Multifilament line, also referred to as ''The Super Lines'', is a type of fishing line. It is a
braided line which is made up of
ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene
Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, UHMW) is a subset of the thermoplastic polyethylene. Also known as high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE), it has extremely long chains, with a molecular mass typically between 2 and 6 million amu. The l ...
(UHMWPE), a specialty
polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene (abbreviated PE; IUPAC name polyethene or poly(methylene)) is the most commonly produced plastic. It is a polymer, primarily used for packaging (plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes and containers including bott ...
polymer
A polymer () is a chemical substance, substance or material that consists of very large molecules, or macromolecules, that are constituted by many repeat unit, repeating subunits derived from one or more species of monomers. Due to their br ...
that makes an extremely thin line for its strength. By weight, UHMWPE strands are five to ten times sturdier than
steel
Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...
. Multifilament line is similar to braided
dacron in terms of sensitivity but a
diameter
In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the centre of the circle and whose endpoints lie on the circle. It can also be defined as the longest Chord (geometry), chord of the circle. Both definitions a ...
about one-third that of the ubiquitous
nylon
Nylon is a family of synthetic polymers characterised by amide linkages, typically connecting aliphatic or Polyamide#Classification, semi-aromatic groups.
Nylons are generally brownish in color and can possess a soft texture, with some varieti ...
monofilament line.
Multifilament works best on conventional and
baitcasting reels. On
spinning and spincasting reels, the line's limpness can make sure for awkward manipulation, as it does not "spring" off the reel like
monofilament. Consequently, knot-tying is more difficult with multifilaments. Certain knots work better with superline, like the
palomar knot. Applying a type of super glue will help to prevent other types of knots from slipping.
This type of
fishing line is expensive, sometimes four times the cost of equivalent monofilament. This can become a considerable expense, especially considering that the line is so thin that one needs more of it to fill a reel spool. Sometimes, a backing of monofilament or other line is used under the braided line on the spool.
Types of Fishing Lines
See also
* Braided fishing line
* Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene
References
{{fisheries and fishing
Fishing equipment