THE 



CATCH 



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lots of kids fish in their back 

 yards before they ever see the ocean. All 

 they need is a fallen twig and a length of 

 kitchen string, and they're set. The only 

 knot they know is the one they use to tie 

 their shoes. But given the breadth of a 

 child's imagination, that simple "rod and 

 tackle" can land a whale. 



Things aren't as simple for the serious 

 fisher. Today's market offers a broad selec- 

 tion of monofilament lines, and the smart 

 angler will know the best knots to prevent 

 "the big one" from getting away. 



"You never know what's going to take 

 your bait," says Jim Bahen, a Sea Grant 

 fisheries agent. "It could be a pinfish or 

 crab, or it could be an award-winning 7- 

 pound speckled trout. Something big could 

 take off with your hook and — bing! — 

 break the line." 



To lessen the chances of this mishap, 

 it's best not to skimp when selecting line 

 and tying knots. 



Buying premium monofilament in- 

 stead of a cheaper line will likely save 

 money over time, Bahen says. Cheap line 

 is more likely to abrade and break, costing 

 both line and fish. For a few dollars more, 

 you get a stronger line with characteristics 

 to match your fishing style. Toothy fish 

 such as speckled trout require a line with 

 higher abrasion and tensile strength, while 

 easy casting demands a limp line with good 

 elasticity. 



Of course, you should always buy line 

 with the proper pound-test for the fish you 

 hope to catch. Pound-test refers to the line's 

 strength, or how many pounds of force can 

 pull against the line before it breaks. For 

 surf fishing, where fish rarely top 25 



By Renee Wolcott Shannon 



pounds, Bahen recommends a 6- to 20- 

 pound line. Offshore fishing requires 

 heavier line, usually 30 to 100 pounds. 



New developments for specialty fish- 

 ing include super polymer lines, like 



DuPont's Kevlar line and Allied 

 Chemical's Spectra line, which are very 

 tough and do not stretch. They also cost 

 much more than regular monofilament. If 

 you decide to experiment with such "un- 

 breakable" lines, Bahen cautions, your 

 knots are more likely to slip or come untied. 



You may also want to try colored line. 

 "Colored lines can help surf fishers or night- 

 time anglers who need to know exactly 

 where their lines are and whether they need 

 to take up any slack," says Bahen. 



Improved visibility is helpful when 

 trolling with multiple lines in the water, 

 enabling you to get to the correct line 

 quickly. Common colors include blue, gold 

 and fluorescent green. Colors disappear in 

 the water, though the line itself is still 

 slightly visible. A new development called 

 fluorocarbon line, a more expensive option, 

 is colorless and completely invisible under- 

 water. 



Once you've chosen a line, it's time to 

 tie it to your gear. Winter is an opportune 

 time to replace the lines from last season. 

 Exposure to salt and sunlight breaks down 

 monofilament, reducing its strength. Lines 

 also chafe against gear, pilings and the fish 

 you catch, weakening further. Test used line 

 by tying a simple overhand knot about 10 

 inches from the tag end, wrapping the line 

 on either side of the knot around your hands 

 and pulling. You may want to wear gloves. 

 If the line breaks easily, replace it. Move up 

 the line toward the reel until you find stron- 

 ger line and cut off the weak section. 



When securing new line to the reel, 

 remember that it has "memory" of the spool 

 it has been wound around; wind it onto the 

 reel carefully so it doesn't twist. Bahen 



30 HOLIDAY 1998 



