Fishing Line Review

Fishing Line Review
By Iain Loveman

Use proper fishing line and fishing techniques and you'll never lose your trophy fish!

Did you know that going into your favorite fishing tackle shop and grabbing a brand name box of (x) lb. for your bass, muskey, pickerel, pike, perch, etc. fishing does not always guarantee you have what your looking to do the job?

You also have to consider how you fish.

If you want to use the right fishing line, knot, shock and tensile strength, abrasion resistance, controlled stretch, limpness and visibility must also be considered.

That (x) lb. test line you are buying is the straight pulling strength of the line.

Now, add a knot to it and you have changed the characteristics of the line. The same goes for when your "gator" dives under the boat and you drag your line across the edge of your boat, adding scuffs and nicks.

Add wear and tear from repeated castings and you have abrasion. Remember that monster hit and you had your drag set too tight and thought your trophy fish was going to snap your line or you set the hook so hard all you got was fish lips. Well, that's shock strength.

Wait ... there's more!

Now, dream about that time out on the boat when you were trolling and you see a monster break water, snatch your bait and run with it. You listen to your line race across the spool and you crank so hard your fingers get numb and you increase the drag little by little till you turn him around. Guess what? You just added controlled stretch.

The most disappointing characteristic of fishing line is tensile strength. This one is easy because it happens to frequently. You see your prey, you entice him into thinking he's got a feel meal, the hook is set, he starts to run, you start to play him and "SNAP" and your racing heart plummets into your stomach.

Just a couple more ...

You just bought what you think is a new super duper does everything line and spool up your reel. You go out for the days fishing and you throw a few casts, but something doesn't feel right.

After a few more casts you end up with a massive bird's nest and you end up cutting half your spool off, spend the next half hour salvaging what you can, doing a quick change to another spool or using your buddy's spare fishing rig. This is limpness.

Last but not least is visibility. Fishing line comes in different colors, clear which when illuminated by the sun makes it easier to see.

Lo-Vis Green for fish that are shy about lines.

Lo-Vis Clear for crystal clear water.

Hi-Vis Gold when trolling multiple lines and low light conditions.

Moss Green for blending into areas of heavy vegetation and algae.

So there you have it. Lots to think about before you purchase your next spool.

Remember, don't toss it recycle it.