Should you be hunting a 150lb fish, you will not need a 150lb line to land it as you and your catch between you will not end up exerting 150lbs worth of pressure on the line in your combined struggle. In fact the average human being is probably only capable of exerting at maximum 80 to 100lbs worth of pressure before they will have to give up anyway. Why therefore, would you use a line with a much higher breaking strain than this? The reason is that the higher the breaking strain, the greater the diameter and the higher the abrasion resistance and general toughness of the line when coping with rocky conditions or fish with teeth! For a better explanation of these properties, read on...

A thicker line will also bear up to rougher ground and rocks better than a narrow line. However, the downside of a thicker line is that the thicker it becomes the less sensitive it is and the harder it will be to feel the fish nibbling on the end. You will need to get the balance right between strength, durability and sensitivity, all of which are affected by line diameter. One other consideration is that a smaller diameter line or lower strength line is best used when using a spinning reel and heavier lines are best used with a baitcasting reel.

Lines have been invested in heavily by manufacturers to get the perfect balance between these three factors and there are a number of premium lines on the market which now use thinner diameters but with incredible strength and durability. Try a few before you find your favourite but always choose by considering the species and size you are targeting, ground over which you are fishing and the other tackle you will be using.

However, the method and materials used in making the line also affect it's abrasion resistance and this is an important point to consider when selecting your line as fishing lines are constantly subjected to wear and tear from casting and retrieval, rocks, tree stumps, fish teeth, knots and general nicks and scuffs and they need to be able to withstand the usual scrapes of your particular fishing conditions.

Some basic colours available and their properties :

Clear/blue fluorescent - This colour offers the best of both worlds in the right conditions as on a sunny day, the sunlight will illuminate the line above the surface but it will remain clear beneath the surface so as not to be visible to fish.

High visibility gold - A bright colour, good to have in conditions where there is very low light such as night, dawn or dusk.

Low-visibility - This is a colour which offers low visibility to fish in a large number of different water colours. This is probably the most versatile line to take if you are unsure of what the water clarity and colour will be like when you arrive at your spot.

Low-visibility clear - The same as above but specifically made for ultra clear water where the fish are very sensitive to the presence of any fishing tackle as they're visibility is high and completely unhindered by debris or staining.

Coffee - specifically designed to blend in with muddy or stained waters so that it is not seen by the fish

Moss green - This colour is specifically designed to blend in with green waters where there is a high percentage of moss, algae and other vegetation.

The choice to use a limp line depends on your method, target species, reel and conditions of fishing. A limper line makes casting easier when using certain reels and in a scenario such as spinning for small fish like Garfish in an area where there are few snags or rocks, the limper line will provide you with higher sensitivity (for this species which often nibbles at the bait), ease of casting when used with a spincasting reel (an important factor when spinning as you are constantly casting and retrieving) but will have no problems bearing the conditions as there are no complications such as sharp rocks to withstand.

For a fish which often takes the bait and immediately spits it out, a low stretch line will enable you to set the hook in it's mouth the moment you strike giving the fish little opportunity to escape. Also, for fish such as Tope where their boney mouths make it harder to set the hook firmly, a line with little stretch will offer you a quick, sharp and strong jab at the tissues when you strike offering a higher chance of actually getting the hook to embed itself properly. However, should you use the same line on a fish with a much softer mouth, a line with little stretch may rip straight through the tissues on that first sharp strike. A stretchier line will offer you a gentler, more cushioned initial strike. You need to choose the right line for the job.

This can cause tangles and so a line with a low memory is preferable. A stiff line often has a higher memory so again it is a question of getting the balance just right between the stiffness you require and the lack of memory you would prefer.

It is, however, lower in abrasion resistance than most other lines and deteriorates quicker than most others from exposure to sunlight and saltwater. Monofilament lines are, however, very versatile and are suitable for just about all fishing conditions so long as you select the correct strength, stretch and abrasion-resistance for the job.