Fishing line is not created equal and different types of fishing line offer different advantages under specific applications.
Heavier line offers durable resistance to snags or a fish strike but may be too heavy for a lighter lure.
The three staple fishing lines are Monofilament, Braided, and Fluorocarbon. They are all good choices to spool up with, but under different circumstances, each has advantages and disadvantages.
Here we will discuss these traits to help you decide which types of fishing line will be best for you.
3 Types of fishing line
Monofilament Fishing Line
Advantages
Monofilament fishing line is as it sounds, one single strand. This can be beneficial for many reasons and one is durability and hassle-free spooling. Braided lines offer superior strength because of the multiple fibers braided to make them, but monofilament line is a great mix of durability and simplicity. Typically, you can see anglers using monofilament in many different applications and environments. Other benefits are that it can be purchased as translucent line as well making the line virtually invisible to fish. Its light-weight aspect can be advantageous as it will sink lures and bait slower than other lines due to its buoyant nature. It floats better than any other line. Stretch is something that monofilament is great for as well. This can help your luck in keeping that bass hooked without snapping. If you were to pick a piece of monofilament up and stretch it, you would be shocked at how much give this line has.
Disadvantages
Monofilament is a great option, but it does not offer that durability that others can. It is a good choice in general for game fish, but for any large fish it is not recommended. Fishes like muskies in the northeast or pike in northern climates tend to be larger than most species and can snap your monofilament line with ease. Mot fish have a set of serrated teeth that can easily slice a line in have while thrashing and jumping as well. Thicker monofilament can help with this but any fish hitting it right will cause it to break. Monofilament will need to be replaced more often than others because it will wear from use naturally much faster and UV rays and other factors contribute to its life.
Usage and Application
Monofilament is a popular choice for bass, perch, and other moderately sized fish. It can also be used in many different environments. It is always recommended that your line color and translucency match the water in which you use it, but in a pinch, any color will work. If you want to spool up a general color like clear or a dark brown color and leave it on all year you can. When picking a weight test for your fishing line, remember that all lines are different. Typically, fishing line test can be a few pounds less than the general weight of what you are catching. With monofilament, you should add a pound or two to this and use that weight test for your reel.
Braided Fishing Line
Advantages
Braided fishing line is tough and can handle higher weight limits. It is one of the main types of fishing line that is growing in popularity. Being made of different materials that can offer different strength ratings, there are many out there to choose from. Braided lines offer a lightweight feel to them and can be great for areas of high vegetation as they are typically smooth and fluid in texture. Typically, with other types of line, more strength always means more diameter. This can lead to you loosing feet of line when spooling a line, but not braided line. The high strength matched with a small discreet diameter makes it a solid choice. Braided line if cared for properly can last a good amount of time as well making your investment in line stretch farther. This line is great for bait-cast reels as well making it a go-to for bass fishing enthusiasts.
Disadvantages
Braided line is a tough line, but it has a cost. Because braided line is composed of braided material it loves to twist up and cause a “birds’ nest” in your reel. Braided is not the best choice for spinning reels and any applications that are prone to make the line twist such as trolling from a boat. Because it has much less stretch than other types it can be difficult to successfully operate your drag like you would with other lines. Line fray is another downside to using braided line and can make threading and tying a difficult process after it has been well used. This difficulty makes typing certain knots exceedingly difficult depending on what weight you choose.
Usage and Application
Braided line is best used in a bait-cast reel that does not spin and twist the line. Use this line in areas of heavy vegetation and cover. Keeping in mind that this line is exceptionally smooth and does not hold weeds and other foreign objects, unlike other products, which will help you in your angling. If used when trolling behind a boat the line will be twisted after extended use. One good way to counter this is to empty all your line into the water behind the boat without anything tied to it and simply let the water flow unwind your line for you. Do this every two or three trips and your line will stay straight longer.
Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Advantages
As far as different types of fishing lines are concerned, the fluorocarbon fishing line has great strength and is virtual invisibility. This line is typically smaller in diameter than monofilament fishing line while still offering the strength and sensitivity of the braided. This line is also a great line for lures and baits that you want to sink quickly as it has more mass than water. It was used previously as leader line and was made particularly durable to withstand the teeth of a hooked fish. Manufacturers took this strength and made it pliable enough for use as fishing line. Ultra-translucency materials used in making this type of fishing line allows more light to pass through rendering it nearly invisible to fish which can help your chances of success.
Disadvantages
Fluorocarbon fishing line is a sturdy line, but that sturdiness can be its downfall in certain scenarios. Being that strong means that it is not as pliable and is stiffer than monofilament line. Smaller bails such as what we find in bait-caster reels can suffer from this and cause issues with tangles and proper spooling. Fluorocarbon also has a memory and will remain coiled If spooled for too long which drops the lifespan of the line before replacing it. This line also is a poor choice for spin-casting reels as the stiffness of the line will cause it to jump off the spool and create frustrating tangles.
Usage and Application
Fluorocarbon is a great option when fishing for larger fish and can be great for vegetation and heavily covered areas. Thanks to its translucency, this line can mimic vegetation and allow light to pass through it which increases the chances of fish not seeing it. Tying knots may be more difficult than other types of fishing lines as it is much larger in diameter. Once tied, however, fluorocarbon holds knots very well without slip. Depending on how you fish and what you fish with, tying a swivel appropriate for your weight test may be useful for attaching and changing lures without having to tie knots every time. This method is especially helpful when trolling with spoons or worm thread setups.
Conclusion
Though these three lines may seem different and the pros and cons are varied, each type of fishing line has its own spot in the spotlight depending on how and where you are fishing. There is a middle ground to be found with each. You can play with different strengths and find the line that works for you.
The largest factors are going to be visibility, strength, and durability. Knowing the fish that are in your area and their average size can help you quite a bit in regard to what weight you will need and can contribute greatly to which type of fishing line you will need.
Overall, it will come down to a matter of trial and error to find the best fishing line. Hopefully, this guide can get you started making a decision regarding the different types of fishing lines and which you should use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fishing line floats?
Monofilament is the king when it comes to floating. Due to its simple, single strand design, monofilament line floats nicely for topwater lures or lures that require a horizontal presentation such as jerkbaits. Monofilament line remains an all-purpose solution for most.
What fishing line sinks?
Fluorocarbon line will sink faster than monofilament line because of its larger diameter and dense material makeup. The denser line also reduces slack between the rod and the lure. Fluorocarbon line is the go-to line for lightweight lures or crankbaits that you want to get deeper into the water.
Is fishing line biodegradable?
There are many fishing line producers developing biodegradable fishing line to minimize the effect that discarded fishing line can have on the environment. Even with these measures taken this newly developed line can take up to 5 years to fully decompose bringing it down from 600 years for traditional monofilament line.
