Bass fishing is one of the most popular hobbies and sports among fishermen, so it’s only natural that any aspiring bass fisherman would want to know what the best bass fishing line on the market is.
Unfortunately, just like life, bass fishing isn’t that simple. There’s no one catch-all line that’s the most useful, versatile, or appropriate. All three major types of line – monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided superline – have applications bass fishing, and what you need to use mostly depends on the situation, area you’re fishing, and your fishing method.
In this article, we’ll go over the advantages and disadvantages of each type of line, and what methods of fishing are appropriate with each. We’ll then look at some top products of each category, and give you some product recommendations.
- Spiderwire Braided Stealth Superline
- Microfiber design with a fluor polymer surface
- Reduced friction to help casting
- 8 strand construction
- Greath strengh/diameter ratio
- P-Line Floroclear Clear Fishing Line
- Fluorocarbon and monofilament combination
- Nearly invisible and water repellant
- Low line memory
- Smooth fluorocarbon coating
- Seaguar Red Label Fishing Line
- Excellent for sensitive fish
- Natural presentation
- Lightweight with a slow sinking action
- Barely visible under water
- Berkley Trilene Big Game Custom Spool
- Multiple-polymer nylon blend design
- Strong and durable monofilament product
- Increased sensitivity with a controlled stretch
- A little bit of line memory
- KastKing SuperPower Braid Fishing Line
- Molecular polyethylene fiber design
- Great abrasion resistance
- Virtually "memoryless"
- Weights from 6 to 150 lbs
Table of Contents
- Monofilaments
- Fluorocarbon
- Braided Superline
- Product Recommendations
- 1. Braided Superline – Spiderwire Braided Stealth Superline
- 2. Fluorocarbon-Coated Monofilament – P-Line Floroclear Clear Fishing Line
- 3. Fluorocarbon Line – Seaguar Red Label 100% Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
- 4. Monofilament Line – Berkley Trilene Big Game Monofilament Custom Spool
- 5. Braided Superline – KastKing SuperPower Braid Fishing Line
- Outro
Monofilaments
Advantages
- Stretchy – Stretchiness can actually be quite useful when bass fishing. You sacrifice some sensitivity, but when fighting a strong bass, a little bit of stretch and give can be very useful indeed, making it less likely that the fish will be able to “throw” the lure, and you need a secure hold that can help you fight a powerful fish.
- Nearly invisible – The water-like refractive index of monofilament line is very hard to see for even the most easily-spookable fish, making it a great choice for clear water conditions.
- Easily castable – High-quality mono casts like a dream, with a frictionless feel for great distance.
- Floats – Unlike fluorocarbon lines, monofilament floats in the water, making it ideal for bass fishing using topwater rigs.
Disadvantages
- Less durable – Monofilament has a higher line memory and lower overall life than fluorocarbon line and braided line.
- Less sensitive – The stretchiness of monofilament also means that you lose out on a bit of line sensitivity – it’s harder to detect bites from farther away, and you may try to hook a fish too late after the bite.
- Weaker than most fluoro and superline – Most monofilament lines are not incredibly strong overall – though they do offer good shock resistance because of their stretchiness. All superline is stronger than monofilament lines, though some copolymer monofilaments can be stronger than comparable fluorocarbon.
Applications
- Topwater Rigs – This is a no-brainer. Monofilament is the go-to choice if you’re doing a shallow suspension rig, walking your baits along the surface, or rigging up any other kind of topwater setup. It’s invisible, floats easily, and has plenty of strength to handle bass strikes once you lure them in.
- Crankbaiting – Depending on the lure and the fish, monofilament can be great for crankbaiting. When you’re catching larger fish, it’s quite easy to feel the bites even with the lower sensitivity of the monofilament, and the stretchiness and shock absorbency offered by mono can be very useful when trying to reel in strong, combative fish.
- Carolina and Texas Rigging – When fishing worms at the bottom of the water, monofilament is a great choice. The durability and stretch of mono allow it to stand up to brush, rocks, and shell beds where fluoro might have issues, and the floating nature of mono helps you keep your baits from dragging on the bottom of the water.
Fluorocarbon
Advantages
- Sensitive – Fluorocarbon line is more stiff and sensitive than monofilament, while still offering a bit of stretch, putting it in the middle ground between mono and superlines.
- The least visible line on the market – Fluorocarbon is manufactured with almost exactly the same refractive index as water – it’s completely invisible to fish underwater.
- Sinks easily – Fluorocarbon line sinks naturally, making it an obvious choice for deeper fishing, crankbaiting, and other sinking rigs.
Disadvantages
- Less durable than mono and superline – Fluorocarbon is a little more delicate than other line types, and repeated abuse can lead to “weak spots” in the line that are more likely to snap. While fluoro maintains an overall lifespan that’s better than monofilaments, repeated abuse can lead to line snaps and bait/lure loss, so it’s best for more gentle fishing where you’re not encountering as many obstacles.
- Not good for floating lures – Okay, this is obvious and not exactly a drawback, but it deserves mentioning. Because it sinks, fluorocarbon is a poor choice for topwater and suspension rigs, as it will naturally continue to sink through the water.
Applications
- Leaders – Fluorocarbon makes a fantastic leader whether you’re using monofilament or superline. Its invisibility and sensitivity make it a great choice, as fish won’t get spooked, and you’ll easily feel the impact.
- Crankbaiting – Since fluoro sinks, you can get some serious depth with deep-diving crankbaits.
- Tough weather or spooked bass – If you’re having trouble reeling in bass, fluorocarbon is what you want. With a full fluorocarbon line, there’s no way a bass can see your fishing line, and even the most nervous of fish will start to strike your lure.
Braided Superline
Advantages
- Strong – Braided superline is incredibly strong, as it’s usually made of 8 or more individual strands.
- Durable – Given its strength and design, braided superline is incredibly durable – it’s very rare ever to have a line snap if you’re using the right pound test line, and superline lasts a long time on reels even in tough conditions.
- Incredibly Sensitive – Superline barely stretches at all, making it ideal if you need high sensitivity and high strength line.
- Small Diameter – Braided superline is much stronger than other types of line, even at smaller diameters, so you can fit more of it on your reel, and choose a smaller diameter line.
Disadvantages
- Easily visible – Braided superline is highly visible in the water, and a poor choice if the water is crystal clear and the bass are easily spooked. However, in murkier conditions, superline performs just fine. In addition, monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders are used, combining the invisibility of mono or fluoro with the strength and sensitivity of braided line.
- No Stretch – This can be tough for novice anglers – no stretch means that fishing with superline is a bit unforgiving. If you set your hook too hard, you may rip through the mouth of your bass, so it takes a bit of practice to get used to using superline.
Applications
- Just about anything! Though most experienced bass fishermen use all 3 line types, braided line is the most versatile and durable line out there, so it can be used in almost all situations. There are, however, situations when you need mono or fluoro line, so it’s best to have all three prepared when doing serious bass fishing.
Product Recommendations
1. Braided Superline – Spiderwire Braided Stealth Superline
Spiderwire is known for crafting some of the very finest superlines on the market, and this product is no exception. Incredibly durable, sensitive, and offered in 6-100lb line weights, you’ll be able to find a superline that’s perfect for you, no matter the size of the bass you’re looking to catch.
The unique design incorporates a Dyneema PE microfiber construction for maximum strength and ease-of-use, as well as a fluoropolymer treated outside that helps this line shoot through the guides of your rods like a dream, giving you long, strong casts and minimizing snagging and snarls.
Paired with a fluoro or mono leader, or used by itself in slightly murkier conditions, this product from Spiderwire is ideal for bass fishing.
2. Fluorocarbon-Coated Monofilament – P-Line Floroclear Clear Fishing Line
This line from P-Line is quite interesting – it’s a monofilament line, but it’s coated with fluorocarbon for a sort of “best of both worlds” design. The fluorocarbon coating helps this line shoot through your guides for long casts, and disappear upon entering the water, as well as minimizing line memory issues and preventing the monofilament line from getting sodden with water.
If you’re in the market for a unique monofilament line that is almost completely invisible in the water while still maintaining monofilament’s stretch and flotation abilities, this is the perfect line for you.
3. Fluorocarbon Line – Seaguar Red Label 100% Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Seaguar is an industry leader when it comes to fluorocarbon for one simple reason – they manufacture all of their own fluoro in-house. Many other companies import fluoro from overseas companies – or buy it from Seaguar – to make their fluorocarbon lines.
But since Seaguar manufactures their own fluorocarbon, you can be guaranteed a high-quality fluorocarbon line that has just the right amount of sensitivity and stretch and disappears while sinking into the water. It’s perfect for use either on its own or as a leader for a superline.
Seaguar’s fluoro lines also offer great abrasion resistance and are softer and easier to manage on spinning and casting reels than competitors
.When it comes to fluoro, Seaguar is the company you should turn to. And this Red Label fluoro line is top-notch – a perfect representation of what fluorocarbon line should be.
4. Monofilament Line – Berkley Trilene Big Game Monofilament Custom Spool
Berkley’s Trilene monofilament is known for being one of the finest on the market, and if you’re in need of some new mono line for bass fishing, this gigantic spool of Berkley line is a great way to get all the line you’ll need on the cheap.
Berkley's monofilament has all the classic features of mono – strong impact resistance, good abrasion resistance, and plenty of stretch that makes it ideal when fighting strong fish. In addition, it’s got a nearly transparent water profile, and while it does suffer from some line memory issues, it can easily last you over a year when spooled up on your rod.
So grab yourself a spool of this line. It’s perfect for topwater rigs, all-purpose bass fishing, and especially great as a leader for braided superlines.
5. Braided Superline – KastKing SuperPower Braid Fishing Line
KastKing is one of Spiderwire’s leading competitors, and it’s not hard to figure out why. This spool of superline from KastKing boasts tremendous power due to its ultra high molecular polyethylene fiber construction, and the braided design combined with this powerful material gives it one of the smallest diameters of any superline on the market.
Sensitive, strong, and extremely durable, this line by KastKing is a great alternative to Spiderwire line and a perfect choice for any bass fisherman looking to stock up on a high-quality superline.
Outro
As you’ve learned, there is no one solution that’s best for bass fishing – each of the most popular styles of fishing line have their place. Monofilament is great for applications where you need its stretch and flotation abilities, fluorocarbon is unmatched for invisibility and a great combination of strength and sensitivity, and superline is the go-to option when you’re looking to really get tough and bring in big bass.
So pick up one of each, and rig up your rod. Whether you’re looking to do some topwater walking, deep dive crankbaiting, or jigging, you’ll have the right line for the job.
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