A popular fishing line that has been around for many years, nylon fishing line is usually available as monofilament, which is a single-strand fishing line. Many anglers use monofilament because it works for a variety of fishing situations. Nylon fishing line is usually your best fishing line choice if you are uncertain which type of line to use.
History
DuPont started producing nylon fishing line in 1939. Initially, it didn't appeal to anglers. It wasn't until 1958, when DuPont introduced a thinner nylon fishing line called Stren, that nylon fishing line became more popular.
Significance
Nylon consists of synthetic superpolymers. Its composition allows it to be made into a wide range of products, such as fishing line. Nylon products are stronger and more elastic than products made with silk, rayon, wool and cotton. Made from nylon, monofilament fishing line accounts for more than two-thirds of all fishing line sales, according to Bass Pro Shops.
Production Process
Monofilament fishing line is manufactured through an extrusion process. Molten nylon is injected into a die to form a strand. Because the monofilament production process is inexpensive, nylon fishing line is usually less expensive than most other types of line. Different brands receive different levels of quality control and additives, which may result in different levels of tension strength, knot strength and abrasion resistance. More-expensive brands typically offer better results.
How to Compare
Nylon fishing line is classified, based on several factors. Strength refers to the line's breaking strength, or the amount of force it takes to break the line. Diameter means the line's thickness. Although small diameter lines are weaker, they are more flexible and are less visible to fish. Anglers use thicker lines for fishing for bigger, stronger fish or in areas where they may experience more snags, requiring a stronger line. Stretch evaluates how well the line will stretch when stressed. Lines need to stretch just enough to avoid shocking the fish, but too much stretch limits your control over the line and the fish. Abrasion resistance determines whether a line nicks or scratches easily when it rubs against a hard object. Thin lines typically offer less abrasion resistance than thicker lines.
Suggestions
Test several different brands of nylon fishing line before deciding which one to use.
Before purchasing a specific nylon line, consider which fish species and size you intend to fish for, the type of water you are fishing in and the type of tackle you are using. Choose a nylon line recommended for those specific conditions.
The same qualities that make nylon fishing line popular -- its strength and invisibility -- also make discarded or lost pieces of nylon fishing line deadly to wildlife. University of Florida researcher Maia McGuire recommends that anglers should find a recycling program where they can dispose of unused nylon line, especially because nylon line may last about 600 years in the underwater environment.
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