Line strength and diameter

[steve2]

Quote from another post

Myself and my friendly local tackle dealer tested the full range with a micrometer on a wet afternoon, with nothing better to do, and they are all around 0.02 higher than the stated diameter so 0.15mm is actually 0.17mm so the stated breaking strain for each diameter tends to be accurate.

This must be the equivalent to watching grass grow or paint dry. Does it really matter if any line under or over stated. Never bothered me in all my years of fishing. Does anyone do this or done this?

 

[Philip]

I think the Tackle Box did / do quite a comprehensive breakdown of stated V actual diameter and breaking strain although it tends to be for specialist rather than match lines.

I do like to know what my line breaks at in reality rather than whats written on the spool.

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

Yes, always whenever I buy a new line. There aren't many that are accurate and honest about the diameter because they either want you to think they're thinner if you're a matchman, or they want you to think they're stronger and more abrasive resistant if you're a carper.

Preston tend to be as John says, about 0.02mm thicker in diameter than is stated on the spool and I raised this with them once. They said it must have been a rogue batch that got through, but it's the same on almost all of their stock. However, I do still like it and do still use it particularly for hooklinks, but at least I am fully aware of what I have bought.

Fox have in the past sold their 12lbs line and claimed how strong it was for a 12lbs line. No wonder because the diameter suggests (on one spool I have) that it is really 18lbs line compared with many other brands. They're not alone either, ESP, Korda, and Shimano have also done the same.

Know what you're buying, but if you are happy with it, fairy nuff.

 

[108831]

I've stated this before,I use a line called awa shima reflector line for my barbelling,it stated it was 18.6lb breaking strain,it broke at around 12-12.5lb,which was slightly heavier than I wanted,but it's diameter was around 0.28mm,it's very abrasion resistant,lays and casts well,so I'm sold,but because it doesn't fit within weights and measures limits,it now cannot be sold in the UK,I bought my last batch from Bulgaria or Poland,it is dearer now than when it was available in the UK. But to answer the original post,I'm not so fussed,I use silstar matchteam,mainly for hooklinks,I used to fish 2.6lb and 3.3lb for most of my fishing,now I never use under 3.3lb and rarely that low,finding I'm still getting bites on 4.6lb or heavier,that's small fish,big fish,whatever,summer or winter,it was proved to me by a mate who used to fish for chub on the Ivel with maggot,he used 7.9lb line straight through,caught as well as anyone else,he caught roach to 2.6,chub to 6.10,perch to nearly 4 I believe and barbel to over 14lbs,i started to doubt the virtues of really light lines,this applies more to pleasure fishing rather than matches.

 

[Notts Michael.]

When I first started fishing with rod and reel, I foolishly bought some 'Caperlan' Decathlon's own brand of line, but out of interest, decided to test it's strength with a spring balance, it consistently broke at about two thirds of the stated B/S so I didn't use it, and got some Daiwa sensor to use instead.

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

I use a line called awa shima reflector line for my barbelling,it stated it was 18.6lb breaking strain,it broke at around 12-12.5lb,which was slightly heavier than I wanted,but it's diameter was around 0.28mm,

With a diameter of 0.28mm I would normally expect that to have a minimum BS of 10lbs, no less, so if you say it broke at 12+lbs I'd say that's maybe right. Wet knot strength, used to be quoted years ago, might be less at around 10lbs. I'd have no problem buying that line with those specs.

Daiwa do one that used to quote IGFA rules and with that it MUST break at within 10% of a stated BS. So a 10lbs line MUST break at a maximum 11lbs. I think that's still the case.

 

[steve2]

I have used Caperlan line and braid without any problem and also used the free line that sometimes comes with magazines, so I am not a good judge of lines. But then I was bought up in the era of PDQ line.
Recently found a 500m spool of Sylcast line in the shed does anyone still use it. I remember using a black Sylcast line in the 70's. How old this spool is I have no idea but it spooled up well.

 

[john step]

I have used Caperlan line and braid without any problem and also used the free line that sometimes comes with magazines, so I am not a good judge of lines. But then I was bought up in the era of PDQ line.
Recently found a 500m spool of Sylcast line in the shed does anyone still use it. I remember using a black Sylcast line in the 70's. How old this spool is I have no idea but it spooled up well.

I remember PDQ. That must be the 60s. I keep my bulk lines in the dark in a wooden box in my garage which is internal and a constant temp. I recently found a bulk spool of Blue Fin at 2lb bs. which was a Veals of Bristol own brand. Its in perfect condition still. A terrific line which I have started to re- use for silvers hooklinks.

 

[wetthrough]

I always measure and test line. I just like to know what I'm using. It's probably more important if you're using main and hooklength from different manufacturers as they all seem to have their own ideas about measuring breaking strain. Using the rated BS you might think you could use 4lb Daiwa Sensor for hook length and 6lb Shimano Super Match for main but in reality the BS is very close as is the diameter.

 

[108831]

The awa shims reflector line I use breaks at as I say 12/12.5lbs,I use 10lb drennan super specialist line for hooklengths,now this is a tough old line,it's why I use it as hooklink material for barbel,however it will always break before the mainline.

 

[barbelboi]

I've been using ProGold for a great many years now for just about everything other than trotting. I know that the b/s is understated and if I want 12lb b/s for hit and hold/snag fishing for barbel I use 10lb b/s and know I've got what I want..............

 

[Philip]

As an aside I have noticed on the continent anglers speaking about their setups tend to talk line diameter rather than line breaking strain which on reflection does make a allot of sense.

 

[bennygesserit]

I nearly started a very similar thread the new hooklengths mention the diameter only I want to know the breaking strain
Other than a canal when would you ever go below .20 which these days can be 5 + LBs breaking strain

 

[barbelboi]

I regularly use .09mm reflo hook lengths for still water roach/crucians and often for trotting for roach/dace.

 

[S-Kippy]

It took me a while but I've got me head round diameters now so I'm far less likely to be concerned about bs anymore. I have certain brands that I know and trust (like PG) but I do play around with lines now and again. Been trying some Matrix stuff lately which ( so far) seems pretty good. The 0.23 diameter claims to be 10lb bs...whether it is or not I dont really care as its about the same diameter as what I was using which was ( allegedly) 6lb bs. In theory I've "won" an extra 4lb margin but if its only half that I'm still in front.

I get a bit more pernickety about lower bs/smaller diameter lines but I've got a couple that I trust and which behave well. As a general benchmark I know that 0.20 is roughly 4lb bs bog standard mono and work up/down from there depending on what I'm after and how I'm intending to go about catching them.

 

[Richox12]

I do take notice of what the line is supposed to be. I stick with one range when having & using a selection of lower diameter (say 0.07mm - 0.18mm) hooklength material. That way I 'know' where I am rather than having a mish-mash of different types and brands in various diameters as that would be useless and misleading. Even if my selected brand/range of line is slightly out then at least it is all out and I still have an incremental selection of diameters to use so I know what I'm doing when changing up or down.

But I only really think in terms of diameters anyway - reel line or hooklength.

 

[barbelboi]

I prefer to think imperial - it's far more satisfying catching a 15lb carp or 6lb chub on 2lb line whilst crucian or dace fishing....................

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

The 0.23 diameter claims to be 10lb bs...whether it is or not I dont really care as its about the same diameter as what I was using which was ( allegedly) 6lb bs.

At 0.23mm it probably is around 6lbs BS, Skippy. Unless it's a co-polymer line in which case it could have a slightly higher BS, say around 8lbsor slightly more.

I had one the other day, a Japanese make, and found it had around 20% stretch in it. What happens when a few fish have stretched it so much? The state diameter was spot on, but the Kgs BS was way off the scale being three times what I would expect it to be. Hence I treat it as a much lower BS and just go off diameter.

 

[S-Kippy]

At 0.23mm it probably is around 6lbs BS, Skippy. Unless it's a co-polymer line in which case it could have a slightly higher BS, say around 8lbsor slightly more.

I had one the other day, a Japanese make, and found it had around 20% stretch in it. What happens when a few fish have stretched it so much? The state diameter was spot on, but the Kgs BS was way off the scale being three times what I would expect it to be. Hence I treat it as a much lower BS and just go off diameter.

It is a co-polymer , Jeff and I'd guessed it at about 8lb bs too.That's cock on for what I'm using it for and the extra strength gives me a bit of a safety margin if a lump gatecrashes. I see no merit in fishing so fine that you struggle to land whatever it is your fishing for.Bad angling in my book.

 

[John Keane]

Quote from another post


This must be the equivalent to watching grass grow or paint dry. Does it really matter if any line under or over stated. Never bothered me in all my years of fishing. Does anyone do this or done this?

Well, Stevo, there’s your answer, people do care whether the line they are buying has the stated diameter and strength, otherwise we may as well use parcel twine?

This valuable calibration exercise was brought to you by Anoraks for Anglers inc!