elastic

adjective

a mechanism used inside fishing rods in Europe. An elastic is threaded into the top three sections of a rod, anchored inside, fed out through a protective bush at the rod tip, and the line tied to the end. Elastic is pulled out by a hooked fish but cushions any run by the fish, helping in fighting and landing the fish. The elastic retracts into the rod when the fish stops running or is unhooked. Elastics come in various strengths from 1 (smallest) to 20 (largest), the diameter increasing with size. PTFE bushes are used internally or at the point the elastic emerges from the rod tip. These polytetrafluoroethylene bushes have a very low friction level and protect the elastic from wear.