When you go out on the water, you want to be properly prepared to go fishing by bringing the proper fishing tackle. There are so many factors to consider when determining the fishing gear you’ll require for your day out on the water. The fishing line you decide to bring can help or hurt your chances of catching the fish you want. Your line can also make it easier or more difficult to reel in once you’ve gotten a bite.
Purpose of Fishing Line
Fishing line is a wire that is threaded through your fishing rod, and connects the bait to the reel. The line is what allows the angler to throw the bait out from the rod, and reel a catch back in. Fishing line is one of, if not the most important element of a fishing rod setup, you can’t use your rod without it!
What Is Fishing Line Made Of
Fishing line has been around for thousands of years, and has been made out of everything from silk to fluorocarbon. However, today's fishing line comes mainly in three different materials: nylon, dacron, and polyethylene. Each material has its own unique properties that can alter your fishing experience.
Nylon Fishing Line
Nylon is the tried and tested material that anglers have been using for a long time. It’s extremely cheap to buy, and it strikes a good compromise between overall strength and stretch. It also has decent abrasion resistance, which reduces the risk of losing a lure when running your line through obstacles near the bottom of the water. The overall versatility and reliability of nylon has made it one of the most common and popular lure types.
Dacron Fishing Line
Dacron was invented in the late 1950s by DuPont as an improved alternative to nylon fishing line. Dacron is based on a long chain polymer that makes it stronger and more flexible than nylon. It’s perfect for larger and heavier fish that require a very strong line with little stretch.
Polyethylene
Polyethylene is a newer and a more capable line material. It’s made up of an ultra-strong polyethylene fiber that is actually many times stronger than steel! The extra strength allows it to be much more durable than nylon and Dacron. It’s also so lightweight that it will float on water. Polyethylene fishing line also offers lower abrasion resistance making it the all around best, and most expensive, choice.
Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbon is the most high tech fishing line material on the market today. Fluorocarbon is far more durable than nylon, and also offers superior strength at the same size. It also has the added benefit of having one of the lowest abrasion resistances. It’s no wonder that some of the most popular fishing lines today are made of fluorocarbon. However, the extreme strength of fluorocarbon does come at the expense of flexibility.
Qualities Of Fishing Line
The material that the fishing line is made of will have the largest effect on how it performs. It is also important to consider that the line can also be braided to change some of its qualities. There are a few factors to consider that will be affected by the material, weight, and braid of your line.
Braided or Unbraided
Line that is extruded in one piece is called a monofilament. This method allows for a smooth and clear line that offers moderate amounts of stretch, and comes in many different colors. There is also thermal filament, which is produced by thermal bonding small fibers. This allows for a stronger line with a smaller diameter. If the situation calls for a stronger and thicker line, then a braided line is a good choice. Braided lines are bulkier and not as smooth as monofilament lines, but offer the utmost strength and stretch.
Line Stretch
Depending on the situation, line stretch can be a good thing or a bad thing. Less line stretch allows you to better get a feel for whatever is on the end of your line. However, you may want more line stretch if you are trolling. A little bit of line stretch can act as a shock absorber, and possibly make the difference between pulling something in, and ripping the hook right out of the fish’s mouth.
Line Memory
Although better memory is usually something people strive for, it’s not something that you want in a fishing line. Line memory refers to how the line “remembers” or returns back to the shape it was held in after its been deformed. A line with a lot of memory will retain the circular shape it got while being wound on the reel when it’s cast. Meanwhile, a line with low memory will come out smoother and quicker off the reel.
Castability
When it comes to what lines are easiest to cast off, lighter and smoother lines will always be the winner. Heavy and rough or braided lines with high memory will come off the hook significantly slower and can even throw off the accuracy of your cast.
How To Choose A Fishing Line Weight
Choosing the right weight is extremely important, but almost entirely depends on the type of fishing you are looking to do. If you are hoping to catch larger fish, a stronger/heavier line will be required. At the same time, you don’t want to use a heavy line to catch a smaller fish. The type of water you are fishing in is also a factor to consider. As a general rule, you should use a 4lb test in freshwater for smaller fish. For bass and general freshwater fishing, a 6 to 8 lb test is ideal. Meanwhile, in saltwater, a 12 to 15 lb test is used for most fishing while a 17 to 20 lb test might be needed for larger fish. Once you know the water you’re fishing in, and the size of the fish you hope to catch, you can determine what weight line you need.
Top Fishing Line Manufacturing Companies
Once you know what type of line you need, it can be hard to choose between all of the various brands of line. There are hundreds of manufacturers that all make their own types of lines in a huge variety of weights, braids, materials, and colors.
Berkley Fishing Lines
Berkley has long been known for their versatile collection of fishing lines ranging from low cost options to the top quality lines. Their Big game line is one of the best selling fishing lines of all time, and is often regarded as one of the best budget lines for fishing.
Yo-zuri Fishing Lines
Yo-zuri is a well established Japanese manufacturer that has been making quality fishing lines for over 50 years. Their eye for quality and cutting edge technology has made them a popular choice by fisherman for many years now.
Sunline Fishing Lines
Sunline is another Japanese manufacturer that was started in 1977. They produce all types of line for both freshwater and saltwater applications. They control a large amount of the Japanese fishing market and export to over 40 different countries around the world. Their commitment to quality and cutting edge research ensures that their products are constantly evolving and improving.
PowerPro Fishing Lines
PowerPro is known for their exclusive Enhanced Body Technology which provides a smoother and structurally superior ultra-strong braided line. They also have a wide range of fishing lines for every type of fishing from conventional fishing to fly fishing and ice fishing.
Seaguar Fishing Lines
Seaguar has been racking up awards and recognitions for their superior line of fishing lines. Their Tatsu line is one of the best overall fluorocarbon lines on the market. They also carry a huge variety of popular line types from braided to monofilament, with unparalleled abrasion resistance and strength.
Mr. Crappie Fishing Lines
Successful tournament crappie angler Wallace Edwin Marshall founded Mr. Crappie in 1998. Mr. Crappie fishing line is their star product. It’s a super-strong monofilament line that is specially designed for catching, you guessed it, crappie. The brand has expanded quickly and has become known around the world for its top quality fishing lines.
Stren Fishing Lines
Stren was founded in 1958 to take advantage of the invention of nylon, which revolutionized the fishing line industry. Over the years, Stren has cemented itself as a household name in the world of nylon fishing line. Their breakthroughs and expertise have allowed them to continue to innovate and stay as a leader in the industry.
Buy The Best Fishing Line From Lucky Lure Tackle
After considering all of the factors from material, to weight, and price, you should be able to pick the perfect fishing line for your next trip out on the water. Before you head out with your gear, be sure to stop by Lucky Lure Tackle to pick up the best line available. We stock a large variety of fishing lines, across all of the top brands. We also stock everything else you might need to pick up before you head out on the water.
We have experienced anglers who can help you find the best products if you have any doubts. We look forward to helping you find the perfect fishing line to reel in an impressive catch! Make sure to check out all our fishing gear including boat accessories, chatterbaits, crappie baits, fly tying, and other fishing accessories. Also visit our website to view all the upcoming fishing tournaments and fishing events in the area. Lastly, be sure to check out all our blogs to stay informed about the latest fishing tips and tricks.
Contact Lucky Lure Tackle
Address: 9427 N May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK, 73120
Phone: 405-749-1808