Just to confirm what I wrote and was willing to bet big was the correct
info, I called a couple of folks at a couple of line companies. Granted,
they probably aren't as knowledgeable about line and leaders and Mike,
Borked, and other assorted sockpuppets, but IAC...

The first call, to what is, IMO, the premiere mono and braided line
company on the planet, went something like this:

Me: Hey, name withheld to protect the innocent...well, he's not
innocent, but he hasn't committed any crimes in this jurisdiction...,
what's up?

NW: Not much. Howsaboutya?

Me: Oh, just bein' my normal self...

NW: Oh, ****...any survivors?

Me: You're a real funny man...anyway, smart ass, I have a quick question
for ya.

NW: OK...

Me: What about boiling mono?

NW: Wha...?

Me: To straighten it out

NW: Wha...?

Me: (Generally explain the situation)

NW: What brand is it?

Me: That matters?

NW: Sure, if it's their biggest competitor, boil the **** out of
it...

Me: Wha...?

NW: And when they have to replace it, tell 'em to buy ours...and don't
boil it...

And the second conversation was with someone at, ahem, RIO (but the name
of the individual withheld for the same reason) and went something like
this:

Me: (Generally explain the situation)

NW2: I wouldn't recommend it.

Me: Why?

NW2: It'll absorb too much water and it'll probably ruin it. If it
won't straighten out with a light run through the fingers and a light
stretch, there's something else going on.

Me: What about just pouring real hot water over it?

NW2: Nope, I wouldn't recommend that, either.

Me: Any suggestions?

NW2: A new leader...

HTH,
R