Fishing line
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A fishing line is any flexible, high-tensile
.Fishing lines generally resemble a long, ultra-thin
Terminology
Longline fishing and trotlining are commercial fishing technique that uses many secondary lines with baited hooks hanging perpendicularly from a single main line.
Sections
Traditionally, only a single thread of line is used to connect the hook with the rod and reel. However, most modern angling setups use at least two sections of line (typically the mainline and the leader) joined with a
A typical modern angling setup can include the following line sections:
- Backing is the rearmost section of the fishing line and typically used only to "pad up" the spool of the fishing reel, in order to prevent unwanted slippage between the mainline and the (usually metallic and well polished) spool surface, increase the effective radius of the spooled line and hence the retrieval speed (i.e. inches per turn), and to shorten the "jump" distance during line release in spinning reels. The backing can also act as a line reserve in case a powerful fish that manages to overpower the drag mechanism of the reel and stretch out the entire length of the mainline.
- Mainline is the main section of the fishing line, and the portion that primarily interacts with the rod, line guides and reel. This is the section that handles most of the tensile stresswhen retrieving the line.
- Leader is the frontmost section of the fishing line that is attached to the hook/lure, and the portion that most likely will be in actual physical contact with the fish. Many larger, feistier circuitry), which will minimize loss and cost of repairs/replacements if the fish manages to overpower the angler's gear setup.
- Tippet or trace is used occasionally in fly fishing, and serves as a secondary leader that thread to the much smaller and delicate fly hooks.
History
Early lines
Leonard Mascall, in his book from 1596 titled "A Booke of fishing with Hooke and Line, and of all other instruments thereunto belonging". followed in many ways after Dame Juliana Berners, has an excerpt establishing silk worms in the area of England at that time:
..."In May, take the stone flye or Caddis worme, and the bobbe worme vnder the Cowtorde: also ye may take the silke worme, and the baite that breedeth on a Fearne leafe." ...
And another excerpt explaining compiling a silk leader-line for a catgut fly-line.
"...whippe it so faire as yee shall see good, then next your hooke at the bought put throw your silke or haire in going round about the hooke three times, then plucke first your silke or haire..."
So back then there was silk and horse hair used for angling.
As written in 1667 by Samuel Pepys, the fishing lines in his time were made from catgut.[3] Later, silk fishing lines were used around 1724.[4]
Modern lines
Modern fishing lines intended for spinning, spin cast, or bait casting reels are almost entirely made from artificial substances, including
Specialty lines
Fly lines consist of a tough braided or monofilament core, wrapped in a thick waterproof plastic sheath, often of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In the case of floating fly lines, the PVC sheath is usually embedded with many "microballoons", or air bubbles, and may also be impregnated with silicone or other lubricants to give buoyancy and reduce wear. In order to fill up the reel spool and ensure an adequate reserve in case of a run by a powerful fish, fly lines are usually attached to a secondary line at the butt section, called backing. Fly line backing is usually composed of braided dacron or gelspun monofilaments. All fly lines are equipped with a leader of monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing line, usually (but not always) tapered in diameter, and referred to by the "X-size" (0X, 2X, 4X, etc.) of its final tip section, or tippet. Tippet size is usually between 0X and 8X, where 0X is the thickest diameter, and 8X is the thinnest. There are exceptions to this, and tippet sizes do exist outside of the 0X–8X parameter.[5]
Tenkara lines are special lines used for the fixed-line fishing method of tenkara. Traditionally these are furled lines the same length as the tenkara rod. Although original to Japan, these lines are similar to the British tradition of furled leader. They consist of several strands being twisted together in decreasing numbers toward the tip of the line, thus creating a taper that allows the line to cast the fly. It serves the same purpose as the fly-line, to propel a fly forward. They may be tied of various materials, but most commonly are made of monofilament.
Wire lines are frequently used as leaders to prevent the fishing line from being severed by toothy fish. Usually braided from several metal strands, wire lines may be made of stainless steel, titanium, or a combination of metal alloys coated with plastic.
Stainless-steel line leaders provide:
- bite protection – it is extremely hard for fish to cut the steel wire, regardless of jaw and teeth strength and sharpness,
- abrasion resistance – sharp rocks and objects can damage other lines, while steel wire can cut through most of the materials,
- single-wire (single-strand) leaders are not as flexible as multi-strand steel wire, but are extremely strong and tough,
- multi-strand steel wire leaders are very flexible, but are somewhat more abrasive and more damage-prone than single-strand wires.
Titanium fishing leaders are actually titanium–nickel alloys that have several very important features:
- titanium leader lines are very flexible, regardless of whether they are single- or multi-strand lines/wires,
- these lines are very elastic – they can stretch up to 10% without permanent damage to the line itself – perfect for hook setting,
- these lines are knottable just as nylon monofilament lines,
- surface is rather hard and abrasion-resistant – great for fishing toothy fish,
- titanium wire is corrosion-resistant and can last for a long time, even surpassing stainless-steel wires,
- due to the strength and elasticity, titanium wires are almost entirely kink-proof.
Environmental impact
Discarded monofilament fishing line takes up to 600 years to decompose.[6] There have been several types of biodegradable fishing lines developed to minimize the impact on the environment.[7][8][9][10]
See also
- Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene
- Braided fishing line
- Fishing
- Fish hook
- Fluorocarbon
- Fly fishing
- Monofilament line
- Multifilament fishing line
External links
References
- ^ The World Book Encyclopedia Volume 7. Field Enterprises Educational Corp. 1968.
- ^ McNally, Bob (2 August 2019), How to Pick the Right Kind of Fishing Line, Outdoor World (published August 2, 2019)
- ^ The World Book Encyclopedia Volume 7. Field Enterprises Educational Corp. 1968.
- ^ The World Book Encyclopedia Volume 7. Field Enterprises Educational Corp. 1968.
- ^ Carter Reschke, "What Tippet Size to Use". Archived 2018-10-25 at the Wayback Machine, Fly Fever Magazine, October 24, 2018.
- ^ "Approximate Time it Takes for Garbage to Decompose in the Environment" (PDF). NH Department of Environmental Services. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- Field and StreamRetrieved March 15, 2017
- ^ New Fishing Line Safer for Environment Archived 2018-12-01 at the Wayback Machine The Daily Comet Retrieved March 15, 2017
- ^ fishing line kicks goals in Australia sea breeze.com.au
- ^ Bird, Levi Environmentally-Friendly Biodegradable Fishing Line Archived 2016-03-09 at the Wayback Machine chum-bucket.com Retrieved March 15, 2017