9 Best Fishing Lines of 2021: Monofilament, Braided & Fluorocarbon
Photo: Berkley
A fishing line is arguably the most important tool when it comes to fishing. You can do without a rod & reel but you must have a line and hook to get a catch.
However, since this component handles most of the stress as you fight the fish, if you invest in a poor quality one, it will snap even before you begin enjoying the sport.
This is why we insist on getting a high-quality line like the ones we have listed for you. Scroll through to read more about the best fishing lines to buy online.
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9 Best Fishing Lines – Review
- 1. Best Overall Fishing Line: Berkley Trilene Big Game
- 2. Best Budget Fishing Line: Piscifun Onyx
- 3. Best Fluorocarbon Fishing Line: Berkley Vanish
- 4. Best Heavy-Duty Fishing Line: Power Pro Spectra
- 5. Best Zero-Stretch Fishing Line: KastKing SuperPower
- 6. Sensitive Fishing Line: Spiderwire DURA-4
- 7. UV-Resistant Fishing Line: RUNCL PowerFluoro
- 8. Shock-Resistant Fishing Line: Stren High Impact
- 9. Smooth-Casting Fishing Line: Berkley Trilene XL
- How to Buy the Best Fishing Lines
- Conclusion
9 Best Fishing Lines – Review
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PRODUCT |
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1. Berkley Trilene Big Game (Best Overall) |
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2. Piscifun Onyx (Best Budget) |
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3. Berkley Vanish (Best Fluorocarbon) |
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4. Power Pro Spectra (Best Heavy-Duty) |
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5. KastKing SuperPower (Best Zero-Stretch) |
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6. Spiderwire DURA-4 (Sensitive) |
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7. RUNCL PowerFluoro (UV Resistant) |
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8. Stren High Impact (Shock-Resistant) |
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9. Berkley Trilene XL (Smooth-Casting) |
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PRODUCT |
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1. Berkley Trilene Big Game (Best Overall) |
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2. Piscifun Onyx (Best Budget) |
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3. Berkley Vanish (Best Fluorocarbon) |
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4. Power Pro Spectra (Best Heavy-Duty) |
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5. KastKing SuperPower (Best Zero-Stretch) |
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6. Spiderwire DURA-4 (Sensitive) |
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7. RUNCL PowerFluoro (UV Resistant)
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8. Stren High Impact (Shock-Resistant) |
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9. Berkley Trilene XL (Smooth-Casting) |
1. Best Overall Fishing Line: Berkley Trilene Big Game
Photo: Berkley
- Pound Test: 8 – 100 lbs.
- Length: 275 – 10800 yds.
- Diameter: 0.27 – 1.11 mm
- Colors: 8
Berkley’s Trilene Big Game is the best of the best because it is super strong, long, and comes in multiple color options.
The line is named “big game” for a reason. For a monofilaments line, it is very strong because it has a pound test rating of up to 100 lbs. for the strongest option. This gives you extreme fighting power to tackling big freshwater or saltwater fish.
Additionally, the line is shock resistant and this is primarily due to its stretchiness as a mono-line. This further improves the fighting power while an outstanding knot strength gives you more confidence, control, and holding power.
You also get an abrasion-resistant outer layer that prevents damages in case it encounters sharp or rough objects underwater.
As for the size, this line is available in different lengths that go up to 10,800 yards. With the longest option, you can cast far out into the water and this comes in very handy when surf fishing.
There are 8 colors to choose from to camouflage the line in different water conditions. They include clear , ultra-clear , coastal brown , green , solar collector , steel blue , basic , and optimal .
Combined, these features make this product the best mono fishing line. The only issue is that its diameter is relatively thick, which means you can accommodate less of it is a reel’s spool as compared to the thin braided types.
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2. Best Budget Fishing Line: Piscifun Onyx
Photo: Piscifun
- Pound Test: 6 – 150 lbs.
- Length: 150 – 547 yds.
- Diameter: 0.06 – 0.6 mm
- Colors: 6
This fishing line gives you incredible fighting power at a very reasonable price. It is a thin braided piece that can withstand up to 150 lbs. of tensile strength without snapping.
That said, the 6 – 50-lb lines have 4 polyethylene strands while the 6 – 150-lb lines have 8 strands, making them very powerful at a maximum diameter of 0.6 mm.
These strands have a nano-resin epoxy coating for better abrasion resistance when the line encounters rocks and sharp objects, which enhances the line’s durability. With the multiple strands, the unit also offers a strong knot strength that prevents the fish from coming off with the hook.
The Onyx has an extremely low memory, which gives you good casting performance, and it stretches very minimally. This makes it highly sensitive even to the smallest bites. It is available in 6 color options for blending-in in different water conditions.
However, the line is relatively short because its maximum length is only 547 yards. Additionally, it is not shock resistant.
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3. Best Fluorocarbon Fishing Line: Berkley Vanish
Photo: Berkley
- Pound Test: 2 – 50 lbs.
- Length: 30 – 2000 yds.
- Diameter: 0.15 – 0.81 mm
- Colors: 3
If you are looking for a fluorocarbon fishing line, we highly recommend Berkley’s Vanish because it is engineered to catch fish quickly. It is made using high-quality polyvinylidene fluoride material that refracts light just like water to remain invisible.
That said, there are 3 color options to choose from: clear , clear gold & crimson red , which are suitable for clear and murky water.
The line is abrasion resistant and it maintains its strength under wet conditions because polyvinylidene fluoride is non-absorbent.
You also get some flexibility, which gives up to 20% more shock resistance when dealing with an aggressive bite. On the downside, the product has a relatively low pound test (50 lbs. max). therefore, it is not the best for fighting large, strong fish.
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4. Best Heavy-Duty Fishing Line: Power Pro Spectra
Photo: Power Pro
- Pound Test: 5 – 150 lbs.
- Length: 150 – 3000 yds.
- Diameter: 0.13 – 0.43 mm
- Colors: 8
Power Pro’s Spectra is built using tough and abrasion-resistant spectra fiber strands and this is the same material that is used to build bullet-proof vests. As a result, you get a heavy-duty line that has a pound test rating of up to 150 lbs.
This makes it one of the best saltwater fishing lines because you can easily tackle large, strong fish that are found in the sea.
Despite being this tough, the braided line is extremely smooth, making casting easier and ensuring it does not cut the guides on the fishing rod .
You also get a near-zero stretch for maximum sensitivity, a high strength-to-diameter ratio. The 150-lb line is only 0.43mm thick, and 8 color options blend in perfectly in different water conditions. The only problem is that the product is very costly.
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5. Best Zero-Stretch Fishing Line: KastKing SuperPower
Photo: KastKing
- Pound Test: 6 – 150 lbs.
- Length: 327 – 1097 yds.
- Diameter: 0.07 – 0.8 mm
- Colors: 5
While most braided lines have a near-zero stretch, KastKing’s SuperPower does not stretch at all and this makes it highly sensitive to the smallest of bites. This can be mostly attributed to its 4 and 8 powerful strand construction in the 6 – 50 & 65 – 150 lb. test lines respectively.
The product is also one of the best low-memory fishing lines because these strands do not bend to conform with the shape of the spool. As such, you get easier casting far out into the water.
Another benefit you get with this unit is that it has a high strength-to-diameter ratio, which means you can fit a very long line on your reel’s spool.
This slim diameter forms a very strong knot when you tie the hook/lure so that the fish does not undo it during the fight.
The line comes in 5 different colors that blend-in in clear or murky waters. These include low-visibility gray , moss green , yellow , ocean blue , and multi-color . However, neither of them is shock resistant, which would improve the fighting power.
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6. Sensitive Fishing Line: Spiderwire DURA-4
Photo: Spiderwire
- Pound Test: 10 – 80 lbs.
- Length: 125 – 3000 yds.
- Diameter: 0.12 – 0.4 mm
- Colors: 1
Spiderwire’s DURA-4 is characterized by near-zero stretching, which makes it very sensitive. That said, it is a braided line with 4 strands that form a thin diameter of 0.4 mm for an 80-lb tensile strength. This is 2 – 3 times smaller than a mono-line of this pound-test rating.
The unit is coated in a smooth, slick layer that does not scratch the guides. This also makes it easy to cast far out due to the reduced friction.
With a maximum length of 3000 yards, this gives you enough line for all kinds of fishing, including surf fishing. On the downside, you only get it in moss green color, which makes it visible in clear water.
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7. UV-Resistant Fishing Line: RUNCL PowerFluoro
Photo: RUNCL
- Pound Test: 5 – 32 lbs.
- Length: 30 – 1000 yds.
- Diameter: 0.15 – 0.48 mm
- Colors: 1
This fishing line has quite a unique design that consists of a UV-resistant 100% fluorocarbon outer coating. The outer layer is also abrasion resistant and gives incredible shock & knot strength.
Inside, the core consists of a copolymer strand that gives the line flexibility, reduces memory, and enhances the knot strength. This forms a very durable hybrid fluorocarbon unit.
That said, these two materials make the line very dense so that it sinks quickly after casting. They are non-absorbent and won’t freeze, making this product ideal for ice fishing.
Another benefit you get with this is an invisible fishing line design (non-reflective). The fluorocarbon’s light refractive index is very close to that of water and this makes the line practically disappear in water.
However, at a maximum length of 1000 yards, this piece is relatively short. Additionally, it has a relatively low pound test rating of up to 32 lbs.
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8. Shock-Resistant Fishing Line: Stren High Impact
Photo: Stren
- Pound Test: 10 – 30 lbs.
- Length: 400 – 1275 yds.
- Colors: 4
Stren’s High Impact stands out due to its super shock resistance that punishes game fish. This can be mostly attributed to its stretchiness, which enhances your fighting power. The elasticity also makes the line very durable and tough enough for use on all coastal & offshore fishing.
Other than that, the product is our best cheap fishing line because the whole range is very affordable. This includes a 400 – 1275-yard-long range with tensile strengths ranging from 10 – 30 lbs.
You also get 4 color options to blend-in in different water conditions. These are smoke blue , low-visibility green , high visibility green , and clear . The only problem is that the pound test rating is relatively low.
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9. Smooth-Casting Fishing Line: Berkley Trilene XL
Photo: Berkley
- Pound Test: 2 – 30 lbs.
- Length: 110 – 9000 yds.
- Diameter: 0.12 – 0.4 mm
- Colors: 3
The Trilene XL is designed to offer smooth casting performance for easy and maximum manageability. It does so by resisting twists and kinks so that you can throw it out as far as possible. This is especially useful for the longest option, which measures 9000 yards in length.
With this long length, the line has a diameter of only 0.4 mm, which makes it easy to fit in most spools.
Being a monofilament type, the unit is versatile enough to be used with several baits in different techniques. It is also stretchy for shock resistance but still maintains incredible strength and sensitivity.
You can buy it in low-visibility green , fluorescent clear/blue , or clear finishes to camouflage in different water conditions. However, the line has a maximum pound test rating of 30 lbs., which is relatively low.
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How to Buy the Best Fishing Lines
1. Type
Monofilament
Monofilament lines are made using a single strand of synthetic fiber, which is usually nylon material. The type is wider (in diameter) as compared to braided and fluorocarbon lines of the same pound-test rating but stretches more.
It is the most affordable of the 3 types and this makes it very popular among beginner to expert anglers.
Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbon lines also consist of single strands but are denser for faster sinking. They are virtually invisible because they are built to have almost the same refractive index as water.
Professional bass anglers find this type very useful because it is strong, offers low visibility, and is versatile across many fishing techniques.
Braided
As the name suggests, braided lines consist of multiple interwoven strands. This design makes them very strong for an equal diameter as the other types. As such, they are the best for fighting large, heavy fish. However, the woven fibers are usually not transparent. This makes the lines highly visible in the water.
2. Strength
A line’s strength is measured in pound-test units, which basically show the amount of force that is required to make it snap. This figure acts as a guide to show you the fish you can fight and we recommend it to be as high as possible.
Braided lines are usually the strongest and, in this case, they have up to a 150-lb test, which is enough to punish large & strong saltwater fish.
3. Thickness
Thick lines take up more space in the spool and therefore, you might not have enough to cast far out into the water. For this reason, we recommend getting a strong small-diameter line such as Piscifun’s Onyx .
4. Color
It is important to consider the line’s color for camouflage purposes. It should disappear in the water so that the lure appears to be swimming or floating on its own. That said, clear lines are ideal for clear water but murky conditions require other colors like green, yellow or brown.
5. Abrasion Resistance
It is given that the line will encounter hard and rough surfaces like rocks underwater. To prevent it from wearing out quickly, ensure you get one with an abrasion-resistant finish. This can be found in Berkley’s Trilene Big Game .
Conclusion
As you can see, Berkley’s Trilene Big Game is our best overall fishing line because it is strong, shock-resistant, and abrasion-resistant. The line is also very long and is available in 8 color options.
However, if you want a fluorocarbon piece to get to fish deep in the water, we recommend Berkley’s Vanish as the best fishing line. It is designed to refract light deep in water for invisibility, which improves your chances of getting a bite.
If you want to tackle strong, heavy fish though, you should consider Power Pro’s Spectra . It is a braided line with abrasion-resistant spectra fiber strands that give it a 150-lb test rating (max).
