Choosing the best fishing line for trout will come down to your fishing conditions and preferences. There are many types of fishing line available, each with their own unique properties and benefits. Let’s explore some of the pros and cons of monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided line.
We’ll also cover tips on combining them for the best of both worlds and some considerations on picking the weight of your line.
Monofilament Fishing Line
Monofilament line is made of a single strand of nylon. The material is melted down and extruded through a small hole to form a single strand. The line is then treated with various coatings and additives to enhance its performance. This may include UV inhibitors to prevent degradation from exposure to sunlight, or adding abrasion-resistant coatings to improve durability.
Pros
- Stretch: The ability for mono to stretch can be beneficial. For one, it can absorb the shock of sudden movements by the fish, reducing the chances of your hookset shaking loose. This is especially helpful when fighting bigger fish.
- Visibility: Monofilament line is almost invisible underwater, which can help to reduce the chances of spooking the fish. This can be particularly advantageous when fishing for leery trout in clear water.
- Buoyancy: Mono is fairly buoyant and drops through the water slowly, which can be an advantage when fishing with lures that require a slower descent.
- Knot strength: Knots such as the improved clinch knot cinch down strong on mono and the line tends to retain much of its strength at the tying point.
- Cost-effective: Monofilament line is relatively inexpensive compared to other types of fishing lines, which can make it a more affordable option for anglers.
Cons
- Stretch: While stretch can be a pro in certain situations, it can also be a con. The sponginess of monofilament line can reduce sensitivity and accuracy, making it harder to detect bites and set your hook. This issue is especially noticeable when fishing in deep water or casting long distances.
- Memory: Monofilament line has a tendency to hold onto the shape of the spool, resulting in what is called “memory.” This can cause the line to tangle and knot, reducing its effectiveness. It’s especially troublesome if your spool is full.
- Water absorption: Mono can absorb as much as 10% of its weight in water. While this makes the line more supple so it’s easier to handle and casts better, water absorption also increases stretch and weakens the line.
- Abrasion resistance: Monofilament line is not as abrasion-resistant as other types of fishing lines, such as braid. This can make it more prone to breaking or getting damaged when fishing around rocks or other rough surfaces.
- Water temperature: If the water is cold, mono can become stiff and lose some of its flexibility, making it more prone to breaking or cracking. It’s also prone to being weakened by exposure to direct sunlight.
Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Fluorocarbon line is made of a synthetic polymer called polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). This material is known for its high strength and resistance to abrasion, making it a popular choice for fishing line.
To create fluorocarbon line, PVDF is extruded through a die. This process involves stretching and heating the material to ensure it has the necessary strength and sensitivity. The fluorocarbon is often coated with a protective layer to help it resist abrasion and improve its overall durability.
The finished product is a fishing line that is denser than mono and which has a refractive index that is closer to water.
Pros
- Visibility: The refractive index of fluorocarbon line suggests that more light can pass through it than monofilament, which is said to make it less visible under water. These claims are hotly debated and even refuted by folks such as Jeff Thompson. While fluoro and mono are still visible under water, they’re certainly much less visible than braid.
- Durable: Fluorocarbon is known for its high abrasion resistance, making it ideal for fishing in areas with sharp rocks or other abrasive structures. Fluorocarbon is also less susceptible to damage from sun exposure.
- Sensitive: Fluorocarbon is much denser than monofilament and that lets you feel more energy from a bite. Additionally, fluoro stretches less than mono and the line tends to be less elastic so it stays stretched. This increases sensitivity, but also weakness — a big tradeoff.
- Stiffness: This is both a pro and a con. On the positive side of things, being less flexible means that fluorocarbon line is less likely to find itself wrapped around your lure or hook.
Cons
- Stiffness: Fluorocarbon line is stiffer than monofilament line, which can make it more difficult to cast, especially in colder temperatures.
- Stretch & abrasion: Fluoro can still stretch and doesn’t bounce back as well as mono. While this increases sensitivity, it weakens your line, especially when encountering an abrasive force while being stretched beyond its deformation point.
- Cost: Fluorocarbon line is more expensive than monofilament.
- Limited colors: Fluorocarbon line is only available in clear or a light tint, which can be a drawback for anglers who prefer colored line for visibility or easier detection of line movement.
Braided Fishing Line
Braided fishing line is typically made of several strands of polyethylene fibers that are woven or braided together. The exact materials and manufacturing process can vary between companies, but common materials include Spectra, Dyneema, and micro-Dyneema.
These fibers are extremely strong and durable, and are treated with a special coating to enhance their strength and performance. The weaving process is done under high tension and heat, creating a tightly-knit braid that has no stretch and is highly sensitive.
Braid has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its many advantages over other types of fishing line.
Pros
- High sensitivity: Unlike monofilament line, braided line has virtually zero stretch. The woven fibers result in a thin, strong line that is highly sensitive to even the slightest movements. This helps you detect bites more easily and set the hook more quickly.
- High strength: Braided line has a high strength-to-diameter ratio, which means it can handle more weight than other types of line of the same diameter. This makes it ideal for catching larger fish.
- No memory: While mono and fluoro have memory that cause the line to take on the shape of your spool, braid doesn’t have this issue so it peels off clean and straight every time.
- Long-lasting: Braided line is highly durable and can last much longer than other types of line. It’s resistant to abrasion and doesn’t degrade as rapidly, so you won’t need to replace it as often.
- Easy to spot damage: As damage does occur from abrasion, it’s easy to see the start of these frays on braided line so you know when and where to cut the weak spots and retie.
Cons
- Visibility: Braided line is often highly visible in the water, which can spook fish and make them less likely to bite. In our experience, this is less of an issue with the aggressive reactionary strikes you get from trout if you’re fishing with a spinner.
- Cost: Braided line can be more expensive than other types of line, especially if you opt for a high-end brand. We’ve found more affordable brands like KastKing to perform about the same as more expensive ones like Spyderwire.
- Knot slippage: Braided line can be more difficult to tie secure knots due to its slick texture. You may need to do more wraps on an improved clinch knot or experiment with other types of knots.
What Pound Test for Trout?
Generally speaking, lighter line is better for trout fishing because it’s more sensitive and allows for a more natural presentation of your bait or lure. However, you also need to consider the size of the trout you are targeting and the type of water you will be fishing in.
For small streams and rivers, a two to four-pound test line on an ultralight rod is generally sufficient, though we prefer the extra abrasion resistance you get by sizing up to 10-pound line.
For larger rivers or lakes, you may want to go up to a six or eight-pound line on the lighter end of things. On the heavier end, 15-pound line isn’t a bad choice if you’re in deeper water, expect to catch large fish, and there’s the potential for abrasion from rocks.
Some might argue that a heavier line may spook wary trout and limit your ability to make delicate presentations. If you’re fishing with spinners, trout tend to strike on such a rapid impulse that using thicker more visible braid doesn’t seem to matter.
I have come to doubt the importance of line visibility when it comes to quick moving reaction baits, especially ones with flash. In testing I have caught an 18-inch brown trout with our spinners on a tarred twine leader which couldn’t have been more visible and that didn’t seem to make any difference.
So, what pound test should you choose? It ultimately depends on your personal preference and the specific fishing conditions you’re facing. However, a good generalization is to use the lightest line possible that can still handle the size of the trout you are targeting and the conditions you are fishing in.
Fluorocarbon Leader With Braided Line
Combining different types of line such as using a fluorocarbon leader on braided line is a common technique among anglers to take advantage of the benefits of each type of line.
Braid is known for its strength, sensitivity, and minimal stretch, making it an excellent choice for fishing in heavy cover or for long-range casting. On the other hand, fluorocarbon is less visible under water, making it ideal for targeting finicky fish like trout.
By combining these two lines, you can enjoy the benefits of both. Braid provides the strength and sensitivity needed to detect bites and handle large fish, while a fluorocarbon leader offers stealth to fool wary trout.
Drawbacks to Using a Fluorocarbon Leader
There are some potential drawbacks to using a fluorocarbon leader on braided line. For starters, the two lines can have different sink rates, which can cause your lure or bait to behave in an unnatural way.
Additionally, the knot between the two lines can be a weak point, so it’s essential to use a strong and reliable knot to avoid losing fish. The double uni knot is our recommendation. Here’s a diagram to help you tie it:
Another potential issue is that the fluorocarbon leader can be prone to line twist, particularly if you’re using a lightweight leader. This is because the braided line has no memory, while fluorocarbon line does. Therefore, when you retrieve your line, the fluorocarbon leader can twist around the braided line, causing tangles and knots.
You can minimize line twist with a swivel on a short leader, though adding a bunch of hardware to the end of your line seems to defeat the purpose of minimizing visibility.
Fluorocarbon Leader Length and Weight
The recommended test for the fluorocarbon leader depends on the size and species of the fish you are targeting. A good starting point is to use a fluorocarbon leader that is equal to the pound rating of your braid. For example, if you are using 10-pound braid, you might want to use a fluorocarbon leader of 10 pounds or less.
The length of a fluorocarbon leader on braid can vary depending on the fishing situation and preference. One way to go about it is adding just enough leader so that the joining knot isn’t on your spool, that way the knot isn’t slowing down your casts.
You can go shorter, and you can go up to or beyond several lengths of your rod for a leader. If you’re fishing in clear water with spooky fish, you may want to use a longer leader to help prevent the fish from detecting the braid. If you’re fishing in murky water or in heavy cover, a shorter leader may be more suitable.
Ultimately, the length and weight of your fluorocarbon leader on braid will depend on your fishing style, target species, and the fishing environment. Experiment with different combinations and see what works best for you.
So, What’s the Best Fishing Line For Trout?
Choosing the best fishing line for trout will require you consider factors such as visibility, sensitivity, and strength when making your purchase. Monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided lines are all good options, each with their own unique properties and benefits.
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