Choosing Fishing Line – So Many Choices
One more decision the preparing fisherman must make is which kind of line he is going to join to the hook and the reel. Every type of line has different properties, and likewise different uses. The educated angler will take his needs into consideration when choosing his or her fishing line.
Monofilament
Mono is what we call it and it is the basic fishing line. It’s been used for quite sometime before fluorocarbon and braided line gained popularity. While these newer lines have their advantages, mono still has desirable properties. Some of these include:
- Mono works well with knot tying
- Mono stretches when it is pulled
- Many brands are abrasion resistant
- It has a smooth and even lay on the reel
- It is fairly inexpensive to replace
Example of monofilament on one of my reels.
Izorline 005132 Platinum Co-Polymer Mono Line (Bulk), 15 lb/1/4 lb, Green
A favorite among saltwater anglers and will suit most monofilament needs. This is my preferred line and is highly recommended.
Fluorocarbon
Flouro (for short) is another popular kind of fishing line. It has been getting much more attention in the fishing industry for several years now. Flouro is similar in appearance to monofilament but contains unique qualities. Common qualities of Flouro:
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- Widely believed that Fluoro is harder to see than mono in the water.
- Fluoro has much less stretch than mono.
- More abrasion resistant than mono.
- Flouro is considerably more expensive than mono and is often used as a leader.
- Flouro is often used in conjunction with both mono and braided line.
200 Yds. P – Line Halo Fluorocarbon Mist Green, 15 LB
Braided line
Braided line is made of fabric like material and constructed just like its name, by braiding several smaller strings together. Power Pro makes Spectra, one of several braided lines with growing popularity over the last several years. The qualities of spectra are quite different than those of mono and fluoro and include:
- Much stronger than mono or fluoro
- Braid has virtually no stretch
- Braid is harder to tie knots with and can dig into itself on the reel
- Lighter in the water than mono or fluoro
- Braid will also retain more holding power when compromised than mono or fluoro
Power Pro Super 8 Slick Braided Fishing Line, 40-Pound/300-Yard, Marine Blue
Wire and other types of leaders have specific uses as well and will be covered in a later post. Proper conditions to use these line types is also another conversation and a more opinionated one at that.
I hope you the reader have found something useful or helpful here and will be better informed when choosing fishing line. Have questions, comments, or ideas? Please let me know. Send to
