Featured Article from
Bass Angler Magazine

Time for a Change

It’s the day before the tournament and you see most all the fisherman frantically changing there line. So you change your’s too right! Is there a reason? Or do we just do it because everyone else is? The pros do it and it seems to just follow down the line, doesn’t it? Do we really need to change it every day, week or month?

Let’s look at the manufacturing process so we can make our own educated decision. First of all I am not a scientist I’m a fisherman so we won’t get to exacting chemical make ups or be too specific. Fishing line is made of nylon; co polymer is more than one type of nylon mixed together to provide a better product than only one type of plastic alone. Today’s fishing lines are made from specific formulas engineered to meet specific needs. Simply the manufacturing process of Fishing Line starts with plastic or nylon pellets that are melted down to an exact temperature. Then the plastic is forced (extruded) through a hole of an exact size much larger than the finished diameter. These machines that extrude and process the fishing line are almost 100 yards long and very expensive. After extrusion the line is sent to and through several big rollers which stretch the line to an exact diameter. Specifications for the diameter vary widely among manufactures the higher the quality line the more exact the tolerances. While the line is being stretched it is also being hydrated which is very important for the finished product, line absorbs water and if it’s too dry it will be brittle. Picture a machine 100 yards long with 6 or so rollers a few feet thick with fishing line woven thought them. After going through this extrusion, stretching and hydrating process it is tested and rolled on big rolls, like 5kg spools. These rolls are stored in a special room for a predetermined period of time. Note a lower quality line may have shorter wait time from storage to consumer. After the storage time is complete the line is tested to insure tensile strength, diameter and durability. If the line fails it is tossed away were not talking a few hundred yards here it’s more like 50,000 yards or so; however, much line was extruded in that batch. This inferior line can be resold to another manufacture, re-branded to another line company or who knows. Ever wonder why items end up in the bargain bin? A few years back I acquired this knowledge first hand from the general manger of a Fishing Line Company. He went over the complete process start to finish. They had a special proprietary process to hydrate the line during the stretching phase. There tolerances are very stringent test them for yourself, grab a micrometer and check it, the diameter is very consistent start to finish. Fishing line is wound on the rolls stored and retested, if the line fails any of their tests it is discarded or sold to another manufacture, not reused or re-melted by them, as told by their general manager.

Want to see the whole article? Sign up for an account above (or log in if you already have one)!

Featured Angler

Mark Lassagne

FLW Pro Bass Angler and Guide on the Ca Delta and Mark has been a consistent money winner on many of the western tournament trails. A guest speaker on several shows: Bass Radio weekly, Mighty 690, 1150 Extra sports, Foothills Outdoors, Sep Hendrickson show, On the Water and ESPN Radio. He guided two Bass Pro Shops outdoor world TV shows along with, Angler West He filmed a True bass and Westernbass TV shows. A featured speaker for ISE, Fred Hall shows and many grand openings and special events. Mark has published articles in, Bassin, Fish Sniffer, Field & Stream, Contra Costa Times, Ca Fish and Game, FLW Outdoors, Fishing and Hunting News and Rabid Angler. Mark contributes regularly article to BassWest USA, American Bass Angler Magazine, www.westernbass.com, www.tackletour.com and publishes the Bass Anglers Guide.

See all the Bass Angler's Guide Anglers by clicking here.