THE line is the most important part of fishing because it connects you to the fish; it is also the cheapest bit of the outfit.
As a matter of course, coming into the holiday period, many anglers renew their fishing lines, particularly monofilament lines. Braid has longer life than mono, so change is not as critical. I have braid lines that are more than five years old, and they are still in good order.
First, establish whether it is necessary to change. There are several checks, and the first is to look out for fraying or nicks by running the line through your fingers. If you find it hard to detect abrasion this way, try feeling the line by running it through your lips.
When abrasions are detected, check rod guides for cracks or chipping, bail arm roller on spinning reels and level wind mechanism on overhead reels for grooving or fractures that can quickly destroy the line.
Even overexposure to sunlight and ultra violet rays, evidenced by fading, causes deterioration of monofilament line. Other reasons to change a line are because it is too low on spool, too old and poor knot strength.
When installing new line on your overhead reel, wind it firmly on the spool with the line coming directly off the line-holding spool.
For threadline reels, line should come off the side of the line spool in the opposite direction to the reel's spool rotation. This is done to eliminate line twist. For example, if the reel turns clockwise when viewed from the front, the line must come off the spool holding it in an anticlockwise direction. If it is coming off in the wrong direction, simply flip the spool over.
Preventative maintenance will increase the longevity of a line. Things like salt residue can cause problems. To maintain your line during the season, rinse it with fresh water, (without excessive pressure) preferably with warm such as under the shower.
For best casting performance, ensure your reel spool is filled to the right capacity. Excessive pressure when filling reel spools too tightly with monofilament can be disastrous. It can lead to spool distortion and spreading that can damage other reel components. The lighter the line the greater the problem.
When rigging up, lubricate knots with saliva before seating them properly to ensure the line does not burn or abrade itself during knot tying. Many knot failures can be contributed to slippage caused when the knot is not fully snagged and locked solid. If you doubt the strength of a knot, cut it off and re-tie. Test all knots by pulling on them before you put your rig in the water. It is better to suffer a break before you hook that catch of a lifetime.
Do not attempt to make a long cast on the first cast of the day. Dry line does not cast as well as wet line. Make a short controlled cast, hold the rod tip under the water and retrieve the line onto the reel.
- Steve Cooper can be heard on the Casting Off program on Radio Sport927 between 4.30am and 6.30am on Saturdays.
