The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Fishing Line for Spinning Reels

by birhmani in Others

Fishing is a beloved pastime that has been enjoyed by people around the world for centuries. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a beginner looking to cast your line into the world of fishing, choosing the right fishing line for your spinning reel is crucial for success on the water. With so many options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to determine which fishing line is best suited for your needs. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the different types of fishing lines, their characteristics, and help you make an informed decision about the best fishing line for your spinning reel.

Understanding the Basics of Fishing Lines

Before we dive into the specifics of choosing the best fishing line for spinning reels, let's start by understanding the fundamental types of fishing lines available:

Monofilament Fishing Line:

Monofilament is a versatile and widely used fishing line.
It is known for its buoyancy, which can be advantageous for topwater fishing.
Monofilament lines are relatively inexpensive and have good knot strength.
They are available in various pound-test ratings, making them suitable for a wide range of fishing applications.
Fluorocarbon Fishing Line:

Fluorocarbon lines are nearly invisible underwater due to their refractive properties.
They have low stretch and excellent sensitivity, making them ideal for detecting subtle bites.
Fluorocarbon lines are resistant to UV rays and abrasion, which enhances their durability.
They are commonly used for finesse fishing and when targeting spooky or line-shy fish.
Braided Fishing Line:

Braided lines are incredibly strong and have minimal stretch, allowing for increased sensitivity.
They have a smaller diameter compared to monofilament and fluorocarbon lines, which provides better casting distance.
Braided lines are highly abrasion-resistant but may require a leader in certain fishing situations.
They are popular for heavy cover fishing and when targeting strong, hard-fighting species.
Factors to take into account when selecting a fishing line for spinning reels

Now that you have a basic understanding of the main types of fishing lines, let's explore the key factors to consider when selecting the best fishing line for your spinning reel:

Fishing Conditions:

Consider the type of water and fishing conditions you'll be facing. Is it freshwater or saltwater? Are you fishing in clear or murky water? Tailor your line choice accordingly.
Species Targeted:

Different fish species have varying preferences for line types and pound-test ratings. Research the specific needs of your target species.
Line Strength (Pound-Test):

The pound-test rating indicates the line's strength. Choose a pound-test rating that matches the size of the fish you expect to catch.
Line Visibility:

For situations where fish are line-sensitive, such as clear water, consider using a low-visibility line like fluorocarbon.
Line Diameter:

Thinner lines have less water resistance and can cast farther. Braided lines have the smallest diameter, followed by fluorocarbon and monofilament.
Stretch and Sensitivity:

Determine how much stretch you want in your line. Monofilament has more stretch, while braided and fluorocarbon lines have minimal stretch, offering better sensitivity.
Abrasion Resistance:

If you'll be fishing in areas with rocks or heavy cover, choose a line with high abrasion resistance to prevent break-offs.
Knot Strength:

Ensure that your chosen line has good knot strength to secure hooks, lures, and swivels effectively.
Top Picks for the Best Fishing Lines for Spinning Reels

To help you make an informed decision, let's explore some top choices for each type of fishing line based on the factors mentioned above:

Best Monofilament Fishing Line:

Berkley Trilene XL: Known for its excellent castability and knot strength, it's a great all-purpose monofilament line suitable for various fishing conditions.
Best Fluorocarbon Fishing Line:

Seaguar InvizX: This high-quality fluorocarbon line offers excellent sensitivity, low visibility, and impressive abrasion resistance, making it ideal for finesse fishing.
Best Braided Fishing Line:

PowerPro Super Slick: PowerPro Super Slick is a top-notch braided line with a smooth surface that allows for longer casts and minimal friction. It's perfect for heavy cover situations.
Choosing the Right Pound-Test Rating

The pound-test rating of your fishing line plays a crucial role in determining its strength and suitability for different fishing scenarios. Here are some general guidelines:

Light Tackle (2-8 lb test): Suitable for finesse fishing and targeting small to medium-sized freshwater species like trout and panfish.

Medium Tackle (10-20 lb test): Versatile for a wide range of freshwater and inshore saltwater fishing, targeting species like bass, walleye, and redfish.

Heavy Tackle (20 lb test and above): Designed for big game fishing, offshore saltwater species, and situations where you need the strength to handle large, powerful fish.

Remember that these are general guidelines, and your specific fishing conditions and target species may require variations in pound-test ratings.

Conclusion

Choosing the best fishing line for your spinning reel is a crucial step in ensuring a successful and enjoyable fishing experience. Consider the type of fishing you'll be doing, the species you'll be targeting, and the specific conditions you'll encounter on the water. Whether you opt for monofilament, fluorocarbon, or braided line, each has its unique advantages and applications. By selecting the right fishing line and pound-test rating, you'll be well-prepared to tackle any angling adventure that comes your way. So, gear up, hit the water, and let the fishing lines cast your dreams into reality!

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Hundreds of different fishing line types, brands, sizes, diameters, properties, and strengths (pound tests) can make selecting one difficult. But fishing line can be broken down logically according to its applications to certain types of fishing. Each line type has specific properties that enable anglers to achieve varying goals in their sport.

Identifying the target species, fishing style, habitat, lures and baits, and the skill of the angler all have bearing in choosing the best line for the job. From trolling spoons for oversized pike and steelhead to deep jigging leadheads for walleyes and smallmouths, to working top-water frogs or spinner-baits for bass, there’s a specific kind of line to help anglers get the best results. There are three major types of fishing line employed today: monofilament, braid, and fluorocarbon.

Monofilament has been the standard line for millions of anglers for over half a century. Even today, inexpensive mono offers excellent value. It casts well with spinning or plug tackle and is easy to handle and tie knots with.

Why It’s Great

Because mono stretches under pressure, it can be very forgiving when you’re fighting a large fish. However, it takes a solid hook set with mono to drive hooks deep in fish, or into hard-mouthed fish like muskies. Mono is softer than fluorocarbon, and some anglers believe it’s more forgiving of abrasions than fluorocarbon line because mono “gives” rather than chaffs when contacting cover. However, some fisherman say fluorocarbon is better at abrasion resistance because it’s hard compared to limper monofilament.

Knots tie well with mono and cut cleanly with clippers for a smooth connection. In lighter tests, under about 10 pounds, mono is the choice of most anglers, because it casts light lures with spinning gear easily, and it’s easy to handle when rigging hooks, sinkers, snaps, and swivels.

Monofilament Line Shortcomings

Monofilament line has significant stretch. This can be an asset for some fishing and fishermen, but it makes for loss of lure feel, and some anglers have a difficult time detecting light strikes. Mono stretch also requires anglers to make a solid effort when setting hooks to drive barbs deeply into taking fish.

Another shortcoming is that monofilament twists, which causes a multitude of casting and retrieving problems. Monofilament line twist can be an especially troublesome problem when trolling lures, because of their inherent wiggle and wobble. Choice placement of swivels in mono near lures and baits can diminish line twist, but swivels are visible to spooky fish in clear water.

How And Why Top Anglers Use Mono

There are many applications for monofilament, and since it’s been around for decades, many top anglers are committed to it, like veteran fisherman, Jake Markris, of Fairhope, Alabama.

“I guess I use monofilament line the most because it’s what I was raised on,” he says. “I never felt I was at a disadvantage even when braid was introduced. Of course, braid has many advantages, such as no stretch, better hook sets, more sensitivity, longer life, etc. I don’t disagree with any of those. I just always felt if it wasn’t broke, why fix it.” Markris adds that monofilament is very cheap; it comes on and off the reel smoothly, and it makes it easier to tie knots quickly.

Jim Kalkofen with a nice walleye. Jim Kalkofen

Montanan Jim Kalkofen prefers monofilament in light tests for stream trout fishing with small lures and also for panfishing. “It’s easier casting far with light lures using monofilament,” says the long-time Midwest walleye tournament angler and co-owner of targetwalleye.com.

Kalkofen also opts for monofilament for deep-jigging, Rapala type lures and Moonshine Shiver Minnows, which he believes provide better hookups and more walleyes in the boat.

“I like soft mono with high abrasion resistance when using bottom-bumping lures like jigs and plastic worms for bass,” says Sammy Lee, host of the long-running syndicated radio show Tight Lines, from Alabama. “For this type of fishing, I want line with a little bit of stretch, so when I set the hook, the line doesn’t break.”

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Sammy notes that monofilament absorbs water during the course of fishing, providing an extra 5 to 7 percent elasticity. This ensures that the line won’t part during a hook set when using jigs and plastic worms.

Fishing Hall of Fame angler and host of the Lake Commandos TV show, Steve Pennaz, of Minnesota, uses all types of lines and opts for monofilament often during his fishing travels.

“Mono is a great line,” he says. “It’s neutrally buoyant, clear, strong, very inexpensive, and offers stretch (up to 25 percent)—a great option for most everyday fishing. I turn to mono when fishing most top-water lures for bass, especially poppers. Mono doesn’t sink like fluorocarbon or offer a darker silhouette like braid, so it’s ideal for any surface lure fishing.”

Pennaz also chooses light mono for panfish, especially when rigging slip floats.

Buzz Ramsey after a landing a salmon. Buzz Ramsey

Florida fishing guide and state wildlife officer Chris Holleman wants limp monofilament leaders when he uses live baits—especially with fish-finder rigs and when float fishing with slip-bobber rigs.

For trout and steelhead, Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame Angler, Buzz Ramsey, of Washington, mostly uses monofilament. “Being able to see my line is important, so a hi-vis mono is mostly what I use. And so fish won’t see or shy from it, I always employ a fluorocarbon leader,” he explains. “My preferred monos are Berkley Trilene XL for trout—as it’s smooth casting—and the tougher, more durable Trilene XT or Big Game when chasing steelhead.”

Braided line has boomed in popularity in recent years due to comparatively new improvements that have resulted in high abrasion resistance, very fine diameter per test, and superb casting characteristics.

Why It’s Great

Perhaps braid’s biggest asset is that it has virtually no stretch, thus it’s extremely sensitive—making it a top choice for deep water fishing and for “feeling” the slightest bite from fish. However, no stretch can be detrimental if anglers overplay fish, which can pull out or straighten hooks, resulting in a loss.

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Braided Line Shortcomings

It is more expensive than monofilament, and it can be difficult to tie knots in well, as braid tends to slip. Many old stand-by knots that work great with monofilament, such as the improved clinch knot and blood knot, will not hold in braided line.

Another property of braid is that it must be cut with scissors when trimmed following knots. Nail clippers will not cut braid.

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Braid can be a godsend in heavy tests of 20, 40, and 80 pounds or more. But in very light tests, under about 10 pounds, it is so fine in diameter that it’s difficult for some folks to handle and cast. Lastly, most anglers feel the need to use a leader of monofilament or fluorocarbon between braid and a hook to make the terminal end more invisible to fish. This also helps prevent tangles in snaps, swivels, and hook split rings.

How And Why Top Anglers Use Braid

“I use Sufix 832 braid with a fluorocarbon leader for most clear water fishing applications,” says long-time and well respected multi-species angler, Rich Zaleski, of Connecticut. “For drop shot fishing in the clear waters of the Northeast, I use 6- or 8-pound braid with an 8-pound Seaguar ‘Invizx’ fluorocarbon leader.” For most other finesse applications in Northeastern bass fishing, Zaleski uses 10-pound braid with a fluorocarbon leader of 8- to 12-pounds, depending on the lure and cover he is working.

For spinner-bait and for flipping vegetation, Zaleski uses 20-pound braid, without a leader. “For top-water stripers and bottom fishing, I like 30-pound braid with a 20- or 25-pound monofilament leader,” he adds. “I want a little give in the leader in that situation.”

Angler Rich Zaleski holding a giant striped bass on the Connecticut River. Rich Zaleski

Zaleski adds that one of the primary reasons he uses braided line so much is it increases his sense of feel when working lures and baits—especially in deep water. He attributes this to its fine diameter and lack of stretch.

“Braid sharpens and intensifies the signals transmitted through the line from lures and fish,” he says. “I like to say using braided line is like fishing by braille. This is why I’m not much of a line watcher, and don’t use high-visibility lines. I let line feel do the job of staying in touch with lures and fish.”

As an executive with the G. Loomis Company in Washington, Bruce Holt fishes in lots of places for lots of species, and uses all types of fishing line depending on the situation. “I like 10-pound Power Pro braid with a 6-foot fluorocarbon leader for buzz-baits, spinner-baits, top-water lures, and frogs, especially in heavy pads or weeds,” Holt says. “Same for deep-water jigs, except I opt for 30-pound braid. For trolling, it’s braid with a leader.”

Holt also uses braid on the Columbia River when he plunks for steelhead. “It’s sort of like catfishing except we’re using prawns and Spin-N-Glo‘s on leaders with a dropper lead,” he explains. “The thinner diameter of the braid is good in deep, heavy current for this application. Same for sturgeon, except I use a Dacron leader and bait.”

Ernie Calendrelli uses monofilament line with a fluorocarbon leader for fish like steelhead. Ernie Calendrelli

Niagara River, New York, fishing guide, Ernie Calandrelli, uses braided line for walleye and smallmouth bass fishing because his customers need the sensitive line to feel bait bites from fish. For bigger game like salmon, trout, and steelhead, Calandrelli opts for monofilament line with fluorocarbon leaders. The extra stretch in the line compensates for the mistakes that inexperienced anglers make when playing bigger fish.

Fisherman, Barry Stokes, almost exclusively uses braided line on all his spinning reels. It tends to lay flat on the reel spool, he says, with much less memory coming off the spool during a cast. Wind knots are also less of a problem for Stokes when using braid compared to mono or fluorocarbon. “I even use braided line on my crappie spinning reels. When dock shooting for crappie, braid shoots much farther under docks than any other line.”

Sammy Lee uses 80- to 120-pound-test braided line when flippin’ for bass. “This is one condition where I do not want any stretch in my line. I need a line that has the ability to horse out lunkers from heavy cover quickly,” he says. “Some anglers use a fluorocarbon shock leader for flippin’, but I’ve found that it destroys lure action.”

Steve Pennaz with a muskie he caught on braided line. Steve Pennaz

Steve Pennaz uses braided line almost exclusively for flipping jigs and plastics on heavy-cover bass. But he’s encountered some situations in recent years where fluorocarbon line was far better for flipping because of its invisibility. In some cases, using fluorocarbon produced two or three times as many bass as more visible braid.

Pennaz says braided line is his first choice when making very long casts, or when moving a lure to set hooks in fish like pike or muskies. They can hold a lure like a vice with their dagger-like teeth.

“Crankbait trolling for walleyes and other species is perfect for braid, too, because I can clear a lure of weeds or moss without having to reel the lure all the way back to the boat.

“Deep jigging with hyper-sensitive, no-stretch braided line makes for solid hook-sets.”

Another important and often overlooked asset of braided line, when compared to mono and fluorocarbon, is that it doesn’t twist. Line twist can be deadly with mono, especially in lighter tests, and particularly when inexperienced anglers are in control.

Fluorocarbon fishing line is a relatively new product that has been improved dramatically over the years. Its price has also come down from out of the stratosphere.

Why It’s Great

Similar in design to monofilament in that it’s extruded in a single strand, it is virtually invisible in even ultra-clear water because light passes through it. For this reason, anglers can use fluorocarbon in heavier pound tests than other lines that are more visible.

While fluorocarbon does stretch, in practical fishing it has less stretch than mono—though it is more elastic than braided line. It’s tough and resistant to abrasion. Newer versions of fluorocarbon are not as stiff as when it first entered the fishing market, which makes it more suitable to spooling on reels. Unlike mono, fluorocarbon doesn’t absorb water.

Fluorocarbon Line Shortcomings

Fluorocarbon can make it difficult to tie some knots, because it’s stiffer than mono or braid. Also, it sinks faster than mono, so for surface lures it’s not the best choice. But new-era fluorocarbon is quickly gaining lots of endorsements from plenty of top anglers.

How And Why Top Anglers Use Fluorocarbon Line

“Fluorocarbon has become my number one all-purpose line,” says Barry Stokes. “It’s limp and castable on my bait-casters, while still maintaining lots of strength and abrasion resistance. It’s also the clearest line on the planet with a zero refractive index. That means it’s the closest to transparent of anything other than water.” Stokes says he uses it almost exclusively for trolling and likes that it sinks and keeps lures lower in the water column.

“I long-line troll often for crappie with both jigs and crankbaits, and fluorocarbon helps a bunch,” he adds. “I use 6-pound-test for crappie trolling, and 10-pound test trolling for most everything else. I occasionally bump up to 14- or 17-pound-test if I’m trolling for big stripers or hybrids.”

Angler Barry Stokes now uses fluorocarbon line for many purposes and fishing situations. Barry Stokes

Dave Mull uses 15-pound-test fluorocarbon when working cover for bass with chatter-baits and spinner-baits on bait-casting tackle because the line is abrasion-resistant. He prefers fluorocarbon over braid because it’s easier dealing with backlashes.

Sammy Lee reports that when fluorocarbon lines were introduced his fish catching ratio went through the roof. He was able to get small lures deeper, faster, and with better feel using fluorocarbon line.

“Plus, when fishing in winter with gloves on, rod feel of lure and fish is enhanced tremendously with fluorocarbon,” he explains. “Fluorocarbon lines sink faster and relay a bass strike even better than braided lines. Plus I don’t backlash my spinning reels nearly as much with fluorocarbon line—that’s a real asset in winter.”

Fishing Line FAQs

Q: Which is better, monofilament or fluorocarbon?

In general, fluorocarbon performs better than monofilament line. Fluoro is tough and abrasion resistant. It stretches, but not as much as mono, and it’s very versatile. Top anglers say it is the clearest line, making it transparent in the water. However, for topwater baits fluoro is not a good choice, because it sinks faster than mono. Also, fluoro is more expensive.

Q: What is the strongest fishing line?

Braid is considered the strongest fishing line by diameter. In other words, it has a relatively smaller diameter per pound test than other line types. However, you can up the strength of any type of fishing line by increasing test weight. 

Q: How do I choose a fishing line?

Match the type of fishing line you choose to the type of fishing you intend to do, and follow the advice from the experts above. If price is no option and you want a good all-around line, go with fluorocarbon. If you want forgiving line that won’t break the bank, go with monofilament. If you intend to fish heavy cover, go with braid.