<h2>Buying Guide: Braided Line</h2><p>The line is our only connection to the fish and should therefore be one of the most important parts of your tackle.</p><p>Fortunately, development in this crucial area continues to move forward. The days of stiff, unruly or floppy mono are long gone. And nobody needs to spool up flat, twisting braid with poor breaking strain and bad knot properties any more either.</p><p>Modern braided lines are now colourfast, supple, ultra-thin and boast almost unbelievable breaking strains.</p><p>That said, there are still significant differences between the lines available, and the following sections aim to shed some light on those differences to help you find the right line for your needs.</p><h3>The Base Material</h3><p>Braided lines (PE lines) are made from various fibres, most of which are sold under protected manufacturer designations. You will find lines made from Dyneema, Spectra, Kevlar and other PE fibres (polyethylene), which can differ in the way they are produced.</p><p>All braided lines are made by weaving together multiple individual strands, with differences in the number and thickness of those strands, as well as the style of weave, all influencing the finished line's characteristics. Lines are currently available in constructions of 3, 4, 6, 8 or 12 individual PE fibre strands.</p><h3>The Weave</h3><p>As mentioned above, lines are made from varying numbers of individual strands.</p><p>Lines made from more strands are generally smoother, rounder and quieter than those made from fewer strands.</p><p>The angle at which the strands are woven together also plays a role in determining the finished line's characteristics.</p><p>The weaving process creates a more or less regular pattern of strands and gaps between them. The more strands combined into a finished line, the smaller those gaps become, and the rounder and smoother the result. Suppleness and softness also increase with the number of individual strands.</p><p>It follows logically that if the finished line diameter stays the same, the individual strands must be thinner as more strands are added. This leads to a minor compromise in one particular characteristic: abrasion resistance.</p><h4>X8 or X4: 4-Strand or 8-Strand Braid?</h4><p>In short, <strong>lines with fewer strands produce more noise through the rings and are not as soft and comfortable to fish as lines with more strands, but they tend to be more durable and more resistant to abrasion</strong>. Every angler needs to find the right compromise for their own situation and fishing style.</p><p>If maximum casting distance is the priority and there are few snags or obstacles underwater, then 8-strand or 12-strand braid is a strong option.</p><p>If you want a tough, abrasion-resistant line and do not mind the noise through the rings, a 4-strand braid is likely to serve you better.</p><h3>Coating</h3><p>Various manufacturers offer both coated and uncoated lines. Coatings can have real benefits in terms of abrasion resistance, casting distance and noise levels, but many coatings wear off early, leaving the line with altered characteristics. Coatings, as promoted by some manufacturers, cannot therefore replace a high-quality weave - at best they can complement one.</p><p>For this reason, many manufacturers opt for uncoated lines from the outset.</p><h3>Colour</h3><p>Braided lines come in an almost endless range of colours, from black to vivid multicolour. Colour choice is often a matter of personal preference, though there are a few points worth considering.</p><p>Many of you will want a line that is easy to see, giving you the best possible control over your cast and lure presentation. Some anglers prefer darker lines, while others find bright colours easier to track. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that lines highly visible to the human eye may also be more easily detected by fish.</p><p>In clear water, opting for a more discreet line can therefore be worthwhile.</p><p>Specialist multicolour lines designed for sea fishing are marked along their length in multiple colours, so that when vertical jigging at depth you always know exactly how deep your lure is.</p><p>Unfortunately, <strong>the colour of braided lines is not always permanent</strong>, and can leave noticeable staining in rings and on the reel, while the line itself fades over time. Long-lasting, stable colour is therefore a genuine quality indicator in a good braid.</p><p>On the other hand, some dyeing processes appear to have an effect on the line fibres, meaning that dyed lines can seem to have a slightly lower breaking strain than their undyed equivalents.</p><p>If you do not mind fishing a white or light grey line, it is well worth giving one a try. Light-coloured lines tend to darken gradually over time and can even develop a kind of natural camouflage effect.</p><h3>Breaking Strain and Diameter</h3><h4>Diameter Figures</h4><p>Both breaking strain and diameter figures for braided lines should be treated with caution.</p><p>With diameter, accurate measurement is already complicated by the measuring method itself. Unlike mono, braided lines can be compressed by nature, which significantly affects measurement accuracy. While diameters can be measured with reasonable precision under a light microscope, there is no standardised measuring method, so it is better to go by the stated breaking strain rather than the diameter.</p><h4>The PE Rating</h4><p>The PE rating is a fairly accurate and reliable figure. It is determined by measuring the weight per unit length, which produces broadly consistent values when the same base material is used. More and more reel manufacturers are also marking their spools with line capacity figures in metres PE, which makes it well worth using this value as your reference point.</p><p>The thinnest lines start at PE ratings of around 0.3, which corresponds to a breaking strain of between 1.7 and 2.5 kg. At the upper end, lines go up to PE 6 or PE 8, corresponding to breaking strains of 30 kg and 40 kg respectively. Heavier lines (PE 10, PE 12 and PE 15) are available but rarely seen.</p><p><strong>The following table gives you a guide to the right strength for your intended use:</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>PE Rating</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Breaking Strain (kg)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Application</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>0.3 - 0.6</p></td><td><p>1.7 - 4.0</p></td><td><p>Trout fishing, ultralight, light rock fishing, perch fishing</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>0.8 - 1.5</p></td><td><p>5.0 - 9.0</p></td><td><p>Zander fishing, pike fishing, asp fishing</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2.0 - 4.0</p></td><td><p>10.0 - 22.0</p></td><td><p>Pike fishing with large lures, light lure fishing for wels catfish, sea fishing</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>5.0 - 8.0</p></td><td><p>25.0 - 40.0</p></td><td><p>Tropical sea fishing, wels catfish fishing, pike fishing with bigbaits</p></td></tr></tbody></table>