The heavy, stiff mono stops your fly line from tangling because they exert friction on the coils. You can also buy inserts from Orvis and others which fit in the bottom of a dishwashing tub. I have found that a drywall bucket about half filled with water works well as a stripping basket on my boat. Again, the water helps prevent tangles by putting a little friction on the line. Then it doesn't all come out in a big ball. I have found that using a basket increases my ease in shooting line, with less frustration due to tangles. **David**