How Fishing Line Is Rated: Fishing Line Categorization

The threads used by fishermen in fishing, that are produced by mixing natural or artificial fibers with each other or used individually, twisted, bent, or produced in the form of a single fiber are called fishing lines. The fishing line is the material that forms the body part of the fishing gear. When we consider that the definition of the fishing line is a mechanism consisting of a hook, body, and auxiliary materials, we see that the fishing line corresponds to the term body in this definition. So do you want to know how the fishing line is rated?

Fishing lines are categorized and rated according to the raw material from which they are produced. There are basically 5 different line types available. These are monofilament line, rope line, fluorocarbon line, fly line, and steel wire. The three most used models of these are rope fishing line, monoline, and fly line. Rope fishing line is produced from the combination of fibers, and the monoline is produced from nylon. Let’s take a look at the fishing line and their features together.

Fishing Line Categorization: How Are They Rated?

There are many different fishing line types and brands on the market. It is an art in itself to choose the most suitable line for us among these line types, which are in many different types, colors, and thicknesses. Here are some points we need to pay attention to and some questions we need to answer when choosing the line that best suits ourselves. First, we need to get to work knowing the three main roles that fishing line plays in fishing gear. These are listed as follows:

Submission of the bait to fish
Catching the fish on the hook or bait
Pulling the fish to shore or boat

After this information, it comes to the issues we need to pay attention to when choosing a line. These are listed as follows:

The technique we will hunt
Features of the area where we will hunt

It is necessary to ask ourselves these basic questions during the selection of the line and choose a line suitable for the answers we receive. In the following sections of our article, I will give detailed information about the basic line types, their advantages, and disadvantages, as well as which techniques and artificial baits they are suitable for use.

Fishing Line Types and Their Features

Fishing line types are as follows:

Monofilament Lines
Rope Lines
Fluorocarbon Lines
Steel wires

Monofilament Fishing Line

In 1938, the monofilament fishing line was invented when DuPont company announced that it had found a new synthetic super polymer group, nylon material, which is much stronger and more durable than cotton, wool, or silk. In 1939, monoline production started commercially. However, until 1958, the line type used in general was still the Dacron rope line. However, in 1958, the Dupont company attracted the attention of fishermen with the Stren model, which is thinner and compatible with many fishing techniques, especially with the newly produced spin and spin casting machines.

Yes, we explained the history of the monofilament line above. Let’s put it more simply now. This line is a type of nylon-based line that has been sold for 60 years. Although a single filament is obtained at the end of production, monofilament production is an extremely complex and long process. It is formed by melting and mixing many nylon-based polymers with different molecular compositions and then extruding the resulting polymer. Mono lines attract water and have a slow sinking structure.

Advantages:

Prevalence of Use: Monoline is the most widely used line type that we encounter in many different colors and pulls.
Price: It is cheaper than rope and fluorocarbon lines.
Flexible Structure: Mono lines stretch to absorb shock, which is an advantage for many hunting. It makes it easier to rescue the tool, especially when stuck.
Abrasion Resistance: Resistant to abrasion
Ease of Winding: Mono lines are easily wound on the reel thanks to their round structure.
Easy Knot Retention Feature: Monofilament lines are generally soft and flexible, so they easily hold knots.
Wide Range of Colors: Sold in many colors. However, transparent and blue colors are most preferred because they are less visible in the water.

Disadvantages:

Low Pull Value: Monofilament lines have a much lower pull value than rope lines of the same thickness. It is necessary to thicken the fishing line in hunting that requires high pulling. However, this leads to two main problems. First, as the line gets thicker, it becomes easily visible on the fish side. Secondly, as the line gets thicker, the length of the line that we can wrap in the fishing machine decreases.
Easy Deformation: Mono lines absorb water. Nylon is a water-attracting material. Therefore, it starts to rupture when exposed to water for a long time. For example, if we keep the monoline in the water for 24 hours, it reaches the saturation point and starts to break.
Extremely Unstable to Sunlight (UV Rays): Since it is produced from nylon, it is easily deformed by sunlight over time.

With which baits and techniques it is used:

Deep diving Crankbait fakes
Above water popping fakes
Jighead
Shallow diving Crankbait fakes

Braided Fishing Line

After the 1980s, the use of braided fishing line is starting to gain popularity again, especially in Japan. As of 1990, with the introduction of aramid fibers and gel-spun processes such as Spectra, Kevlar, and Dyneema, the use of rope fishing is widespread. Superline and microfilament knitted lines are extremely thin and strong. There are even those 10 times stronger than steel wire. All rope lines are produced with synthetic thermoplastic known as polyethylene. Then, through a process called gel spinning, it achieves a structure that is extremely thin and where many fibers are knitted like a web. This is called Dyneema or Spectra. Then, the coating process is started and the rope fishing line is formed.

Advantages:

Higher Pulling Values: Knitted lines have much higher pulls than mono and fluorocarbon lines. In this way, thanks to the use of a thinner line than monoline, the visibility are reduced and we can wrap more lines on the fishing line.
Longer Range Shooting Opportunity: Knitted lines reach much longer distances when they are used with rods and machines suitable for rope fishing. They provide a great advantage especially for hunting from the shore.
Low Memory: Knitted lines do not take the shape of the fishing line and reel thanks to their low memory. In this way, it can be used safely for a longer time.
Resistance to Sun Rays: It is not affected by sunlight and salt.
Sensitivity: If you feel even the slightest movement on the end of the fishing line because it cannot stretch. It gives excellent results especially in hunts requiring a leash.
Easy Fight with Big Fish: Thanks to its high attractiveness and low flexibility, it facilitates the struggle with big fish.
It sinks fast, reaches farther, and lowers the bait deeper, especially in deep water hunting. It is not affected by sunlight.

Disadvantages:

Difficult Knot Holding: Rope lines are difficult to knot due to their slippery structure. For rope lines, it is necessary to learn special knot techniques that can hold even at low friction.
Cutting Difficult: It is necessary to carry a fishing line shears to cut the rope lines when needed.
Underwater Visibility: Requires the use of fluorocarbon or mono leader, as it is more likely to be visible underwater than mono.
Less Resistance Against Friction: It is less resistant to friction than mono.
Low Stretch Feature: Finally, since it does not have a stretch feature, it should be used with a lighter setting. Otherwise, we will not give the fish the time required to swallow the food thoroughly.

With which baits and techniques it is used:

Flipping: Thanks to its low stretch and robustness, it works very well especially in grassy and vegetation areas.
Above water feeds
Drop shot technique
Rotary Spoons

What we explained above was general information about rope fishing lines. As for my personal opinion, the vast majority of rope lines have floating characteristics. However, some rope lines are produced specifically for sinking. For example, Sufix 832 is a model that sinks specifically to the knitted fishing line. This type of rope fishing line gives excellent results, especially with its back, jigging, and deep dives fake. Floating ropes, on the other hand, give good results with fake baits above water, especially silicone baits such as frogs. In addition, we can safely hunt with a rotary spoon and beakless fakes, especially in areas with dense vegetation. The non-stretching feature of the rope line allows us to give better action to the fake. A strong knot should be preferred especially for rope fluoro carbon combinations. If we connect it with a swivel, then the non-stretching feature of the rope line disappears.

Terms related to the rope line:

Standard Braid: Typical knitted line.

Fused Braid (Knitted Line Made by Melting Method): Knitted line with a molecularly modified and heat-combined core. Fused knitted lines are harder and more durable. It is especially recommended for spin hunting.

Hollow-Core Braid: This line style has a specially spaced core to combine with the leader line. Easily used with mono or fluorocarbon leader.

Polyethylene: Synthetic thermoplastic which is the main material of the thread lines.

Gel-Spinning: The process of twisting polyethylene to form each layer of knitted lines.

Dyneema: Twisted braided line produced by the Dutch company DSM.

Spectra: Twisted line produced by the American company Honeywell.

Carrier: Layer forming each layer of multi-ply rope lines. For example, each layer of an 8-layer weave line is called a carrier.

Pic: The intersection point of each mesh polyethylene with another

Pics per Inch (PPI): The point of intersection per inch. The more PPI, the smoother the rope.

Fluorocarbon Fishing Line

The fluorocarbon line does everything mono can’t. Usually, they are used as leading fishing line. Invisible in water, extremely resistant to abrasion. For this reason, it is used as a perfect complement to the rope fishing line. It is flexible but not as curled as mono. It does not hold water but has a sinking feature due to its high core mass. In this way, there is a less loose line between the bait and the tip of the reed. It does not become brittle in cold weather and does not suffer from sunlight.

It is formed by chemically bonding fluorine, carbon, and hydrogen and then subjecting them to extrusion. Its most important feature is that it refracts the light instead of reflecting it. In this way, it becomes invisible in water. Extremely hard and wear-resistant. But tying knots is difficult. It does not hold water. Fluorocarbon gives excellent results with deep diving and sinking baits in clear waters, especially in jig head and silicone combinations where sensitivity and invisible are required together.

With which baits and techniques it is used:

Jig baits
Shallow floating crankbait fakes
Worms
Rotary spoons

Usually, they are used as leading fishing line. invisible in water. extremely wear-resistant. For this reason, it is used as a perfect complement to the rope fishing line.

Steel wire

Steel wires are used as leading fishing lines in the fishing of toothed fish. It is also used in some ridge hunts that need to go deep. For hunting toothed fish such as mackerel and bluefish, tuna.

The Importance of Fishing Line Preference in Fishing

Fishing line, which is one of the biggest factors of good fishing, varies according to their usage patterns and types. First of all, if the right bait and the right fishing line are not selected, it is out of the question to be successful in fishing. Choosing the wrong line will cause the fish to notice and startled and your prey to fail. This situation determines the quality of your catch. It is very important that the line is resistant to tearing, sun, and mold, that it is elastic, soft, and resistant to color and bending. During catching, fish can apply about 8 times their weight of resistance. For this reason, line selection and the power of the selected line are very important.

The elastic rate in the polyester fishing line varies between 2% and 8%. Lines that are stretched too much lose their elasticity and cannot return to their former state. The soft structure of the line allows it to be easily reeled and opened easily. Most polyamide lines have a soft texture. Soft lines are generally suitable for machine reels, while hard lines are preferred for hand fishing lines. Hard fishing lines are easy to get off the reel and become challenging. While buying the line, it is useful to choose according to the fish you aim to keep. In order to use different reels according to fish, it will be useful to have spare spools of each machine. The thinner your team is, the more chance you have of catching the fish or feeling the fish’s kicks.

You can make a choice by evaluating the features written on the line packaging. The portion indicated in ‘mm or inch’ on the packaging usually indicates the thickness or diameter of the line. The part indicated as ‘Kg’ reflects the test and written version of how much weight the line can bear. The part indicated as “M” refers to the length of your line. Finally, you can find the part indicating the softness of the line, how many layers, and the durability of the line in the physical properties section. For fine fish; While 0.25 or 0.30 line is preferred, 0.35 line is used in species such as medium-sized whiting, bluefish, and bonito. When using a hand fishing line, you can choose a 0.50 fishing line. If you use a thin line on the hand fishing line, you will easily notice that it breaks quickly or becomes tangled quickly.

Choosing the right line color is as important as choosing the right line type. Blue, green, transparent, and many more colors can be chosen. The transparent fishing line is less prominent in clear waters. Therefore, it is a good choice. The blue line is a good choice especially in the summer months when the light is intense. In the summer months, while you see that the light is refracted on the blue line, the fish cannot see it, thus it becomes easier to follow your line. The yellow line should be preferred in dark and low light environments. This makes it easier to follow the line. The green line will camouflage your line well, especially in waters with dense vegetation.

In today’s technology, lines have many types and colors. While shiny lines are mostly used for the body, matte lines are generally preferred in the water. In freshwater fishing, lines in brown, white, or green tones are preferred in the greenish parts of the water, while blue, red, or white lines are very popular in the open sea. Red lines are generally known to give good results in deep and dark. You can choose the color preference according to your hunting technique, hunting ground, and taste. At the same time, while floating lines do not have the feature of submersion, sinking lines are known as submerged lines. High knot strength lines are generally preferred in tackles with hook and suitable for tying knots. Breaking strain shows the limit that can be lifted as a result of a sudden force on the line. Photochromic colored lines take color according to the light and the ground on which they are located. They are never invisible, they only have camouflage properties.

Terms You Need to Know When Choosing a Fishing Line

Test load

It indicates the maximum load the line can carry without breaking. Generally, each line is labeled in pounds (lb) or kilograms (KG). Libre is the English unit of measure and is often used in the USA. 1 kg = 22 lbs. (1 Lb = 455 g) 22 lbs are 10 kg. These values are the “test” values and most brands break before reaching this weight. So use lines with a test value of at least 30% of the heaviest possible load. If you want to pull a 5 kg bucket, you will need at least 7 kg or 18 pounds of fishing line. You cannot choose the line by only looking at the weight of the fish. Especially when you hunt from the shore, the throwing power you will apply can be very high. If you are using 100 grams of lead, you create a 10 kg load to throw it 50 meters away. If the line cannot withstand this load, it will break.

Flexibility

It expresses how long the line gets when it is loaded. There is no measure for this. Simple terms such as inflexible very flexible less flexible are used. When a fishing line with high flexibility draws fish, it stretches and absorbs the load. Fish cannot pull with constant intense force. The intense load applied at the first moment is absorbed thanks to this stretching and the catch of the fish is easier. That is, a fishing line that does not stretch puts the load directly on the mouth of the fish and the reed or on your hand in this first movement of the fish. An inelastic reed can be broken by this sudden impact and can be removed from the place you place it or from your hand.

If you are holding the line by hand, it may cut your hand. But before the fish understands what happened, the hook gets stuck in its palate. If the fishing line has a certain flexibility, the hook stretches before it gets stuck in the hard palate of the fish and provides a certain delay. The fisherman quickly leashes to compensate for this delay so that the needle fits on the palate of the fish. On a non-flexible fishing line, if you leash like this quickly, you will provide enough power to break the needle or tear the fish’s mouth. Also, an inelastic line can damage the rod, etc.

On the other hand, as the flexibility of the line decreases, every movement of the lead of the fish directly reaches the reed. Thus, you will have a more sensitive sensation. With a fishing line that does not stretch and a little experience, you can understand when the fish hits, when it is caught, how many fish are caught, whether the lead hovered at the bottom or someone’s tackle caught and pulled yours, etc. and you can even guess the type of fish you caught. But you should always be ready with such a line, especially when fishing large fish, such as carp perch or large bluefish. You should always keep the rod firm.

Memory

It is an underestimated issue, but it is actually a very important factor. The line tries to keep the shape of the place where it is wrapped. For example, it preserves the shape of the reel and the line you throw is laid like an extended coil spring in the air and above the water. If you throw the bait, friction increases in the air and the distance becomes shorter. When it falls into water, the surface tension increases, and the immersion of the feed is delayed. Since the same effect continues in the water, the probability of seeing the line increases. In addition, these folds sometimes cause knots called bird eyes and weaken the line. It is more prone to get mixed up while collecting.

In addition, a line with a high memory tends to weaken, especially in knots. If pulled under pressure somehow, it creates a ribbon effect and takes the form of a hard bow. As a result, deformation increases, strange shapes appear and the line goes to waste. This is the reason for the saying “once you get into the sea, the line is done”, which is often said by fishing line sellers. It is always an advantage for a line to have low memory. However, models that rely on it to be without memory clearly state it as “low memory” “No memory” on their labels. Ordinary lines contain almost no information on this matter. Simply if the line you have curled stays the way you curl it, it has a high memory.

Visibility

This issue should be addressed in two ways. Being visible outside the water, being able to see the fish in the water. Out of the water is sometimes important. For example, if the person next to you sees your tackle, they will refrain from throwing the fishing line visibly. But these are details and the main thing is to see the line in the water. If the fish sees the line, it may frighten him. Catfish are self-confident fish, they don’t care, they take the bait. The bluefish dynasty does not pay attention to the fishing line when there is something that draws attention. But many other species are afraid of the line. Some species, which thankfully are in the minority, prefer not to approach at all. Others behave timidly but generally tend to eat. If the fish cannot see the line, or it sees it like something that would not scare it, it is more likely to attack the bait.

It is important to understand the behavior of light in water to comprehend the phenomenon of being seen in the water. When daylight enters the water, it begins to be absorbed. Infrared, red, and ultraviolet are absorbed first. Finally, blue and ultraviolet invisible light is absorbed. Something red becomes dull black a few meters below the water. This offers an easily recognizable pattern. Deeper, the red loses shape detail and increases camouflage for the fish. Typical clear lines do not show this effect. Part of the light hitting the line on the surface and below the surface extends down into the line. As a result, the line becomes clearly visible as a dull line in the water. In addition, the light they carry creates a halo around them, and the line looks thicker than it is. The line becomes distinct like a glowing lamp in the dark, especially since the red light carried from the surface is less at the bottom.

Another factor is the color of the line. A pink line will be very noticeable for you, but in the water, it turns pink gray (since red light is not in the environment) and its visibility is reduced, especially at the bottom. But at a depth close to the surface, pink will be very noticeable. Blue is the least preferred. Because only blue light is found as the depth increases. In this case, the blue line reflects the light to the maximum, and its visibility increases. Gray, which is the color of smoke, draws less attention as it absorbs the light in the environment more. Green does not attract much attention to the fish at low depths with lots of greenery around. Transparent lines, on the other hand, turn into a distinct frozen line, especially because they scatter the light they receive from outside.

On the other hand, because the material they are made of has a different refractive index than water, they show lens effect. In conventional fishing lines, the line becomes translucent due to the refractions and reflections between the water and the micro-cracks that occur during use. In shallow areas where there is much light, especially in cloudy water, these lines are not noticeable. But they can be easily noticed at average depths and clear waters. These effects are most common in night hunting. An ordinary transparent line becomes easily visible with the light and sparkle on the surface and scares the fish. But this effect diminishes on a moonlit night. Fish also hunt better in the moonlight, as they are at higher elevations where they can see more and feed more.

A number of considerations can be taken to improve visibility, namely to choose a less visible line. First of all, the thinner line means the absolute less visible. Another issue is the color of the line. Especially at depths of less than 20m, the green and smoke gray (smoked) colors are more difficult to distinguish. Deeper the pink color is harder to see. Interestingly, some special lines become completely transparent and invisible in the water. This is because their reaction to light has a refractive index close to that of water, and the bonded polymer structures do not cause micro-cracks. These lines are indisputably the most advantageous in terms of not being seen. There are also lines with different colors for each unit (meter, half a meter, etc.) to reduce visibility. This creates the typical camouflage pattern effect and makes it difficult to spot.

Durability

On the other hand, the resistance of a line against peeling is also an important criterion. When using the line, it is often pulled from somewhere by rubbing. In the meantime, it is absolutely worn out, but some are less and some are very. As a general rule, solid lines are good in this regard as well. This friction affects the line in two ways. First of all, some of the surfaces of the line stay where it is rubbed. This obviously causes thinning of the line in places. On the other hand, this friction causes cracks on the line. This adversely affects visibility in the water.

Especially outside of the water, friction against the reel, rod guides, etc. generates a lot of heat and the line becomes soft and elongated. This elongation occurs in the friction zone. So much so that while one side of the line remains the same, the length of the other side changes, and then the cooling begins. In this case, it causes cracks on the line. However, lines that do not tend to expand despite softening when heated are less affected by this problem. Lines that provide this feature will be silicone-added or reinforced with various polymers.