Hooks, Lines & Sinkers (part 2)

Our reel line isn't a particularly glamorous item of tackle, you don't tend to look forward to using it like a new float, it's not nice and shiny like a new packet of hooks and it doesn't capture the imagination like a new gadget, but it is probably the most vital part of our set up.
Reel line is the link between the angler and his terminal tackle, it is in contact with the reel, rod, bite indicator and connects to the hook, swivel or hooklength all at the same time.
It must be trusted by the angler above all else.

In simpler days the choice of line was limited to just a few brands, this suited me fine and my reels were all loaded with either Maxima or Racine Tortue. I would use Maxima in various strengths for the majority of applications and the Racine would get an airing if I was fishing a stick float.
Some anglers at the time swore by the other main brand at the time Bayer Perlon but I never got on with it, I found that it deteriorated very quickly in sunlight and could snap like cotton after just a few uses.

Slightly later I changed from Racine to Drennan Floatfish for stick float fishing and would occasionally buy Drennan Specimen + (I think that's what it was called).

Nowadays the selection of line available is mind boggling, leaving aside braid which I have never used, you can still get Maxima etc but now you can buy flurocarbon line, abrasion resistant line, pre-stretched line, low stretch line, camoflaged line, red, black, white and yellow lines etc etc from a multitude of manufacturers. I don't pretend, after years away from the sport, to know anything about it but I do realise that such a wide selection, confusing as it is, is a good thing and can only help anglers to catch fish.

Right at this moment as someone very stuck in his ways most of my spools are loaded with the faithful Maxima in strengths from 3 to 8lb the only exception being a couple of spools bearing Fox Soft Steel, look at me going all space age !!!