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 usually between 3.5 and 7.5 million amu. ...
(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 b ...
polymer
A polymer (; Greek '' poly-'', "many" + ''-mer'', "part")
is a substance or material consisting of very large molecules called macromolecules, composed of many repeating subunits. Due to their broad spectrum of properties, both synthetic a ...
that makes a extremely thin line for its strength. By weight, UHMWPE strands are five to ten times sturdier than
steel. Multifilament line is similar to braided
dacron
Polyethylene terephthalate (or poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P), is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in fibres for clothing, containers for liquids and foo ...
in terms of sensitivity but a
diameter
In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints lie on the circle. It can also be defined as the longest chord of the circle. Both definitions are also valid fo ...
about one-third that of the ubiquitous
nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers composed of polyamides ( repeating units linked by amide links).The polyamides may be aliphatic or semi-aromatic.
Nylon is a silk-like thermoplastic, generally made from pe ...
monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line (shortened to just mono) is fishing line made from a single fiber of plastic material, as opposed to multifilament or braided fishing lines constructed from multiple strands of fibers. Most fishing lines are now nylon ...
.
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
The Palomar knot ( ) is a knot that is used for securing a fishing line to a fishing lure, snap or swivel.
To tie the knot first double 8–12 inches of line into a loop and pass it through the eye of the hook, lure or swivel. Tie a very loose ov ...
. Applying a type of super glue will help to prevent other types of knots from slipping.
This type of
fishing line
A fishing line is a flexible, high-tensile cord used in angling to tether and pull in fish, in conjunction with at least one hook. Fishing lines are usually pulled by and stored in a reel, but can also be retrieved by hand, with a fixed attach ...
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
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 usually between 3.5 and 7.5 million amu. T ...
References
{{fisheries and fishing
Fishing equipment