Line System

Ultimately sensitive line system

Recent innovation of Poly-Ethylene braid line (PE line, Spectra(R), Dyneema(R) line) has brought us more sensitivity. However, the line is not perfect itself. It breaks easily because it is slippery, doesn't absorb shock and has less resistance to abrasion than mono-line. If you want the sensitivity and strength, here is the ultimate line system available today. (Please see how to choose PE Braid line for more details)

Why sensitivity? If you could feel a fish chasing your lure but she didn't bite on it, you may catch her by changing something. If you could feel on which hook is she on, you may increase the number of catch. With super sensitivity your fishing is more interesting, and it is possible with braid line. It's not only about to feel fish bite on your hook, but more than that.

Where does sensitivity come from? Regarding to the line, less stretch equals more sensitivity. PE braid line has only 4% stretch, and nylon has 20-40%. The difference immediately affect the sensitivity. However, less stretch also means less shock resistance. Braid line will break easily when it receive impact, like hooking a jig on big bass with heavy action rod. We need some stretch to prevent shock break.

Another advantage of PE braid line is its non-memory character and casting distance achieved by the less friction with line guides. Especially with spinning reels, coils reduces casting distance significantly when it comes to more than 6 lb. PE braid line has very small diameter for its strength and you may increase the casting distance with even larger lb-test braid lines.

Ultimate line system with PE braid (spectra) line has

1) Super sensitivity of PE line but absorb some shocks to prevent break

2) Resistance to abrasion of nylon or flourocarbon line

3) Great strength as total.

By using mono leader, we can satisfy two challenges on braid line, shock absorption and abrasion resistance. We may achieve higher abrasion resistance with thicker leader, knot is another challenge for PE braid line.

Here are details of the line system.

Old system	Spinning 6-8 lb nylon	Casting 12-20 lb nylon
Main line	PE 10-20 lb	PE 20-40 lb
Leader	Nylon 12-16 lb 3-5ft	Nylon 16-40 lb 3-5ft

The reason I choose nylon as leader is that I want to use top water plugs also. Fluorocarbon leader is also fine, but it sinks very fast. (see the detail material explanation at the end)

PE braid lines need innovative knot because they are very slippery, and weak when compressed. I strongly recommend friction knot system like Bimini twist and SIG knot. With traditional knot, like clinch knot or uni-knot they easily break(slip) before expected strength, at about 50-65%. The line-to-line knot for braid line is another challenge. Traditional knots are almost useless. Brad knot and double Uni-knot are famous for its weakness, 65% with mono-line. Its strength with braid line is even worse. Albright knot will easily slip with shocks if you use high-quality mono-line.

With friction knot system, lines will not be tied, but has a lot of friction surface to be fasten. These systems have been used mainly for offshore big games. SIG knot is recently invented by Mr.SIG, an avid offshore and bay area sea bass fisherman. These knots are a little complicated, and will take some time to learn. Another advantage of these knots are they are very small, and has less friction with recent Fuji concept guides. I recommend this system mainly for hard baits and jigs. If you don't want tie these friction knots on boat, please use less lb-test leader line than braid main line, or use less effective knot for tying leader and lure. Uni-knot and clinch knot will break at about 85% with mono-line, and you can use it as fuse.

Which braid line recommended? Braid line with hard coating reduces the advantages of PE braid line with this line system. The hard coat may add abrasion resistance and knot strength, but it reduces sensitivity because of memory (perm). Adding to this, the coating adds thickness to the line, and reduces the casting distance. The less coating, the better. Fireline? I used to use it, but no longer. PowerPro? This is the only braid I can purchase around here, but the hard coated line makes little vibration at rod tip and it destroys the ultimate sensitivity.

How to make friction knot?: Bimini twist at the end of PE main line to make a loop. Then tie the leader and the loop with SIG knot.

Here is the details of popular lines.

	Monofilament Nylon line	Fluorocarbon line	Poly Ethylene line (PE) (Spectra, Dyneema)
Available brands	Stren, Trilene, Ande	P-Line, X-Tex, Toray, Seaguar	Spider Wire, Power Pro, Fireline
Weight ratio: Water = 1.0	1.15 Sink slowly	1.78 Sink very fast	0.97 Float
Refractive index(*1: Water = 1.33	1.52-1.63	1.42	1.54(*2
Resistance to abrasion	Good	Fair(*3	Fair
Strength set Nylon as 1	1	1	3-4
Strength at knot	Good	Very good	Fair
Stiffness	Soft	Hard(*4	Very soft(*5
Stretch before break	20-45%	17-37%(*6	4%
Absorb water (weight)	8-10%	0.01%	0
Damage from Ultraviolet rays	High	Close to 0	Close to 0

(*1 If the index is close to 1.33, it is hard to be seen in water

(*2 PE line are composed of fine filaments, and as a line it is opaque

(*3 Well designed Fluorocarbon lines are coated with abrasion resistant material

(*4 Well designed lines have hybrid construction to have softer body

(*5 Most lines are coated to have harder body

(*6 Fluorocarbon has less stretch at low tension