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[DRP79]

I am kind of confused as to line ratings and am hoping I can get some clarification. I see some people that use very light line and others that go heavy so I get that its personal preference. What I dont understand is how someone can land say as 12lb steelhead on 10lb mainline and 6lb leader. Being new, I find myself thinking that if I have a 6lb leader and a 10lb fish bites, he will just snap my line so I ended up going with heavier line to avoid this, which in turn may be too big and spooking fish.

I have 20lb main line and an assortment of leader from 8lb-15lb so I think I will be good, Im just paranoid about losing a nice fish.

Is it all just finesse and experience fighting fish?

[DanJohn]

Although I dont KNOW, and it is something we as anglers should know, I will offer an idea. The idea is you have a 12lb line with a 15lb fish on it. If you were to drop the fish from a height of 3 feet, it would exert more than the breaking strength on that line. Thus, snap. If you hook a fish (IN WATER MIND YOU) then fight it, you are not necessarily exerting 15lbs of force on that fish. Since it is in water, and you have a drag system working for you, and your rod is bending, all of this taking some pressure off. If he runs and you try to stop him dead in his tracks, then a snap is possible, as all the other factors are gonna add up to breaking point. Maybe even taking 15 pounds and hanging it off 12lb line may not snap it depending on the weight distribution between line to rod, guides, and all that. So even though we are bringing in larger fish than our line can handle, we are not just putting the entire weight of the fish on the line. As I said, I dont KNOW exactly how this whole line test rating vs fishing work, but just a thought. Good question though.

[azafai]

I landed 400 lb sturgeon with 90 lb main and 75lb leader with no problem.

fish handling techniques and weight/pressure distribution in your gear setup is making it possible.

[skaha]

--very good explanation... that is why on very flexible fly rod can use 2lb test leader and still land larger fish.
--lighter line... need the softer tip but can still have some backbone in the rod.. also need good drag system.. the old sticking drag that gives a shock stop can cause breakage.
-Kokanee snubber that some use due to soft mouth and not wanting to pull hook out.
--Lines have different stretch... as you get closer to the boat or shore... less stretch in the line available so be careful this is where you can run into trouble with line break especially if using a less flexible rod or tight drag and also fish leverage against lure or jump at boat can be last time you'll see the critter.
--Care for the line... when not fishing keep out of direct sun light, avoid heating (ie. reel in the car window). Mosquito dope and other contaminants, pinching line with lead shot etc. can all weaken.
--Knot strength: not lubricating knot... especially when tying fluorocarbon
--You will see through other threads that some manufacturers rate lines much higher that their actual breaking strength other IGFA rated lines are intended to break at or just below the line rating given.
--Diameter: generally thicker line is more abrasion resistant... couple of reasons... easier to see defect... and think about it cutting a board with a hand saw... more cuts for 2x4 than 2x2 even though same wood.
--some lines have built in "super secret" formulas for lubrication... keeping you line clean may work just as well.

--Quality control at factory... number of tests of line at source.. even this the manufacturer cannot control what hapens during shipping or retail storage. I don't care what line is recommended poor storage leads to someone always will add "this line is crap"  after a string ope people recommend it.

--specialty lines vs general purpose... specialty thin line or lo-stretch line may restrict use even though more expensive, may not be the best for you to use..  I'd like to try an F1 car but maybe an F150 truck more practical to take fishing.


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[c-pin]

I don't know the exact scientific tests the line manufacturers use, but basically, for 12 lb test line, it will break at around (sometimes a little more or less) 12 lb stress.

Your rod, the stretch of the monofilament, and the reel drag, all act as shock absorbers, so that the line could handle a fish larger than the actual line rating.

If you are using braid, there is no stretch in the line like monofilament, and as such, I have found that I break my leaders more when using this product.