Researching information on fishing lines can be really confusing, especially for beginners. You’ve probably found different sites recommending different types of fishing lines that you should buy, with little to no helpful information on why or when to use different fishing lines.
I remember researching the different types of fishing lines and how hard it was to find a single source of information with all the relevant information in a clear and easy-to-read format. This is why I tried to create a complete source of information about the different types of fishing lines to help beginners.
So what are the different types of fishing lines available?
With so many different fishing line options, it’s no wonder it can be confusing to know when and why you should use a certain fishing line over another.
However, to be a successful angler and to improve your catch rate, understanding when to use different fishing line types is essential. Fishing line is a core component of your fishing setup but tends to get overlooked the most because they are viewed as “its just a simple line.”
There is a lot more to meet the eye with fishing lines. The fishing industry spends millions of dollars in research and development on fishing lines each year. These companies would not be spending so much money if it was not worth it.
Keep reading as we will take a deep dive into each of the different fishing lines and their characteristics.
Different Types Of Fishing Lines
The different types of fishing lines can be generally classified as the following:
- Monofilament Fishing Lines
- Fluorocarbon Fishing Lines
- Braided Fishing Lines
1. Monofilament Fishing Lines
Monofilament fishing lines are by far the most popular type of fishing line out there. Its characteristics lend themselves to being suitable for a wide range of fishing styles and skill levels.
Monofilament Characteristics
| Characteristics | Monofilament Fishing Line |
|---|---|
| Does It Have Line Memory? | ✔️ |
| Does It Stretch? | ✔ |
| Does It Have Abrasion Resistance? | ✔ |
| Is It Buoyant? | ✘ |
| Is The Line Sensitivity High? | — |
| Is The Line Invisible Underwater? | — |
| Does It Abrosb Water? | ✔ |
| Is It UV Resistant? | ✘ |
| Is It Recyclable? | ✔ |
When Should You Use Monofilament Fishing Line
| Type of Fishing Style | Monofilament Fishing Line |
|---|---|
| Saltwater Fishing | ✔️ |
| Freshwater Fishing | ✔️ |
| Bank or Shoreline Fishing | ✔️ |
| Casting | ✔ |
| Rock Fishing | ✔ |
| Trolling | — |
| Lure Fishing | ✔ |
| Live Bait Fishing | — |
| Fly Fishing? | — |
| Ice Fishing? | ✔ |
The Pros and Cons of Monofilament Fishing Line
Mono Fishing Line Pros
- Wide range of strengths
- Wide range of colors
- Cheapest among all the different types of fishing lines
- Beginner Friendly Fishing Line and easy-to-tie knots with
- Line stretch acts as a shock absorber
- Decent abrasion resistance
- Moderate line visibility, but weather and line color play an important role.
- Suitable for freshwater and saltwater fishing
Mono Fishing Line Cons
- Not as strong as other fishing lines for the same line diameter
- Large line diameter
- Line stretch dampens out sensitivity
- Takes up a lot of space on a reel’s spool
- Loses strength over time with UV exposure.
- Line will absorb water and will result in a reduction in strength
If you want to learn more about monofilament fishing lines then check out monofilament fishing line guide for more information
2. Fluorocarbon Fishing Lines
Fluorocarbon fishing lines are superior to monofilament fishing lines when it comes to line visibility and abrasion resistance. Fluoro lines are practically invisible underwater, and it has the best abrasion resistance among all the fishing lines, but there is a few drawbacks though.
Fluorocarbon lines are used as leader lines most of the time because of its line memory and price, but you can definitely use them as mainline if you so choose.
Fluorocarbon Characteristics
| Characteristics | Fluorocarbon Fishing Line |
|---|---|
| Does It Have Line Memory? | ✔️ |
| Does It Stretch? | ✔ |
| Does It Have Abrasion Resistance? | ✔ |
| Is It Buoyant? | ✘ |
| Is The Line Sensitivity High? | — |
| Is The Line Invisible Underwater? | ✔ |
| Does It Abrosb Water? | ✘ |
| Is It UV Resistant? | ✔ |
| Is It Recyclable? | ✔ |
When Should You Use Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
| Type of Fishing Style | Fluorocarbon Fishing Line |
|---|---|
| Saltwater Fishing | ✔️ |
| Freshwater Fishing | ✔️ |
| Bank or Shoreline Fishing | ✔️ |
| Casting | ✘ |
| Rock Fishing | ✔ |
| Trolling | ✔ |
| Lure Fishing | ✔ |
| Live Bait Fishing | ✔ |
| Fly Fishing | ✔ |
| Ice Fishing | ✔ |
The Pros and Cons of Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Fluoro Fishing Line Pros
- Wide range of strengths
- Line stretch acts as a shock absorber
- Excellent abrasion resistance
- Practically invisible underwater
- Does not degrade from UV exposure
- Does not absorb water
- Suitable for a wide range of styles of fishing
Fluoro Fishing Line Cons
- Expensive Fishing Line
- It can be difficult to handle and create knots
- Large line diameter
- Lots of line memory
- Sinks quickly in water. Fluoro has the highest density out of all the fishing lines.
- Line stretch dampens out sensitivity
3. Braided Fishing Lines
Braided fishing lines are a very popular fishing line for a lot of different reasons. Braided lines have superior line sensitivity, great for casting, and are excellent for topwater fishing, but there are some downsides with braided lines that you need to be aware of.
Braided Characteristics
| Characteristics | Braided Fishing Line |
|---|---|
| Does It Have Line Memory? | ✘ |
| Does It Stretch? | ✘ |
| Does It Have Abrasion Resistance? | ✘ |
| Is It Buoyant? | ✔ |
| Is The Line Sensitivity High? | ✔ |
| Is The Line invisible Underwater? | ✘ |
| Does It Abrosb Water? | ✘ |
| Is It UV Resistant? | ✔ |
| Is It Recyclable? | ✘ |
When Should You Use Braided Fishing Line
| Type of Fishing Style | Braided Fishing Line |
|---|---|
| Saltwater Fishing | ✔️ |
| Freshwater Fishing | ✔️ |
| Bank or Shoreline Fishing | ✔️ |
| Casting | ✔️ |
| Rock Fishing | ✘ |
| Trolling | ✘ |
| Lure Fishing | ✔ |
| Live Bait Fishing | ✔ |
| Fly Fishing | ✔ |
| Ice Fishing | ✔ |
The Pros and Cons of Braided Fishing Line
Braided Fishing Line Pros
- Wide range of strengths
- Wide range of colors
- Small line diameter
- No memory
- Excellent line sensitivity
- No line stretch
- Braided lines can cast further than any of the other fishing lines
- Line floats on the water, making it great for topwater fishing
- Does not degrade from UV exposure
- Does not absorb water
- Suitable for a wide range of styles of fishing
Braided Fishing Line Cons
- Expensive Fishing Line
- Can be difficult to handle and create knots
- Line does not act as a shock absorber
- Poor abrasion resistance
- Line is very visible underwater
