Choosing the best line can often lead to confusion and and even worse broken lines and lost fish. Many new anglers become overwhelmed by all the different materials, pound test, and color. Below we are going to break down exactly what kind of line you need for your baitcasting reel. No more confusion and you know what to use to load up your spool. The lines below can also be used for spinning reels, but don’t reach their full potential unless used on a baitcaster.
All of the lines below can be found either in store, or on Amazon. Utilize the lines below for your next fishing trip.
Table Of Contents
Best Fishing line for a Baitcasting Reel
- Seaguar TATSU 200 Yards Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
- Berkley Trilene Smooth Casting Monofilament
- Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid
- Power Pro Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line
- Berkley FireLine Superline Fishing Line
First let’s dive a little deeper into what exactly fishing line is and all the different types that you’ll find on the market today.
Types of Line to use with a Baitcaster Reel
There are four main types of fishing line on the market: fluorocarbon, monofilament, brade, and fused. All of them are made of high quality materials.
Fluorocarbon
Since fluorocarbon becomes near invisible undeath the water this line is best used in clear water where braid, mono, or superline could spook a fish. Along with being nearly invisible this line has great abrasion resistance, so the perfect fishing situation is to use it around heavy cover that might scratch up mono line.
It’s also an incredibly sensitive line so you can detect lighter bites more easily. This line is considered a low stretch line, similar to braid. However, it’s actually stretchier than mono. It just needs more force to do so.
Monofilament
One of the most popular types of lines on the market, comes pre-spooled on most reels and is known for how stretchy it is. This is great for a beginner fisherman who might not know how to play a fish yet and the extra stretch gives the angler more leeway when reeling in a fish.
Monofilament also comes in a wide range of colors to match the color of the water, helping it become more invisible. It also has a very low sink rate which means you can throw topwater lures and sinking lures without issue.
Most importantly it is an inexpensive line that anyone can purchase and thanks to its low memory and stretchiness it is very easy to use. It’s great for crankbait use as well.
One of the most popular types of monofilament is the Berkley Trilene XL, as well as the Kastking Super Power.
Braid
Known best for its thin diameter to strength ratio, braided fishing line is best used in circumstances where a very strong line is needed to either pull a lure from being tangled in weeds, or catching large fish. It is also very abrasion resistant and can be used in situations where you might be casting around rocks, and other structures.
It has the same diameter as a monofilament line but is much stronger. One would think it best to use this line all of the time, but because of the high visibility in the water it is not for full time use.
However, you can attach a fluorocarbon leader to your braided and get the best of both worlds. Keep in mind that this line has zero stretch so if you muscle in a fish it could potentially harm it.
Fused
To make a long cast with a baitcaster fused is the way to go. This incredibly strong, and smooth line will get you further casts than mono, braid, and fluoro. Similar to flouro, this has no stretch which will increase sensitivity for detecting light bites from stingy fish.
Which one works best for a baitcaster?
This is a loaded question because it depends. There are many factors that must be taken into account. A new fisherman would probably do best using a monofilament line due to its low memory and increased stretch.
Once you are used to using a baitcaster then begin to experiment with other types of line. Utilize braid for punching soft plastics through thick vegetation. Or throwing flourocarbon to clear water fish.
How to choose a line for your baitcaster
When deciding which type of line needed for a baitcaster ask yourself a few questions first in order to figure out exactly what type of line you need.
Line Type
Think about what type of water you’re going to be fishing in. Is it stained? Or is it clear? What kind of lure will be thrown in? Where will the fish be this time of the year?
If fishing on a hot day and the fish are held in thick mats of vegetation then go with something strong and sturdy. This is where braid comes into play. On the flipside, if fishing clear water for stinky fish then something that has little visibility is needed which will prevent spooking fish. Here fluorocarbon is your best bet, although, if you can match the color to the water then monofilament can be effective as well.
Line Diameter
Again, there are several factors that come into play when selecting diameter. Take into account exactly how strong your line is at a certain diameter.
This can affect how much line a reel can hold as well as the castability. On top of this, some companies may have a line that are some tests, but one is thinner than the other. So take that into consideration as well
Line Color
If you’re using fluorocarbon then this is a non issue. They make types that have a different hue to them so that you can see it better out of the water, but in general fluorocarbon will work in all water types.
Braid, mono, and fused are a different story. With these match the color of the line to the color of the water. In darker water you can utilize all of the above, but if when fishing clear water then clear monofilament is going to be the best bet.
Line Test
What type of fishing do you plan on catching? Are you after smaller fish like panfish or brook trout? Or are you on the lookout for monster channel cats and pike?
Depending on what the goal is it is necessary to match the test to the fish. A nice thin light line will be perfect for panfish. Something in the 2 to 6 pound range will be great. If chasing a big game up the number. Something 20 pounds or more is usually about right, but again it all depends on how big of a fish being targeted.
Line Longevity
Depending on how often your fish line should be changed out on either a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. Letting line sit on a reel too long can affect how you cast, the line strength, as well as the knot strength.
A reel that has line sitting on it for over a year is going to be more brittle and more likely to break off on a fish, or birds nest when casting. To be consistent with catching fish and ensuring the lure gets where it needs to be then changing the line at least yearly should be at the top of the list.
Line Reviews
Now let’s take a look below at some different types of line that can be used to load up your baitcaster.
Seaguar TATSU 200 Yards Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Tatsu, is Japanese for dragon, and this line lives up to its namesake. This is an incredibly strong and supple florio that would benefit by availability in any angler’s tackle box. Like other fluorocarbons it is nearly invisible underwater, but that’s where it ends.
It casts smoother than monofilament and has the ultra sensitivity of braided fishing line. This line will work perfectly for the angler who needs to make delicate presentations to weary fish, or to someone who enjoys the toughness and non stretch the fluorocarbon line provides.
The line itself is not very cheap, but you are hard pressed to find a better fluorocarbon on the market.
Buy Seaguar TATSU Fluorocarbon Fishing Line Here
Berkley Trilene Smooth Casting Monofilament
The quintessential line. Berkley Trilene has dominated the fishing line game for years and for good reason. This is a good line that comes at an even better price.
It is available just about anywhere fishing line is sold and is great for the novice. This is the line that you can load up with just about any lure needed and head out to the water to have success.
Whether throwing a Texas rigged worm to tree stumps or walking a frog across lily pads, the berkley trilene will work.
The smooth casting formula is made specifically to prevent anglers from birds nesting their reels and for casting long distances.
Buy Berkley Trilene Monofilament Here
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid
The Suffix 830 has an incredibly small diameter while also being one of the most durable braided lines on the market. It is made with eight different fibers which help increase the casting distance, casting accuracy, abrasion resistance as well as line vibration.
This is the ideal line for pulling in monster fish or fishing around heavy cover. If you wind up hitting up thick grass mats you will need some extra strength to either pull your hook loose or haul in a bass covered in grass.
Ideal for use in either freshwater or saltwater. For extra stealth, attach a fluorocarbon leader to your main line of braid. This is ideal for bass fishing.
Buy Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid Here
Power Pro Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line
This line offers great castability. To reach out across a lake, to hit up a sunken tree, or standing in the surf or to cast past the surf line, then this is the line. This is also a great line because it will not break the bank.
This is a strong, durable line that can be used again and again. If used too much without changing it out you will find the color will fade on your line.
Make sure to always store the line somewhere dark and cool to increase the life of its life.
Buy Power Pro Spectra Braided Line Here
Berkley FireLine Superline Fishing Line
This is the first translucent super line that was put on the market. It has ultra low visibility which means it can be fished in all different types of water.
It is an incredibly smooth line that is great for casting as well as reducing line memory. Also, because the fibers that it is made with are incredibly strong; almost 3 times stronger than the monofilament line.
Not only is it strong, durable and casts great but it reduces wind knots, which is perfect for the surf fisherman. It is also very easy to tie knots with this line and the knots hold very well.
Conclusion
Hopefully after reading over all of the above, you don’t feel too overwhelmed, but instead have a better understanding of exactly what to look for when searching for lne for your braided reel.
Just remember to always take into account what kind of water you’re fishing, what species your targeting, and what lures you plan on using.
Combining the information above with that information will lead to more success as an angler.