GEL-SPUN SUPERLINE

This article appeared in the August 2001 issue of Rod and Line fishing magazine.

     When gel-spun line was first introduced in Malaysia, there was a lot of rumbling among the fishing fraternity. With all the advertisements praising the gel-spun lines sky high, a lot of fishos plunged into the use of braided lines only to find out that it was not what it was lauded to be.

     The lack of knowledge on gel-spun lines leads to misinformation and myths regarding their uses, strength and drawbacks. Before we wade further into this mess, let us first take a look at the history of this "super line".

The actual name for this line is gel-spun polyethylene or GSP line. It is a kind of plastic where its molecules are reoriented and the resulting restructured fiber has a tenacity or strength to weight ratio of about ten time that of steel!

Some of the Gel-Spun lines found in Malaysia.

     The Dutch fiber producer, DSM was the first to produce the polythene fiber back in 1979. Commercial production was started in 1990 at Heerland where its plant was located. They then marketed it by the name of Dyneema.

     Later, Toyobo Company in Tokyo, Japan was licensed to produce Dyneema in the Far East. The Allied Signal Company was licensed to produce it under the name of Spectra in the US. Both these companies produce and supply the Dyneema and Spectra fibers to fishing line manufacturers to be made into braids or fusion lines of various brand names.

     In Malaysia there are generally two types of GSP lines sold in the market.One is the fused line and the other is the braided line. Both are made from GSP fibers though in different ways. Fused lines are GSP fibers being laid parallel to each other, compressed and then bonded together by various chemical adhesives. As such, they are slightly thicker and stiffer. This method of producing fishing lines is faster and easier, thus keeping the cost down. Berkley Fireline and Spider Wire Fusions represent two of the fused lines in Malaysia. As for the braided camp, we have the Spider Wire, Berkeley Whiplash, Power Pro and many other well-known and good lines. As the name suggested GSP fibers are braided and woven into fishing line, which is very time consuming and complicated thus raising cost. The braids are not only thinner in diameter, but also more limp when compared to fusion and mono lines.

Method of tying uni to uni knots as recommended by a few well-known GSP brands. Good for joining gel-spun to mono backing on the reel spool.

       The following are some of the facts and properties, which I have compiled from various

sources to share with our Rod  and  Line readers.

     1. Low Stretch: This feature is the main reason why the GSP lines are been lauded so much. Being virtually non-stretch(<4 compared="" the="" to="">30%) of the mono filament, it will transmit every little nibble up the line. When coupled with today's modern graphite rods, slight nudges from the fish will be like 8.7 quake on the Richter Scale. 

     Striking the fish will be easier as you will know when the bait is been picked up. Setting the hook with a wide swing of the rod is a thing of the past. The non-stretch property of the GSP is also very suitable in lure fishing as one can feel the bottom or any snags easily. With such awareness, lost lures will be minimised.

Lure action can also be increased and easier to execute, as the slightest twitch of the rod will transmit the action to the lure. This non-stretch property can be used to stop big fish from gaining the safety of sunken snags as the anglers can control its run and turning its head better.

     Of course it is not always yes votes for the non-stretch properties. The main drawback is, a hard fighting and jumping fish might tear out the hook, as there is no cushioning effect from stretching lines. This could also mean the sudden shocking pull might result in a broken line or even snap the rods.

     To overcome this problem, a softer rod can be use. Of course, the drag of the reel must be set lighter than the usual 1/3 the breaking strain of the braided line. It is much wiser to set the drag to 1/3 the breaking strain of the equivalent mono filament with the same diameter as the braided line.

     2. Thinner Diameter: Pound for pound the GSP are thinner than mono filaments. This translates into more line on the spool. The extra length is very useful in case you are lucky enough to lock onto a big fella. The thinner line also enables us to cast further. Sometimes even the extra distance of one metre can mean the difference between fish of no fish.

     To the deep-sea bottom fishing fans, the thinner diameter is God sent. With less bellying of the line in strong current coupled to smaller weight used meant less aching arms for the poor deep-sea bottom anglers. Fish being shy and wary are not easily spooked by the thin lines, thus more willing to take baits. For the same diameter, the GSP lines being stronger can help to pull lures or rigs back should they be snagged.Care must be taken not to pull with your bare hands as the GSPs can cut right up to the bones.

     3. Lighter: The density of the GSP is less than 1, which means it will float on water. This property is a bonus for float fishing as one can keep track of the float and line. Of course, the fly fishermen are laughing too.

A braid leader knot. This is another good method to join the gel-spun to the mono filament leader. A double must be made on the gel-spun first. One good was to make a double is the bimini twist (with increase turn) or the spider hitch. A good reference book on knots for gel-spuns is "Geoff Wilson's Guide To Rigging Braid, Dacron And Gel-Spun Lines".

     4. UV Resistant: GSP are generally more resistant to UV and the heat from the sun. As such, they last a lot longer and may be cheaper in the long run when compared to premium mono filaments. Some fading of colour, which is a usual occurrence, does not mean the line has deteriorated beyond use.

     5. Knots: When gel-spun line first hit the market, numerous complaints could be heard about knots slipping. The main culprit was the fused line. Comparatively, it is more slippery than the braided and mono lines. The problem can be overcome by increasing the number of turns while tying the knots and putting on a drop or two of super glue.

     For those who find learning new knots a hassle, then a piece of mono leader can be join to the gel-spun and the usual mono knots can be used to tie hooks or terminals. In order to join gel-spun to the mono, a double must first be tied on the gel-spun. The best is to use a Bimini twist with increased turns of about forty turns. Or if you are just targeting small fish, a spider hitch will do.

     After tying the double, a braid leader knot (see drawing ) can be used to join the mono to the gel-spun double. A uni to uni knot, as recommended by most of the manufacturers, is also very good to join braid to mono filament backing on the spool.

     As for hooks and swivels, a Palomar or uni knot with increased turns are two useful knots for gel-spun line. For those of you who are fanatical about knots, a very good reference book is Geoff Wilson's "Guide to Rigging Braids, Dacron and Gel-Spun Lines". 

     6. No Memory/Limp: Braids on the whole have no memory; thus they lie flat and supple. As such this very property poses a very irritating problem. Being supple and thin, it is very easy to get wrap around rod tips, guides and reel handles.

A-D). A step by step guide to the Palomar knot, which is also recommended by some GSP brands. 1-4). Method of tying a hook with uni knot.

     Care must be taken while casting as the line might break. Being thin it too can easily dig into the underlying line in the spool thus causing bird nests while casting. Casting reels with cross laying level winds help to minimise this problem.

     The fusion line are less prone to this problems but they have their own set too. Being sticky, they tend to stick to themselves and thus reducing casting distance and sometimes cause bird nests too. Should bird nests occur with gel-spun lines, it is almost impossible to untangle, as they are limp, thin and has no memory. The easiest way out is to cut the mess to save you a lot of stress.

     7. Bad For Guides?: Most anglers have the notion that gel-spuns are very bad for the rod guides. As far as I know, guides made from aluminium oxides and other harder materials are quite resistant to gel-spuns.

As for your hands it is a totally different story. I found out too late when I used my thumb to guide braided lines onto my multiplier.

A sketch of the braided line on the left and the fusion line on the right.

     Well, from my limited knowledge and whatever I can glean from other more experienced anglers, I have listed here most of the properties of the gel-spun lines. This article is never meant to be a pro and con debate about these super lines. My aim here is to share them with our fellow anglers so that you can make your own choice.