Fishing is all about the strength of the line which is being used. The strength of the fishing line is the measure of weight in pounds that can cause the line to break after a specific force of the weight is applied. This simply means that a 6lb tested fishing line cannot catch a fish that weighs about 10lb, the line for a fishing rod will simply break.
Now, it all falls on the size of the fish which you are trying to catch; that is where the drag and the technique you use to catch the fish come in, which related to the size of fish.
The method is also an essential factor that decides the energy used to catch the fish, the bigger it is, the more energy you will need to offer.
Fishing line is something that is very much hectic to purchase but is readily available at the sports store. Buying one physically can be more accessible for people, but when it comes to the online store, there is a lot of stuff you need to look after when purchasing the fishing rod.
Even if you miss a singular detail, it will cause the fishing rod to be useless for you. In case you ever got something, which is not that strong physically, then it will easily break.
But if you got something that is on the heavy side, then the chances of catching a fish are reduced specifically. Here is an article related to fishing line strength which will help you in understanding the whole concept effortlessly.
What does lb. Test mean?
So, when getting started with fishing or specifically the fishing line, you need to understand every detail on the lb. or pounds, that is why a test for weight measurement has been made called a pound test.
This test is specifically in pound and lb. term because the weight measurement for the fishing line is measured in lb. or pound.
This weight is actually the one that applies to the force on the fishing line, for it to break permanently. For your convenience, imagine there is a 4 lb. tested weight fishing line, but the weight of the fish you are trying to catch is weighed about 10 lb.
So, what do you expect? The fishing line will probably break when you try to catch that 10-pound fish with a 4-pound tested fishing line.
The most critical thing here is that when trying to catch a fish, your fishing line breaks. The fish will then try to run away, causing you to lose your prey permanently. The pressure that fish applies on the fishing line will also cause the weight of fish to dominate the fishing line capacity, causing the line to break.
So, be most careful when that surge of energy is provided in a second by the fish because it will inevitably cause your fishing line to break. That is why always try to get that fishing line that can handle more than the desired fish weight you want to catch.
What is Drag?
Drag is basically present on the fishing reel, which is rare on the older fishing rods, but on the latest ones or the most expensive or premium ones, it is always present.
Drag is a must if you are trying to catch a much massive fish because they cause you to use strength much more than usual.
Well, Drag is automatic reel adjustment, which applies the force when pressure is applied on the fishing line. The Drag can be found on top of the fishing reel and will turn itself both clockwise and anti-clockwise, depending on the usage.
The reel will tighten whenever it rotates clockwise, and whenever it turns anti-clockwise, the reel will loosen. Both of these have their own purpose; for instance, when the reel will loosen, less force applies on the reed to let that line out.
The transition is smoothened. When it is tightened, the working is basically reverse and will allow the reel to become stronger and will have more grip.
So, it is not so hard to know that the drag is super beneficial where you will have to catch the fish, which is more on the weight side or is generally more significant.
Speaking of weight, you can also catch the fish, which is more than the lb. test due to the drag being offered on the fishing reel.
Instead of snapping the own fishing line, the drag will slowly give a bit it, and then when the surge time is over, you can use the fishing reel as a normal one.
Different types of Fishing line:
There are three types of lines you need to be aware of when it comes to the fishing line. These lines differentiate from one another and help you understand which one will work out for you beneficially.
- Mono:
Mono or the Monofilament lines is physically a single-stranded material which can be Nylon or the mixture of multiple strands packed together in one.
Mono is considered the most common one when it comes to the fishing lines. The beginners, who don’t know about the fishing lines or the fishing, usually focus on these types of lines called Monofilament or popularly Mono.
These types of lines are present since the early ’30s; they are not so high tech and considered the “jack of all trades.” Being useful or not, they are still the most popular ones out there.
Believe me or not, the monofilaments are the cheapest and are considered the easiest to use. They are also very smooth to use and can still hold their knots incredibly. The amount of memory in the Monofilaments are meager and will surely be best for backlashes.
- Fluorocarbon:
Just like the name Fluro, this type of line is made up of organic components concerning the fluorine, carbon, and chlorine. Many other synthetics are made from the hydrocarbons.
It is the single-stranded line just like the mono, but the main difference here is that it is much denser and more substantial than the mono.
The main benefit you will have here is that it will sink in faster and be much more visible in the water when you are trying to catch fish.
Fluorocarbon is from way back 70’s which is also old but not as much compared to the mono. When it was introduced, it was not that famous and was considered much stiffer and harder to use.
On the benefit side, it is abrasion-resistant and is visible as compared to other lines. The overall life of this line is also much more than the mono; it can also be stretched but not normally.
Under extreme conditions only, it will extend. Overall, they are considered much sensitive but are stealthy to use. The lousy aspect here is that it is costly in the fishing line category, not made for real beginners.
- Braid:
Just like the name suggests, these types of lines are in the braided form, several polyethylene lines like Dacron, Dyneema and Spectra are braided in a singular line. This means that these types of lines are much more durable and harder than the other lines.
They are usually made for the heavier fishes that are why the lb. test for the braided line is much more as compared to other ones. The fantastic thing is that they don’t know themselves weight much; they are on the lighter side.
The strands used for making Braid are from nearly four to even sixteen; when the number of strands is less, there is more abrasion resistance, and the higher strand quantity means that there is the braid, which is thinner.
There is basically no memory on the braids. Therefore it will flow freely without even a kink. The unfortunate aspect is that there is no stretch, and there is least shock strength.
You can tie knots, but there is difficulty in them, being very powerful and thin can cause the equipment to be damaged. When you need to cut it down because of its backlash problem, there is no recycling for this material, which is a much expensive choice for people but surely a low profile.
Fishing Line Size Chart:
Here is a chart that is meant for you to know which type of lb. line test is intended for which fish type.
| Lb. line test limit (Heavy to Light) | Type of Fish |
| 30lb and above | Tuna, Shark, Marling, and larger fishes |
| 16-25 lb | Redfish, Salmon, and Stripers |
| 14-20 lb | Sea Trout, Sea Bass, and Flounder |
| 8-14 lb | Catfish, carp, pike, and Stripers |
| 6- 12 lb | Catfish, Smaller Salmon, Walleye and Large Mouth Bass |
| 2-4 lb | Trout, Bluegill, Panfish, and Small Mouth Bass |
Is one Type Better than the other?
The answer to this question is no. Because one type of line is not better than the other, it all depends on the usage and priorities. Just like the Mono is better for the beginners but for the professionals who are looking for something worth challenging, they might go for the braided ones.
Well, it usually depends on the weight of the fish and the type of environment in which you are fishing. When the weight of fish is much on the heavy side, you will need to have a much more reliable line that has less stretch and memory, which in case you are looking to catch something smaller and agile, you will need something that has stretch and comes with memory.
But it doesn’t mean that braided ones are better than the mono ones. They both have their own usage and reliability points. There is memory and stretching feature on the mono ones, and none of them are on the braided ones.
But for the larger fishes, you will have to use the braided lines because they can endure much weight as compared to other types of lines.
In case you are looking for something stealthy, then going for 20 to 30-yard lines is the best choice for braided ones. The Fluoro and mono are not so thin but are much clear as compared to the braided ones. Thus, the fishes can see them.
What to look for when choosing Fishing Line:
This is the most crucial point of this article because there are many types of fishing line, so what would be the main factor which can cause you to know which is best for you. Here we have provided you with a guide through which you can clearly identify which one to stick with.
- Line Strength:
Well, the strength of the fishing line is also called as lb—test or pound test. So, what actually does this weight test does? It is essential to notice that when you are catching a fish, it has its weight, which can sometimes dominate the fishing line weight limit causing it to break.
So, when looking for purchasing a fishing line, the primary thing is to notice the line strength, which can allow you to catch even the larger fishes.
For example, when you are fishing with a line that has 10 lb. limit, and then then the fish weight you are hunting is 16 lb. the fishing line will probably break, causing you to lose the prey also.
As trout is the most popular fish to be looked after when going fishing, the average weight of that fish is 4 pounds. Hence, get a Fishing line with a 4-pound test.
The rule of thumb here is that the lightest gear should be used along with the fishing line so that you don’t get tired because of the weight of equipment. All in one, a line with more line strength should be used along with lighter gear.
- Material:
Now it comes to the material which is used in the fishing line. Primarily there is Nylon which is the most popular, oldest, and most commonly used material inside fish lines. It has a balance between the strength, the abrasion resistance, and the strength.
The Dacron is the long-chain polyester, which is much more durable, flexible than the Nylon but has less stretchability.
The next one is the Dyneema and the Spectra, which are the latest ones and are considered the Strongest polyethylene fiber used inside the fishing lines.
Even for comparison, it is said that they are more reliable than steel and much more durable while lighter. It also floats on the water, providing you much visibility and ease of use.
Our recommendation for the fishing line is Dyneema and the Spectra because they are less in weight while providing the strongest resistance for weight.
- Stretching of Line:
When it comes to the fishing line’s stretch, there is more sensitivity for the fish. So, there is much for fish catching chances. The only problem here is that the line stretchability is desirable because of its ability as a shock absorber.
- Memory:
Memory is the ability of the fishing line to maintain the shape after the proper deformation. So, when we say that the memory of line is much, it means that it will retain its shape even after the loop, wound, or deformation.
Some lines have no memory, so in this case, they stay straight even after use. Hence, they will have less friction on the reels and the guides, resulting in much smooth cast.
Strongest Fishing Line:
To be honest, the strongest on the market is the braided fishing line, which is made by braiding fibers of Spectra or Dyneema into a single line. These lines are stable and robust, which comes with much more abrasion resistance than other fishing lines.
Only fishes with special kinds of teeth can cut it like the muskie or the pike fish etc. The biggest problem you will ever face in this braided fishing line is the knot.
The surface of these lines is very slippery, and it can automatically undo the knot due to slipperiness. So, using a Palomar knot is the easiest and the most efficient way to tie knots in case of braided lines.
Braided lines are also very much visible on the water. That is why fishermen hate it when there is clear water around for fishing. The visibility is also dangerous because it will spook them and cause them to run away.
When it comes to cutting the braided lines, it is very tough to do because of their strength and toughness. There are special scissors called carry scissors, which can cut them only because of their slipperiness. While the clippers are very much proven useless in case of braided lines.
On the other side, there is a sound when the line on the fishing rod reel is tightened or loosen. The sound is much visible when there is a fish drag.
The good thing here is that due to the friction, there is no effect on the quality and the material of the braided line. It remains merely as it is due to the strength.
Altogether the braided lines are best for fishing in heavy water where there are lily pads, cattails, hydrilla, and cattails. The braided lines will simply cut through the plants while keeping the fish tangles inside the fishing line and not allowing them to escape.
Hence, for strength and toughness, they are best but not best for everything.
What pound fishing line to use?
In the last term, the fishing line is something worth noting when it comes to fishing. The weight of the fishing line is something that is considered the most critical factor everywhere.
The weight of the fish line is measured in pounds or lbs, that is why there is a special test made to measure the weight of the fishing line called lb. test or pound test. This test measures how much weight the fishing line can take before breaking permanently.
So, when it comes to choosing the best weight, you cannot specifically point at a simple weight limit. Every weight limit has its own pros and cons and is made specifically for a particular purpose.
So, it is essential to know which type of fish you are catching and which species it belongs to, not to forget, the weight of that fish specifically.
For example, when it comes to weight eight to twelve-pound test line is best known for catching the bass fish. But depending on the wish, you can even go lower from six to seven pounds, that is why you can use the mono or the fluorocarbon lines.
The larger ones like the pike or the musky are from fifteen to forty pounds test. For these larger ones, braided fishing line is considered best.
Conclusion: Fishing Line Strength and Types
There is no “best fishing line” definitively. Each style of fishing line has its advantage and drawback, and the scenario they are best defined in.
When you are going for the clean water fishing, then a mono is considered the best ones, you can also use fluorocarbon to keep the things beefy while in case you are looking for light fishing then braid is your choice.
Hence, choosing the best fishing line is all about personal preference. Every person has its style of fishing, and typing each type separately can let you chose the best one for your self.
This article is all about the strength of the fishing line, and we have provided each detail about the fishing line for you to understand the concept easily.
FAQ’s
Which weight limit can a fishing line endure?
There is a test that defines the limit of that fishing line. This test is called as pound test or lb. test. Outside the test limit, line will break, so the fishing lines are produced from the limit of two to even 400 lbs. or pounds.
Is the fishing line more durable and stronger than the strings?
Yes, they are stronger and much durable than the strings. There is an angler factor that defines the strength of that fishing line concerning the environment or knot strength, UV resistance, and abrasion resistance, etc.
What size fish can I catch on the 10lb line?
You can catch fishes like the bass, walleye, catfish, and even pen fish that are caught even with the 8lb fishing line.
What does the LB. mean when looking for a Fishing line?
LB. is usually the pound test when you look out for the fishing line. They are also called the line test, which deals with the strength of the fishing line. This is the limit a particular fishing line can endure before breaking.
Concerning fishing, which color is best known for the fishing line?
Camouflage color is the best known for fishing because of its green color, which blends perfectly with its surroundings and is considered the best choice for anglers who are always looking for catching fish silently. But in case of clear water, camouflage is not a good color; here, the best would be green.