So I said, decide what kind of line you need.  Change it often, learn to tie good knots, then you won’t be able to blame your line if you lose the “Big One”.  He thanked me and was gone. As I walked to the checkout with my items I thought, this would make an interesting article for my readers. So, here I am doing just that. So where do I start. Well, I guess I’ll start by talking about each type of line, and how the manufactures test it.

Lets start with “Monofilament”. Mono is a word that means single. In fishing line that means a single strand of line, but in sport fishing it has become know as nylon fishing line. Nylon Monofilament is a single-component product, that is formed through an extrusion process in which molten plastic is formed into a strand through a die. Nylon Monofilament line is a polymetric by-product of crude oil processing. Premium grade Nylon Monofilament line receives more quality-control attention, more additives, and more attention in the finishing process than normal line to make it abrasion resistant, that is why the cost is more. 

Then we have the “Co-filament line” which adds more resistance to the line and yet keeps the line sensitivity, and strength. This design uses an inner and an outer wrap of nylon to help insure the lines ability to resist wear and tear. 

Next would be “ Fused Lines “, which are many layers of microfilaments of gel spun polyethylene fibers fused together to produce a single strand of line that is ultra thin, superior strength, and sensitivity, good abrasion resistance, and yet remain easy to cast. Great hook sets with this line. Spiderwire is the leader in fused line.

Next, “Braided lines” consist of inter-wined strands of nylon material, making them a multifilament line called Dacron. Dacron was once the primary line for fishing before the discovery of Nylon. Nylon proved to be so superior to braided Dacron which had poor knot strength, low abrasion resistance, and little stretch, that Dacron almost disappeared from the market. Today it is used primarily as a backing material on fly fishing reels. 

The synthetic fiber that is added is 10 times stronger than steel, and has been used in industrial, aerospace, and military applications, and is very strong yet very thin. Due to its non-stretch properties it is a super sensitive line. For example, a 15# test braid line has the diameter of a 6# test monofilament line. There are some draw backs to this line however. You must use the knot the manufacture tells you to use or the line will come untied. Some you need to use a super-glue on the knot to prevent it from coming untied as some of the braided lines have a coating applied to the line that makes it extremely slippery and the glue assures you the knot will stay tied. This line does nick, and you will need to watch for broken, or frayed strands often. I don’t recommend you use this line on a spinning reel as it is so limp it is tough to cast.