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Braided
Fishing Line
Braided lines consist of intertwined strands of
material, technically making them a multifilament product. Today that
material is Dacron, gel-spun polyethylene fiber, or aramid fiber.
Braided line was once synonymous with Dacron, and before the discovery
of nylon it was a primary line for fishing. However, nylon monofilament
proved to be so superior to braided Dacron (which possessed poor knot
strength, low abrasion resistance, and little stretch) that Dacron
nearly disappeared in fishing, and today it has an infinitesimally small
niche in the marketplace. It remains in use primarily as a backing
material on fly reels; for a very few anglers, it is used as a big-game
trolling product or a baitcasting reel product.
In the early 1990s, braided lines made from high-tech fibers became
available. Because these lines featured great strength with small
diameter, and because the fiber and no-stretch characteristics enhanced
sensitivity, they became known as "super lines" or
"microfilaments." Also called performance lines,
microfilaments are braided from gel-spun polyethylene fiber (different
grades or generations of Spectra, Dyneema, or Tekmillon) or from aramid
fiber (Kevlar). The synthetic fiber itself, which is 10 times stronger
than steel, has been used in industrial, aerospace, and military
applications, and is incredibly strong yet very thin. Individual strands
of fiber are married through an intricate, time-consuming, and costly
braiding process. The result is an ultra thin, super strong, and very
sensitive line.
Dyneema
is a trademark of DSM High Performance Fibers BV. Spectra is a trademark
of AlliedSignal, Inc. Dacron is, of course, Dupont.
The line on
the Duck
I use 130 lb test Sufix Dyneema Herculine, because it fits the bowsies well, and 100
yards, enough for the rest of my life, cost about $25. (If I had originally gone
with the smaller bowsies I could have easily used a smaller lighter line.) I
like the way I can make neat loops that I can thread through various
fairleads where knots would never go.
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01/09/2006 |
