 For
those of you who suddenly feel as though you've come
under a full-on advertising assault of the senses, regarding
whether braided style or monofilament line is the right
choice, you need not feel alone. I empathize! For the
last five or six years the amount of line options available
to the bass angler has nearly quadrupled, offering claims
of unmatched stretch reduction to complete and total
indestructibility. As we speak, line manufactures are
pouring millions upon millions of dollars into research,
in a frantic attempt to create and market the next great
"super-line". With that said, it undoubtedly
bears the question, "Which line is right for me?"
We'll start with the basic monofilament line that
has been considered the standard equipment on the reels
of anglers, fresh and saltwater alike, since FDR was
in power. Monofilament, or "mono" as it is
more commonly referred to, is compromised of many synthetic
components. Upon contact with air it solidifies into
the slick, string like substance that anglers have come
to know and love. For the most part this procedure of
"shooting" the gel though a series of progressively
smaller openings, while cooling it, has remained the
same for nearly half a century. It is only in the last
decade that true quantum leaps have been made in the
composition and production of this product. Before we
go on allow me to dispel a rumor immediately. Every
monofilament line is not same! A spool of 10-pound test
mono from Company A can be drastically different from
Company B. It differs in line diameter, in line shape,
and in overall handling. For those of you who stick
religiously to one brand of line and have only used
another in a pinch, can vouch for the fact that there
is a definite difference. We'll start with diameter.
For the masses, packaging that advertises "super
thin" will render an instant sale. Are "thin"
lines really thinner? On nearly every package of line,
there is, right next to the pound test number, a small
decimal number. That number denotes in millimeters,
actually tenths or hundredths of a millimeter, the average
thickness of that pound test line. With that said, if
thin is truly what you want, then select a pound test
that suits you, then set out comparing the millimeter
numbers to find the truly thinnest line. Next comes
the issue of stretch. As of late, line stretch has been
banished from nearly every brand of line, replaced by
the words "ultra-low-stretch" or "no-stretch".
From the sales returns it is obvious that anglers can't
get enough of these types of lines. The wave of low
stretch monos has only taken to the shelves of tackle
shops in the past three or four years. They openly boast
more firm, stronger hook-sets and fewer lost fish. Most
of all they provide greater overall sensitivity. While
all of this is very true, the question is whether or
not some stretch is better than no stretch at all. My
personal opinion revolves around some important issues.
Number one is that some stretch provides for shock absorption,
which can be an anglers best friend if the circumstances
provide. Example: Fish making last minute runs at the
boat where only a very shot length of line is out. That
line stretch will buy you those precious extra few seconds
to get to the bail or the spool release to get some
more line out, thus avoiding the one that got away story
entirely. My second observation is that stretch, in
my opinion, gives certain lures, more specifically crankbaits,
an action enhancement. Example: A wide wobbling, diving
crankbait fished on stretchless piano wire type line
will noticeably loose some of its "bass appeal".
Rather than lightly guided, it will look like its being
dragged through the water. Finally, the shape of the
line will play more a part in its casting and handling,
rather than its action in the water. For the most part
even today, monofilament line is when viewed head on,
a perfect circle. However, there are several line companies
experimenting with flattened, fly-line type line shapes,
which when viewed head on will look like a wide, tapering
oval. I have used one of these lines on a trial basis,
and I will say this: It does not cast farther, nor is
it more accurate. However, it lays much nicer on a spool
and provides baitcast reel using anglers with a nearly
backlash free day. It will lay higher out of the water,
just like its fly line companion, and will drastically
take depth off of any sub surface rig known to man.
One practical application: Topwater lures and this type
of line, are very good bedfellows! From the way it lays
on the water, to the way it stays out of the hooks of
the topwater plug, in many cases I would take it over
conventional spherical monofilaments. As for handling,
that's a personal choice that can only be made by trial
and error. Its all about your preference, whether or
not the line "feels right" to you. I will
say this, in very few instances with monos, is there
a right and wrong brand? I will however strongly urge
you to stay away from the bottom shelf, bargain brands
that offer five thousand yards for six bucks. The problem
with these lines is usually inconsistent diameters and
handling, as well as many nicks and abrasions that break
down the strength of the line from right out of the
package. I have personally settled upon two brands that
include Gamakatsu's new G-Power line, and Excalibur
Silver Thread. This because they combine all the elements
mentioned above in what I perceive as a "happy
medium".
On the other end of the line spectrum falls the braided
"mega-lines" that for the most part, have
been hyped more than a Don King fight in Las Vegas.
They, upon their arrival, have boasted everything from
"absolute zero stretch" to complete invulnerability
to anything the fish and elements could throw at it,
short of a global apocalypse. Granted, they do offer
something awesome in the form of sheer strength and
toughness, but they are not something brand new. Fly
fisherman have been using braided type lines as backing
on their reels for several years now. It's only after
a scientist at JWA, the makers of the popular Spiderwire,
saw its potential as full-fledged fishing line did it
began to attract attention. It's no secret why it's
so tough though. It's because all the materials in it
are made by DuPont and were originally designed as the
stitching and reinforcement on bulletproof vests. An
interesting point of fact is that the actual name of
the original braid, Spiderwire, is derived from the
way that it is produced. Much like a spider spins a
web, it is woven using a series of spinnerets. They
tightly braid each strand of its components together
to form a very compact single-strand, which is what
anglers receive on the spool. This also explains its
uncommonly high shelf price. It so happens that not
only is the material used very expensive, but the process
takes several hours just to produce one 150yd spool.
Spectra, Specta2000, and Dacron are just a few of the
new synthetic materials being used in the new line's
construction. Unlike monofilaments, these lines have
a personality all their own when they hit the water.
First off, they float! This will take some getting used
to, and in some cases, rigs need to be adjusted to accommodate
it. I would also not recommend this line for a top-water
application. It has a nasty habit of floating back around
the lure when not being twitched and tangling itself
in the hooks. Second, one has to have a keen eye to
see when these lines do begin to deteriorate. They do
not show the "pockmarks" or light colored
slices that monofilament does. It merely begins to fray
and unravel, thus significantly decreasing the line's
overall strength. Likewise, the line should be given
a quick visual once over while reeling it in, and a
thorough looking at near the last five or six feet.
Also, a quick look at the knot wouldn't hurt either.
Keep in mind that because of the way they are produced
it has all the qualities of a hacksaw when it comes
in contact with rod and reel components, as well as
body parts. Unless your rod has titanium or another
similar material lining its guides, I would not recommend
you use it without changing the guides or putting inserts
in each guide. This is because in more than one instance,
I have had it and have seen it make serious indentations
and abrasions in rod guides. This also applies to line
rollers on spinning and levelwinds on baitcast reels.
Now, in fear of sounding like a salesman for JWA, I
do prefer to use the reels that are advertised as for
use with this type of line. Rods can vary as long as
they have sufficient guides to resist abrasion. However,
I don't believe there are any reels besides those that
are produced by JWA that can properly lay the line on
the spool. The "cross-web" line wrap feature
makes spools and levelwinds travel extra fast. Be sure
not to allow the line to bury under itself causing fouling
and backlashes. Unfortunately, there really is no way
around this one. It's patented, and they set the prices!
A final tip on ways we can prepare our equipment for
this type of line is to take a cotton swab, and place
a coating of Turtle Wax on all the rod guides. One might
ask why? Like boats, and surfboards wax protects the
surface, and reduces the friction of line on metal.
As far as this line being practical, I will say that
it does have its applications. I cite flipping and pitching
as one of them. You will be grateful for its pure strength
when it comes time to start horsing hawgs out of some
truly nasty cover. One can rest assure that the chances
of this line being abraded from structure contact, provided
you are not fishing razor blade plants, is absolutely
minimal. Aside from that aspect, where ultra heavy cover
comes into play, chances are the new advanced monos
can take care of business. As far as the selection,
due to a massive advertising campaign, ones braided
line choices are very limited to say the least. As from
what I have seen, we have been reduced to the JWA spider
wire, and I believe Bass Pro Shops produce a "generic"
braid sold in its catalogs.
With that said, I suggest taking your time with line
selection, giving each a fair chance, and using what
you're comfortable with. Because only then will you
be performing to your very best. And remember, "The
line is the only link between you and the fish!"
See ya' on the water...
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