After the fishing rod, the line is the most important piece of fishing equipment. Whether fishing for bass in the local lake or trolling offshore for tuna, you’ll need the right kind of fishing line.
So, what fishing line to use? There are several types of fishing lines. The most commonly used line types are the monofilament line and braided line. Mono is ideal for beginners because it’s cheap and works well on all reels. A braided fishing line is suitable in low-visibility waters, vegetation, and precision jigging.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about different types of fishing lines, how to rig a fishing line, and how to choose what fishing line to use.
What Are the Common Types of Fishing Lines for Beginners?
There are many different fishing line types to choose from. But, the most commonly used fishing lines are monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braid.
Here’s what you need to know about these popular types of fishing lines:
Monofilament Fishing Line
Monofilament is a popular type of fishing line used by beginners and pro-anglers. It comes in many different colors and strengths and is cheaper than other fishing lines for fishing.
The abrasion-resistant monofilament fishing line stretches to absorb shock and stays neat on a spool. The biggest disadvantage of a monofilament line is that it has memory and loops in the shape of the spool.
Braided Fishing Line
Made from polyethylene, the braided fishing line is the strongest fishing line. Braided line casts farther, sinks faster, and lasts longer than monofilament fishing line.
Unlike mono, braid has no memory, so it doesn’t loop or twist on a spool. This makes the braid the best fishing line for spinning reels.
Exposure to sunlight doesn’t weaken the braided fishing line, meaning it can stay on the spool year after year. Braided line is mainly used for long-distance casts with topwater lures. It comes in handy when fishing spinnerbaits or lipless crankbaits through weeds.
Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Fluorocarbon fishing line is often used as a leader material and is an excellent choice when fishing clear water. This type of line for fishing is transparent underwater and is resistant to abrasions.
The fluorocarbon’s sensitivity makes it a great choice when using worms, jigs, or any other type of lure that requires finesse. Use fluorocarbon line when running deep-diving crankbaits because the line’s ability to sink increases the lure’s depth.
The downside of using a fluorocarbon fishing line is its stiff texture which makes it challenging to spool on a spinning reel.
How to Know What Fishing Line to Use?
There are many types of fishing lines on the market, and knowing what kind of fishing line to use is key for catching fish. Here’s everything you need to consider to determine what is the best fishing line for you:
Line Strength
The strength of the fishing line is measured in pounds and is called a test. The line’s strength should match the species of fish you’re trying to catch.
If you’re trolling for a 30-pound tuna, use a 30-pound test line. When going for a large game fish, consider using a braided 30-pound test line or more to ensure that a fishing line won’t break.
Material
Fishing lines are made from different materials, including nylon, Dacron, Spectra, and Dyneema. Nylon is the oldest synthetic fiber used for fishing lines and offers a good balance between stretch, strength, and abrasion resistance.
Dacron was developed in the 1950s and is basically an upgraded version of nylon in terms of strength, flexibility, and low stretch. Spectra and Dyneema are two brand names for durable polyethylene fiber used in premium fishing lines.
Castability
Use smooth, light lines if you prefer active fishing styles that involve a lot of casting. Light lines come off the spool easier and ensure more accurate casts over longer distances.
How to Set up Your Fishing Line?
If you’re planning a fishing trip, there are a few things you need to do to start catching fish. Before you do anything else, set up your fishing line. Here’s how to do it:
- Choose a fishing reel to spool the line
- Thread the fishing line through the tip of the fishing rod and every line guard on the rod until you reach the reel
- Wrap the end of the line two times around the spool of the reel and tie a knot
- Use scissors to snip 1/8 of an inch of the extra line that extends above the knot
- Turn the reel handle as you would when reeling a fish to coil the line on the reel
- Stop reeling the handle when the line is 1/8 of an inch below the reel’s rim
- Cut the line using scissors, leaving a foot of the line hanging beyond the tip of the rod so you can later rig it with live bait or an artificial lure
What Is the Most Used Fishing Line?
Monofilament is the most popular type of fishing line and is great for beginners. The great thing about mono is that it can be used on any fishing reel, it has good knot strength, and it is easy to fish with.
Monofilament is known for its reliability and is softer and more forgiving than fluorocarbon. The extra stretch in the line makes the monofilament resistant to abrasions from fish teeth and rocks.
Conclusion
A fishing line is an essential piece of fishing equipment, and you wouldn’t be able to catch any fish without it. With so many different types of fishing lines on the market, it’s hard choosing the one that meets all your needs.
Monofilament is the most popular and commonly used type of fishing line. This multipurpose line comes in many different colors and strengths, making it suitable for catching small and big fish. Mono is also less expensive than other types of fishing lines, and its flexibility makes it resistant to abrasions.
