Mono lines and pre-soaking

[InteraX]

I've bought myself one of the new Reel Rapz at the Big One. It seems like a great idea if it does what it says on the tin (makes monos much more supple and heavier), but there are a few questions I have that you outstanding gent might be able to help me with.

Firstly, does soaking a line affect it's diameter or breaking strain in any way?

Secondly, does a soaked line cast any further/differently to an unsoaked line?

Looking at The Tackle Box line tests and the stated line strength, I'm guessing those are based on dry lines. Does anyone know if breaking strength has been compared when dry vs when soaked?

[yonny]

1 hour ago, InteraX said:

Firstly, does soaking a line affect it's diameter or breaking strain in any way?

If it does, it will be negligible imo mate.

1 hour ago, InteraX said:

Secondly, does a soaked line cast any further/differently to an unsoaked line?

A wetted (not soaked) line will cast further as there's less friction on the rings. I honestly have no idea if a soaked line would cast further.... the extra weight might offset the reduction in friction.🤷‍♂️

[Golden Paws]

I also thought that although mono does absorb moisture if soaked, it dries out again and pretty well reverts back to it's original state. It definitely makes it easier to spool up and is worth doing. If you are going for the big chuck, it's probably worth pouring a bit of water over the spool or alternatively do a couple of test casts to get it properly wetted before going for the big one. 

[elmoputney]

If you don't soak your line Vs once it's been in the water for a while it just seems to cast better, wrap better and sink better once it's wet. I saw those things at the Essex carp show, good idea but not for me at that price, they were pricey I thought.

I did use some sweatbands for a while that I would soak but I left them in the car or somewhere once and didn't bother doing them again. 

[InteraX]

1 hour ago, elmoputney said:

I saw those things at the Essex carp show, good idea but not for me at that price, they were pricey I thought.

That's why I only bought 1 to try it out. Damn expensive for what it is. I said so. Apparently they have a patent on it, otherwise one of the other tackle companies would do a cheaper clone.

[greekskii]

I’m not sure I get the whole point of all this, but you cast line out and leave it in the water for hours on end. It’s well soaked  up to the distance you’re casting anyway. 
 

you’re always advised to soak before spooling so it becomes more supple. 

[framey]

Ouch 

very expensive sweat band 

 

[elmoputney]

2 hours ago, greekskii said:

I’m not sure I get the whole point of all this, but you cast line out and leave it in the water for hours on end. It’s well soaked  up to the distance you’re casting anyway. 
 

you’re always advised to soak before spooling so it becomes more supple. 

Having previously used the sweat bands before a session it does make a slight difference, it was nice to have pre soaked line as I do find it makes line smoother and better to cast with and perhaps slightly less springy. But yes once it's been out for a while it is essentially the same. 

I always pre soak my line before I put it on tbh just seems to make it go on the spool better maybe I'll dig the old sweatbands out for the big one 😱

Edited yesterday at 09:06 by elmoputney

[greekskii]

I should probably pre soak my braid when I’m fishing at range. Sweatbands the obvious choice. 
 

not that I’ve fished mono for years but I always used to have a couple of casts without a hooklink to the clipped spot to ascertain the difference in feelings from the braided leading rod. So I guess line was wet already when it came to the casts that mattered. 
 

in terms of the OP and breaking strain was really my point with the soaking whilst fishing thing. If I leave my lines out for 24hrs and it reduced breaking strain you’d certainly know about it! 
can imagine a very good pre soak of any line but especially monos and fluoros would be beneficial when there’s a lot of algae floating about or sediment in the water as to not discolour it? 

[elmoputney]

1 hour ago, greekskii said:

I should probably pre soak my braid when I’m fishing at range. Sweatbands the obvious choice. 
 

not that I’ve fished mono for years but I always used to have a couple of casts without a hooklink to the clipped spot to ascertain the difference in feelings from the braided leading rod. So I guess line was wet already when it came to the casts that mattered. 
 

in terms of the OP and breaking strain was really my point with the soaking whilst fishing thing. If I leave my lines out for 24hrs and it reduced breaking strain you’d certainly know about it! 
can imagine a very good pre soak of any line but especially monos and fluoros would be beneficial when there’s a lot of algae floating about or sediment in the water as to not discolour it? 

The amount of birds nests I have created with spod braid when rushing to get the rods out, probably a good shout, 

[OldBoy]

Not sure what this gizmo actually is supposed to do, if you want to wet your mono before casting just tip water over spool?

Years ago, remember a company - maybe Kryston?? - brought out drops to put on mono to help long casting, err never seemed to catch on 😄

Myself and @greekskii have often had - 'words' - in the past, but for me not worth falling out over tbh 👍

I do have to agree with his comment:

I’m not sure I get the whole point of all this, but you cast line out and leave it in the water for hours on end. It’s well soaked  up to the distance you’re casting anyway. 

[salokcinnodrog]

On 13/03/2026 at 13:15, InteraX said:

I've bought myself one of the new Reel Rapz at the Big One. It seems like a great idea if it does what it says on the tin (makes monos much more supple and heavier), but there are a few questions I have that you outstanding gent might be able to help me with.

Firstly, does soaking a line affect it's diameter or breaking strain in any way?

Secondly, does a soaked line cast any further/differently to an unsoaked line?

Looking at The Tackle Box line tests and the stated line strength, I'm guessing those are based on dry lines. Does anyone know if breaking strength has been compared when dry vs when soaked?

I am of the load line slowly onto the spool wet, and it is tidy, doesn't tangle or cause me grief.

Wet line casts more smoothly than dry line, and it is probably on recasts, soaked.

I normally have a couple of casts to get it right, so by the time I cast properly the line is wet.

8 hours ago, OldBoy said:

Not sure what this gizmo actually is supposed to do, if you want to wet your mono before casting just tip water over spool?

Years ago, remember a company - maybe Kryston?? - brought out drops to put on mono to help long casting, err never seemed to catch on 😄

Myself and @greekskii have often had - 'words' - in the past, but for me not worth falling out over tbh 👍

I do have to agree with his comment:

I’m not sure I get the whole point of all this, but you cast line out and leave it in the water for hours on end. It’s well soaked  up to the distance you’re casting anyway. 

I have used Kryston Greased Lightning and yes it does seem to make it cast even better, as well as appear to improve abrasion resistance.The old dropper bottles, I would put a line across the spool back to front, turn the spool 45⁰, same again, and again until I had done a full 360⁰. 

I have not used it for a few years though.

One thing I did find was it seemed to make the line more buoyant.

[OldBoy]

12 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said:

I have used Kryston Greased Lightning and yes it does seem to make it cast even better, as well as appear to improve abrasion resistance.The old dropper bottles, I would put a line across the spool back to front, turn the spool 45⁰, same again, and again until I had done a full 360⁰. 

I have not used it for a few years though.

One thing I did find was it seemed to make the line more buoyant.

Ah, that was it 👍, actually I did a google for it, apparently it is still available!

I don't fish anywhere now that is not within my casting range, actually thinking back I wonder if it did make any difference when I needed a 'big chuck' but liked to think it might have tho 😃