Thinner line can be cast further?

[michael1]

I assume that if all things were equal (rod and reel) that say a 10 pound line can be cast further than a 15 pound line?

[Todd2]

Correct..and a change from 10 to 15 is very noticeable.

[michael1]

20 minutes ago, Todd2 said:

Correct..and a change from 10 to 15 is very noticeable.

What about 10 to 12?

[WRB]

It's all about diameter not pound test. Smaller diameter line will have less drag going through the rod giudes and air increasing distance. Smaller diameter line also has less coeffient of drag going through water, not all line is equal regarding water drag.

Tom 

[michael1]

1 minute ago, WRB said:

It's all about diameter not pound test. Smaller diameter line will have less drag going through the rod giudes and air increasing distance. Smaller diameter line also has less coeffient of drag going through water, not all line is equal regarding water drag.

Tom 

I understand that. I was just using that unit of measurement as a general reference point.

[Scott F]

Thinner lines also let your lures run deeper than thicker lines.

[Todd2]

32 minutes ago, michael1 said:

What about 10 to 12?

So like Tom said, it's diameter..but assuming we are comparing the same brand line then 10 should be thinner than your 12 and cast further. Too many unknowns for anything else. Spinning or casting? What lures? 

[michael1]

18 minutes ago, Todd2 said:

So like Tom said, it's diameter..but assuming we are comparing the same brand line then 10 should be thinner than your 12 and cast further. Too many unknowns for anything else. Spinning or casting? What lures? 

That's why I said if all other factors are the exact same. Just a question based upon line diameter vs casting distance.

[flyfisher]

I am no physics whiz but wouldn't a lighter line used on a bait caster not provide the same rotational force as a heavier line thus potentially decreasing distance?

I mean it makes sense in my head at least lol 

  

[WRB]

If you are casting the line yes, casting a lure no.

In this hypothetical example everything is equal in reality few things are equal. Weight alone can be very aerodynamic shape or kite going through air during the cast.

My experience is using .011 diameter allows me to cast my 7/16 oz jigs over 50 yards under fishing conditions. Using  .012 D line casting distance with the same effort drops about 5 yards everything being equal.

Another factor to consider is larger diameter line directly affects spool capicity. The spool empties faster reducing the circumference and the spool needs to spin more revolutions to equal the same length of line.

Tom

[Tywithay]

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

I am no physics whiz but wouldn't a lighter line used on a bait caster not provide the same rotational force as a heavier line thus potentially decreasing distance?

I mean it makes sense in my head at least lol 

  

 

With enough weight on the line, yes. With typical bass lures you have to strike a balance between startup inertia and rotational force. 

[ike8120]

I went from 20# to 10# braid. With the 20# I thought I was casting an anchor line.

 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

 

[jimmyjoe]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

Another factor to consider is larger diameter line directly affects spool capicity. The spool empties faster reducing the circumference and the spool needs to spin more revolutions to equal the same length of line.

 

   This is correct, and the greater sustained rotational speed from larger diameter line maintains a greater back-force from the cast control, makes no difference whether centrifugal or magnetic. Personally, I think this is at least 50% of the reduced distance effects from slightly larger diameter line. The rest is greater friction.

   On spinning gear, it's all friction, from the lip, from the line dragging over itself, and from the friction through the guides.        jj     

[michael1]

If we have established that thinner line would be cast further what TYPE of line could be cast further? Assuming rod/reel/line diameter was the same could you cast mono, FC or braid further?

[Team9nine]

17 minutes ago, michael1 said:

If we have established that thinner line would be cast further what TYPE of line could be cast further? Assuming rod/reel/line diameter was the same could you cast mono, FC or braid further?

Off the top of my head, I'd say it depends on whether you are talking spinning or baitcasting. With spinning, I'd imagine braid would cast furthest due to having lowest linear density and lowest coefficient of friction. With baitcasting, my first guess would be fluoro due to the higher linear density and rotational inertia mentioned above, but that might be somewhat offset by a limp mono, so it would probably be close between those two line types. 

[Bird]

I'd say the heavier the weight being casted the tighter the gap becomes with distance when comparing braid to Flouro or mono in the same diameter. 

 

I believe if you took the exact same rod and reel and casted a 1/16 jig head you'd see braid excel because of lack of memory, diameter would be secondary in this case.