Sensitivity - Line Size

[Todd2]

I see a lot of posts comparing lines, but what if we are talking about the same line. For example, which would transmit pick ups better Line A 10 lb or Line A 15 lb?

For me, it seems there would be more line movement (for us line watchers) with 10 lb when a Bass sucks in the lure, due to less drag...maybe not, but thicker line might carry vibrations better...not sure.

Yeah, just curious. Plus I'm waiting on two jobs to finish at work...lol

[Raul]

Line size ---> no difference

Line composition ----> all the difference in the world

From less to more sensitivity.

1.- Nylon

2.- Copolymer ( nylon + FC )

3.- FC

4.- Braided

 

[NYBasser]

1 hour ago, Raul said:

Line size ---> no difference

Line composition ----> all the difference in the world

From less to more sensitivity.

1.- Nylon

2.- Copolymer ( nylon + FC )

3.- FC

4.- Braided

 

I would have to disagree. There is a negligible difference when it comes to line size. The thinner/lighter the line, the more sensitivity. For example, let's compare 8lb mono with 50 lb mono. There is a world of difference in the sensitivity of the two.

[J Francho]

Interesting question.  I don't think I use a big enough difference in diameters to say.  I generally stick to 6, 10, 12, 15 for fluoro.And each certainly is not always on the same blank.  I bet in the extreme case NYBasser details, there might be something to it.

[everythingthatswims]

20lb fluorocarbon is very sensitive, I use it for jigs. I tend to prefer fluoro over copoly or mono unless I'm fishing topwater because it is sensitive and doesn't stretch much. All of my spinning rods are 10lb braid with an 8 to 12lb fluoro leader, also because of sensitivity. People who fish straight fluoro on spinning rods tend to do that because the line sinks meaning you don't have a bow in your line that you would have with a line that floats.

[Todd2]

Thanks....sounds like the difference would be trivial at best between 10 and 15 lb.

[WRB]

Anglers concept of line sensitivity has intrigued me with all the hype FC line gets in this regard.

1. Do you think slack line can transmit vibrations through the water to your rod?

2. Does tight line like a guitar string transmit vibrations underwater?

3. Do you feel line movement or line vibrations?

Tom

[Molay1292]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Anglers concept of line sensitivity has intrigued me with all the hype FC line gets in this regard.

1. Do you think slack line can transmit vibrations through the water to your rod?

2. Does tight line like a guitar string transmit vibrations underwater?

3. Do you feel line movement or line vibrations?

Tom

I don't have answers but I do have some thoughts.

vibrations move much faster through water than they do through air

I think a guitar string produces vibration underwater, the same as a speaker or your voice.   

Vibration and movement are similar if not the same, vibration is an oscillating movement around a equilibrium.

Water quality has a large impact on vibration (sound) 

[WRB]

Vibration doesn't move faster in water sound does. Water being 4 times more dense than air dampens line vibration. Sound waves move fastest through a solid like steel, no oscillations in a solid.

Tom

 

[Todd2]

Not sure where you are going Tom... certainly the tighter the line, regardless of line type, the greater the sensation felt at the rod.

Sensitivity is probably a bad choice of words, I often see a line twitch and feel nothing, especially on semi slack line. Those little twitches are often the bigger fish. Btw, I'm strictly a mono user.

[papajoe222]

Two identical lines, different diameters? The thinner line would be more sensitive, I would think. putting the rod blank and line movement that's observed aside and focusing strictly on felt vibrations.  Using identical wood dowels, the 1/4in. is much more sensitive than the 1/2in. given the same stimulus.  Given WRB's statement about water's density dampening of vibrations, the thicker line would move more water and therefore dampen the felt vibration.

[WRB]

The only thing you feel with any line is line movement and if the line has some slack between the lure you have no sensatation of line movement other than visual or lack of lure contact. Vibrations sin waves do not travel up loose line, the water dampens the movement. Controlled slack being you keep enough tension on the line to feel the lure weight or sinker/jig weight resistance, then you will feel line movements like vibrations from a crankbait or fish.

FC has less drag in the water or less belly of loose line than monofilament giving better lure contact with bottom bumping lures. Braid must be taunt with little no slack because it's very limp line, however small diameter with low drag resistance giving ease of detecting line movement, unless there is slack line. Braid floats giving you a visual strike indicator with line movement on slack line, same with mono.

To answer the question smaller diameter line has less coeffient of water drag giving you better feed back of line movement.

Tom

 

[hawgenvy]

You guys are all being unscientific about this. To answer the question you'd have to first agree what exactly you mean by sensitivity, that is, figure out how you would meaningfully define sensitivity. Then devise a way to measure line sensitivity objectively. Then test enough line diameters to get meaningful data, and, voila, you'd have an answer to the question.

Or, you could also sink an old pick up truck 30 feet down in a muddy lake, get a bunch of rednecks in bass boats to "fish"over it using hookless jig heads, and the first guy to figure out the year, make, and model has the most sensitive line.

[Catt]

Give y'all a scientific answer...aint got one!

I know from my personal experience when I drop from 15# Big Game to 12# Big Game there is what I perceive to be a slight increase in "sensitivity".

The disadvantage with 12# is I find I have more breakoffs which is completely unacceptable!

" Sensitivity "

Who is holding the rod?

How well is the brain at interpreting what's being felt!

[WRB]

....and if the angler is focused on what is being sent!

[J Francho]

Sound is vibration. 

Some basic science: http://www.sciencekidsathome.com/science_topics/what_is_sound.html

[WIGuide]

24 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Sound is vibration. 

Some basic science: http://www.sciencekidsathome.com/science_topics/what_is_sound.html

^beat me to it

[Turtle135]

4 hours ago, Catt said:

The disadvantage with 12# is I find I have more breakoffs which is completely unacceptable!

Not to derail the topic but I completely agree with this. I would rather not even get the bite than to break a bass off.

[Red Bear]

this thread is a classic example of someone overthinking things and making fishing way more complicated than it has to be. just use what line size you feel confident using.

and i dont care what kind of line you use or if you use a $20 rod or a $5000 dollar, what Catt says below is absolutely true...sensitivity is different for everyone as its related to the sense of feeling, just like every one doesnt have the same eye sight or hearing or sense of smell etc...

 

4 hours ago, Catt said:

" Sensitivity "

Who is holding the rod?

How well is the brain at interpreting what's being felt!

 

[Todd2]

1 hour ago, Red Bear said:

this thread is a classic example of someone overthinking things and making fishing way more complicated than it has to be. 

 

 

This reply is a classic example of someone replying with nothing to add to the discussion.

The traffic on this site would come to a halt if we didn't overthink things....lol

[J Francho]

I am sensitive to oversimplification, lol.

[Turkey sandwich]

12 hours ago, hawgenvy said:

You guys are all being unscientific about this. To answer the question you'd have to first agree what exactly you mean by sensitivity, that is, figure out how you would meaningfully define sensitivity. Then devise a way to measure line sensitivity objectively. Then test enough line diameters to get meaningful data, and, voila, you'd have an answer to the question.

Or, you could also sink an old pick up truck 30 feet down in a muddy lake, get a bunch of rednecks in bass boats to "fish"over it using hookless jig heads, and the first guy to figure out the year, make, and model has the most sensitive line.

Pffft science!  This is why someone needs to resurrect the big foot thread. 

[J Francho]

But seriously....if you don't like the discussion, move on. 

It isn't necessary to point out your negative opinion of the question. 

We get it - some like this stuff, some don't.

 

[Turkey sandwich]

It isn't so much that I don't like the question (I actually find it pretty interesting and have been following it and learning) as much as scientific debate brings back fond memories of the Sasquatch thread. 

[J Francho]

The comment wasn't aimed at you - it just came after yours.

It was a general statement.