Fishing Lines….pros Vs. Cons?
Ok… so now that im getting pretty heavy into fishing (those who continuously help me out know and i thank you) im having a hard time/conflicting opinions on what type of fishing line to use. Am looking for opinions on types such as “braided” “Fluorocarbons” “Monofilament” and the list goes on. Just want to see what you guys prefer or refuse to use and why… Thanks
Monofilament
Main characteristics: the main things to know about mono is that is has the most stretch of all line and is buoyant. Most monos aren’t very abrasion resistant. They are also the cheapest lines if your a fisherman on a budget.
When to/not to use: Mono is is good when fishing cranks, topwaters, and when you want to work something near the surface. The buoyancy helps keep it up. So if you want to reel a swimbait or spinner in right beneath the surface mono helps. The stretch also allows you to set the hook very hard without ripping hooks out of mouths.
Fluorocarbon
main characteristics: It has a refraction index close to water so it is highly invisible. It is very sensitive due to low stretch. Fluorocarbon has high memory making it hard to manage sometimes. It is also the most expensive line type. It also sinks quite fast. Very abrasion resistant.
when to/not to use: It is best in clear water because of its invisibility. It good around cover because of it’s abrasion resistance. It is also the most popular line for finesse fishing because it is sensitive. The perfect fluoro situation would be a clear water finesse fishing situation around cover. Never use when fishing a topwater or when trying to keep a bait near surface. This is because the sinking of flouro will hold your bait down. On the other side Fluoro helps you fish deep water.
Braid
main characteristics: Almost 0 stretch creates ultimate sensitivity. Braid has almost zero memory making it easy to manage. Braid also has a very thin diameter compared to its pound test. The strongest type of highly. Very visible.
when to/not to use: Braid is the main choice for heavy cover because the low stretch allows you to pull fish out of heavy cover fast. Braid is a good choice for fishing plastics because you can easily set the hook through the plastic. Don’t use in clear water because it is the most visible of all lines.
Hope I help you land (and release) the big one!
like the song by the Buffalo Springfield “for what it’s worth” I use mono. Trilene only (well almost only) and green inshore and on this side of the Sierras, and clear offshore and on the other side of the Sierras. I use the XT on all my reels I use around structure and XL in open water. Big game in salt. I use 2 pound brown (chameleon) maxima in the surf for corbina because it was the most abrasion resistant mono line I ever found and looks just like sea grass. I use fluorocarbon as leader sometimes as much as 30 pound especially for toothy fish like halibut and muskie. I think the braids are a nice add to the market but I want to fish and catch numbers of them fill the live well and start culling and where I fish there is tons and tons of fishing pressure. I don’t have time to catch one just once in a while. I haven’t caught a bass that has never been caught since I was in Minnesota. and the fact is line can not be seen if you are going to catch fish. I have tried them sure but never in two years caught one fish on them (here in so cal) I have out caught every time when on the water anyone using braids, so the writing is on the wall. Maybe at night or on a deep bottom using stink bait for catfish braids might be awesome but I want numbers of fish, (not at night) and I want performance and reliability.
I use whatever brand name is on sale, usually a monofilament. I replace my line every year. I personally prefer the fluorescent yellow line because it easier for me to see in low light or night. That’s when I do most of my fishing. I use a variety of tensile strengths as I fish for a variety of fish. I like a 1-2 lb line for crappie, and I’ll go to a 10-12 for bottom fishing for catfish. It helps to pull the bigger fish out of the water. I know it’s not that much “sport” if you will to crank a fish out of the water, but they sure do taste good, and I don’t want to lose my supper. I I’m fishing for bass, I like to go with around a 4 lb. As with most everybody I know, fishing is more about the fun and relaxation than much else. So grab your pole and head off to the water.
Could you ask a more vague question? The correct answer can only be determined by knowing what you’re fishing for, where (stream, lake, river, pond, ocean), and what method you are using.
Generally mono will due anything you want it to do. Fluoro works great as a leader material due to its refraction index and its abrasion resistance. Braided spectre or “super lines, super braids” work very well as main lines.
Mono’s chief advantages are that it’s cheap, it floats, and is semitransparent under water. Down sides include a high stretch ratio, but this can be advantageous in some circumstances, low abrasion resistance, degraded easily by uv light and dramatic temperature fluctuations.
Fluorocarbon based lines are popular because they are nearly invisible under water. They are denser than mono allowing them to sink and are harder or stiffer. They make great leader material but aren’t usually justified as a main line.
Braids have a few distinct advantages, as main lines. They have near zero stretch. They have thinner diameters compared to mono and fluoro. They are very tough as far as uv damage and abrasion.
I now use braid as main line on all my reels, except for fly fishing. I like fluoro leaders but honestly have’t seen any increase in bite ration versus plain old mono leaders.
Monofilament is probably the most used because it is easier to use in knotting it,And many do not like braids/super-lines but braids/super-lines has there place in fishing allows a higher pound test because it is thin but it requires knowledge in knotting that stuff right it is slick and usually have to finish with a super glue and it isn’t easy to cut and need to know how to keep it from moving on the spool also because it can mess with your trying to keep a steady drag setting and it is costly also.
And fluorocarbon that stuff is mainly used in a leader type application but some use a full spool on their gear it is good but this stuff requires a good sense of how to knot it right it will degrade on knot if no care is taken on using fluorocarbon it serves as an invisible link to hook and it is costly.
And for me i use a quality monofilament because braids/super-line can cut into you if you grab it when ready to grab a fish at end of fighting it,I tried fluorocarbon it was alright but i don’t really have a reason to use it when plain clear line but i mainly use moss green color these work for me where i fish.
It depends on what you’re fishing for, and how you fish. Mono is lowest cost, usually, it’s easy to tie, but it stretches a lot. That could be an issue if you’re setting a hook in a hard-mouthed fish. In that example, the “super lines”, braided / fluorocarbon, etc. don’t stretch, so they let you set a hook faster, feel the lure action better, etc. If you’re a bit screwy (like me) and use ultra-light tackle on larger saltwater fish, then you need the stretchy mono as a shock absorber for sudden hard runs and such. Generally, mono has been catching fish for a whole lot of years, and works adequately in most situations.
I usually fish with mono less than 10 lb line freshwater. Its very forgiving due to stretch, and I don’t cast very far. If you tend to cast very far or drop shot very deep you lose some sensitivity and sometimes worry if you’ll set the hook, but overall Mono is good for Freshwater.
Fluorocarbon is good when you want to fish stealth mode, its nearly invisible underwater. Some actually tie a foot or so of Fluoro onto their Mono for a more natural presentation. Plus Fluoro sinks which is ideal when using crankbaits, when you really want your lures to go deep.
But not good if you’re going topwater.
Braided lines I personally use for saltwater do to the fact I want more senitivity, I cast very far and drop my baits really deep, I need as much information coming through my line as possible, Plus its very strong.
Downside, its very very visible, fish is like “what the heck it that?”.
Another downer, you must set your drag, and some say it wears out your rod guides, I personally havent caught enough fish for that to happen….yet. Although they are incredibly strong, I only use it on certain situations.
Fluorocarbon – Expensive, invisible to fish, sometimes can be a little “stiff”.
Monofilament – Inexpensive, has low visibility to fish, good castability.
Braided – Expensive, VERY visible to fish, very thin so you will hold a lot of line, doesn’t cast TOO well, some rods/reels won’t even handle this type of line.
The best overall line for fishing would be mono.
I’ve been using powerpro 50- and 80- lb braid on my baitcasters and even on one spinning reel. More sensitive and more forgiving of line twist.
if you get it hung up, wrap it around a screwdriver handle to pull it free. it rarely breaks.
and, it doesn’t get brittle over time like mono does, it’ll last forever. except the dye wears off and you have to recolor it with a sharpie. but only the last 10 feet or so.
use a mono backing on the spool, for one thing it saves money, and for another, braid sometimes won’t hold, it’ll just spin around the spool.
you’ll never be able to cut it with your teeth like mono — heck it’s hard enough to cut with a knife.
most of my reels are loaded with spyder wire but i still use mono for some fishing. the spyder wire give me so much better feel for jigging and live bait there’s no comparison with mono. it also allows me to catch toothy fish like pike without a steel leader. its fussier about knots but backlashes are fewer and easier to remove. i use mono where i need low visibility, more give and shock absorption, and on my untralight rods.
for trout streams trilene xl try 4lb test(2 lb test if you dare).. for bass trilene xl in 8 lb test…..for saltwater stripers and blues 14 to 16 lb trilene xt……
for me it seems almost impossible to use braided lines on a spinning reel and… think about if your on a boat drifting and your lure gets caught on the bottom, your going to tear your hand up and you will end up cutting your line anyway….
monofilament is the cheapest and works good because u know what kind fo wait it can take it also streches before it breaks flourocarbon is expensive but works well, and braided is braided mono which u shouldnt need or use becuase it gets all messed up and crap stick to mono and jsut look a tthe poundage
the second and third answer is very good. Mono is the best for any kind of fishing and for the price too. I usually buy the southbend fishing line which cost 2.79 for 1175 yards of 4lb line and 2.99 for 765 yards of 8 lb line.
Use “STREN” brand fishing line. There’s a weight rated line for every app.
I have fire line on all my reels. It is light years ahead of mono on sensitivity. It cost’s more but is worth it. I use a Palomar knot.
since you are new to fishing i suggest that you just use monofilament…just because its easiest to handle… and triline will be a good choice
TriLene XL. Very smooth casting and can handle most abuse.
I am constantly debating on this as well. I have come to love good old fashion monofilament. I have tried all three you have said, so allow me help.
I loaded up my surf rod with thirty five pound test braided line. I hate it and I really want to change it to mono. The end of the line frays when it is cut, it is tough to cut, and it is easy to see wear and tear. I used spiderwire braided, and it leaves a chalky residue on your hands when you touch it. I feel that it wears out the guides and the reel. However, the knots stay nice and tight and the line takes up very little space and it is extremely strong. I do not think I would buy this much more.
I put eight pound flurocarbon on my light spinning reel for my local creek. I do not like this. It seems to break very easily for me, compared to the eight pound mono on my old spinning reel. The good thing about it is that is less visible underwater then other lines. I have only had this rod with the line for a few weeks, because i took apart the reel and couldn’t put it back together. I also would not buy this line much either.
My favorite line is good old fashioned monofilament. I have this on all my rods except for my surf rod, which I think I may load up with monofilament anyway.. It is a good middle between braided and flurocarbon. It is pretty invisible underwater like flurocarbon, and it is strong enough for whatever you need it for. I have had a few knots fall apart with this line, although it is not common. Once you get up to sixty pound test line, the knots are harder to keep together, but they work. You can’t go wrong with this line. I will definately buy this again.
I have been fishing for many years, so feel free to ask me any questions via E-mail available on my profile page