line types, you can select a couple of the best lines to suit your fishing requirements.
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