A fishing line is the “main anchor” that connects you to your fish. Choosing the right line for your angling activities is crucial and will increase your chances for a successful catch.
Are you an avid angler? Have you faced problems with your line while out fishing? Knowing your line is essential for an angler. A common way to reduce line memory is to heat up your fishing line. But will fishing line melt or burn in the oven or while cooking in water? As is often the case with these kind of questions, the answer is it depends!
The short answer is: yes it can melt and even burn in the oven if it surpasses its high ignition point. And yes mono line can melt in boiling water. But you don’t need this to remove line memory! Let’s take a look in more detail.
Will fishing line melt or burn?
First, fishing lines are of various types. Each type of line has its unique characteristics and uses. Today they’re made almost exclusively from synthetic materials. That is nylon, fluorocarbon, polyethylene, and Dacron, and Dyneema.
Here’s a list of the most widely-used fishing lines and what they’re made of:
Monofilament Lines
Monofilament lines are made of a single filament of nylon.
Braid Lines
Braided lines were initially made of a polyester-based material, Dacron. Today, they’re made of Dyneema, gel-spun polythene, and known as ‘superlines.’
Fluorocarbon Lines
Fluorocarbon lines are also single filament lines. It is a polymer derived from the combination of fluorine and carbon.
Hybrid Lines
These are mixtures of multiple kinds of synthetic material that make up fishing lines.
These synthetic materials are able to resist ignition better than most materials. However, upon ignition, they can melt rapidly. Each of these lines has different melting and burning points, depending on the material they are made of.
Additionally, your fishing line is at risk of burns when reeled excessively and very fast. This can be dangerous and not only damage the line but also hurt the angler. Though the circumstances for this to happen have to be rather extreme.
Fishing line lubrication
What you can do to prevent or lessen the melting or burning of your line is use a line and reel lubricant. This is going to reduce the backlashes of intense angling effectively. Line and reel lubricants will extend the life of your fishing reel by reducing your line’s heat and memory.
While some reels are self-lubricating decently enough, others need some help. I have used Ardent Reel Butter in the past, to lubricate the reel and line. It works like a charm.
Here’s a video on how to lubricate your line and reel.
Line heating and line memory
Another relationship between your fishing line and heating is one involving line restoration. Most anglers try to get rid of line memory by heating the fishing line in lukewarm to boiled water. This technique does work but must be monitored very carefully.
Line memory is when your fishing line takes on bends and kinks because of excessive use. Or when your line has had a tough day reeling in a big and mean catch. Heating your line is one way to get it back to its bend and kink-free state. It can prevent the line from tangling and snapping and also saves you money if done by yourself.
Will fishing line melt or burn in the oven?
So, in this case, will a fishing line melt or burn? The answer might surprise you!
Suppose you considered putting a fishing line in your oven. Whether it is to remove the line memory or for tying up to-be delicious meals, do think twice.
Synthetic materials are strongly advised against being put in an oven. This is because they are highly prone to melting. If you put a fishing line in an oven at high temperatures, it will most likely ignite and melt, damaging itself and the oven. So, you don’t want to take that risk.
Whether your line is a sturdy braid, a fluorocarbon, a monofilament, or a hybrid, it’s going to both ignite and melt. That is because they are all synthetic materials and melt easily upon ignition.
Suppose you’re using a fishing line to tie up that delicious turkey or trying to get rid of your line memory- no ovens. It isn’t good for your health, your oven, or your fishing line. If line memory is a problem, do seek other alternatives.
Will fishing line melt in boiling water?
Putting a fishing line in boiling water as a hack to restore its usability is something many anglers have heard at least once. However, this doesn’t ring true for all kinds of fishing lines.
With the braided fishing line, boiling it in water will help remove any accumulated line memory. However, to begin with, the braid is much more resistant to line memory. So, you probably won’t be boiling it anytime soon.
As for a fluorocarbon line, the case is pretty much the same. Fluorocarbon lines are not as memory resistant as braids but definitely better than monofilaments when it comes to line memory.
Now, the one fishing line that has the most problems with line memory is the monofilament. Its high stretch often gets curled up and bent, making it challenging to use after. What anglers do is soak it in lukewarm to boiling water as a hack to restore it to its line-memory free state.
However, the difference between boiled and boiling water can be substantial and must by no means be casually overlooked. This can be the deciding factor between a reusable line and a completely damaged line. You need to carefully monitor the temperature of your water before soaking your monofilament line in it.
Check the video below, to know more about warm water and line memory.
And yes, your mono is going to melt in boiling water as it is made of nylon. Warm water will do the job.
Conclusion
The performance of fishing lines depends on a lot of factors. For instance, visibility of the water, depth, temperature, type of catch, etc. To make sure you don’t have to take the trouble of repairing your line, follow these steps:
- Choose the right line for the right occasion.
- Before using a line, make sure your fishing rod and reel is in good condition and does not hamper your line performance.
- Lubricate your spinning reel well before use, e.g. with Ardent Reel Butter
Finally, if you do end up having to remove line memory, use warm, boiled water, but never an oven or boiling water!
If you have any questions or queries, please shoot me a message!