DATA ON FISHING LINE SIZE VERSUS DIAMETER Following is a table of: (1) Pounds test as stated by the manufacturer. Note that pounds test is the *minimum* breaking strength. The actual load to break a straight section of line will be higher. FYI, A different number is the IGFA class, which is the *maximum* load required to break a line; the actual breaking point will be lower. For example, both Trilene 4- and 6-pound test are listed by Berkley in the 8-pound class. (2) Diameter in mils (thousandths of an inch) as stated by the manufacturer, when given on the package. (3) Measured diameter in mils, when possible. I used a calibrated Umpqua tippet gauge, which is a piece of metal with a wedge-shaped notch machined into it. I estimate these measurements to be accurate to better than 0.5 mil. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 0.5 mil. The gauge can only be used on lighter lines, in the 3 to 12 mil (for you fly fishers, 8X to "-1X" tippet) range. This seems to work well for nylon monofilament. I think that the braided line deforms during measurement, so I can only list an estimate for a diameter; the true value is +2/-1 mils or so. It is probably a little larger than the number given as this line is also slippery. For some of the large lines, my "measurement" was done by comparing the line to a known line, when one was available. I also put in data from a book and from reel manufacturers. N/A = not available or not applicable. ~ = appoximately. FISHING LINE TEST VS. DIAMETER LISTED MEASURED TEST DIAMETER DIAMETER BRAND LINE/REEL/BOOK (LBS.) (MILS) (MILS) -------------------------------- ------ ------ ------ Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide 1.1 4 N/A Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide 1.4 4 N/A Stren 2 6 5.5 Shimano AX100 reel rating 2 6 N/A Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide 2.4 6 N/A Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide 3.1 7 N/A Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide 3.8 8 N/A Stren 4 8 7.5 Berkley Trilene XL 4 8 8.0 Shimano AX100 reel rating 4 8 N/A Berkley Trilene XT 4 8 8.5 Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide 4.5 9 N/A Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide 5.5 10 N/A Berkley Trilene XT 6 10 10.0 Penguin Ultra Clear 6 N/A 10.0 Shimano AX100 reel rating 6 10 N/A Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide 6.5 11 N/A Bass Pro Excel 8 N/A 10.5 Diawa reel rating 8 11 N/A Maxima Ultra Green 8 N/A 12.0 Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide 8.6 13 N/A Berkley Tri Max 10 12 12.0 Stren 10 12 12.0 Diawa reel rating 10 12 N/A Maxima Ultra Green 10 N/A >12.0 Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide 11.6 15 N/A Berkley Trilene XL 12 13 N/A Diawa reel rating 12 14 N/A Berkley Trilene XT 14 15 N/A Diawa reel rating 14 16 N/A Gudebrob Lead-Core Trolling Line 15 N/A ~24 Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide 15.1 17 N/A Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide 19.2 19 N/A Fenwick Iron Thread (braided) 20 "8 lb" >~8.0 Fenwick Iron Thread (braided) 30 "10 lb" >~10.0 Following is graph of *typical* line diameters as a function of test strength for three categories of lines, mono, braided, and lead-core. TYPICAL LINE DIAMETER VS. TEST STRENGTH Legend: m = monofilament b = braided t = lead-core trolling ^ | 25 | | t | | | 20 | m | Diameter | (mils) | m | 15 | m | | m | m | m b 10 | m | m b | m | m | m 5 | | m | | | 0 + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -> 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Test Strength (pounds)