Introduction
If you talk to any experienced angler about their fishing gear, the term braided fishing line is bound to come into the conversation at some point.
That’s because it offers certain features that a standard monofilament line or fluorocarbon line just can’t compete with.
Not only is this line versatile in all water environments, but it also has virtually no stretch and improved sensitivity, allowing anglers to feel even the smallest nibble.
But, choosing the wrong type of line isn’t ever going to help your fishing game, and will only going to frustrate you. So, to help you choose the ideal braided fishing line, we’ve selected our top 8 options for braided fishing lines.
Top 8 Best Braided Fishing Lines
Best Overall - KastKing SuperPower Braided
Designed with durability and increased casting distance, the KastKing braided fishing line is built to hold tough and perform under pressure. Made of a polyethylene braid fiber, you won’t have to worry about fraying or breaking off. In fact, this line is made out of the same material as bulletproof vests!
With low memory, you’ll cast farther without pesky wind knots forming on the line. It also offers superior knot strength, thanks to dynamically incorporated strands. So you’ll be tying solid knots (even an improved cinch knot) effortlessly.
Finally, the ultra-high sensitivity and zero stretch functionality of the 8-strand line means you’ll have better insight on how your lure is performing underwater, and bites to the line are easier to set.
After all, improved hook setting means more fish, and what’s not to love about that!
Best Value - PowerPro Spectra Fiber Braided
When you need a braided fishing line that responds to your movements, the Power Pro Spectra Fiber line is exactly what you’ve been searching for.
Made from Spectra, this braided fishing line is a very slick plastic, combined with PowerPro’s EBT (Enhanced Body Technology), this line won’t damage your rod guides.
Unaffected by UV rays, salt water, and most chemicals, this braided fishing line tends to last almost five times longer than monofilament lines. The convenient box design allows spooling straight to your reel, saving you time and energy.
PowerPro Spectra Fiber has virtually no reel memory, giving you longer and smoother casts, every time. With incredible strength (sitting at ten times stronger than steel) and virtually zero stretch to the line, you’ll feel every strike.
Finally, unlike Dacron and nylon lines, the PowerPro will stay at the surface, giving you more control after a strike.
Best Premium - PowerPro Spectra Hi-Vis Yellow Braided Line
If you’re looking for a high visibility braided line, look no further than the PowerPro Spectra Hi-Vis braided line.
This braided fishing line is designed for those times where high visibility is necessary, performing well in both clear freshwater and saltwater. It’s bright yellow line remains visible in the water helping you monitor bites a bit better.
The enhanced body technology improves performance and offers a structurally superior braided line, with a rounder, slicker, and smoother finish overall. Made of 100% Spectra fiber, this braided line offers a smoother cast, designed to be intensely sensitive, letting you feel the smallest strike, without stretching.
Available in 5lb-200lb weights, whatever you’re catching won’t be a problem. Whether you’re trolling, big game fishing, jigging, or casting, the PowerPro will help you improve your technique holding ultra-strong against the toughest catch.
Kastking Superpower Braided
The Kastking Superpower braided fishing line is designed with users in mind, and it doesn’t disappoint.
This braided line is the definition of adaptability, working in both freshwater and saltwater, without issue. Don’t let the small diameter fool you, it’s built strong enough to handle the toughest big-game fights.
Made with an epoxy coating to wick away moisture and woven fabric for heat insulation, as well as air permeability, this braided line is an evolutionary product every angler needs in his tackle box.
Unlike other braided lines, Kastking is resistant to abrasion and holds an incredible tensile strength without ripping apart. It has virtually no stretch, helping you connect with the bait and feel when a fish has hooked.
With multiple colors available and a reasonable price, this product has built a reputation on reliability and quality that countless anglers have come to trust. It’s a must-have for any angler looking for that versatile line to perform well in a variety of environments.
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid
Sometimes, you need the strongest braided line on the market, which is exactly what Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid delivers.
With the strongest and most durable small-diameter braid, this line performs tough in virtually any situation you can throw at it. Featuring 8 fibers, and an impressive 32 weaves per inch, this line is perfect for your next big catch!
But these fibers offer more than just strength, they also improve abrasion resistance, so you’ll be less likely to lose your line if you hit a snag. The line has a smooth, round profile, which remains gentle on your rod guides.
It also offers a smooth, easy cast, sure to help improve your casting ability.
Unlike other colored lines that fade and bleed over time, the Sufix 832 Advanced Superline has TGPTechnology to enhance color retention. This means your line stays the lo-vis green you need, even after being exposed to the elements.
Reaction Tackle High-Performance Braided
For a braided fishing line that excels in all situations, the Reaction Tackle High-Performance Braided Fishing Line is the perfect addition to your tackle box.
Reaction Tackle High-Performance line features a color-lock technology, keeping your line color strong, with limited bleeding. This pro-grade line is made of 100% UHMWPE, one of the world’s strongest fibers, so this line is going to perform well with whatever you’re bringing home.
Being as close to zero stretch as currently available, this line offers high sensitivity, helping you feel even the smallest nibble. With a super small diameter, this coated line is going to glide through your fishing rod guides effortlessly, allowing you to cast out substantial distances.
With strand sizes ranging from 10 lb. to 200 lbs, this braided line might just be perfect for your next excursion. Plus, if you don’t enjoy the line after trying it, simply contact the manufacturer to take advantage of their customer satisfaction guarantee.
Skysper Upgraded Braided
Offering a wide application, the Skysper upgraded line can handle both saltwater and freshwater equally, suitable for boat fishing, lure fishing, and trolling alike.
Available in both high visibility and fluorescent yellow, and low visibility grey or moss green, the Skysper line is available in 547-1093 yards. Unlike many cheaper braided fishing lines on the market, your line colors won’t bleed or fade – staying true to their color.
It’s a 4-strand PE braided fishing line, designed to float along the water. With its extremely low memory profile and advanced wide-angle technology, your cast will be long, fast, and smooth.
Made with Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber, the Skysper line is a strong line that holds well against abrasions. Plus, the zero stretch offers fantastic sensitivity, so you’ll feel every bite and strike on your line.
Hercules Super Cast Braided
When you need a high-performing braided line on a budget, the Hercules Super Cast should probably be your next purchase. Created with a diamond-weave 8-strand line, this is the ultimate casting fishing line.
Made with UHMWPE and coated for the ultimate smoothness, it is a super slick line with a round, smooth diameter. Hercules Super Cast helps you cast farther without the risk of wind knots.
Available in test pound strength of 10LB to 300LB, this braided line will take you from larger native fish to larger tuna, and everything in between. Offering both high-visibility and low-visibility colors, the Hercules Super Cast Braided Fishing Line is available in 15 colors.
With no stretch and absolute sensitivity, this braided fishing line is perfect for live bait fishing or surf-casting. Whether you need to cut through thick weeds, heavy grass, or tackle heavy cover, this line won’t disappoint even the most experienced angler.
Choosing the Best Braided Fishing Line—Factors to Consider:
If you’re in the market for a braided fishing line, the options may seem daunting and overwhelming.
This is especially true since it’s not financially viable to purchase every line on the market to see how well they perform.
Therefore, before you purchase your next braided fishing line, be sure to consider these four factors, which will help you narrow down the best braided fishing line for your next outing.
Consider the Proper Line Strength
Similar to other types of fishing line, line strength is simply how much weight needs to be added to the line before it will break under the pressure. So essentially, the higher the line strength, the stronger it’s going to be.
Make sure you consider what type of fish you’re going after and how heavy they get before purchasing your line. After all, there is a substantial difference in line requirements between a smallmouth bass and a tuna fish.
When in doubt, always go up a line strength, as a lighter line always runs the risk of breaking with a big catch.
Abrasion Resistance
With many braided lines offering minimal to no stretch, abrasion resistance becomes an important factor in your fishing line.
Simply put, if you’re looking for a strong braided line, you want to make sure that it can hold up against sharp objects, rough edges, or fish teeth (we’re talking musky teeth!).
Therefore, always opt for an abrasion-resistant line or you’ll risk having your line break when a nice set of teeth cut into it.
Line Sensitivity And Stretch
Line stretch is how much extensibility a line has when you apply pressure to it.
A line with too much stretch makes it difficult to notice any bites, especially at further depths, making it harder to set your hook.
Braided fishing lines typically have minimal to no stretch, which makes it easier to notice nibbles, bites, and strikes.
As a general rule, the less stretch a fishing line has, the higher the level of sensitivity you’re going to get on the line.
If you can feel the fish nibbling, you have a higher chance of bringing it home, which is exactly why you want a line that’s going to perform well in the water.
Choosing the Best Colour for Your Line
Similar to other fishing lines, braided lines are available in a wide array of colors, divided into two main varieties: high-visibility and low-visibility.
High visibility colors are bright lines that will remain visible on top or underneath the water. These lines are ideal if you’re fishing on a boat or if you need to monitor your line. The most standard color is a fluorescent yellow, but you can find other options (like orange or lime green) from select brands.
Low visibility lines are meant to blend in with the water while you’re fishing. These lines are not as noticeable to fish as they tend to blend in with their surroundings. The most common color for low visibility braided lines is moss green or brown.
Frequently Asked Questions - Braided Fishing Line
Is a braided fishing line better than a monofilament line?
Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to simply say that one type of fishing line is better than another. However, there are certain advantages to braided fishing lines that monofilament simply can’t compete with.
For starters, braided line is more sensitive than monofilament line as it has little to no stretch to it.
Braided line is also ideal in situations where there is no need for stretch when setting your hook, since faster reeling speed can help you set the hook deeper.
Finally, braided lines can be smaller in diameter, but still stronger than a monofilament line.
What color braided line is best?
When deciding on the best color for a braided line, it’s important to consider whether you’re wanting a high-visibility line or a low-visibility line.
A high-visibility line will be easier to track in the water; often a fluorescent yellow or orange is ideal. But the downside to a high-vis line is the mild deterrent to fish since they can see the line too.
For a low-visibility braided line, two popular color choices are moss green or a darker brown color.
These two colors will blend in with murky water and are less visible to fish.
With that being said, line color really comes down to personal preference and the type of fishing that you’re doing.
Braided fishing line can be found in more than a dozen color choices. So there’s plenty to try and experiment with.
Should I use monofilament backing with a braided line?
In a word, yes.
Braided fishing line is expensive and almost every reel needs at least a couple hundred yards to fill.
So if you’re buying the standard 150-yard spool of braided line, it’s not going to be enough to fill the reel, meaning your spool of line could slip off the reel, causing a lot of unwanted headaches, and the potential loss of the catch of a lifetime.
Essentially, adding a monofilament backing will allow you to properly fill your reel, maximizing your casting ability, and preventing your line from unspooling as you snag your next big one!
What LB braided line should I use?
When opting for the best braided fishing line to use, I recommend carrying the lightest gear possible to catch the type of fish you’re after. In other words, you’re not going to want a 100-lb test for a small fish.
If you’re looking for a smaller species (trout, for example) a 4-pound line should be sufficient. But if you’re hoping to catch a large game fish, a much heavier lb braided line would be recommended.
Do I need a leader with a braided line?
Although it might seem counterproductive to put a leader on a braided line, there are a few definite benefits to adding a one. In fact, leaders are used to help your line sink, which is especially helpful if you’ve selected a braided line with more buoyancy.
Finally, adding a leader to a braided line can sometimes help you deal with snags when fishing through thicker cover.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking to purchase your first spool of braided line or you’re checking out a few new options to add to your tackle box, having the proper gear is essential when it comes to landing the fish that you’re after.
A braided fishing line is a popular option for many anglers, with its main benefits being that it remains strong and sensitive, without being overly bulky, helping it stand out from other types of fishing line.
Hopefully, now you’ll have a decent head start on your next braided fishing line purchase, by knowing exactly what to look for before buying.
With better casting, better strength, and unsurpassed sensitivity, your fishing game is going to improve faster than ever.
For more info, read our guide on the different types of fishing line.