Line considerations for baitcasters are pretty similar to the considerations taken for spinning reels, with a few important exceptions.
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the three major types of lines (braid, mono, and fluorocarbon) and in what situations they work best on baitcasting reels. And we’ve got (summarised below) our picks for the best line for baitcasters in each category!
PowerPro super lines have been incredibly popular since its release and it’s one one the preferred lines for anglers on the market today.
Berkley’s Trilene XL has been the pinnacle and standard for Berkley for a very long time. It excels at casting and gives an extremely smooth cast.
Super FC is a high performance line that can be used in a wide variety of fishing situations. It’s constructed with triple resin coatings for greater ease of use, giving it extra flexibility when compared to other fluorocarbon line brands.
Best Lines for Baitcasters Reviewed:
- Berkley ProSpec Professional Grade Monofilament
- Sufix Advanced Hyper Monofilament
- Berkley Trilene XL
- Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid
- PowerPro Braided Line
- Spiderwire Stealth Braid
- Sunline Super FC Sniper Fluorocarbon
- P-Line Fluorocarbon Lines
Line Considerations for Baitcaster Reels
The use of lines with baitcasters can vary from that of the traditional spinning reel.
When it comes to braid, issues like backlashing can be bad. if you get a backlash it can bury that ultra-thin line deep into the spool and, in some cases, ruin the entire spool of line as it has to be cut out.
- Braid also should be used with a backing line put on the reel first such as monofilament, that eliminates the tendency for the slick superline to spin on the spool.
- Fluorocarbon lines can gain memory on spools over time, causing issues with line knotting and tangling; this can be overcome by simply fishing often or changing out your line fairly regularly.
- Monofilament doesn’t really have any things to watch out for and runs pretty well on baitcasters with much less tendency to tangle when compared to a spinning reel, although backlashes are still an issue.
Which Type of Line Is Best for Baitcasters?
Monofilament
Most anglers, even those who fish at the most basic level, are familiar with monofilament lines. Monofilament is the most common type of line in the fishing world and has been around for a very long time.
Monofilament works excellent for panfish, catfish, trout, and for certain bass and walleye fishing situations where low visibility and high stretch applications are preferred or where the amount of force the line must bear is relatively low.
The high stretch of mono is also great when lure fishing for crappie and other species with soft mouths.
Pros:
- Tons of stretch to absorb shock
- Low visibility
- Incredibly cost-effective
- Works for a wide range of fishing applications
Cons:
- Low tensile strength
- Can dry rot after long periods of time
- Lower knot strength
- Large diameter compared to lines like braid
Best Line for Baitcasters: Mono
Berkley ProSpec has been designed to have a thinner diameter compared to other monofilament lines while maintaining the same tensile strength, which is a pretty huge deal in the monofilament world.
This gives the angler added benefits in terms of line visibility as well as the benefit of holding a larger amount of line on reel.
The line has been tested relentlessly by professional anglers in the field to ensure that it will hold up to the rigors of angling.
ProSpec is also incredibly supple, manageable, and easy to work with when it comes to tying knots, these characteristics also increase casting distance as well as enhancing lure performance.
Built using a high-tech process known as proprietary magnetic extrusion.
Hyper copolymer nylon and HPME molecules are blended and fused together creating an ultra abrasion resistant and very durable line.
This line gives anglers that abrasion resistance without sacrificing flexibility, ease of use, or limpness, allowing you to keep a high level of castability and lure manipulation.
The line also features great hook setting power and sensitivity to aid in bite detection. Sufix advanced mono offers anglers extreme knot strength and knot tying is easy and user-friendly.
Berkley’s Trilene XL has been the pinnacle and standard for Berkley for a very long time.
It excels at casting and gives an extremely smooth cast.
It’s pretty strong, incredibly versatile, and superb at avoiding kinks and tying good knots.
Braided Lines
Braided lines or “superlines” are great when ultimate strength is the most important thing needed for a line. They are woven tightly using materials such as dacron or spectra, or dyneema fibers.
These lines are great for use in musky fishing, pike fishing and certain bass fishing situations when visibility isn’t a critical factor, and strength is everything.
Braided lines are also much smaller in diameter compared to fluorocarbon or monofilament lines (see our fishing line diameter chart for specifics).
Pros
- Incredibly strong and abrasion resistant
- Thinner diameter, more line on spool
- Incredible sensitivity
Cons
- Zero stretch
- Higher visibility in the water
- More expensive
Best Lines for Baitcasters: Braid
Sufix 832 is known as one of the strongest and most durable super braids on the market at this time.
The line is created by weaving 8 separate filaments, of which 7 strands consist of HMPE fibers, and 1 is made of Gore Tex Performance fiber.
Using R8 braiding technology the line is braided at 32 weaves per square inch to create an incredibly strong braided line that rivals over braids on the market.
The Gore Tex fiber helps with water resistance and wicks water away from the line keeping your reel and hand drier.
While the other fibers make it tougher than nails, capable of serious abrasion resistance and shock strength.
PowerPro super lines have been incredibly popular since its release, and it’s one of the preferred lines for anglers on the market today.
Powerpro has 5 times the life longevity of monofilament lines and is 10 times stronger than steel in terms of tensile strength.
It has the ability, like other superlines, to last 2 or 3 seasons before needing to be changed out.
PowerPro is made from polyethylene, making the end product a slick form of plastic stronger than the spectra materials used by some other brands.
PowerPro’s braided line is made to be rounder and smoother, making it easier on your rod guides and aiding in castability and casting distance.
PowerPro also has the ability to stay on the surface of the water, giving your line less bow and increasing your hook-up percentage due to less slack and bowing in your line to pick up during the hookset.
Spiderwire is coated with a fluoropolymer coating which aids in the line sliding through guides giving you smooth casting and long-distance casting.
The line is also incredibly thin and super strong using a tight weave construction method with fibers made of 100% dyneema.
Fluorocarbon Line
Fluorocarbon line is similar to monofilament in that it is extruded into a single strand.
Unlike monofilament lines, the molecules used in the making of the fluorocarbon line are more densely packed, making the line heavier and stronger than monofilament lines.
Fluorocarbon line features high abrasion resistance as well as being stronger. This line type is great for walleye, trout and bass fishing where line visibility and sensitivity are critical.
Pros
- Virtually invisible
- Stronger than monofilament
- High abrasion resistance
Cons
- Low stretch if that’s needed
- Can get memory over time on a spool leading to coiling
- Not as manageable due to memory
Best Line for Baitcasting Reels: Fluoro
Super FC is a high-performance line that can be used in a wide variety of fishing situations.
It’s constructed with triple resin coatings for greater ease of use, giving it extra flexibility when compared to other fluorocarbon line brands.
As well as having lower memory and better casting properties when compared to other fluorocarbon lines on the market, the coatings also help by giving the line better abrasion resistance, giving the angler more reliability when fishing heavy covers like brush or timber.
P-line is the standard fluorocarbon line for many anglers today. The line is extruded from the highest-quality Japanese Fluorocarbon crystals.
Giving it some of the best breaking strength, abrasion resistance, and knot strength on the market.
The refractive index of this line is almost the exact same as water, essentially making it invisible and helping entice wary fish like walleyes or bass in clear and pressured waters to bite.
Conclusion
Be sure to take into consideration the type of fishing you plan on doing as well as the target species when selecting a line to use for baitcasting combos.
This will ensure that you have the best tool for the job and help you be a more effective angler on the water.
