Rig guides · part of the rig library
What line should I use?
Mono, fluorocarbon and braid: what each one is, how it behaves, and the ruler that pairs a diameter with a breaking strain.
Part of the rig library: the rig specs carry the recommendation for a given rig, this page carries the facts.
The three lines
| Monofilament | Fluorocarbon | Braid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Single strand of nylon. The general-purpose line | A denser, stiffer polymer with a refractive index close to water | Woven strands of polyethylene fibre. Very thin for its strength |
| Stretch | Stretches 15-25%, which cushions a hook-pull and a lunge on light hooklengths | Less than mono, so it transmits bites and hits harder on the strike | Almost none. Every tap at the feeder shows on the tip |
| Visibility | Refracts light. Fine diameters are hard for a fish to see; heavy mono in clear water is not | Near invisible in clear water. The reason it exists | Opaque. Always paired with a mono or fluorocarbon hooklength |
| Float or sink | Slightly buoyant. Floats until it is sunk, which a waggler angler wants and a feeder angler does not | Sinks fast. A fluorocarbon hooklength lies flat on the deck and a fluorocarbon mainline cuts through surface drift | Floats unless it is a sinking braid. Add a shockleader for casting heavy feeders |
| Abrasion | Fair. Nicks easily on gravel and snags; check the last metre often | Best of the three. Stands up to gravel bars, mussels and carp scales | Poor on sharp edges despite the strength rating. Frays on gravel; a damaged section goes with no warning |
| Knots | Ties easily and holds well. Wet the knot before pulling tight | Stiff and slippery: use a grinner or Palomar and wet it. A badly tied fluorocarbon knot fails without warning | Slips on plain knots. Use a Palomar or double grinner, and a leader knot to mono |
| Where it goes | Mainline on pole and waggler rigs. Hooklengths for most float and pole work. Fly leaders and tippet | Hooklengths on feeder, bomb and pellet-waggler rigs. Stiff boom sections and hooklengths on carp rigs. Winter silvers hooklengths in clear water where the extra stiffness also keeps a fine line from tangling | Feeder mainline at range on lakes and rivers, and sea mainline. Never as a hooklength on match rigs, and check the rules: some fisheries ban it |
Diameters and breaking strains
| Diameter | Typical breaking strain | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08 mm | 1.0-1.5 lb | Canal silvers hooklengths |
| 0.10 mm | 1.5-2.0 lb | Silvers hooklengths, winter |
| 0.12 mm | 2.5-3.0 lb | Silvers mainline, F1 hooklengths |
| 0.13 mm | 3.0-3.5 lb | Hooklengths under 0.16 mainline |
| 0.15 mm | 4.0-4.5 lb | F1 and small carp hooklengths |
| 0.17 mm | 5.0-6.0 lb | Commercial carp hooklengths, margin mainline |
| 0.19 mm | 6.5-7.0 lb | Margin and shallow pole mainline |
| 0.22 mm | 8-10 lb | Feeder and bomb mainline, big-fish margins |
| 0.26 mm | 12 lb | Straight lead hooklengths for big carp |
Diameter to breaking strain is brand dependent; these are the rounded figures most match lines print on the spool.
Rules of thumb
- Hooklength always lighter than the mainline, by about 0.03 mm on the pole. If something has to go, it is the hook, not the float.
- Match the line to the hook: a fine-wire size 20 on 0.08 mm, a size 12 on 0.17 mm and up. A heavy hook on a light line breaks the line; a light hook on a heavy line opens out.
- Stretch is a cushion. Braid to a light mono hooklength needs a soft tip or a softer hook; mono straight through forgives a lot more.
- Line ages. Sunlight, heat and a season of casting knock the rating down. Respool a feeder reel every season and re-tie pole rigs that have been in the wallet a year.
More guides
What elastic should I use?
Solid, hybrid, hollow and liquid, and how to look after them.
What hooks do I need?
Fine, medium and heavy wire, and the line each one pairs with.
How do I mount the bait?
Direct, bands, hair rigs, bayonets and screws, bait by bait.
How do I shot a rig?
Round shot, Stotz, Styl and olivettes, fixed or movable.
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