Feeder line thickness: characteristics overview

More recently, Russian fishermen became acquainted with feeder fishing. This fishing method has won the hearts of many fishing rod lovers in a short time due to its high efficiency. But to enjoy a good bite, it is important to assemble your tackle correctly. One of the important elements in the English donkey is the fishing line. Most often, anglers wind monofilament line or braid onto a feeder reel as a base. There is no consensus on the best equipment option; it all depends on the characteristics of the reservoir, the species composition of the fish, the equipment used, etc. Experts recommend adhering to the following scheme when choosing a feeder line.

1. Thread thickness and strength are the main characteristics of fishing line. If the diameter of the main line can be larger, and this will not greatly affect the intensity of the bite, then the thickness of the leash will have to be selected with an accuracy of hundredths of a millimeter.
2. An important characteristic of the feeder line is the elongation coefficient. The lower the stretch of the line, the more sensitive the tackle is. This quality becomes decisive when fishing at long distances (70-120 m). But it’s more convenient to use elastic monofilament lines for short ones; with a powerful hooking, it will be possible to prevent fish escapes.
3. There are certain nuances in feeder fishing in still water and rivers. To reduce the windage of the line in the current, anglers have to increase the weight of the feeders or thin the line. Thin braid becomes the best option. And on ponds and lakes you can use transparent monofilament, which does not scare fish in clear water.
4. The durability of the fishing line is not the main factor for all anglers. Some avid feeders, regardless of the condition of the base, replace it annually. And for amateurs who do not often visit reservoirs, a service life of 3-4 years will allow you to save a little on equipment.

Our review includes the best fishing lines for feeders. When compiling the rating, the following criteria were taken into account:

• strength;
• extensibility;
• durability;
• price;
• expert opinion;
• fishermen's reviews.

All nominees meet the listed requirements and are the best in their categories.

Length when fishing for cautious fish

In the Kaluga region there are reservoirs where fish are reluctant to feed. You have to adapt to it. I can’t say that about our river; the fish there almost always show interest in the bait. I will name two reservoirs where I have to apply my developments - this is the Yachenskoye reservoir, it is located in the city of Kaluga, and the Andreevsky quarry, which is located twenty kilometers from the city. In terms of their structure, all sand pits are interesting, there are great depths, there is nothing to catch on at the bottom and the presence of a large concentration of fish. All that remains is to catch her.

The first thing I do, if there is a fish at the point, but does not touch the bait or touches it, but there is no confident bite, I start trying to cheer up the underwater inhabitants. I do this by adding concentrates and pureeing the live component.

If the actions do not bring results, I proceed to selecting the optimal length of the feeder leash and hook size. At the reservoir, a meter-long leash with a thin hook for the feeder often helps out; 2-3 bloodworm larvae are saved as bait.

Often, capricious fish have a negative attitude towards increasing the diameter of the leader line.

These manipulations will most likely provoke the fish to bite, but if this does not happen, then most likely the algorithm was performed incorrectly or there is no fish at the point.

We recommend reading

The master of sports revealed the secrets of choosing quality hooks. A leash will not make bites successful if there are bad hooks on them. Read how to choose the right one.

Select fishing line according to fishing range

To choose good equipment, it is necessary to take into account the conditions from what distance the fishing will be carried out. Feederists and float fishing enthusiasts may be interested in monk and fluorocarbon. Using these tackles, there is a good chance of surprising your household with a rich catch, provided you cast the fishing rod from the shore over short distances. A monofilament line can be included in the arsenal of spinning anglers when they want to catch big prey. But if an angler wants to bring pike or catfish for dinner, it is not advisable to use monofilament leashes.

Read more

How to fish at night on a feeder?

Braid made from several polyester or aramid fibers is best used for spinning or feeder fishing over long distances, but is not advisable for float fishing. Unpretentious lovers of sitting with a fishing rod by the river are better off not buying thick fishing line. Crucian carp, roach can be successfully pulled out of a reservoir using thin equipment. For reed fishing, you need to make sure that the gear sinks and the float is not washed to the shore by the blows of a light breeze.

Of course, the fishing line for the feeder must be sinking; such fishing lines are designated Sinking on the packaging

If a fisherman has adapted to catching carp, crucian carp at great depths with the help of a donkey, in most cases he chooses a thicker fishing line. Using the method of a very long rod, feeder, or spinning rod is not required. Therefore, equipment for the simplest donkey is purchased with a larger cross-section than for fishing with other devices. For short distances of 20-40 meters, it makes sense to tie up a braided line, which is not cheap. The diameter can be selected from 0.3 to 0.6-0.8 mm. Here a lot depends on the expected trophy.

Line diameter for feeder

In order to determine what thickness of fishing line for a feeder in a particular case will be optimal, you need to take into account a lot: the weight of the fish, the strength of the current, and even knots, some types of which can reduce the strength of the fishing line by up to 15%. You also need to remember that wet twisting loses 30% of its strength, and worn-out twisting becomes brittle.

When feeder fishing, the use of a feeder already weighing 90-110 grams is the basis for increased demands on the fishing line. Therefore, the first thing you immediately want to do is to use a larger fishing line diameter. However, often a larger diameter creates unwanted windage when water flows, and because of this, the weight of the feeder has to be made heavier.

Taking into account all these circumstances and the accumulated experience, we can, as an average option for all cases, recommend monofilament with a diameter range of 0.14 - 0.28 mm.

The table below can also be a good guide for determining the diameter of the monofilament line.

As for the braided fishing line for the feeder, then under all equal circumstances its diameter is determined in the range of 0.08-0.18 mm.

Feeder leash material

Don't skimp on the quality of the fishing line. Every angler knows that successful fishing is facilitated by a high-quality leader line, both as the main line and the leader line.

An experienced fisherman makes his choice responsibly; he makes high demands. Success in fishing depends on the elasticity of the fishing line, invisibility, the ability to hold a knot and withstand hours of stress.

Consequently, fishing line is used from well-known manufacturers.

What leash material to use?

MONOFILINE

Monofilament fishing line or “monofilament” based on nylon. This variety is popular in the manufacture of leashes. What are the requirements for it? Exactly specified diameter and tensile strength specified by the manufacturer.

Choose a fishing line with minimal memory and sufficient softness. Monofilament fishing line is capable of holding knots, is invisible, and holds the load.

Soft material sometimes gets tangled when casting. The longer it is, the more concretely it manifests itself. Rigid lines ensure fewer tangles and overlaps.

Excessive rigidity scares away fish, so you need to stick to the “golden mean”.

Thus, soft fishing line is used to make short leashes or in cases where the likelihood of overlap or tangling is low. For long ones or in cases of tangling and overlaps, use a rigid fishing line.

COLOR OF MONOFILINE

The transparent line makes the leash invisible (photo 5), this is important in shallow reservoirs or areas thereof. Green color (photo 6) is suitable when fishing in overgrown reservoirs; it “dissolves” in the surrounding greenery.

The buoyancy of the fishing line varies widely. The fishing line floats on the surface and can be submerged into the water. Using a fishing line of one or another buoyancy for specific conditions, you can get good bites.

Some examples

When the leash is on the bottom surface, use monofilament with negative or neutral buoyancy. This is important in strong current conditions.

Otherwise, it will rise above the bottom surface in an arc and nullify the camouflage. In the case of a natural and smooth presentation of the bait, the buoyancy should be positive.

FLUOROCARBON LINE

Fluorocarbon leader line for a feeder is an expensive thing. Its cost is twice that of high quality monofilament.

Fluorocarbon or fluorocarbon feeder line is invisible in water, since the refractive index of sunlight is the same as fresh water.

Fluorocarbon feeder leaders use both pure fluorocarbon line and line that only has a coating created using this material.

The advantage of this type of fishing line over monofilament comes down to less visibility under the surface of the water and increased resistance to chemical, mechanical and thermal influences. This is important when fishing takes place in littered areas, in conditions of increased pollution of the reservoir, at subzero temperatures.

This type of fishing line has a density that provides low buoyancy. The disadvantages include the rigidity of the fishing line.

A fishing line that is supposedly fluorocarbon and has a low price can easily be classified as a fake that imitates fluorocarbon.

Fluorocarbon fishing line has a lower breaking load, so pieces of larger diameter are used.

BRAIDED FISHING LINE

Braided fishing line, in comparison with monofilament, does not have any memory. A cord made from braided fishing line will not twist, and there is also no difference in the number of bites using a braided and monofilament leash.

In the case when, in conditions of a muddy bottom, the leash is stretched to its full length, the fish is not able to notice. But in reservoirs with clear water, catching cautious fish using braided material will not be as successful as using monofilament fishing line.

The braid is easily cut with a shell. Braid also easily gets tangled around rigs with long leads.

Braided fishing line has a plain or protective coating.

A fishing line with a protective coating has greater rigidity. Rigid fishing line is less likely to be damaged in problematic water bodies.

There is woven material with a protective fluorocarbon coating, with various tones of camouflage colors, with brown and green being popular colors.

Braided line comes in floating, sinking, slow-sinking or neutral buoyancy. Protected braided fishing lines, in which the main and protective material have different degrees of buoyancy.

Do not use a bunch of braided main line and leader line. This is a low degree of shock absorption, resulting in a lot of fish escapes.

A monofilament shock leader is successfully combined with braided fishing line, which smoothes out jerks during fishing.

Main feeder line

The choice of the main line of the feeder is determined by both the objective requirements of the equipment and the subjective habits of the fisherman. Feeder gear uses both monofilament and braided cord. Before you put the fishing line on the feeder, you need to determine exactly for what fishing conditions the gear will be used. There is no best line for a feeder - only types of monofilament or braided threads suitable for specific conditions.

Line or cord at the base

Three characteristics that a feeder needs to consider when choosing a fishing line for a base are elongation, tensile strength and diameter. Monofilament line for the feeder stretches, braided line does not. Therefore, at long distances, monofilament hides bites, and it is almost impossible to fish with it at distances over 40-50 meters. But nylon absorbs the jerks of large fish well. Braid does not stretch, and in thin diameters it cuts through the pressure flow of water well, so it is excellent for the main equipment when long casts are necessary, especially in currents and in crosswinds. However, the rigidity of the cord can cause the leader to break on large fish at the final stage of fishing due to the lack of shock absorption.

Which is better, fishing line or braid for a feeder? When choosing equipment, we are guided by the following considerations.

1. For long-distance fishing, especially on rivers with a current, we use thin braid, 0.12-0.14 mm. Such a thin cord may not withstand force casting - therefore, a feeder shock leader should be added to the equipment. Thicker rigs sail strongly and pull the feeder along with them. Thin diameters in the current allow the use of lighter feeders.
2. For catching trophy fish we use monofilament. Fishing for carp and grass carp takes place in still waters, so there is no need to use a thin cord to hold the equipment in the current. The monofilament will help in playing strong fish due to its shock-absorbing properties. Even a rigid special feeder line stretches by 7-15%.
3. For picker fishing at close range, you can use a monofilament – ​​bites are visible at such a distance. If we catch large crucian carp or carp with thin leashes, definitely monofilament. This is necessary for safe fishing. However, with the acquisition of experience in fishing with the active operation of the clutch and soft, slow-action rods, it is possible to bring the trophy to a thin line. For safety, you can make an insert made of feedergam between the leash and the equipment.
4. In early spring, late autumn and winter, when it freezes, use only monofilament. The braid freezes and becomes a stake, gets tangled and gets stuck in the feeder rings.
5. In the spring, when the river carries algae and poplar fluff, it is better to use monofilament. All this debris sticks to the line and, when unwinding, clogs the rod guides.
6. It is better not to use thin cords on cheap feeder rods. With constant use, the braid can damage (cut through) low-quality rings.

Next, we will consider in detail the features of using monofilament on the feeder. About the choice and characteristics of a braided cord for a feeder - in a separate article:

What is better fishing line or braid?

We have already devoted a separate article “Which is better than braided or fishing line,” where we found out the advantages and disadvantages of monofilament and braided fishing line. And we were convinced that both fishing braid and fishing line can be used in certain conditions of fishing on the feeder.

The main advantage of braided wire, which is not so easy to argue with, is its sensitivity . This property especially plays an important role not even when transmitting a bite, which is of course important, but when tapping the bottom to find a suitable fishing spot.

But the feeder line also has its trump cards. The first is the price, which you will agree is not so unimportant. Since you often have to fish with a feeder on the edges, among colonies of shells, cut-off lines are often found. And braided fishing line is just more susceptible to such damage than regular mono. And it’s a shame to lose several meters of braid on the edge.

As for sensitivity, here again you need to look at what distances you are fishing at. With a casting distance of about 20-30 meters, there is no noticeable difference in sensitivity whether we use braided or monofilament.

Well, last but not least the difference. This is the presence of stretchability in the fishing line. It is this that gives the feeder more chances when landing large fish. This stretchability absorbs the jerks of the fish, and can sometimes play a decisive role in the fight against trophy fish. The use of monofilament is especially justified on paid carp reservoirs. In such conditions, the fish bite will be very noticeable and the process of fishing itself comes first.

Fishing lines from Suffix

The American company Suffix is ​​known to feeder fishing enthusiasts primarily for its inexpensive and high-quality braided cords. But in the series of feeder monofilaments from Sufix you can also choose several good options.

A series of monofilament lines for a burgundy-colored feeder Sufix feeder mono , the elongation of which, according to the manufacturer, is close to zero. Sufix Specialist Carp also performed well .

Advantages of fishing line from Suffix

• low price;
• good wear resistance;
• Sufix Specialist Carp series has low stretch.

Flaws:

• some indicated diameters do not coincide with the real ones, both larger and smaller;
• The feeder monofilament line of the Sufix feeder mono series is quite soft and not rigid enough for feeder fishing.