03Line

Line

Your line is the only connection between you and the lure. The three common lure fishing lines, braid, mono and fluorocarbon, have very different properties and are often used together.

ATypes

Three Kinds of Line

Braided PE

Braid (PE)

Braided from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers, usually 4 or 8 strands (X4 / X8), sometimes 12 or more

Strength per diameter5/5

Abrasion resistance1/5

Stretch1/5

Sinking1/5

Stealth underwater1/5

Handling4/5

Pros

Highest strength for its diameter, so thinner line casts farther
Almost no stretch: extremely sensitive, and hooksets carry power even at long range
Supple, no memory, doesn't absorb water

Cons

Poor abrasion resistance; rocks, shells and teeth cut it easily
Opaque and easy to see in clear water
Low knot strength; needs specific knots
Wind bows it easily, and it tends to wrap around the tip guide

Common uses: First choice for spinning reel main line (with a leader); tied direct for frogs, punching and other heavy cover

Nylon Monofilament

Mono

Polyamide (nylon) monofilament

Strength per diameter2/5

Abrasion resistance3/5

Stretch4/5

Sinking2/5

Stealth underwater3/5

Handling5/5

Pros

Cheap, supple, easy to handle, high knot strength
Stretchy, absorbs shock well, so trebles pull free less often
Density close to water, sinks slowly; good for topwaters

Cons

Stretch reduces sensitivity and hookset power at long range
Absorbs water and degrades in UV; replace it regularly

Common uses: Beginners, topwaters, crankbaits; stocked ponds

Fluorocarbon

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) monofilament

Strength per diameter2/5

Abrasion resistance5/5

Stretch3/5

Sinking5/5

Stealth underwater4/5

Handling2/5

Pros

Good abrasion resistance; ideal around cover and as leader
Refractive index close to water, so it's relatively hard to see underwater
Dense and sinks, helping bottom baits and deep divers
Doesn't absorb water, UV resistant

Cons

Stiff with memory; heavier sizes tend to spring off spinning reels in loose coils
Wet knots well before cinching, or friction heat will weaken the line

Common uses: Straight fluoro on baitcasters (bottom plastics, crankbaits, Texas rigs); leader for braid

Scores are relative, to help you understand the trade-offs.

	PE	Mono	Fluorocarbon
Specific gravity	0.97 (floats)	1.14 (sinks slowly)	1.78 (sinks)
Stretch	~3–5% (almost no stretch)	High (often over 20% stretch at break)	Medium (less than mono)
Refractive index	Opaque	~1.53	~1.42, close to water's 1.33
Water absorption	None	Absorbs water; strength drops slightly	Almost none
Price	Higher	Low	Medium to high

FIG.1Specific gravity: whether line floats or sinks

Specific gravity affects how deep a lure works: pair topwaters with braid or mono, which float and won't pull the nose down; pair bottom plastics and deep crankbaits with fluorocarbon, which sinks and helps the bait reach the bottom and dive deeper.

BSize

Go Size & Pound Test

China and Japan usually size line by “go” (号), a diameter standard, while the US and Europe use “lb (pound test)” for strength. For mono and fluorocarbon, #1 has a standard diameter of 0.165 mm; braid go sizes are based on weight per unit length (denier), so at the same go size it's close to mono in diameter but much stronger.

TOOLLine Size Converter

Standard diameter (mono basis)

0.165mm

Approx. strength

18–22lb

Equals about

8.2–10.0kg

Mono / fluoro pound test uses the common “go × 4 ≈ lb” rule; braid strength varies a lot by strand count and brand, so the common range for 8-strand is shown.

Go	Std. diameter mm	Mono / fluoro ≈ lb	PE (8-strand) ≈ lb
0.4	0.104	1.5	8–10
0.6	0.128	2.5	12–14
0.8	0.148	3	14–17
1	0.165	4	18–22
1.2	0.185	5	22–25
1.5	0.205	6	25–30
2	0.235	8	30–35
2.5	0.260	10	35–40
3	0.285	12	40–50
4	0.330	16	50–60
5	0.370	20	60–80
6	0.405	22	70–90
8	0.470	30	90–110

1 lb = 0.4536 kg (e.g. 12 lb ≈ 5.4 kg, 5 kg ≈ 11.0 lb). Go by the strength on the package; lines of the same go size from different brands can differ in strength by 20% or more.

CLeader

Leader

Braided main line has poor abrasion resistance, is opaque and has almost no stretch, so you usually tie a fluorocarbon (or mono) leader to the end:

Purpose: abrasion resistance (rocks, shells, teeth), less visibility underwater, and a little shock absorption.
Length: in fresh water usually about 0.5–1.5 m (one to two arm spans); longer around heavy cover or in clear water.
Strength: the leader is usually about as strong as the braid or a bit weaker, e.g. PE #1.0 with 12–16 lb fluoro; if you snag, the leader breaks and you save the more expensive braid.
Exceptions: for frogging snakehead, punching and other heavy cover, heavy braid is often tied direct with no leader, using its strength to cut through weed stems.

Common combos

Spinning: PE #0.8–1.2 + 8–16 lb fluoro leader.
Baitcaster: straight 10–16 lb fluoro (soft plastics, crankbaits); or PE #1.5–3 + leader (long casts, hard baits); for frogs, straight PE #4–8.

DKnots

Essential Knots

Knot	Use	Notes
FG knot	Braided main line ↔ fluoro / mono leader	Slim, smooth and strong; passes through guides easily. Weave the braid around the leader about 15–20 times, then finish with half hitches. Takes practice.
Double uni knot	Braid ↔ leader / line to line	Easy to learn and quick to tie on the water. Use more wraps on the braid side (about 8–10). Not as strong as an FG knot.
Palomar knot	Line ↔ hook, snap, swivel	Strong, simple and reliable, works with braid too; the standard knot for tying on a drop-shot hook.
Improved clinch knot	Mono / fluoro ↔ hook, snap	The most common hook knot, with 5–7 wraps; use fewer wraps on heavier line. Not recommended for braid.
Non-slip loop knot Non-slip Loop	Line ↔ hard bait (without a snap)	Leaves a small fixed loop at the lure's line tie so the lure can swing more freely.

Always wet the knot with saliva or water before cinching, especially with fluorocarbon, or friction heat will greatly reduce its strength.
After every big fish or snag, check the last 30–50 cm of the leader for abrasion; if it's frayed, cut it off and retie.
Replace mono every season; braid can be reversed on the spool (swapping ends) to extend its life.