Fishing: How To Fish: Equipment

Let�s take a look at the physical characteristics of the various lines and the uses for which they are best suited.

Monofilament (single-strand nylon). By far the most widely used fishing line today. It is suitable for everything from blue-water trolling to surf casting to freshwater spinning, and it is the universal material for leaders in both fresh water and salt because of its near-invisibility in the water. It is extremely strong and light for its diameter, and it absorbs very little water (3 to 12 percent of its own weight). About the only drawback of monofilament is its relatively high rate of stretch 15 to 30 percent when dry, 20 to 35 percent when wet). For that reason it is not the best choice for such uses as deep-water bottom fishing, in which large fish must be reeled up from considerable depths.

Dacron. a DuPont trademark for a synthetic fiber that is made into a braided line. It is nearly as strong as monofilament but does not stretch so much (about 10 percent). It has virtually the same characteristics whether wet or dry. Its visibility in water is greater than that of monofilament. Dacron�s widest use is as trolling line.

Linen. A braided line made from natural fibers and rated according to the number of threads, with each thread having a breaking strength of 3 pounds (6 thread linen has a breaking strength of 18 pounds, 15-thread tests 45 pound and so on). This material absorbs considerable water and is stronger when wet. Linen line is subject to deterioration and is heavy and bulky. Very little linen fishing line is made or used today, but because of its negligible stretch and good abrasion resistance it is still preferred by some big-game fishermen.

Cuttyhunk. A braided linen line originally created in the 1860 for the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club on Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts. The word Cuttyhunk is often used to denote any linen line.

Silk. Before World War II fly-fishing lines were made of silk and had an oily coating to make them water resistant. Modern materials have made the silk line obsolete, and very few are in use today.

Braided Nylon. Extensively used on revolving-spool reels in fresh and salt water, and sometimes used o spinning reels. Braided nylon�s main advantage over monofilament is that it is extremely limp and so is less likely to backlash on conventional reels. It is often preferred over monofilament for fishing with surface lures. But it is less durable than monofilament, has less abrasion resistance, absorbs more water, and is more visible in water.

Lead-Core. This type of line is made by sheathing a flexible lead core in a tightly braided nylon sleeve. It�s suitable for deep trolling in both fresh and salt water, and is especially useful for quickly getting a bait or lure down deep without bulky, heavy sinkers or planers. It�s color-coded in 10-yard segments for precise depth control.

Wire. These lines, too, are designed for deep trolling in both fresh and salt water. They�re made of stainless steel, Monel (nickel alloy), bronze, or copper. Wire is popular for downrigger fishing, but because it�s heavy enough to sink on its own, it�s also used without downriggers and in many cases eliminates the need for a cumbersome weight or planer. Since it has no stretch, the angler can jig the rod and give movement to a bait or lure. However, wire is somewhat tricky until a fisherman gets used to it. Kinks can develop, causing weak spots or possibly cutting an unwary angler�s hand. Wire line is generally available in a wider range of test weights than lead-core line.

Wire leaders, usually sleeved in plastic, are widely used to prevent line-cutting when fishing for such toothy battlers as pike, muskellunge, and many saltwater species.

You can find detailed information about lines and leaders in the �Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia.� To order an autographed copy of this 830-page comprehensive volume, contact Vin T. Sparano, the author, at: [email protected]

This information provided by Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia