BEST FISHING LINE

Best Fishing Line

What is the Best Fishing Line? There are so many types of fishing lines on the market, and each one of them has a full advertising campaign to get you to buy them. The truth is, it’s all about personal preference, and what you like to use, how you like it to feel, how strong you want it to be, or if you want it to stretch. For each of those specific qualities, there is a fishing line for that.

Fishing Line Types

• Monofilament • Braided Line • Fluorocarbon • Copolymer

Monofilament Fishing Line

Monofilament fishing line, also called mono, is made from one fiber of plastic. Most anglers use monofilament fishing line because it is the most versatile, and most affordable type of fishing line. Monofilament comes in many different colors, such as clear, white, green, red, blue, and fluorescent. Monofilament does get abrasions on the line, so it’s important to make sure your line is abrasion free each time before your trip. Monofilament will float on top of the water for a bit until your lure or bait takes it under water. Pros: Line stretch quality is great for setting the hook on fish with softer mouths such as Kokanee. The floating quality makes it great for fishing with top water lures and rubber worms. It’s much more affordable than all other types of lines. Some brands, styles, and colors will make the line more invisible to fish. Great knot strength for a large variety of common knots Is smooth and great for casting. Cons: Absorbs water, which causes the properties of the line to change. The stretch is also a con, depending on the fishing situation. Weakens from exposure to UV sun light and harsh water elements like salt water.

Braided Fishing Line

Braided fishing lines are increasing in popularity due to the heavy pound test will have a thinner line diameter to make it less visible, and to allow for more line on the reel. Braided line is made by by braiding or weaving fibers of a man-made material like Spectra or Micro-Dyneema into a strand of line. This process makes for a very strong, tough line that is very abrasion resistant. Braided line is so strong that you can have trouble breaking your line when you get hung up. Braided line will cut through the other types of fishing lines, so if you are on a boat with other lines, they should all be using braid, or nobody should use braid. I have seen many times where someone gets a fish with monofilament, and as their fish swims their line over braided line, the fish breaks off immediately. Pros: Braided line does not stretch, making for solid hook sets. Small diameter line with heavy pound test compared to other lines. Braided line is the most resistant to abrasions. Cons: You have to tie particular knots for braid, as many regular knots will slip on braided line. Braided line is highly visible to fish, it’s best to add a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader. Braid will cut other lines that are not braid with the weight of a fish crossing over other lines. Braid is quite a bit more expensive than most other lines.

Fluorocarbon Fishing Line

Fluorocarbon is an expensive line, but if your looking for the most invisible to fish, this is the line to go with. It sinks in the water instead of floating on the top like monofilament does. It has less stretch to it than monofilament does, and has an outstanding level of abrasion resistance. The biggest hold back is the price and the stiffness of the line if you go with some of the heavier pound test line. Some people prefer braid or monofilament as their main line, and add a fifty foot length of fluorocarbon to make the part of the line that fish would see invisible to fish. Pros: Fluorocarbon is virtually invisible to fish. Sinks in the water. Low Stretch Outstanding abrasion resistance. Cons: Fluorocarbon is stiffer than monofilament line. It is very expensive in comparison to other lines

Copolymer Fishing Line

Copolymer fishing line is a more advanced version of monofilament line. It is made of two types of nylon polymers, and monofilament line is made from only one. The combination of the two polymers resolves a few of the problems that happen with monofilament line. Copolymer is stronger, less likely to tangle, and it is much more resistant to abrasions. Copolymer will sink much quicker than monofilament. Pros: Strong and durable line that can rival braided line in most reasonable circumstances. The sinking quality is great for fishing beneath the surface with swimbaits and jerkbaits. Knots won’t damage the line as much as it does to other lines. The low stretch quality makes it easier for you to set hooks and land big fish. Though it is not as transparent as fluorocarbon, it is fairly close. Cons: Expensive compared to Monofilament Line. Sinking line makes it difficult to use top water baits like frogs and poppers. Made of nylon, have to replace it as often as monofilament due to sun damage If your fishing for fish like Bluegill from the bank, you're better off using monofilament because you should save your expensive copolymer line for more demanding fish.

Fishing Line Color

Fish see colors differently. Some colors are more visible to fish, and some colors are more invisible to fish. It’s important that the part of the fishing line that the fish see is not visible to them, to entice more strikes. If you want to use fishing line that is the easiest for you to see, just be sure to use a leader that is not, so that you can still have the line be virtually invisible to the fish to entice more fish bites. Yellow Fishing Line - A great reason to use yellow fishing line is that anglers can see it above the water and can better detect when you get a bite. However, this line is best in murky waters because it also makes the line a bit more visible underwater. Red Fishing Line - Red is also said to be invisible underwater at depth, but it actually looks black in deeper waters. It’s great for visibility for fishermen, but it is not the best choice for fish in clear waters. Green Fishing Line - Green is a good choice in greenish water. Green is visible to fish, but if you are fishing in green waters, the water will camouflage the fishing line by allowing it to blend in. Green is not a good choice in clear waters. Clear Fishing Line - Clear line is by far the best line choice as it remains clear at all depths, and will be the least visible to fish. Bluish Tint Fishing - Line Blue lines are virtually clear in waters deeper than 15 ft.

Best Fishing Line Color

• Clear Fluorocarbon - Most Invisible to Fish • Pink Fluorocarbon - Loses it’s color to fish at various depths • Bluish Tint - Virtually clear at depths deeper than 15 ft. About The Author Mike Mendenhall is the the founder of Mendenhall Outdoors. This website is an extension of the Mendenhall family’s lifestyle and passion for the great outdoors. Everything that they learn, and experience, along the way that they find may be valuable to our website visitors is on the site for you to enjoy. We highlight products and services that you might find interesting. We frequently receive free products from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. If you click a link on this page, then go on to make a purchase, we might receive a commission – at no extra cost to you, and does not impact the purchase price of any products that you may purchase. The Best Fishing Line Shopping Experience Awaits!