06-17-2004, 06:15 PM
[font "Arial"][#7a0000][size 5]Fishing line
[/size][/#7a0000][/font]By Don Wirth
BASSMASTER
[font "Arial"][size 2]Most lines used in bass fishing are nylon monofilaments, although recently manufacturers introduced braided, gel-spun polyethylene — a superstrong, superthin fishing line. Monofilament and "multifilament" lines have very different properties. [/size][/font]
Monofilament fishing line can be matched to conditions according to the following criteria: [li]Strength: This is measured in pounds of force required to break the line. Most lines break at a much higher "pound test" than their labels state. "World-record" lines are designed to break at or just below the labeled pound test. [li]Abrasion resistance: For fishing around cover such as rocks or brush, use a line that will not break easily when it is rubbed against the cover. [li]Diameter: Thinner lines are harder for fish to see, and they impart a more lifelike action to certain lures such as crankbaits and grubs. Thicker lines are more resistant to abrasion. [li]Stretch: Lines that stretch somewhat are more "forgiving" and do not break as easily when a fish pulls against them. Low-stretch lines aid in detecting strikes and setting hooks. [li]Stiffness: This quality is closely related to line stretch. A stiff line generally is harder to cast than a flexible line, but it often is more sensitive and abrasion resistant. [li]Visibility: In clear water, it is important to have line that is not very visible to fish. But when fishing lures on which strikes are likely to be subtle — such as jigs, worms and grubs — a fluorescent, highly visible line makes it easier to detect line movement that may indicate a strike.
Braided lines have very different qualities. Foremost is their small diameter — 80-pound-test braided line is roughly the same diameter as 25-pound mono, and 10-pound braided line is as thin as sewing thread. What is more, braided lines do not stretch much compared to monofilament, they are very resistant to abrasion and they have no memory.
On the negative side, braided lines are much more expensive that monofilament. Knots can be difficult to tie, and they weaken braided line much more than they do monofilament.
For those reasons, braided line might be best suited to the following applications: [li]Pitching and flipping into heavy cover, especially with heavier pound-tests. [li]Carolina-rigging: Low stretch is helpful in setting hooks. Use a monofilament leader, which will break more easily than braided line. [li]Fishing soft plastics, including finesse lures. Greater sensitivity helps detect strike, and low stretch facilitates hook-sets. [li]Stickbaits. Low stretch helps in achieving a zigzagging, "walk the dog" action.
[#a50400][size 3]Tips on line care[/size][/#a50400] [li]Store line in a dark place under moderate temperatures. [li]Do not expose line to chemicals such as gasoline, which may cause them to deteriorate. [li]While fishing, check frequently for nicks and abrasion by running the last several feet of line between your thumb and fingers. [li]Clip off several inches of line and retie to the lure frequently, especially when fishing heavy cover or catching fish. [li]If a knot forms in the line, clip off the line above the knot and discard the line. [li]Replace the line on each reel after every few fishing trips. (Buying line in bulk spools will avoid waste of excess line left on "filler" spools.)
[#a50400][size 3]How to spool line onto reels[/size][/#a50400]
[li]![[Image: P2_b_82_baitcasting_reels.jpg]](http://espn.go.com/winnercomm/outdoors/bassmaster/i/P2_b_82_baitcasting_reels.jpg)
[size 2][font "Arial"]Baitcasting reels: Run line through the rod guides and the level-wind device on the reel, then attach to the reel spool with an arbor knot. The line spool should turn as line is fed onto the reel; hang the line spool vertically on a nail or insert a pencil through the hole in the center of the spool and have someone hold the pencil as line is wound off the spool and onto the reel. Or drop the line spool into water; it will float and the spool will turn as line is wound onto the reel. Add tension to the line by squeezing it between the thumb and a finger as you wind it onto the reel. Fill the reel to within 1/8 inch of the lip of the spool. [/font][/size]
[li] [size 2][font "Arial"][/font][/size] [font "Arial"][size 2]![[Image: P2_b_82_spinning_reels.jpg]](http://espn.go.com/winnercomm/outdoors/bassmaster/i/P2_b_82_spinning_reels.jpg)
[/size][/font][size 2][font "Arial"]Spinning and spincast reels: Since the reel spool does not rotate, the line spool should not rotate either. Lay the line spool flat on the floor with the label side pointing up. Uncoil line from the line spool and run it through the rod guides and tie to the reel spool with an arbor knot. Add tension to the line with the thumb and a finger as you wind it onto the reel. After 10 or 15 turns of the reel handle, lower the rod tip to give slack to the line. If the line lays in relatively neat coils, continue filling the reel. If it twists or kinks, turn the line spool over and wind on line. Fill the reel to within 1/8 inch of the lip of the spool. (NOTE: Braided line does not twist on spinning reels, so it doesn't matter how the line comes off of the line spool.)[/font][/size][/li]
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[/size][/#7a0000][/font]By Don Wirth
BASSMASTER
[font "Arial"][size 2]Most lines used in bass fishing are nylon monofilaments, although recently manufacturers introduced braided, gel-spun polyethylene — a superstrong, superthin fishing line. Monofilament and "multifilament" lines have very different properties. [/size][/font]
Monofilament fishing line can be matched to conditions according to the following criteria: [li]Strength: This is measured in pounds of force required to break the line. Most lines break at a much higher "pound test" than their labels state. "World-record" lines are designed to break at or just below the labeled pound test. [li]Abrasion resistance: For fishing around cover such as rocks or brush, use a line that will not break easily when it is rubbed against the cover. [li]Diameter: Thinner lines are harder for fish to see, and they impart a more lifelike action to certain lures such as crankbaits and grubs. Thicker lines are more resistant to abrasion. [li]Stretch: Lines that stretch somewhat are more "forgiving" and do not break as easily when a fish pulls against them. Low-stretch lines aid in detecting strikes and setting hooks. [li]Stiffness: This quality is closely related to line stretch. A stiff line generally is harder to cast than a flexible line, but it often is more sensitive and abrasion resistant. [li]Visibility: In clear water, it is important to have line that is not very visible to fish. But when fishing lures on which strikes are likely to be subtle — such as jigs, worms and grubs — a fluorescent, highly visible line makes it easier to detect line movement that may indicate a strike.
Braided lines have very different qualities. Foremost is their small diameter — 80-pound-test braided line is roughly the same diameter as 25-pound mono, and 10-pound braided line is as thin as sewing thread. What is more, braided lines do not stretch much compared to monofilament, they are very resistant to abrasion and they have no memory.
On the negative side, braided lines are much more expensive that monofilament. Knots can be difficult to tie, and they weaken braided line much more than they do monofilament.
For those reasons, braided line might be best suited to the following applications: [li]Pitching and flipping into heavy cover, especially with heavier pound-tests. [li]Carolina-rigging: Low stretch is helpful in setting hooks. Use a monofilament leader, which will break more easily than braided line. [li]Fishing soft plastics, including finesse lures. Greater sensitivity helps detect strike, and low stretch facilitates hook-sets. [li]Stickbaits. Low stretch helps in achieving a zigzagging, "walk the dog" action.
[#a50400][size 3]Tips on line care[/size][/#a50400] [li]Store line in a dark place under moderate temperatures. [li]Do not expose line to chemicals such as gasoline, which may cause them to deteriorate. [li]While fishing, check frequently for nicks and abrasion by running the last several feet of line between your thumb and fingers. [li]Clip off several inches of line and retie to the lure frequently, especially when fishing heavy cover or catching fish. [li]If a knot forms in the line, clip off the line above the knot and discard the line. [li]Replace the line on each reel after every few fishing trips. (Buying line in bulk spools will avoid waste of excess line left on "filler" spools.)
[#a50400][size 3]How to spool line onto reels[/size][/#a50400]
[li]
[size 2][font "Arial"]Baitcasting reels: Run line through the rod guides and the level-wind device on the reel, then attach to the reel spool with an arbor knot. The line spool should turn as line is fed onto the reel; hang the line spool vertically on a nail or insert a pencil through the hole in the center of the spool and have someone hold the pencil as line is wound off the spool and onto the reel. Or drop the line spool into water; it will float and the spool will turn as line is wound onto the reel. Add tension to the line by squeezing it between the thumb and a finger as you wind it onto the reel. Fill the reel to within 1/8 inch of the lip of the spool. [/font][/size]
[li] [size 2][font "Arial"][/font][/size] [font "Arial"][size 2]
[/size][/font][size 2][font "Arial"]Spinning and spincast reels: Since the reel spool does not rotate, the line spool should not rotate either. Lay the line spool flat on the floor with the label side pointing up. Uncoil line from the line spool and run it through the rod guides and tie to the reel spool with an arbor knot. Add tension to the line with the thumb and a finger as you wind it onto the reel. After 10 or 15 turns of the reel handle, lower the rod tip to give slack to the line. If the line lays in relatively neat coils, continue filling the reel. If it twists or kinks, turn the line spool over and wind on line. Fill the reel to within 1/8 inch of the lip of the spool. (NOTE: Braided line does not twist on spinning reels, so it doesn't matter how the line comes off of the line spool.)[/font][/size][/li]
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