SPONSOR
SPOTLIGHT
A CLoSER Look At A
FEAtuREd pRoduCt
FRoM onE oF tbF’S
VALuEd SponSoRS
MONOFILAMENT STILL A SOLID CHOICE FOR FILLING THE LIVEWELL
S
avvy bass fans know choosing the right line for the
presentation and conditions at hand is critical to put-
ting more bass in the boat.
In the sport’s Dark Ages, hopeful anglers deployed bass
baits on strings spun from a variety of materials, including
cotton, Dacron, silk and other natural fibers.
Today, we rely on a variety of high-performance options
originating from three major categories: nylon monofila-
ment, fluorocarbon and super line. At any given The Bass
Federation club, state or national tournament, anglers can
be spotted catching bass on all three types of line.
DON’T SELL MONO SHORT
Since fluoros and super lines – various types of braided
and fused lines – seemed ready to flush monofilament from
the market soon after their arrival, some bass anglers have a
hard time believing that traditional mono remains a perenni-
al powerhouse. Yet each type of line has its advantages.
The line gurus at longtime TBF sponsor Berkley have
come up with a variety of industry-leading options in all
High-performance
monofilaments
like Trilene XT
remain a go-to for
serious bass
anglers across the
continent.
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three categories. Yet its ties to mono still run long and deep;
after all, Berkley introduced its legendary Trilene monofila-
ment back in 1959.
Then and now, mono offers a variety of benefits. Thanks
to its flexible nature, mono is manageable and easier to cast
than stiffer lines. It’s also knot-friendly, so you can use a num-
ber of easy-to-tie knots (including the appropriately named
Trilene knot) without sacrificing line strength.
Plus, it stretches more than super lines, which is a helpful
asset at times when the only option on a big fish is for the
line to stretch or break. Stretch also helps keep hooks from
tearing holes in a fish’s mouth, which can make it easier for a
bass to throw the hook. Other mono attributes include great
shock strength, a slow sink rate, low cost and availability in a
wide variety of colors.
Keep in mind that because monofilament absorbs water,
it’ll behave a bit differently at the lake than when it’s handled
in a tackle shop. Since water absorption makes mono
“relax,” it actually stretches a little more, handles better and
casts a bit farther when wet.
TAKE YOUR PICK
Still manufactured on U.S. soil at Berkley’s headquarters
in Spirit Lake, Iowa, Trilene monofilament is a time-tested
favorite of anglers across North America and around the
globe. It’s offered in a fistful of versions, including XT, XL,
Sensation and TransOptic.
Of these choices, Trilene XT is an extra-tough, abrasion-
resistant workhorse perfect for pursuing beefy bass around
rocks, docks and heavy cover. And, since it comes in 6- to
30-pound break strengths in clear, fluorescent clear/blue,
low-vis green and solar colorations, it’s easy to match color,
test and diameter to a variety of preferences, presentations
and conditions.
Throughout the 1970s and ’80s, Berkley worked with
grassroots anglers at state federations across the country
to test new lines and gather angler feedback. The com-
pany sent break-test machines to state competitions on
a routine basis, and TBF anglers who participated in
the product development process took their role and
responsibility seriously.
Mono is likely to stick around as an important tool
in the serious bass angler’s arsenal of lines, and TBF
members can take pride in knowing they helped drive
the creation of all of today’s best fishing lines.
flWfIshIng.com I august-september 2018