Types of Fishing Line: Pros, Cons and a 30-Second Line Picker
The 4 types of fishing line compared: mono, fluorocarbon, braid and copolymer. Which is strongest, which color to use and a 30-second line picker.
By De Pesca & Anzuelo editorial team
There are four types of fishing line: monofilament, fluorocarbon, braid and copolymer. Each one stretches, sinks and shows up in the water differently, and choosing the right one matters as much as choosing the lure.
Below: a 30-second picker that tells you which line to use, a comparison chart, what each type is good and bad at, which line is the strongest (with the real diameters of three popular lines), which color to choose and what changes in salt water.
In short
- There are four types of fishing line: monofilament, fluorocarbon, braid and copolymer. Mono, fluoro and braid are the three main ones.
- Mono stretches and is cheap and easy to tie: the best first line.
- Fluorocarbon is the hardest line for fish to see and the toughest against rocks: ideal as a leader.
- Braid is the strongest for its size: a 20 lb braid is as thin as a 6 lb mono.
- Not sure? The 30-second picker below gives you the line, strength and leader for your fishing.
Which fishing line should you use? 30-second picker
Answer three questions and get the main line, the strength and the leader for your kind of fishing. The same advice is explained in full further down.
Types of fishing line compared
| Line | Stretch | In the water | Visibility | Abrasion | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monofilament | High (about 25–30%) | Sinks slowly | Low to medium | Moderate | Beginners, topwater, floats, trolling, bait rigs |
| Fluorocarbon | Medium (about 10–15%) | Sinks | Lowest | High | Leaders, clear water, bottom lures |
| Braid | Almost none | Floats | High | Low on rocks and shells | Long casts, heavy cover, jigging, main line for lures |
| Copolymer | Between mono and fluoro | Sinks slowly | Low | Good | An all-round main line |
1. Monofilament fishing line
- What it is: a single strand of nylon. Its key trait is stretch: it gives under load and forgives mistakes (Rapala).
- Pros: the cheapest line, easy to tie, forgiving stretch, floats or sinks slowly, works on any reel.
- Cons: thicker for its strength; memory makes it coil; stretch reduces feel at long range; sunlight weakens it over time (Field & Stream, Sportsman's Warehouse).
- Best for: a first reel, floats and bait, topwater lures and trolling.
2. Fluorocarbon fishing line
- What it is: a denser single strand whose light refraction is close to that of water, so it nearly disappears underwater (Rapala).
- Pros: the least visible line, the most abrasion resistant, less stretch than mono, sinks, not weakened by sunlight (Sportsman's Warehouse).
- Cons: stiffer and more expensive; knots must be wetted and tied with care; sinks, so it is a poor match for topwater (fishing.info).
- Best for: leaders, clear water, wary fish and lures worked on the bottom.
3. Braided fishing line
- What it is: many very thin polyethylene fibers woven into one line (Field & Stream).
- Pros: the strongest for its diameter, longest casts, almost no stretch for instant hooksets, no memory and a long life.
- Cons: easy for fish to see, frays on rocks and shells, slippery for knots, so it usually needs a leader (Rapala, fishing.info).
- Best for: the main line for lure fishing, heavy cover and grass, frogs, jigging and murky water.
4. Copolymer (hybrid) fishing line
- What it is: nylon made from two polymers melted together into one strand: a step up from mono (Tackle Village).
- Pros: thinner and less visible than mono at the same strength, more abrasion resistant, still supple.
- Cons: costs more than mono and is not as invisible as fluorocarbon.
- Best for: anglers who want one all-round main line on a spinning or baitcasting reel.
Which fishing line is the strongest?
Braid. At the same pound test every line is rated to break at about that weight, so what changes is the thickness. We compared the diameters published for three popular lines at 20 lb:
| Line (20 lb test) | Type | Diameter | Same diameter as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkley Trilene XL | Monofilament | 0.016 in (0.40 mm) | 20 lb mono |
| Seaguar Red Label | Fluorocarbon | 0.016 in (0.405 mm) | 20 lb mono |
| PowerPro Spectra | Braid | 0.009 in (0.23 mm) | 6 lb mono |
Mono and fluorocarbon are almost the same thickness, while the braid is barely more than half as thick: as thin as a 6 lb mono. That changes how much line fits on your reel. Shimano rates its Sedona 4000XG for 200 yards of 10 lb mono or 180 yards of 30 lb PowerPro braid: three times the strength for almost the same length (Shimano).
Try it with your reel
Enter your spool and line in our free calculator and see how many yards of mono, fluorocarbon or braid fit, in U.S. units.
Fluorocarbon or braid? Mono or braid?
- Fluorocarbon or braid: braid for distance, feel and cover; fluorocarbon where fish see the line. In clear water, use both: braid on the reel and a fluorocarbon leader (Fix.com).
- Mono or braid: mono when you want stretch, for bait, circle hooks and treble-hook lures, or when you are learning; braid for lures, long casts and cover.
- Topwater: braid, which floats, or mono; fluorocarbon sinks (Sportsman's Warehouse).
- Thick grass or murky water: braid on its own (Fix.com).
What color fishing line should you use?
- Clear water: clear line or fluorocarbon, the hardest to see underwater.
- Green-tinted water: green line blends in, like camouflage; in very clear water it can show more than clear line.
- Watching the line for bites: hi-vis yellow is easy for you to see, but also for fish, so use it in dirty water or add a clear leader.
- Braid: in any color it is visible underwater; add a fluorocarbon leader in clear water.
Line color guide based on Fix.com: Can fish see fishing line?.
Fishing line for salt water
In salt water, line takes a beating from sun, salt and abrasion against rocks, reef and shells. For lure fishing from shore or a boat, the most common setup is braid on the reel joined to a fluorocarbon leader: the braid gives distance and feel, the leader gives invisibility and abrasion resistance where the fish is (Rapala).
- Over rocks and reef, where braid frays easily, the leader matters even more (fishing.info).
- Rinse the reel and line with fresh water after every trip; salt and sand wear both.
- Mono is still a good, cheap choice for bait rigs and trolling.
To choose the reel for that line, see our guide to the types of fishing reels.
Lines we would start with
One line for each job, chosen from the specifications, not from a lab test.
Monofilament: Berkley Trilene Big Game
- A tough, low-cost mono for salt and fresh water, sold in many strengths and large spools.
- A good first line for bait rigs, trolling and general fishing.
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Braid: Hercules PE braid (4 or 8 strands)
- Thin, low-stretch braid for the main line when you fish lures.
- Pair it with a fluorocarbon leader in clear water or over rocks.
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Fluorocarbon leader: Seaguar Blue Label
- A fluorocarbon leader line: nearly invisible underwater and resistant to abrasion.
- Tie a length of it to the end of your braid.
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Types of fishing line: frequently asked questions
What are the three main types of fishing line?
Monofilament, fluorocarbon and braid. Mono is a single nylon strand that stretches; fluorocarbon is a denser single strand that sinks and is hard to see; braid is woven from many thin fibers and barely stretches. Copolymer is a fourth, hybrid option.
Should I use fluorocarbon or braid?
Use braid as the main line when you want long casts, feel and strength, especially in cover or murky water. Use fluorocarbon where fish can see the line, in clear water, or as a leader on the end of the braid. Many anglers use both together.
Which type of fishing line is the strongest?
Braid. At the same pound test every line is rated to break at about that weight, but braid reaches it with a much thinner line: 20 lb PowerPro braid is 0.009 in, the same as 6 lb mono.
What's stronger, braid or monofilament?
For the same diameter, braid is far stronger. For the same pound test, both break at about the rated weight, but the mono is much thicker and stretches more, while braid barely stretches.
Do I need a leader with braid?
Usually yes. Braid is easy for fish to see and can fray on rocks, so most anglers tie on a fluorocarbon or mono leader with a braid knot such as the FG or a double uni.
What fishing line is best for saltwater?
For lure fishing from shore or a boat, braid on the reel with a fluorocarbon leader is the usual choice. Mono still works well for bait rigs and trolling. Rinse the reel and line with fresh water after each trip.
Sources
- Rapala: Mono, fluorocarbon or braid? (manufacturer; properties and the braid + fluorocarbon setup).
- Field & Stream: Choosing the right fishing line (pros and cons).
- fishing.info: Fishing line types compared (stretch, density, abrasion, knots).
- Tackle Village: The 4 main types of fishing line (copolymer).
- Fix.com: Can fish see fishing line? (line color and visibility).
- Berkley: Freshwater line guide (manufacturer; sensitivity, memory, visibility).
- Sportsman's Warehouse: Fishing line strength charts (UV, uses, braid knots).
- Tackle Warehouse: Berkley Trilene XL, Angler's Headquarters: Seaguar Red Label and FishUSA: PowerPro (published diameters).
- PowerPro braid-to-mono equivalent diameter guide and Shimano: Sedona FJ specifications (line capacity).