18 recommended PE lines! What is the difference from other lines and how to choose?

Featured image shooting: FISH PARADISE! Editorial department

What kind of line is PE line?

The PE line is a line made by weaving multiple polyethylene fibers, and has the advantages of high strength and good sensitivity.

Difference from Nylon

Nylon is a polyamide material. The characteristics of nylon line include that the line stretches a lot, the specific gravity is slightly heavier than water, and the price is cheap. On the other hand, the PE line is different in that it hardly stretches, has a lower specific gravity than water, and is somewhat expensive. For lines of the same thickness, PE lines are stronger than nylon or fluorocarbon lines.

Difference from fluorocarbon

Fluorocarbon uses polyvinylidene fluoride as its main raw material. The characteristics of fluorocarbon are that it is resistant to root slippage, has a high specific gravity, and tends to curl easily. On the other hand, the PE line is vulnerable to root slippage, has a light specific gravity, and does not tend to curl easily. Fluorocarbon is characterized by better sensitivity than nylon, but the PE line is the best in terms of sensitivity.

What kind of fishing is it effective for?

PE line is often used for lure fishing and throwing fishing due to its good sensitivity and ease of casting distance. There is almost no line elongation, especially in lure fishing, it is indispensable for fishing methods that make the lure act violently, such as egging and shore jigging. On the other hand, PE line is not very suitable for float fishing and area trout that throws ultra-lightweight lures, as it is easily blown by the wind.

How to wrap PE line

When winding PE line on a reel spool, first check the winding capacity of the spool. PE line is thinner than nylon or fluorocarbon, so in many cases, the bottom winding thread is wound on the spool to increase the bulk before winding the line. Recently, the number of shallow spools has increased, so it is possible to wind the PE line without the bottom winding. Wrap the PE line while holding down with a towel or the like so as not to damage the line.

How to choose PE line

When choosing a PE line, it is a good idea to focus on the number of twists and the specific gravity of the polyethylene fiber.

number of twists

The number of twists is the number of polyethylene fibers that make up the PE line. 4-ply and 8-ply are common, but the higher the number of twists, the stronger the line. However, there are disadvantages such as the line becoming thicker as the number of twists increases and the price increasing. Consider the size of the fish you want to catch, the capacity of the reel you use, etc.

specific gravity

The PE line has a low specific gravity and has the disadvantage of floating in water. There is no problem if you use a heavy lure, but if you use a light lure, the buoyancy of the line will lose the lure and the lure will float. Recently, a PE line with a specific gravity comparable to that of fluorocarbon has appeared by incorporating fluorine fibers with an ultra-high specific gravity in the center of the polyethylene fiber, making up for this shortcoming.