Identification
As the name implies, monofilament comes from a manufacturing process that extrudes nylon into a single line. Braided lines are a combination of synthetic fibers woven into a line of great strength.
History
Monofilament hit the market in 1939, a year after the DuPont company discovered nylon. Braided line came along in the 1990s as the process used to manufacture it became possible, according to Learninghowtofish.com.
Function
Monofilament line is good for tying knots, it casts well and it is not costly. Braided line is useful when fishing in thick vegetation, as an angler can depend on the line to stay intact as she hoists fish out of weeds and brush.
Stretch
Monofilament line will stretch more easily than braided line, which becomes a factor when an angler wishes to have a line that can detect the slightest nibble. The sensitivity of braided line due to its lack of stretch allows an angler to feel a fish bite immediately.
Considerations
Braided line typically costs more than monofilament because the manufacturing process is expensive and time-consuming. Because of this, as many as two out of every three lines sold are monofilament, according to Bass Pro Shops.
