GEAR
LIGHT LINE, LONG RODS
THE LIGHT-LINE, LONG-ROD PROGRAM
L
THIS MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY TO FISH FINESSE OFFERINGS
ong rods are all the rage, but
mostly for power fishing. That’s
not the only place they shine,
however. When combined with wispy
thin line (say, 4- to 6-pound test), spin-
ning rods in the neighborhood of 8 to
10 feet long provide a very effective,
very light approach for making long
casts with small baits to pressured fish.
The combo is also deadly for fishing
extremely deep.
Anglers might not like the concept at
first glance. It all seems too light, sug-
gesting you brought a knife to a gun-
fight. But that impression shouldn’t last
long, because there are real advantages
to the long-rod, light-line matchup.
The Line
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Light, thin, supple line is key for sliding
through rod guides, slipping through the
wind and allowing fast descent of the
bait once in the water. Monofilament
and fluorocarbon in the 4-pound-test
range are OK, but modern superlines
offer even more advantages.
Superlines keep getting smaller,
smoother and more dependable –
and tend to have twice the advertised
breaking strength that companies
proclaim – making them far more
capable than light lines of the past at
resisting breakage and launching lures
into orbit.
Superline construction has advanced
in other ways to promote long casts, too.
For instance, many modern braids fea-
ture multi-carrier weaves for a smoother
finish and coatings that allow knots to
cinch down tighter and the line to flow
smoothly through guides. Berkley’s clas-
sic FireLine is an excellent choice, and its
By Matt Straw
newer NanoFil, which is a “uni-filament”
braid created by fusing Dyneema
strands together, is even thinner and
smoother. Sufix Nanobraid is another
modern take, composed of densely
braided Dyneema fibers to be slicker,
thinner and stronger than conventional
braids. In my experience, these “Nano”
interpretations cast farther than any
conventional braids within the same test
parameters.
Whichever braid is used, it can be
paired with a fluorocarbon leader,
matched specifically to the tactic and
water clarity for an effective setup.
The Rods
To “protect” the light line from impact,
fast, light-power spinning rods of 8 to 10
feet long are ideal. The extra length helps
absorb the shock of surging fish, but also
FLWFISHING.COM I APRIL 2018