Best Monofilament (Mono) Fishing Lines – And How To Choose

This has probably happened to every fisherman at some point – you feel a huge fish tugging at the end of your line, but while reeling it in the line breaks! You lose the catch. This happens all the time to anglers that have not invested in good quality lines, or ones that just got a bit unlucky. If you want to reel in your next big catch, without the line snapping you may want to make sure you have the best monofilament line for your needs.

In this article, we are going to go over the key considerations when choosing a monofilament line, as well as some of our top recommended lines.

Quick Links:
Best Mono Lines | Key Considerations When Choosing

 

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Top 6 Best Mono Fishing Lines

 

Berkley Trilene XL Smooth Casting

This is a classic for any angler- making it our pick for the best monofilament fishing line. The line is durable, smooth, and very strong. Plus, you can buy it in different weights depending on the type of fish you plan to catch.

The quality of the monoline in this spool sets the standard for anglers everywhere – whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, you will appreciate this product.

Berkley Trilene spools can resist kinks in the line and are abrasion-resistant, giving you more control while casting. If you are looking for a spool to return to for years to come, this is our top recommendation for a light mono line.

Overall, we preferred this brand the most out of the lines we tested. If you want to try one of the best-rated lines for baitcasters, this is our choice.

Break Strength Options:

4LB | 1.8KG
6LB | 2.7KG
8LB | 3.6KG
10LB | 4.5KG
12LB | 5.4KG
14LB | 6.3KG
17LB | 7.7KG
20LB | 9KG
25LB | 11.3KG
2LB | 0.9KG
30LB | 13.6KG

View on Amazon | View On Berkley

 

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Berkley Trilene Big Game Custom Spool

The Berkley Trilene Big Game spool has an amazing value for the price tag, as it is great at reeling in big fish. This is one of the best monofilament fishing lines because it is geared towards managing the weight of large game without breaking.

It is abrasion-resistant and will hold its own when encountering a sharp edge so that it does not snap. Plus, this product is high ranking and received a lot of praise from users. Many enjoy that the price can be super low, depending on the type of fish they are trying to catch. Others stated that they have been using this exact line for years and have no desire to change to a different one.

In short, if you need a monofilament line that holds up against the strongest game and is still cost-effective, then we would offer you this brand.

Strength Options:

8LB | 3.6KG
100LB | 45.3KG
10LB | 4.5KG
12LB | 5.4KG
130LB | 58.9KG
15LB | 6.8KG
20LB | 9KG
25LB | 11.3KG
30LB | 13.6KG
40LB | 18.1KG
50LB | 22.6KG
60LB | 27.2KG
80LB | 36.2KG

View On Amazon | View On Berkley

 

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KastKing World’s Premium Monofilament Fishing Line

KastKing is still the number 1 bestseller out of all the premium fishing lines. They are cost-efficient and do an amazing job. This spool is made of nylon materials, which are great for tying knots over lures, making them superior if you fish for bass.

Because of the nylon material, this line is abrasion-resistant, memory resistant, and can last you years. The durable qualities of this material make it perfect for increasing your ability to catch heavy game. Plus, this monofilament works well with both saltwater and freshwater.
The users of this product tend to stick with KastKing for years, due to their fair pricing and quality lines. Many say that this spool lasted them years and enjoyed that they offered strings for different weights. Overall, we think that this is another quality KastKing product and worth checking out.

Strength and Length Options:

4 LB / 300Yds
6 LB / 300Yds
8 LB / 300Yds
10 LB / 300Yds
12 LB / 300Yds
15 LB / 300Yds

 

View On Amazon | View On KastKing

 

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Stren High Impact Monofilament Fishing Line

This is one of the most widely purchased mono lines on Amazon. It has thousands of amazing reviews. If you want a line that has been heavily tested and used at a reasonable cost, this is a great option.

It comes in a variety of colors and weights, meaning you can use this line in just about every fishing situation.

This line works in both freshwater and saltwater, and has really low visibility in the water, making it great for some of those more finicky fish.

View On Amazon

 

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KastKing DuraBlend Monofilament Leader Line

If you are in need of a saltwater line to use as a leader, this is an incredibly solid option. With 20-200 pound strength options, you can find a line nearly perfect for any situation, and this line has proven to be extremely durable, reliable, and relatively invisible in the water.

The reviews on Amazon speak to the amount of anglers that have had great experiences here. This particular leader simply appears to hold up to abbraision much better than similar lines.

When comparing the strength to diameter ratio, this line is comparable to much more expensive options, which is why we bring this into our list.

Strength, Length & Width Options:

25 LB | 0.45mm |120 Yds
40 LB | 0.55mm | 120 Yds

View On Amazon | View On KastKing

 

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Stren Original Monofilament Fishing Line

Strens Original is also one of the most popular fishing lines in the world. Stren touts that the IFGA world record Marlin was caught on their line. Many saltwater anglers rely on various strength Stren lines. This line has great abrasion resistance and consistent stretch. It has various breaking strengths available, is affordable, extremely consistent, and therefore used by large variety of anglers.

 

View On Amazon | View On Bass Pro Shops

 

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Key Consideration: How To Choose A Monofilament Line

 

Know the Line Strength / Weight

Be sure that you choose one that matches the pound test you need. This is the measurement of how much stress can be put onto a monofilament line before it breaks. If you ignore this number, you could run into issues when trying to reel in your catch, or be missing out on fish because your line is too visible.

Every spool out there has a label on it that shows what level of pound test it can hold. Being aware of the line strength will be helpful to you, so be sure you remember to check it out before you buy the product. You may want to check out our article: How To Spool Your Spinning Reel.

If you are not sure about what you need, your local store where you buy fishing products has employees that are passionate about their work. We are sure that they would love to help you pick out a fishing line, tackles, bait- and everything else in between. Regardless, here is a little chart for you:

 

Line Memory

Line memory refers for the ability of a line to not stay in tight circles when unraveled. A high quality line will have little memory, and remain straight longer than other lines. Usually lines that have low memory are more expensive, but worth it as they avoid nots and are better for setting hooks and seeing bites.

If you fish very infrequently, storing your rod for long periods of time can lead to lots of loops in your line. If you don’t fish frequently, or take a long break, it is encouraged to re-spool your rod.

 

Sink Rate

Monofilament line tends to float very well compared to other types of line. This makes it an optimal choice for many anglers doing topwater fishing. Overtime most monofilament lines absorb moisture which makes it sink more over time. So replacing mono every once in a while is often necessary. Monofilament is generally the least expensive line, so this isn’t a big deal!

 

Monofilament Vs. Braided Line – When To Use Each

This is a common debate among anglers. Monofilament line is less visible in the water, so for picky fish, you’ll want a mono line.

When trolling for large fish, anglers often use mono line because it has stretch that will prevent rod damage and line snappings.

Braided line is thinner, meaning you can put more line on your spool, cast farther, and reel a little smoother through the water. So when big casting is needed, anglers often go for braided line as well. The fact that the line doesn’t have as much stretch can also help with better hook sets.

When fishing near structures, or treed areas, or bushes, anglers often switch to braided line due to its durability and resistance. The choice can be tough, but simply understand the pros and cons identified above, and you can make the right decision.

 

Monofilament Vs. Fluorocarbon

Monofilament is less expensive than fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon is more transparent than monofilament, it tends to be a bit stronger when compared to the same diameter monofilament, and is more abrasion proof. Fluorocarbon tends to be less buoyant, so it is better for those using sub surface lures.

Mono line is simply a lot cheaper than fluorocarbon, which makes it more popular.

 

Line Color

The popular monofilament colors are clear, blue, pink, and hi-vis yellow. Really, any line will work, but certain lines are better in certain fishing conditions.

Clear: The most versatile line color.
Blue: Another versatile line, maybe slighly better for more blue water, say, offshore fishing.
Pink: Often used in white sand areas for visibility.
Hi-Vis Yellow: For use in night fishing, or any situations where it is helpful for the angler to be able to see the line.

 

Line Thickness

When comparing mono lines, you’ll want a line that is strong, but has a thinner line thickness. The thicker the line, the less line you’ll get on your spool. More expensive lines are stronger, with a smaller diameter. So know your situation, and understand that you may have to pay more for a line that has the same strength as another line while having a smaller diameter. Fluorocarbon and Braided line tend to be stronger than monofilament line, so you’ll need a thinner diameter for the same weight. This is something to always pay attention to.

 

Other Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a Line:

• Know your target species beforehand, this determines the strength you need.
• Know your fishing area, this determines the pound test you need.
  • Obviously larger fish need larger test line. In an area with a lot of debris or structure, you may also want heavier test line.
• Think about your gear, lighter rods do not work well with heavier fishing lines and vice-versa.
• Think about the location and type of fishing
  • Will you be fishing top water?
  • Will you be in a sandy area? Low visibility?
  • Consider the right line color and weight based on location.

Beginners can often feel overwhelmed when purchasing their first set of fishing gear. However, as long as you keep the above information in the back of your mind while shopping, you will have a much easier time finding what works best for you and what you want to catch.

All of the top lines we mentioned on this list are reliable brands and products to choose from. If you are still having a difficult time figuring out what you want, then any of these options should be a good place to start.

Most of our picks above, and all lines for that matter, have different options (line weight and color) for you to choose for your situation.

 

Take Away

The best monofilament lines are cheap and efficient, meaning that you can still buy them on a budget if you need to. Mono tends to need to be replaced more frequently, but the low cost makes that really not a big deal.

 

Conclusion

All of these products work well, you can not go wrong with any of them.

Many of these lines come in different sizes, weights, and pound tests. That way, you can check them out and decide which brand is best for your specific needs – what you want to catch, where you fish, or how you plan to fish all factor into choosing the best line for you.

All of these lines are in the best rated and received a lot of praise from customers. Because of this, we know you will enjoy them too. We have all had fishing lines break on us, but remember, it does not need to happen. Source the best gear and increase your odds of landing more fish.