When we were much younger, everything seemed to be so much easier when we wanted to fish. All we really cared about was having the pup travelling along with us, any rod would do and the little two-tray tackle box. We didn’t need much, hooks and sinkers did it for us. We didn’t really pay much attention to what we were using for line and regardless, we felt that we caught the best fish! Today, look around and see how many rods and reels you now own and check out how many different types of line you now have stashed away in the closet.

As a youngster, you’d have never believed that a day of fishing would involve choosing from three varieties of line, all with different uses and a variety of sizes. It would have never occurred to you to weigh the value of each line against the type of fishing you had planned you’d simply grab what you had and head off. Let’s take a look at the three categories that fishing line falls into and determine what works best for your needs.

Since monofilament line is the most common, we’ll discuss this type of line first. Monofilament is inexpensive, strong and remains the most used fishing line on the market. Since it’s somewhat pliable, and stretches if it’s under tension, monofilament line is great if you find yourself with an aggressive fish on your line.

Monofilament is not without its problems. The coils of monofilament tend to get coils in them that are remembered when you spiral off your spool and cast. This can create knots in the wrong places at the wrong times. Other issues are created by the stretch that’s available in the line – stop and think what could happen if you’re trying to pull a large fish out of a thick of weeds or preventing that oversized catch from sneaking off between some rocks – monofilament won’t be a big help in these cases.

These problems are why braided line can be so handy. This fishing line is made from braided miniscule synthetic fibers. Unlike monofilament line, it does not have the memory problem nearly as bad, and is extremely strong for how thin it is. A 30-lb braided line usually has the diameter of an 8 lb. monofilament line, making it feasible to fill a small trout or bass-sized reel spool with 20 or 30 lb. test. Braided line isn’t without its drawbacks however, including little abrasion resistance and high visibility. You should fish with this line only when using a non-visible leader.

Fluorocarbon solves many of braided line’s problems. It is much like monofilament line, and is nearly invisible underwater. It is excellent in shallow water where fish spook easy, and is effective in clear and deep water where light penetration is great. Fluorocarbon is very resistant to abrasion, and is used to make leaders. When it was first introduced, Fluoro was viewed negatively because it was somewhat rigid, making spooling and casting more complex. However, technology has offered fluorocarbon line much advancement since that time, and it is now a very popular and dependable product.

Regardless of what type of fishing you are doing, you will find the right line to make your experience fun and exciting. Remember, that the right line can make a difference between the numbers of fish you bring home at the end of the day. While fishing might have been a lot easier when we were young, familiarizing ourselves with the tools that allow us to keep bringing home bigger and better fish makes it even more exciting. Combine your knowledge of lines with your knowledge of lures and while it may not seem like it’s as easy as it used to be, fishing is still an exciting adventure regardless of your age. Sure, it may not be easier, but your increased knowledge and wisdom make it more fun and even more productive.

There are many different fishing supplies out on the market today. Some of the most popular supplies include: Daiwa BG90, Shimano Calcutta Fishing Reels, and Daiwa Fishing Rods.