You have just bought your new rod. It is the perfect size for what you are after and you can’t wait to take it out to give it a sling. The reel you have outfitted the rod with is smooth and silent; it’s ready for action. There is only one thing left to do. You are now ready to spool it up. Choosing the right fishing line for your rod and reel can be a tricky task, especially if you are a new comer to the sport. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when looking for the proper fishing line that will help you make your choice and get you to your favorite fishing hole in no time.
Look at your Reel
One of the first places to look when considering the purchase of fishing line is on your reel. Your reel will give you a good idea of what line should be used with the reel. For instance, look on the side of the spool. It should list three sizes of line (pounds and Kilograms) that are appropriate for that particular reel and how much of each size it will hold. A good general rule of thumb is to go with the middle line. If your reel lists eight, ten, and twelve pound test, a good bet is to go with the ten pound test. Larger reels should be outfitted with larger line. The reason for this is that you can get too small or too large of line on the reel. When this happens, you will find that the line will become tangled around the bell at times and may twist. Eventually, the line will twist to the point where it “bird nests”, or you may have a “blow up.” This is when the line becomes so entangled that the reel will not function properly and must be manually untangled. Bird nests can become very frustrating as well as keep your line out of the water. To limit bird nests, make sure you have the right size line fitted to your particular reel.
Mono Line
The most popular line used for fishing is called mono-line. This is a single strand of fluorocarbon that is used with almost any type of fishing set up available. This line has the ability to stretch when you have a fish on, which gives it the ability to hold up to changing conditions. Mono-line comes in almost every pound test imaginable and can get pricey when you begin to purchase line above twenty pounds. However, as of the present, mono is considered the best line to use for your fishing gear because it is non abrasive towards other lines. There are many manufacturers of mono filament such as Stren, Berkley, and many others. Most fishermen choose to go with a name brand fishing line because some of the lesser known and cheaper mono lines can break when least expect it. If you get your reel spun in a tackle shop, be sure to tie at least one knot before leaving to ensure that the line is fresh and does not snap.
Braid
Braided line has become more and more popular over the last decade. This type of line is said to be the fishing line of the future although some fishermen think otherwise. Braided line gets its name due to the fact that numerous strands of line are interwoven, which creates a stronger line with a smaller diameter. This can be a major advantage because the diameter of braided line as opposed to monofilament is almost a one to two ratio. For example, some conventional reels that are used for distance casting will throw much farther with smaller diameter. With braided line, you can outfit the reel with almost twice as much line in a much smaller diameter than you can when using monofilament. However, some fisherman say that braided line is very abrasive, and when lines cross when fishing close to one another, braided line will cut monofilament.