Annual Line Stretch Test (Updated 2016)

[MickD]

Nice work, and those who are complaining about the data, do your own tests and report back.

Did you try any "second cycle" stretches?  I've heard that once mono is stretched into the "yield" area of stress, it will have a higher yield strength on the next application of force.  Yes, I understand that plastics don't have a well defined "yield strength," like steel, but I think one can get the picture of what I'm asking.

[Turtle135]

Nice work! I use Trilene XT in 14 and 17 pound test for most of my bass fishing. After reading your results I am tempted to put a co-poly like Yo-Zuri on another baitcasting reel this season to compare side by side.

I do scratch my head on looking at the results on Berkley Sensation. Berkley touts that as their low stretch sensitive line but your results show it stretchs more that Trilene XL! There is no truth in advertising! 

 

[HookdUP]

I'm not ungrateful enough not to just say thank you for this information whether I agree, like, and or dislike it. 

[Turtle135]

16 hours ago, Catt said:

That's a fine bit of work!

Here's a little fuel for thought on line stretch

After making a cast my t-rig is on the bottom in 15' of water & 25 yds away from the boat. I detect a strike, drop the rod, reel any slack,& set the hook on a 3# bass.

My rod is a Shimano Crucial 6' 10" medium heavy extra fast

Using 15# Big Game how much stretch do y'all think I'll encounter.?

my estimate, about 3.84 feet

[FryDog62]

I think there is definitely an argument for how stretch is viewed and quantified. Ultimately any test needs to mirror how the lines perform on the water.

I have to say after purchasing all these lines for the test, it afforded the opportunity for me to use all of them to some degree while fishing and the tests do seem to mirror the stretch characteristics of each line.

The most defining moment for me with most of these lines were long hook sets, either straight down in deeper water for walleyes or when casting several yards towards shore for bass. Honestly, there’s a bunch of these lines I would not want to try to set the hook again on a smallie 25 yards away in current… way too easy to come unbuttoned, like setting the hook on a bucking bronco using a rubber band for line.

I still prefer braid with a fluorocarbon leader for longer casts and hook sets, but if had to use one of the tested lines as a main line on a regular basis, I was overall impressed with Yo-zuri Hybrid. It’s characteristics didn’t seem to change wet or dry which the test for the most part backs up.

So, I guess I have a little of the real-world experience with these lines too and there definitely is some consistency with the stretch data IMO.

[Catt]

17 hours ago, Catt said:

That's a fine bit of work!

Here's a little fuel for thought on line stretch

After making a cast my t-rig is on the bottom in 15' of water & 25 yds away from the boat. I detect a strike, drop the rod, reel any slack,& set the hook on a 3# bass.

My rod is a Shimano Crucial 6' 10" medium heavy extra fast

Using 15# Big Game how much stretch do y'all think I'll encounter.?

 

14 hours ago, Team9nine said:

That experiment has been done. Since you are barely generating over a pound of hook-setting force at that distance, and taking into consideration the bend of the rod, the mass of the fish, your stated depth of water and the drag effect on your line in water (and the non straight-line nature of the line in these circumstances), I believe the answer to actual line stretch is very likely less than 2' at that distance.

-T9

You are correct about that experience being done. 

The amount of hook setting force varies between anglers & has little to do with the physical size of the angler; it has a lot to do with technique used by the angler. Out of 10 anglers myself & 3 others consistently registered slightly over 2 lbs.

I don't know the mathematical formula (hate math) used but it was determined line stretch was at 20-22".

More important to me is abrasion resistance & shock absorption, fluorocarbon can not compete with Big Game.

 

[Team9nine]

27 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

You are correct about that experience being done. 

The amount of hook setting force varies between anglers & has little to do with the physical size of the angler; it has a lot to do with technique used by the angler. Out of 10 anglers myself & 3 others consistently registered slightly over 2 lbs.

I don't know the mathematical formula (hate math) used but it was determined line stretch was at 20-22".

More important to me is abrasion resistance & shock absorption, fluorocarbon can not compete with Big Game.

 

Out of curiosity, were those tests done on dry land, or did you have a diver with the force gage and much of the line underneath the water? If under water, 2lb. would be to the high side of force generated by most anglers for the distances you mentioned, a very good hook setting technique

-T9 

[WRB]

Myth; Fluoro line stretches less than mono line.

Truth, both FC and mono stretch about the same.

Tom

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

Out of curiosity, were those tests done on dry land, or did you have a diver with the force gage and much of the line underneath the water? If under water, 2lb. would be to the high side of force generated by most anglers for the distances you mentioned, a very good hook setting technique

-T9 

Exact same depth & distance as I listed but instead of a bass we used a ball weight used for down rigging. 

The 10 anglers were of different physical sizes from 5' 4" 135 lbs to a 6' 3" 248 lbs. line backer. 

We duplicated a test done by some magazine, I forget which.

[Team9nine]

27 minutes ago, Catt said:

Exact same depth & distance as I listed but instead of a bass we used a ball weight used for down rigging. 

The 10 anglers were of different physical sizes from 5' 4" 135 lbs to a 6' 3" 248 lbs. line backer. 

We duplicated a test done by some magazine, I forget which.

Thanks, Catt - Paul Johnson of Berkley did all the original research that you refer to. It was detailed extensively in Bassmaster magazine back in 1979. There might have been others. He also included some detailed explanations in his book. Like you said, things like rod length, physical stature, etc, made no difference. It was pretty much all technique.

-T9

[Molay1292]

If you don't know anything else about fishing line, take the time to look up the phrase "Elasticity Limit" as it applies to fishing lines.  The only data that means much to me is the measured elongation of properly prepared fishing line, ie. water soaked and knot tied, at specified intervals within the "Elasticity Limit" of the line being tested.  The rest is fairly useless other than breaking strength in relation to diameter in my opinion.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Basically what this means if your trying to get your lure back from a stump,limb  or world record bass having enough line strength will let this happen. Otherwise just make sure u use a Quality line a sharp hook and learn how  to tie  A perfect knot cause as Catt said your line aint gonna be doin much stretchin till after the hookset .and then after that maybe 2 mins.line isnt gonna stretch the whole time..OVERTHINKING  isnt good for the soul

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Maxximus Redneckus said:

Basically what this means if your trying to get your lure back from a stump,limb  or world record bass having enough line strength will let this happen. Otherwise just make sure u use a Quality line a sharp hook and learn how  to tie  A perfect knot cause as Catt said your line aint gonna be doin much stretchin till after the hookset .and then after that maybe 2 mins.line isnt gonna stretch the whole time..OVERTHINKING  isnt good for the soul

Bass fishing aint about an 8 lb weight hanging on a line tied to a fixed object.

Interesting information though

[Caliyak]

14 hours ago, WRB said:

Myth; Fluoro line stretches less than mono line.

Truth, both FC and mono stretch about the same.

Tom

Can I add to this? Another myth I heard: 

8# FC and #8 mono, when you stretch FC, FC does not return to #8 but stays at the stretched weight, say #6. But mono bounces back to #8. 

If the myth is true, and with this stretching data, FC is actually weaker than mono after stretch which actually happens when wet. Expensive line that will stretch, become and stay weak. Hope this made sense.

Great research and data. I learned something new. Thank you Fry. 

[Scott F]

5 hours ago, Caliyak said:

Can I add to this? Another myth I heard: 

8# FC and #8 mono, when you stretch FC, FC does not return to #8 but stays at the stretched weight, say #6. But mono bounces back to #8. 

If the myth is true, and with this stretching data, FC is actually weaker than mono after stretch which actually happens when wet. Expensive line that will stretch, become and stay weak. Hope this made sense.

Great research and data. I learned something new. Thank you Fry. 

Why are you calling this a myth? After you stretch FC, it does not return to is original shape. I don't know if you can say it reduces the break strength by a consistent amount, but it is not a myth.

[smalljaw67]

It was about 7 or 8 years ago I guess, I was watching an episode of North American Fishing Club and the lady angler, Karen Savik , or whatever her name was, came on saying her line choice for the technique they were using was fluorocarbon because it doesn't stretch and I laughed out loud. The reason I was laughing is that most pros and T.V. personalities were spouting this and it was only like a few days before that show was on that I went and hit a lake with my buddy after work for a quick fishing trip. We were on the bank and he just got some fluorocarbon line and he got snagged and I watched him tighten down the drag and then hold on to the spool of his casting reel and start backing up. He must have walked back about 4' and I asked him is the snag was moving and he says no, it is a stump, and that is when I saw his no stretch fluorocarbon stretch. I told him it would stretch, I had tried Seaguar Carbon Pro when I was on the boat and knots were a pain, it liked to jump off my spinning reels and it did indeed stretch to the point that I went back to mono and never looked back. The only time I see fluorocarbon as an advantage is when fishing deep and needing to get on the bottom, fluorocarbon does a good job with letting you use a little less weight, and I had 1 trip in which me and a friend were fishing and he was killing me. We both were fishing Erie Darters on a 3/16oz jig head and I was getting spanked but when I realized his bait was staying on the bottom because of the fluorocarbon, I switched out to a 1/4oz jig head and I began catching fish but that is a time when FC does work but for me I like mono.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

if 0 stretch is your concern might as well get you some thin stainless steel ..then you gotta figure out how to tie it so it wont kink and kink is its favorite tribute 

[Caliyak]

8 hours ago, Scott F said:

Why are you calling this a myth? After you stretch FC, it does not return to is original shape. I don't know if you can say it reduces the break strength by a consistent amount, but it is not a myth.

OK, thank you. I don't use FC. 

[Molay1292]

9 hours ago, Scott F said:

Why are you calling this a myth? After you stretch FC, it does not return to is original shape. I don't know if you can say it reduces the break strength by a consistent amount, but it is not a myth.

I think that there is both truth, myth, and misunderstanding in this statement.   All line reaches a point where it will not return to its original shape. This is what defines the elastic limit of a fishing line.   When most lines stretch they form a very parabolic curve in relation to the force that is being applied to them until they reach their elastic limit, at this point stretch becomes much greater than the applied force and the curve becomes flat. Once the line reaches it elastic limit it will continue to stretch to its breaking strength.  

This is one of the reasons why measuring line stretch at breaking strength is somewhat meaningless, to get a true understanding of what's happening with fishing line, you need to measure the amount of stretch that occurs within its elastic limit.   As Catt and others have stated, during normal fishing conditions you will never apply enough force to the line to reach any where near its elastic  limit.    

When they measure a lines elastic limit it is always done wet and knot tied, they do it wet because Nylon line stretches quite a bit more wet than dry and looses breaking strength.  In fact most lines exhibit more stretch when wet.  This is the same method the IGFA uses to verify line strength when testing line class record submissions. 

 

 

[Scott F]

3 minutes ago, Molay1292 said:

I think that there is both truth, myth, and misunderstanding in this statement.   All line reaches a point where it will not return to its original shape. This is what defines the elastic limit of a fishing line.   When most lines stretch they form a very parabolic curve in relation to the force that is being applied to them until they reach their elastic limit, at this point stretch becomes much greater than the applied force and the curve becomes flat. Once the line reaches it elastic limit it will continue to stretch to its breaking strength.  

This is one of the reasons why measuring line stretch at breaking strength is somewhat meaningless, to get a true understanding of what's happening with fishing line, you need to measure the amount of stretch that occurs within its elastic limit.   As Catt and others have stated, during normal fishing conditions you will never apply enough force to the line to reach any where near its elastic  limit.    

When they measure a lines elastic limit it is always done wet and knot tied, they do it wet because Nylon line stretches quite a bit more wet than dry and looses breaking strength.  In fact most lines exhibit more stretch when wet.  This is the same method the IGFA uses to verify line strength when testing line class record submissions. 

 

 

 

If you read any of the FC line tests done, you'd see that one of the traits of FC line is the fact that unlike mono, it does not go back to its original size after being stretched. And I'm not talking about line that was just stretched to its breaking point.

[Molay1292]

26 minutes ago, Scott F said:

If you read any of the FC line tests done, you'd see that one of the traits of FC line is the fact that unlike mono, it does not go back to its original size after being stretched. And I'm not talking about line that was just stretched to its breaking point.

Scott, please take a look at the chart I posted in the post above.  I may not have done a good job of explaining but the chart shows it well.  All line reaches a portion of its breaking strength called it's elastic limit, once it exceeds this limit it will not return to it's original shape.

In the chart, the line tested elongated 11% at it's breaking strength about 8lbs, but lost it's ability to return to shape (elastic limit) at about 6.5% elongation (stretch) @ 6 1/2lbs.

 

[Scott F]

6 minutes ago, Molay1292 said:

Scott, please take a look at the chart I posted in the post above.  I may not have done a good job of explaining but the chart shows it well.  All line reaches a portion of its breaking strength called it's elastic limit, once it exceeds this limit it will not return to it's original shape.

So you are saying mono and FC lines have the same elastic properties? 

[Molay1292]

1 minute ago, Scott F said:

So you are saying mono and FC lines have the same elastic properties? 

I think I understand what your asking, and the best answer that I have is that each line will form its own curve when tested.

[Scott F]

If I am allowed to quote from the Tackle Tour Fluorocarbon Showdown'

"Strain or Deformity: Some materials can be placed under a specific, constant load or stress and then, bounce back or recover from that stress once the pressure is relieved. Monofilament is a good example of this. While it might be stretchy if held between your fingers and pulled, once you stop and let go it returns to its original length. Fluorocarbon does not share this ability. We found, after subjecting our test lines to a constant load of 3 pounds over a length of time just long enough to measure each samples' change in length and write this value down, all but one fluorocarbon product failed to recover fully from the stress and had permanent strain or deformation. The lone exception? Sunline Shooter FC."

 

I would have liked to see the original poster on this thread compare the lines after they had been stretched to see if or how much the lines deformed. Also, I'd be interested to know if the same lines were stretched a second or third time, would the results be the same as the first time? 

[Further North]

9 hours ago, Maxximus Redneckus said:

if 0 stretch is your concern might as well get you some thin stainless steel ..then you gotta figure out how to tie it so it wont kink and kink is its favorite tribute 

Tyger Wire.

Be spendy though...