Fishing Line

Fishing line is sometimes the unsung hero of a fisherman's arsenal. Having a good quality fishing line, appropriate for the type of fishing you are doing, is important. Many novice fishermen fail to notice the importance that a quality line can make on a fishing experience.

In the past, fishing line was made from plant materials, silk, and certain animal parts such as horse hair and catgut. These lines were not as strong as modern lines and often times they lacked consistency. It wasn't until after 1850 that industrial machinery was used to create fishing line in bulk.

Most modern fishing line is made from artificial substances that can be produced on a massive scale and also for cheap. The most common type of fishing line is monofilament line. This kind is made of a single fiber, which accomplishes the task of removing weak spots in the line. Monofilament fishing line also comes in a variety of strengths and has the ability to stretch under load.

Choosing a fishing line for your particular trip is important. If you are fishing in a lake that has relatively small fish then you don't need to buy a line that is 30 pound test. Doing this makes your line easier to see for fish, cost more, and weigh more. Usually 4 or 6 pound test line is fine for the casual fisherman. It has the proper balance of strength and visibility.

Changing old line is just as important as choosing proper line. The constant stress of reeling, casting, and sitting in the water can cause any line to eventually wear out. A simple test is to grab a small section of the line with both hands and pull it apart trying to break it. A good line will stretch quite a bit and take a good amount of pressure before it snaps. If the line snaps almost instantly or with little pressure then it is time to change out the line on your pole.