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MODERN "SUPER-LINES"
By: Greg
Brush
TO BRAID OR NOT TO BRAID?
For decades, monofilament has been the standard
in fishing line, offering proven and dependable
performance under nearly all conditions. On the
other hand, braided lines have been popular with
halibut fisherman for years, providing big water
anglers the advantage of small diameter and zero
stretch, critical qualities when fishing hundreds
of feet deep.
Just recently, however, braided super lines have
gathered a loyal following of enterprising Alaska
anglers who pursue everything from finicky
steelhead to powerful king salmon. Targeting fresh
water fishermen and those who cast repeatedly,
manufacturers continue to improve and fine-tune
these unique specialty lines, creating lighter
tests and even smaller diameters than ever before.
Constructed from high-tech sounding materials like
Spectra and Dyneema, the unique composition and
advanced technology of modern super-lines offer
benefits and advantages that demand serious
consideration from any angler looking to catch more
fish. Simply put, braided line casts farther,
resists abrasion, and maintains performance over
time better than monofilament of comparable
test.
Sound too good to be true? Perhaps it is, as
many first time braid users quickly discover. Like
any high-performance gear, there are many
trade-offs to be considered. In fact, it is ironic
that many of the characteristics that make braid so
attractive at first glance can quickly have you
cussing on the water if you are not aware of and
prepared to deal with them.
For instance, the number one attribute of braid
is the fact that it stretches very little.
Regardless of how much line between fisherman and
halibut or how large of hook one attempts to bury
into the bony jaw of a trophy king salmon, braided
line simply transfers more energy on the hook-set.
In addition, minimal line stretch means more
sensitivity, and braided line fans claim they can
"feel more". Conversely, this seemingly wonderful
attribute comes with a heavy price: the forgiveness
of monofilament's generous line stretch is now
gone, and one must modify nearly every aspect of
their fish fighting technique, from their hook sets
to drag settings to the amount of pressure applied
on the fish during subsequent battles. Undoubtedly,
the margin of error is much narrower with today's
low-stretch braids. This point was painfully driven
home several years ago while guiding for trophy
Kenai kings. Out of nowhere, the G.Loomis SAR 1265
on the port side went off with a startling jolt,
braided line stripping effortlessly from the spool.
By the time my other guests had retrieved their
lines and stowed their rods, the hot fish had made
a charge back upstream and suddenly arrived
alongside my boat. Reeling like a man with one too
many double lattes under his belt, the angler
quickly tightened the line and momentarily gained
control. For a fraction of a second the huge salmon
thrashed his mighty head side to side at the waters
surface, creating a frothy spray and looking every
bit like Richard Dreyfuss' nightmare in the
original Jaws classic. Nowhere near ready to land,
and with perhaps 10 feet of line between the panic
stricken angler and his coveted prize, the still
green fish made a sharp dive under the boat,
loading the rod past its limits. I wheeled around
just in time to see my client's thumb lock down on
the spool, and a sharp "crack" rang out before my
pursed lips could form the simple word "No!"
Something had to give, and the sickening sound of a
graphite explosion ended the battle in a
millisecond. Oh, how I longed for my faithful
monofilament and its forgiving nature at that
moment!
Braided line tends to be very limp once broken
in, enabling it to pour off the spool and cast
farther. In addition, it has nearly zero memory,
making it ideal for spin fishermen who wish to use
larger tests (20-30 lb.) on their spinning reels.
However, these same attributes, namely limpness and
zero memory, can create a series of new problems:
wind knots occur more frequently and it tends to
annoyingly wrap around your rod tip. This problem
initially drove me batty when dunking eggs under a
Thill balsa float for silvers holding in still
water conditions. I repeatedly unwound pesky "tip
tangles" until I learned to keep just the slightest
bit of tension on my braided main line.
Another example of a braided line trade-off is
its incredible strength, an obvious plus for the
Alaskan angler searching for large. Trophy fish in
heavy current, snag filled areas, or other hostile
marine environments. Then again, this "strong
point" (pun intended) also has its flip-side: braid
is extremely difficult to break off when hung up,
creating the potential for broken rods, line cuts
and even lost digits if not careful! After nearly
losing a hand while trying to free a pet Kwikfish
on the lower Kenai, I quickly learned to wrap my 65
pound Fireline around my fish bonker rather than my
lower forearm! Bank anglers can safely free
hang-ups by wrapping the braid around the frame of
your level wind reel, pointing the rod directly at
the obstruction and walking backwards until free.
You will be amazed at how often you free the snag,
avoiding costly break-offs and the frustrating down
time of re-tying.
Another braided line quirk that must be noted is
its smooth and slick texture. This trait creates
yet another problem, as many standard fishing
knots, like the cinch or improved cinch, will
simply pull through when stressed, failing at the
most inopportune moments. If the angler is not
aware of this tendency and armed with the knowledge
of which knot (the venerable Palomar, by the way!)
works best, he or she will quickly abandon their
braided line venture, cursing it for the remainder
of their fishing career!
While there are other braided line pro's and
con's I may have neglected to mention, my point is
this: line choices are more complex than it
initially appears and, like so many other options
in fishing gear, compromises must be weighed. There
will likely always be fans of both mono and braided
lines, and the argument of which is best will
surely rage. One fact is indisputable, though: love
them or hate them, braided lines are here to stay!
Only you can choose whether they are right for you,
your fishery and your chosen technique. Weigh the
pros and cons, give braided lines a try and decide
for yourself!
-BRAIDED LINE TRADE OFFS-
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TRAIT
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PROS
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CONS
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No line stretch
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Positive hook sets
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Unforgiving
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Smaller diameter
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Less weight to reach bottom! More line
capacity
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Line tends to 'bury' into spool,
sometimes locking up reel
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Knot strength
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Very good
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Requires specialized knots
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Abrasion resistant
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Less retying
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Can cut into cheap eyelets
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Limp
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Casts farther
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Tends to wrap around rod tip
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Bird nests
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Less likely
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Difficult to pick out
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High-tech
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Lasts longer
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Costs more
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QUICK TIPS FOR FIRST TIME BRAID
USERS!
1) Always use 10-30 yards (one or two spool
layers) of mono backing to avoid slipping.
2) Lock down drag and spool as tightly as
possible to avoid backlashes, loops and burying
into your spool.
3) Master the Palomar knot for all your terminal
tackle needs.
4) Run a lighter drag to avoid broken rods and
pulled hooks, and keep your thumb off the spool
when fighting fish.
5) When freeing hang-ups, wrap line around reel
frame, fish club, or plier handles, point rod tip
at snag, and walk backwards until free.
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