They say there are a million uses for duct tape and WD40. I say there are a million uses for fishing line, too.
Among its many uses, fishing line can be used to lash gear bags to a canoe, hang laundry out to dry, make a snare if you’re lost in the wild, or, as I learned this morning, keep your pants from falling down.
Back in early February, I entered into a little competition with National Guard FLW College Fishing angler Shaye Baker to see who could lose the most weight before the College Fishing National Championship. Winner gets a free pork chop dinner (read my blog post about the contest here.
In my quest to win a free pork chop dinner, I have been in the gym about five days a week since the contest started. After my workout this morning, as I was getting ready to leave the gym, I put on my pants and realized that I had forgotten my belt. Well, since I’ve lost 12 pounds during this contest, my pants are already loose, even when I have a belt. Without a belt, they seem intent on vacating the vertical position as soon as possible. I had to keep my hand in my pocket to keep them up while walking to the truck to leave.
I didn’t have time to run home before coming to work today, so when I got in the office, I manufactured a stylish belt out of 10-pound-test monofilament – clear green.
Now, you might not think fishing line would make a good belt, but I think it works quite fine. Not as good as a belt, but good enough. Plus, you can carefully match the line to the pants-retaining application.
Let’s say your outfit was one that you didn’t want to wear with a belt, but you had trouble keeping up your britches. You could use a nice 6-pound-test clear fluorocarbon.
If you’re wearing a red shirt, go with a 10-pound-test blood-red monofilament.
If you’re going to be doing a lot of moving, twisting or exercising, I’d suggest a 12-pound-test monofilament. You’ll want the stretch monofilament provides, with the extra strength of a heavier line.
Above all, I would suggest avoiding braided line. It has no stretch and could cut the skin.
Just make sure you use a good solid knot – the simple shoelace knot I tried first came undone in a hurry. The square knot is still holding strong.