In the realm of angling, the right fishing line can make all the difference between a triumphant catch and a missed opportunity. Welcome to our comprehensive guide highlighting ‘The 7 Best Fishing Lines,’ where we unravel the top-notch options to elevate your fishing experience. Whether you seek strength, sensitivity, or versatility, explore our recommendations to enhance your success on the water.
Are you experiencing difficulties with reeling and casting? Maybe now is the time to get the best fishing line. However, do you know how to spot high-quality lines? Do you know what kind of line fits perfectly to your needs?
As technology emerges, different brands manufacture different versions of fishing lines. Choosing the right one may be overwhelming. You need a quality fishing line, the right type of line, and the line that will give you a hassle-free time.
To help you out, we created this guide to help you gain knowledge on different types of lines, things to consider in choosing a line, and some of this year’s top picks. Before we dive into all the intricacies, let us first understand what a fishing line is.
What is a Fishing Line
A fishing line is a tensile cord usually of nylon, silk, or wire used to catch fish. It is casted from the rod and flies through the air and lands down into the water.
Types of Fishing Lines
Monofilament
Monofilament fishing lines are composed of different types of nylon and a single line. As innovation occurs, the nylon material has been integrated with polymers and other carbon materials. These added materials allow for improved stretch and durability.
Color Availability
- Yellow – The bright yellow color helps detect bites. However, the downside of using a high-vis yellow color is its visibility. The color is visible in clear waters but may be a great choice for mud fishing.
- Red – There is an ongoing debate if the color red is invisible underwater. Some believe that red become black when submerged to water but red hooks are not. Either way, red lines are said to attract more bites.
- Green – The green color blends well in waters. With the camouflage effect blending into the water surroundings, it may be invisible to fishes.
- Clear – If you are concerned about your line being seen by the fishes, go for clear.
Pros
Monofilament is a durable fishing line known for its reliability. Monos stretches under pressure providing a right hook. This type of fishing line is beginner friendly since it is soft and forgiving. Another good thing about mono is you can knot and tie easily. It is also easy to cast light lures like snaps, hooks, sinkers, bobbers, and swivels.
Cons
The stretch that monofilament provides may or may not be an asset for different anglers. Due to the stretchiness, you can’t expect much about the sensitivity which can lead to fish loss. The main issue about mono line is the memory, it creates loops and twists which causes casting issues.
Copolymer
Copolymer is an updated version of mono. Instead of a single cord, they have embedded a different cord of nylon to make it two. This makes the line stronger and more importantly less stretchy. This provides access to different types of fishing.
A copolymer fishing line is thinner compared to mono but with the same strength. This allows you to put more lines in your reel. With this type of line, you may be confident of casting long distances, knowing you have enough line.
Color Availability
- The same as the monofilament line
Pros
This type of fishing line shares the same advantages as mono but with less stretch. It does have an impressive strength, improved casting, and is more abrasion-proof.
Cons
The downside of a copolymer is that it doesn’t float well and is more expensive compared to mono. So you have to think about if the pros of purchasing a copolymer will be of value to you.
Braided
This fishing line consists of a number of strands composed of polyethylene compound forming a single line. Overtime, braid lines become thinner, stronger, and more sensitive with excellent abrasion resistance. Compared to mono, braided fishing lines have no stretch.
Color Availability
- Bright Yellow – Helps detect fish bites.
- Pink – For ease of bait tracking.
- White – Works well with sunlight.
- Green and Gray – Blends more in water.
Pros
Clearly braided fishing lines have more strength compared to mono. Second advantage is the diameter allowing for larger fishes of 15-80 pounds. It is ideal for casting in a long distance compared to its counterparts.
Cons
Braided lines are considered the most expensive of all the fishing line types. It can also be tricky to form a knot since the braid sometimes slips. To retie a knot, this braid requires the use of clippers or scissors.
Fluorocarbon
As the name suggests, fluorocarbon covers compounds that consist of fluorine, chlorine, and carbon. Compared to mono, this fishing line may be a great choice for controlled stretch. Due to the combination of high density and direct contact this line is highly sensitive.
Similar to monofilament, this fishing line is extruded in a single line. However, with fluorocarbon, the molecules are more tight which makes it denser and heavier.
Color Availability
- Red/pink – This color used with fluorocarbon is perfect for deep water fishing. As the red color is the first one to disappear when the deep sea is reached.
Pros
Fluorocarbon is preferred by many anglers because of its water invisibility. Fluoro fishing line is a lot denser and more abrasion resistant. It is also waterproof and UV resistant. It doesn’t absorb water compared to other fishing lines and it does not break down with sunlight exposure. So you can expect that this line would last longer giving you a return of your investment.
Cons
Fluorocarbon is dense which means that it sinks fast. This may be a disadvantage for topwater lures. It is also stiff, making it hard to tie knots, so you may be required to wet your line when tying.
Combining Fishing Lines
Many pro anglers combine fishing lines to maximize chances of a successful day. One of the popular techniques involves using braid as the main line then combined with a mono or fluorocarbon leader. Using this technique offers maximum strength, depth, shock absorption, and invisibility.
Features of a Fishing Line
Now that we understand the different types of fishing line, we can cover the main qualities of a line. This may help you understand and decide what may be the best fishing line in certain conditions.
- Memory: A line with a memory tends to curl up or knot. This makes it harder to cast in a long distance.
- Stretch: As stretch helps you fight fish better, this gives you less feedback which makes hook setting tough.
- Shock Strength: You may find that having a bit of stretch will help avoid snapping under pressure. The shock strength stops hitting fish from breaking you off.
- Abrasion Resistance: The abrasion resistance property helps you handle scratches better.
- Buoyancy: In different circumstances, floating and sinking are both useful. Buoyant is great for topwater fishing, while the sinking line stays rigid in deep water.
- Visibility: It is important that you use a low-visibility line to avoid spoofing off fishes. Colored lines may be used to match the depth and shade of the water.
How to Choose the Best Fishing Line
Before you decide on what kind of line to purchase, let’s first have a look on different things to consider:
- Type of Fish
Fishing line comes in different weights, to determine what to buy you first need to think about what is your target fish. You need to think about how big or small your target catch is. Large fish need heavy lines.
- Reel Size
The reel size will determine the amount of strength you can load into the line. You need to match the kilogram strength to the spool. As an example you can see the chart below:
| Reel Size | Mono | Braid | Rod Length |
| 10 or 1000 | 1- 2 kg/2 – 4 lb | 4 – 8 lb | 6-7 ft (line rating 1-4kg) |
| 20 or 2000 | 2- 3 kg/4 – 6 lb | 5 – 10 lb | 6-7 ft (line rating 2-5kg) |
| 25 or 2500 | 2.5- 4 kg/5 – 8 lb | 5 – 12 lb | 6-7 ft (line rating 2-5kg) |
| 40 or 4000 | 4- 6 kg/8 – 12 lb | 8 – 12 lb | 8-10 ft (line rating 3-10kg) |
| 60 or 6000 | 6- 8 kg/12 – 16 lb | 12 – 30 lb | 8-10 ft (line rating 4-10kg) |
- Braid or Mono
We have already discussed the difference between mono and braided. To break it down
Mono lines are recommended for:
- Entry level anglers
- If you are using floating baits
- If you are fishing in areas that snags are common
- If the area you are fishing requires invisible lines
Braided lines are recommended for:
- Long casting
- Light lures
- Chasing large fishes where extra line length is required
- High sensitivity
- Needs extra accuracy
- Weedy fishing areas
- Skill Level
It is important to consider your skill level. Are you an amateur or an expert? If you are only starting it is best to try with monofilament or fluorocarbon. However, if you are intermediate or on expert level, you can use advanced lines to match your needs.
- Cost
When buying a fishing line, expensive is not always the best. You should choose a line
that matches your preference, skill level, and budget. There are a lot of brands out there
that are economical but still offer great quality.
2024 Fishing Line Top Picks
Berkley Trilene XL
The XL on the name means “Extra Limp” or simply smooth casting. This is a strong fishing line with a strength level of 20% when dry and 50% when wet. With the 20% strength it takes a lot before it kinks or breaks.
Seaguar Smackdown
Smackdown is a braided line used for both fresh and saltwater. It features eight ultra-thin micro-weave strands in rounded shape. An outstanding strength with 10 pound test and a top-notch abrasion resistance.
Momoi Hi-Catch Diamond
For those who are using smaller reels, the Momoi line will be a great choice. When fishing off rocky waters the Momoi’s abrasion resistance stands out. Its tensile strength goes up to 200% more compared to mono lines having the same diameter.
PowerPro
PowerPro features a round braided shape with smooth texture. With the Enhanced Body Technology, this line can be cast further making it as one of the recommended lines for bass fishing. This line is highly sensitive which is great for picking up even the slightest bite.
Seaguar INVIZX 100% Fluorocarbon
The INVIZX 100% Fluorocarbon is like a monofilament with no memory. It is castable and designed to be used on freshwater applications. This fishing line is constructed 100% from Seaguar resins.
Sufix Siege
The Siege line is one of the best lines to use for trout fishing. It features an exclusive G² Precision Winding which eliminates the line from coiling off. Its high tensile strength matches the strength of a trout when being pulled out.
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline
The 832 fishing line features the tightest weaves available on the market. This includes seven HMPE fibers and one GORE Performance Fiber for easier casting. The Gore Performance Fiber also allows casting on the same distance as you did the first try. Not only that but it also features excellent abrasion resistance and color retention.
Where Should You Buy Your Fishing Line
For starters it is advisable to go to your local store. Local stores have staff that could give you knowledge on different fishing lines available. They could also help you decide what to buy based on your needs and fishing experience. However, if you are an experienced angler, you can go online and check a wide array of fishing lines.
Conclusion
The importance of selecting the right fishing line cannot be overstated. With the advancements in technology, the options on fishing lines are diverse. As different brands offer different pros and cons, your decision should be based on your fishing needs. Consider water conditions, target species, and personal preference to find your match.
Stay informed and elevate your angling adventures with a high quality fishing line!
If you have any brand reactions or suggestions, feel free to comment them down below.
Additional Resources:
- Choosing the right fishing line: https://www.westmarine.com/west-advisor/Selecting-Fishing-Line.html
- Popular types of fishing lines: https://www.takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/fishing-gear-and-tackle/types-of-fishing-line/#:~:text=1.,it%20neat%20on%20the%20spool.
- Fluorocarbon Vs monofilament: https://www.blackmagictackle.com/fishing-guides/fluorocarbon-vs-monofilament#:~:text=FLUOROCARBON%20LEADER,-Fluorocarbon%20(also%20known&text=Here%20are%20some%20of%20the%20key%20points%20of%20difference%20of,around%20reefs%20and%20other%20structure.
- Pros and cons of fluorocarbon fishing line: https://www.strikeking.com/en/learn/tips/the-pros-and-cons-of-fluorocarbon-line
- The best fishing line for spinning reels: https://www.wired2fish.com/tackle-tips/how-to-choose-the-best-fishing-line-for-spinning-reels#:~:text=Braid%20is%20better%20for%20spinning,spools%20to%20fill%20up%20quickly.
Check out our blog on Best Braided Fishing Lines for 2024
