What is Nylon Thread?
Nylon thread is created by twisting nylon yarns together at high speed, making it ideal for leather sewing in industries such as footwear, bags, and sofas. It is the most common type of thread used for sewing leather. Nylon thread is also frequently used in fishing rods.
In Taiwan fishing, nylon thread is widely used. Nylon’s chemical composition is PA (Polyamide), a petroleum byproduct, similar to PE (Polyethylene). However, unlike PE, nylon thread is usually a single strand, and its characteristics differ from those of PE thread. The advantage of nylon thread is its elasticity, which makes it less likely to break during casting and fishing. Additionally, nylon thread has been in production for almost 70 years, resulting in low costs and high output, making it cheaper than PE thread. The smooth surface of nylon thread minimizes wear on the fishing rod’s guides.
However, the elasticity of nylon thread can also be a disadvantage. When fishing with subtle fish signals, the thread may not transmit the signal to the angler quickly enough, resulting in missed opportunities. Furthermore, under the same tension, nylon thread is thicker than PE thread, which can reduce casting distance.
What is PE Line?
PE line is a fishing line made from multi-strand chemical fibers that are braided and then coated with rubber, commonly referred to as braided line (BRAIDED OR CORD LINE). One of the earliest types of this line is known as “Dali Ma.”
The production process involves weaving microfibers like Dacron fiber, Kung Fu Dragon fiber, Dali Ma fiber, or PE fibers from polyethylene compounds. The woven structure of the line is easily identifiable upon inspection, revealing a regular crossing pattern of fibers.
The advantage of PE line is its thinner diameter compared to nylon thread under the same tension, allowing for longer casting distances. Wind is a significant factor in fishing, and the thinner diameter of PE line reduces wind resistance, further aiding casting. Additionally, PE has almost no elasticity, enabling anglers to receive fish signals immediately when a fish is caught. PE line is also highly wear-resistant.
However, the lack of elasticity in PE line can be a disadvantage. While it quickly transmits fish signals, it increases the risk of losing fish due to the lack of stretch. In Taiwanese fishing, it’s important to maintain constant tension on the fishing rod to prevent the fish from unhooking. PE’s rigidity reduces the margin for error when handling fish, leading to more frequent instances of decoupling or breakage. Some manufacturers add metal wire to PE to increase its tensile strength, but this also reduces the flexibility and softness of the line, potentially wearing out the guide rings on fishing rods.
What is Carbon Wire?
Carbon wire is made from a resin containing fluorine and carbon. It offers fast water-cutting capabilities, has a very low light refractive index (making it nearly invisible underwater), absorbs no water, and provides better UV resistance and durability compared to nylon thread. Due to its low elasticity and high density, carbon wire allows bait to reach the desired water layer quickly, offering great sensitivity.
Since carbon wire is nearly invisible in water, it reduces the chances of spooking fish, encouraging them to take the bait. Carbon wire is well-suited for use with soft bait rigs, such as lead-free rigs, WACKY rigs, and Texas rigs. However, it is not ideal for hard baits or surface lures.
The main disadvantage of carbon wire is its relatively weak knot strength and rigidity. As a main line, it’s recommended to keep its strength below 10 pounds on spinning reels and below 20 pounds on baitcasting reels. Carbon wire can also be used as a leader, as its wear resistance compensates for the lack of abrasion resistance in PE line.
Differences Between Nylon, PE, and Carbon Wire
- Raw Material
- Nylon Thread: Made by twisting nylon yarns together.
- PE Line: Produced by braiding multiple strands of chemical fibers, then coating them with glue.
- Carbon Wire: Made from resin containing fluorine and carbon.
- Properties
- Nylon Thread: Slower response time when fishing, but stable and balanced in water.
- PE Line: Floats on water, with no specific gravity, making it ideal for certain fishing techniques like lure fishing (Leiqiang).
- Carbon Wire: Heavier, with a specific gravity of around 1:1.7, sinking faster than nylon, particularly useful for bottom rigs like Texas rigs or silicone rigs.
- Ductility
- Nylon Thread: Offers good elasticity, resulting in stable signal transmission.
- PE Line: Has minimal elasticity, similar to carbon wire, but lower ductility overall.
- Carbon Wire: Highly wear-resistant with low ductility, providing good sensitivity for certain fishing methods.
- Strands
- Nylon Thread: Usually a single-strand thread.
- PE Line: A braided fishing line made from multiple strands of chemical fiber.
- Carbon Wire: Comprised of resin with fluorine and carbon, not categorized by single or multiple strands.