A fishing line is the most essential piece of fishing equipment. Sure, a high-quality fishing rod can help you reel in trophy fish, but even the best fishing rod and reel are worthless without a good fishing line. You must understand how the fishing line is made, to get the most out of your fishing equipment.
Different types of fishing lines are made differently. Monofilament fishing line is made in an extrusion process using a mixture of polymers. The fluorocarbon line also goes through extrusion but the finishing result is very different. A braided fishing line is made by weaving synthetic materials.
This article will tell you how are different types of fishing lines made. You’ll also learn what are fishing lines made of and what is the strongest fishing line.
What Are Fishing Lines Made of?
Modern-day fishing lines are made from synthetic materials. Nylon remains the most cost effective and commonly used material for manufacturing fishing lines.
Newer materials, such as spectra, Dacron, and Dyneema, are becoming increasingly popular, especially for manufacturing braided fishing lines.
After inventing nylon, the first-ever synthetic fiber in 1938, DuPont also created Dacron in the late 1950s. Dacron is a long-chain polyester with better strength, flexibility, and lower stretch than nylon.
Spectra and Dyneema are new and modern names for ultra-strong polyethylene fiber commonly used for manufacturing high-tech fishing lines. Polyethylene fiber is more durable than polyester, stronger than steel, and has a higher price tag.
Spectra and Dyneema are used to make more sensitive, abrasion-resistant, low-stretch lines with excellent knot strength and little or no memory.
How Are Fishing Lines Made?
Different types of fishing lines are made using different manufacturing processes. Here’s how are the three most popular types of fishing line made:
Monofilament Fishing Line
The monofilament line, also called mono, is made from a single fiber of plastic. Most fishing lines are monofilament because monofilament fibers are cheap to produce and can be made in a range of diameters and tensile strengths.
Monofilament fishing lines are manufactured from a mixture of polymers that are heated and extruded through tiny holes, creating a continuous fiber that looks like a fishing line. This process, known as the extrusion process, forms strands of fishing lines, which are then spun into spools.
Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Like a monofilament line, a fluorocarbon fishing line is extruded in a single strand. The fluorocarbon line is taken through heating, cooling, and moisture processes. During these processes, the line is stretched until it reaches the required diameter.
Although the manufacturing process of a fluorocarbon line looks similar to that of monofilament, the end result is very different. Because fluorocarbon molecules are tightly packed, the fluorocarbon line is denser and heavier than monofilament.
These subtle differences in weight and density create a line that performs differently than monofilament in terms of sensitivity, toughness, abrasion resistance, and visibility.
Braided Fishing Line
Unlike monofilament fishing line, which is made using a single strand, braided fishing line is manufactured using several strands. Although nylon remains one of the most commonly used materials for manufacturing braided fishing lines, other synthetic materials such as Spectra, Dacron, and Dyneema are also used.
The manufacturing process for braided fishing lines remains the same, regardless of the material you decide to use. High-quality braided fishing lines are made from tightly woven strands that increase the line’s overall strength.
Where Do They Manufacture Fishing Lines?
Fishing companies manufacture fishing lines. Most of these companies have manufacturing facilities in Asian countries, but fishing lines are also manufactured in other countries worldwide.
What Fishing Line Is Made in the USA?
Several fishing companies still produce their fishing lines in the USA. A well-known name in the fishing industry, Stren still makes fishing lines in the USA. The complete line of Stren products, including super lines, fluorocarbon lines, and monofilament lines, are American-made.
A few other fishing companies, such as Cortland, Rio, and Scientific Anglers, manufacture USA fishing lines.
What Is the Strongest Fishing Line?
Monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided lines are the most popular types of fishing lines. Each of these lines has a different breaking strength under the same testing conditions.
A braided fishing line is made by braiding several strands of line to form a single braided fishing line. This means that braided fishing line is stronger than monofilament and fluorocarbon fishing lines.
Most braided fishing lines have a high pound test rate, making them ideal for reeling in heavy fish. Despite their strength, braided fishing lines are very sensitive and have a thin diameter, meaning you can wrap more lines on the reel and have a longer casting distance.
There are several factors to consider when choosing the strongest fishing line. The type of fish you want to catch, knot strength, and shock resistance are some factors to consider. Choose a line with a higher test rating than the weight of the fish species you want to catch and look for a line that can withstand the shock of a fish bite.
What Is the Most Expensive Fishing Line?
Priced at $729.99, the Seaguar Threadlock Ultra Strong Fishing Line is currently the most expensive fishing line on the market. The 2500-yard, 80-pound line features an ultra-strong 16-strand hollow-core braid fishing line that ensures an exceptionally smooth, abrasion-resistant fishing experience.
Conclusion
Different types of fishing lines are made using different materials and special manufacturing processes. Knowing how a fishing line is made can help you choose adequate fishing gear and catch trophy fish.
Made by braiding several strands of line, braided line is the strongest type of fishing line and is suitable for catching monster fish.
The monofilament fishing line is made from a single fiber of plastic using the extrusion process. A fluorocarbon fishing line is made similarly to a monofilament fishing line, but the resulting line has tighter packed molecules and is denser and heavier than a monofilament fishing line.