Braided & Monofilament Fact

Braided line is one of the strongest types of fishing line in relation to its diameter. Braids are made by braiding or weaving fibers of a man-made material like Spectra or micro-dyneema into a strand of line. Braided fishing lines are resistant to abrasion. This line is so strong that you have trouble breaking it when you get a snag. A fish is very unlikely to break it.

Discarded braided lines present some issues. This type of fishing line is so tough that they can really cause abrasion to other things like your hands, fishing rod, and fishing reel. Braided lines are opaque in the water. For this reason, fish can see it and move away. The lines may spook the fish, especially on certain lures where you are trying to trick a fish to bite a lure they can see for a long time. Thus, some attach a mono-filament at the end of the braided fishing line to serve as a leader and to reduce the high visibility of the braided fishing line.



Mono-filament line is a thin string made from a single fiber. Most fishing line is made from mono-filament because of its strength, availability in all pound-test kinds, and low cost. It also comes in many different colors such as white, green, blue, clear, and fluorescent. Mono-filament is made by melting and mixing polymers and then extruding through tiny holes, forming strands of line, which is then spun into spools of various thicknesses. The extrusion process controls not only the thickness of the line but also the pound test of the line.

Mono-filament is not advisable for deep-water fishing since it can absorb water resulting in loose knots, and its sensitivity can decrease when it is wet. Mono-filament degrades with time and can weaken when exposed to heat and sunlight. When stored on a spool for a long time, it may come off the fishing reel in coils or loops. It is advisable to change mono-filament line at regular intervals to prevent degradation.

Mono-filament is also used in medicine to test the sense of touch. It can be used in jewelry making to create 'floating' or 'illusion' beaded necklaces. Because it is difficult to see, it has often been used in movies for special effects where objects need to look like they are floating in thin air.

Discarded mono-filament lines can present serious environmental problems. These lines are extremely difficult to spot when submerged in water, and fish, birds, and other marine life can easily become entangled. Mono-filament lines also present a risk to swimmers and scuba divers.