Fishing Line

[Sam]

don't want to steal the Vanish post on the Forum but I think a good discussion about fishing line and its failure is appropriate so I am starting this new thread.

I am posting what I posted on the Vanish thread and asking for everyone's input regarding line.

Lets get as many people involved with your input on your favorite and most hated fishing line and suggestions regarding how you think we should approach buying and caring for your fishing line.

After all, as an old coach told me, "you are only as good as your legs." Same is true in bass fishing. "You are only as good as your line."

I have noted some things about fishing line below. You may not agree 100% and I welcome your input.

1. There are manufacturing process differences in the same brand and test of lines, meaning that sometimes one spool will not be as strong as another spool depending on the batch.

2. Old line can fail easier than new line. Go to a store that has a high turn over in line sales to try to purchase the newest and freshest line possible.

3. Storage of line in "hot" or "cold" locations during the year can damage the line. This includes keeping line on the reels in your garage, boat or vehicle.

4. Many fishermen do not check for nicks and cuts in their line nor do they take the time to retie after catching two or three fish in addition to dragging the line through structure and cover. You can damage line by taking out a backlash and never know you have cut or knicked the line as you respool until you hook the next fish.

5. Line memory can be reduced by the use of a line conditioner when spooling.

6. If your line has been on your reel for longer than two weeks go outside and tie the end of the line to a stable object and then walk away with the rod and reel. After taking 90% of the line off the reel crank the handle once and then stretch the line four or five times. Reel the line back on the reel through a soaked spot with line conditioner on a wash cloth. This will help remove memory for both baitcasters and spinning reels.

7. I have seen many fishermen point their rod tips at the fish when trying to land them. This creates direct pressure from the fish directly to the reel and the line can break. Keep rod to the left, right or high with enough line out so not to have to point rod tip at the fish. See how the pros land the fish when they don't plop them in the boat. Rod tip high and they are on their knees with hands in the water trying to lip the bass.

8. Damaged or incorrectly tied knots can also fail and it is not the line's fault. Know how to tie your favorite knots properly to help avoid knot failure and retie after two or three fish.

9. Check the line above the knot after tying. If the line is :wavy” you have “burned” the line. Cut out the damaged line and tie again.

10. If all else fails, use braid!!!

I am going to call Berkley and ask them if there are any "codes" on either the box or the spool's label that can give us the date the line was manufactured. You can do this with car tires and also, if you have the code, your vehicle's serial number.

Some people will not purchase a car if it was made on a Monday!!!!!

[jdw174]

FWIW, here's my take on fishing line.

More than 15 years ago, I worked with a rep from PRADCO on one of their "Best New Lures of the 90's" tapes. As a result, I received a bunch of line (Silver Thread)and some other goodies from them. I'm still using that line today! It stays on the reel until it's lost thru retying/breaking off snags etc., then I fill the spool back up to capacity. Rods are stored in the boat rod lockers 24/7, thru heat/cold but in a garage. In all these years, I have never...repeat never....lost a fish due to line breakage. I check the tie and line after every fish for nicks and re-tie when necessary. This year, I'm using the KVD line conditioner, but have used Reel Magic in the past. I simply do not see the need for re-spooling at the drop of a hat.

[Dwight Hottle]

10. If all else fails, use braid!!!

Works for me! The only deterioration is through use.

[ww2farmer]

People give themself too much credit , and place too much blame on the line when breakage occurs. I have seen it a 100 times, someone will say line brand "x" sucks because they break off 20lb line on a 2 lber. I know guys who have fished for 30 years that lose way more big fish than they catch, yet we use the same line and I never have any trouble with it.

[Sam]

jdw, I too spool 100% of the line onto the reels and use it until it is gone.

I have Silver Thread and use it from time to time with no problem. I have had the big spools of Sliver Thread for the past five years. I do store them in my fishing room at home so they do not have to be subjected to heat and cold.

Many guys swear by one line or another and as said above, they lose a two-pounder when their line breaks. The sad thing is that they have no idea why the line broke, be it poor quality of line or user fault.

For you guys who have a lot of experience you know how to treat your line. For the new guys who are just taking up bass fishing they have to consider the alternatives when purchasing and using line and how to treat their line.

We all love our rods and reels. But the line is one of the important parts of the trinity.

Great posts. Keep 'em coming.

[dmac14]

I feel the most important aspect in the line is the knot quality, I make sure that my knot is 100% before I even thinking of casting it. Along with that is checking the line often for nicks, it's easy enough just run your hand over it every 2-3 casts. I have noticed that its a little more difficult for braid, you have to really look at the line to determine if it is fraying somewhere. And I find that after catching a few fish or one large fish take the time to retie, it only takes a few seconds but is a clutch move that has saved me a few times, (or times when I neglect to do it and lose a fish right after). Either way I feel that the little things are what mean the most, any line is good you just have to take care of it.

[TerryR]

I guess I am a simple type when it comes to line, but I prefer just regular old Berkley Trilene mono in 10 or 17 lb, depending on the cover I'm fishing. It has broke, but it always was my fault(not checking for knicks or poor knot) I respool about once a month due to line memory, though I never used Reel Magic or any similar product until this season, so maybe I will spool less now. I have tried braid, didn't like it because it always felt like I was gonna rip the lure out of the fish's mouth when I set the hook. Never tried flouro, but knowing myself, I probably would hate it do to the knot tying having to be perfect and the stiffness.

[roadwarrior]

I have been experimenting with several different lines over the last year or so.

Here are some observations;

Braid sucks, but it has significantly improved my jig fishing. Fireline Braid (not fused) is what I am using.

Tatsu is THE BOMB when it come to fluorocarbon line, but it's

just too expensive. Seaguar AbrazX #12 for baitcasting, InvizX #8 for

spinning tackle.

Mono for a dedicated jerkbait rig: Sunline Super Natural Monofilament

However, my favorite line is still Yo-Zuri Hybrid. I recently purchased

1 lb spools of both #6 and #12. That's just about enough fishing line

to last a lifetime!

p.s. Izorline is an alternative everyone should give a try. This is my overall

second choice and a favorite among professional anglers.

[bigbassctchr101]

I'm still a big user of mono line. I use it on 80% of my rods. I may have some braid on a frog rod/or a rig, and I may have some flourocarbon line on one or two other combos. The big reason I use mono is because of the way I fish...I like it on crankbaits. And, I fish at night a lot and did not like the stren flourescent flouro, and don't like fishing a jig/worm on braid. So, that doesn't leave me with too many more options. I too, check my line for nicks, and retie after almost every fish or snag. I had a problem with flourocarbon at first with line breakage issues on the hookset, but later found out that it was my fault due to the knot and the way I was tying the knot. After that, I have not had any consistent problems with most brands of line. I have ran into "bad spools" of almost all line however. P-line, big game, mccoy, renegade, gamakatsu, etc.(I think bad spools could be the result of the way they were put up and stored before being purchased) I go thru a lot of line in a season, mostly because I re-tie so much and I like to keep a full spool so my casts get have the most distance. The only line I have used several times and would not attempt to use again would be vanish. I know people who use it and like it....I believe Ott Defoe which is currently fishing the Elites actually uses this. But for me, I had break off after break off on this line. I had it at the knot, from the rod to the lure, and coming right off the spool. The only thing consistent on it was its inconsistency.

I think most people just need to understand lines before they buy them so they will be more satisfied. You do not want to buy an abrasion resistant mono line if your looking for low memory and extra limp...thats called braid lol. If people would look up how line is made and what the properties are, they would be much more knowledgable about their purchase.

[justinl9677]

On 5/31/2011 at 8:07 PM, TerryR said:

"....I respool about once a month due to line memory, though I never used Reel Magic or any similar product until this season, so maybe I will spool less now."

I just tried something I read last night in a fishing forum that worked great for me when it comes to line memory removal.

 

I took the spool off the reel and ran it under hot water, making sure to give all the line plenty of time under the direct flow of hot water.  To check it, i pulled about 3 feet of line off.  What used to be line that was coiled like a spring is now straight as can be!  I do not use line conditioner, as i didn't even know such a thing existed until last night while reading about line memory.

 

These forums are an invaluable source for  information, thank you all for being so selfless with your knowledge!  

 

J

[garroyo130]

On 5/30/2011 at 8:09 AM, ww2farmer said:

People give themself too much credit , and place too much blame on the line when breakage occurs.

^ I agree. If you actually take the time to set the drag to 1/4 - 1/3 of line lb rating youll be fine. It takes a lot for a line to lose 2/3's of its breaking strength.