Is there a simple but effective method to test the breaking strain of fishing line?

Question

I have read that testing of fishing line requires sophisticated and expensive equipment. I wonder whether anyone has been able to put together a simple piece of equipment by which the breaking strain of fishing line could be tested quickly and accurately.

The reason for asking this question is because it is necessary to test the breaking strain of line for line-class competitions and for IGFA line class records. (Scott, please note)

Answer 1

Use a swivel to emulate the knot you would be using while actually fishing, and attach a bucket on the end. Slowly add weight (water works well) until the line breaks. Weigh the bucket. If you don't have a good scale for that, estimate the weight by the volume of water it took to snap the line: water weighs about 8 lbs per gallon, so you can get an easy 40 lbs of weight in a 5-gallon bucket.

Answer 2

I'm not aware of any equipment you or I could buy to test the breaking strength of fishing line. I don't think I would be too interested if I could buy it because there are many factors that affect what the breaking strength is and I'm not sure I would know how or for what I should be testing.

Let's assume we're talking about monofilament line.

All lines are tested for tensile strength, but that is relevant only if the line is new and you're looking to hoist semi-dead and motionless fish from a bridge. After you catch a few real fighters, the line will stretch and your measurement won't mean anything.

The breaking strength you get from a test is not well related to actual fishing, when the fish have something to say about the "strength" of your line. If the fish is very active and does a lot of turning, he will break the line before a "slow" fish of the same weight will. If you're fishing in moving water, that will decrease the true strength of your line because you have to add something to the fish's weight to compensate for the fact that the moving water is adding to the stress on the line. This is particularly true when you have a lot of line out and the fish changes direction; the fish is dragging the line through the water; which increases the strain on the line, so a 10-pound fish may have the same effect on your line as a 12-pounder in calm water.

Etc.

I'm glad to rely on the manufacturer's label to tell me how "strong" the line is.

You must be a fisherman, so you know that you can catch a 100-pound fish on 6-pound test line, but you can't catch a 6-pound fish on 100-pound test line. The stronger line is thicker and more visible to the fish, so the fish will often refuse to bite. But how do we know that a fish was scared off by the visibility of the line?

I have been fishing for more than 40 years. I pride myself on being a great conservationist. I say that because most of the fish that were swimming around when I arrived were still swimming around when I left! Some years ago I almost caught a 150-pound tarpon. Now, he probably weighed only 30 pounds or so when I "almost" caught him (he broke off right at the boat!), but that fish must weigh 150 pounds by now -- and I almost caught him!

If you think fishermen lie, ask a jogger how far he ran this morning!

Answer 3

Fishing Line Breaking Strain

Answer 4

Do you just want to see how the line holds up or maybe you have a spool of line with no label on it!
Make loop knot and hook it to a vegitable scale and pull until it breaks that will give you and idea of what the line is capable of!
BUT that is not true real life affects on test strength of fishing line!The variables are different with the drag of the reel the action of the rod the eyes of the rod the lenght of line out and water absorbtion and stretch of the line!


You added IGFA class line! Go to your tackle dealer and ask for the line rating you will be needing and also ask for the IGFA booklet on line classes and rating,good luck.
IGFA tests all line and tippet samples submitted with world recordclaims in accordance with the metric line class designations, which varyslightly from the standard U.S. customary designations. For example,
the U.S. customary equivalent of 4 kilograms is 8.81 pounds. Thus, linedesignated by the manufacturer as 8 lb class line may test up to 8.81pounds (4 kg) to qualify for an 8 lb line class record. The U.S.
customary equivalents in pounds for the metric line classes!

Answer 5

Take piece of old string, piece of new string same weight. Pull both, see if the old breaks faster under the same strain