THE LINE 73 



all through life. Casting efficiency and durability are 

 the opposing considerations here as in rods. There is 

 no doubt that the soft braided line is the best from the 

 purely casting standpoint, but it has its limitations. Its 

 chief fault is that it doesn't wear well, and if it does 

 it becomes flimsy with a disagreeable tendency to stick 

 to the reel or cling to the rod. Also, if it becomes 

 wet, it absorbs water and swells on the reel and be- 

 spatters you with every cast; it is disagreeable to use 

 when the water is cold. 



The hard braided line wears better but it casts 

 harder. That is, it does not flow as smoothly from 

 the reel and some casters claim it burns the thumb be- 

 cause of its hardness. 



Round braided lines are smoother and better look- 

 ing than the square, but the square is more elastic and 

 is therefore less likely to snap under a heavy and 

 abrupt strain, and a fish cannot tear out a hook as 

 easily because the elastic line acts as a spring between 

 fish and reel. 



Waterproof lines are ordinary lines treated by some 

 process that renders them proof against absorption. 

 They are strong but often develop a stickiness that 

 prevents good casting and is not pleasant to the touch. 

 This is more noticeable when the sun is hot. Water- 

 proof lines are often useful when fishing with surface 

 lures as a watersoaked line tends to pull down the 

 head of a floating bait. 



Probably the strongest lines are those braided over 

 a silk core. Naturally they are not suitable for the 



