While the debate between monofilament and fluorocarbon lines is certainly worth the time to break down, it may be even more worthy of a breakdown if the choice to use braid or monofilament lines is chosen. I have struggled with this question myself for years. What is better in freshwater? What is better in saltwater? What is better for this or that species?
In this article, I’m going to try to answer some of these questions for you guys so that you feel better prepared to take on fish in the future. Some anglers will tell you that this debate is really not that important. However, the smart ones will tell you that this decision on line choice can have direct day-to-day impacts on all of your fishing adventures.
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Enough talk. Let’s settle this debate and figure out what Line we should be using and when we should be using it.
What is a Monofilament Fishing Line
- Definition: As the prefix suggests, monofilament is simply just a single strand of plastic material.
- Material Composition: For the most part, monofilament fishing lines are generally made out of nylon but can also be made with various other polymers.
- Common Characteristics: Some common characteristics of mono fishing lines are stretch, maneuverability, high visibility, easy knot tying, and high float.
- Typical Uses: Some typical uses of monofilament fishing lines include top shots on reels, Lines for topwater baits, and Lines for fishing that may require some stretch to the lines.
- Why Anglers Prefer Mono: Many anglers prefer mono because of the forgiveness that is offered because of the stretch of the Line. Additionally, some anglers prefer using mono because of the float that it can give, which makes their topwater baits look more appealing.
What is Braided Fishing Line
- Definition: A braided fishing line is a Line made out of various strands of fibers woven together to make a single, stronger cord of Line.
- Material Composition: For the most part, braid is made of woven synthetic fibers such as Dyneema or Spectra together to create it. Braids can come in many different variations, often distinguished by the number of strands that make up the braid.
- Common Characteristics: Some common characteristics of braided fishing lines are high strength, thin diameter, low stretch, sensitivity, low visibility, low memory, and good resistance to UV damage.
- Typical Uses: Some typical uses of braided fishing lines are backing for many reels because they have a lot of strength, and because they’re so thin, you can pack a bunch on a reel. A lot of anglers will use braid in saltwater due to its high strength.
- Why Anglers Prefer Mono: For many anglers, the reason that they prefer braid is because of how much more Line they can fit on their reels. Especially when fishing saltwater, some fish can take hundreds of yards of Line in a single run. With the same strength mono, you would almost always get spooled. Another reason is because of its high sensitivity and low visibility, making it highly optimal for a stealthier approach.
Key Differences between Braided and Monofilament Lines
There are quite a few differences between braided and monofilament fishing lines, so let’s break them down below. I will have the main differences written here but if you are a more visual person then refer to my comparison chart below.
- Strength: In terms of the diameter, the braid is definitely stronger. Some will even argue that it is harder to straight-up break a 20 lb braid as opposed to a 20 lb mono.
- Durability: Due to the fact that braid has virtually no memory, it is more durable than mono which tends to deteriorate over time.
- Stretch: Mono stretches a significant amount more than Braid, which barely stretches at all.
- Sensitivity: Braid is more sensitive than mono primarily due to the fact that braid has zero stretch, allowing you to feel virtually everything.
- Diameter: As I mentioned above, a braid has a far smaller diameter if compared directly to the same strength mono.
- Casting Distance: For the most part, braid can be cast further than mono due to its smaller diameter.
- Visibility: Mono is pretty visible in the water, while Braid is a bit stealthier.
- Buoyancy: Mono floats far more than braid does.
- Water Absorption: Braid barely absorbs any water at all, whereas mono does absorb water.
- Abrasion Resistance: A monofilament fishing line has better abrasion resistance than a braid because it is made of a single strand of Line. Braid can get chafed off one stand at a time, weakening it by abrasions.
- Price: Mono is definitely cheaper than Braid.
- Longevity: Mono tends to deteriorate rather quickly, whereas braids are a bit harder over time and can withstand more beating.
Here is the table:
| Feature | Braid | Mono |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | ✅ | ❌ |
| Durability | ✅ | ❌ |
| Stretch | ✅ (Low Stretch) | ❌ (High Stretch) |
| Sensitivity | ✅ | ❌ |
| Diameter | ✅ | ❌ |
| Casting Distance | ✅ | ❌ |
| Visibility | ✅ (Less Visible) | ❌ (More Visible) |
| Buoyancy | ❌ (Sinks More) | ✅ (Floats More) |
| Water Absorption | ✅ | ❌ |
| Abrasion Resistance | ❌ | ✅ |
| Price | ❌ | ✅ |
| Longevity | ✅ | ❌ |
When To Use Braided Line
- Fishing in Heavy Cover: Braid is excellent for fishing in heavy cover, especially if you use a braid with higher strength. If you get your bait snagged on a log or bush, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to rip it out because of the low stretch. This has been particularly relevant for me when I’m bass fishing tight banks where snags are not likely but definite. Most of the time I can just tighten my drag, hold my spool full of braid, walk back a couple steps and pop the bait right off the tree. Now obviously this doesn’t always work, but I can guarantee you will have more success using this strategy I just mentioned with braid as opposed to mono.
- Fishing Deep Water: When fishing with a lot of depth, you almost certainly have to use a braid. Yes, you could hypothetically buy a bigger reel just to put all mono on, but that would not be your smartest move. Because the braid’s diameter is so much smaller, it is far more economical to use, at a bare minimum, some braid backing to maximize your distance. The same thing is true when fishing for fish that are notorious for longer runs, such as wahoo or king mackerel. You need a Line so that you don’t get spooled, and braid gives you that advantage.
- Using Spinning Reels: For the same reason above, braid is advisable on spinning reels because of their very limited spool capacity. On just about every spinning reel I use, especially if using that reel for saltwater, I will have a braid on it because it gives me both a greater range to cast and a greater ability to have the fish run and not get spooled. In my many years of fishing, I’ve hooked redfish even in the backwater. If I had not braided the reel, I would’ve gotten spooled.
- Fishing for Bottom Fish: A lot of the time, you have to win the first ten feet of the fight with bottom fish to make it to where they can’t swim back into the structure or holes and get off the hook. This being said, you don’t want the mono that is going to stretch a ton because even with locked-down drag, that fish can still get closer to the structure. Instead, you would want to use a braid because you can tighten your drag and expect that fish to not budge—at least based on the stretch of the Line. This is particularly relevant when fishing for grouper.
When To Use Monofilament Line
- Fishing with Live Baits:
In this particular case, monofilament and the stretch it offers are actually beneficial to hooking more fishing. This stretch in the Line allows for a lower chance of hooks being pulled, which is a common occurrence with live baits and stiffer lines.
This is one of the many reasons we use mono for king mackerel fishing. The forgiveness that it offers is not only unparalleled just to braid but to fluorocarbon as well.
Read also: Monofilament vs. Fluorocarbon: Which Fishing Line is Best for You?
- Fishing with Beginners:
Other than price, this is probably the biggest reason why I would ever recommend monofilament fishing lines. If you want a cheap solution that is more forgiving and can allow for more hookups, mono is the way to go.
Given that beginner anglers are often still figuring things like drag out, the forgiveness of the stretch can prove a lifesaver like it has done for me many times in the past. For example, maybe you have your drag a little too tight while using mono. The stretch of the mono could actually save you from a breakoff, whereas the braid might not necessarily.
- Fishing around Cover:
For many of the same reasons above, using mono for fishing around cover is a good idea. Sure, the stretch does offer some benefits, like not immediately breaking off on something under the water, but it also adds another important thing—abrasion resistance.
When a braid comes into contact with a structure underwater, it will often begin to eat away at the different strands of the Line that make up the braid, cutting them one by one and weakening the Line. With mono, sure the Line could chafe a bit, but more than likely it won’t lose nearly as much strength as it would have if using braid.
This is almost always why braid isn’t used as a leader for bottom fishing. Due to all the structure below, the odds of losing fish due to breakups on the braid are much higher than mono or fluoro.
- Fishing with a Tight Budget:
This is another super popular reason why people like to fish with mono. Not only is it more forgiving and abrasion-resistant than braid, but it also costs significantly less. It is also cheaper than fluoro as well. For this reason, many anglers will choose mono simply because of their budget.
Now, I will say that depending on what you are fishing for and its seriousness, mono is not always a bad option. Say, I’m just going to fish in neighborhood ponds around me for largemouth bass. It’s really not worth investing a bunch of extra money in Braid or Fluoro just to mess around with smaller fish in ponds.
However, if I’m in a high stakes situation or I need better performance out of my Line, depending on the application, I will often either use fluoro or braid.
Common Mistakes When Choosing a Fishing Line
- Using Braid in Ultra-Clear Water without a Leader: This is actually a far more common mistake than one may think.
A lot of anglers, myself included, for a long while, would just go straight braid to hook or braid to rig. While this absolutely can work, it is definitely not the most optimal strategy. Braid is not super visible in the water, but it is certainly a lot more visible than a fluorocarbon leader.
This being said, if the water where you are fishing is super clear, I would highly recommend some sort of fluorocarbon leader because it is virtually invisible underwater. Sure, it might cost a bit more money, but I can assure you that it is worth it in the long run. You will catch more fish when you prioritize stealth and presentation.
- Using Braid for Deep Jigging/Bottom Fishing where Sensitivity is Important: Having high line sensitivity is super important when bottom fishing—especially when fishing live bait.
You need to be able to feel all the little ticks and pulls so you can get a better visual of what is happening to your bait far below the surface. At the end of the day, braid is the more sensitive of the two between it and mono. Additionally, it doesn’t have nearly as much stretch, which is crucial when bottom fishing and winning those first 10 feet off of the bottom.
Moreover, you can fish deeper water with braid simply because of how much more braid you can put on a reel than mono.
- Ignoring Line Memory: Mono has extremely high memory, especially when you start getting to the heavier stuff.
A lot of anglers tend to ignore this and wait for a surprise break-off a year later when they realize that they should’ve replaced their mono by then.
Braid has virtually no memory, so I would definitely recommend it over mono. This might cost a bit more upfront, but it might save you from some heartaches on the back end.
- Using Thick Mono on Spinning Reels: Using thick mono on spinning reels is a big no-go for me and much of the fishing community.
Unless you have a really good reason to (which I can’t even think of), there is no reason why you should at least be backing your spinning reels with a braid.
You can use mono as the top shot if you would like, but I would strongly recommend not filling the whole spool with mono—especially if you are saltwater fishing. I have always told people this about saltwater fishing: you really never know what you’re going to catch, so it’s better to be prepared and have some sort of extra Line on the reel in case you hook a monster. You simply cannot do this if you are fishing with mono.
Read also: How and Where to Catch Live Bait in Saltwater
For example, with a lot of offshore gear, guys will load the spool up with a braid and then do a couple hundred yards over heavy mono to top it off. This is perfectly fine when tied or spliced together effectively.
This is the same reason I have 800 yards of 100-pound braid on my shark reels before I get to the heavy mono. I need the extra distance that it offers me.
- Choosing Line Based on Price Rather than Fishing Conditions: If you have just gotten into fishing and are reading this article, here is a bit of a warning.
This is a very expensive hobby, especially if you find yourself addicted like me. With fishing, you can’t really expect everything to be cheap and also high quality. Sometimes, you’re gonna have to bite the bullet and pay for the braid when you really want the price of the mono.
I know braid is generally more expensive, but there are definitely some companies, namely one in particular, that are much cheaper than others when it comes to braid. Reaction Tackle makes great braid products, and I’ve used them for over two years now. A fraction of the price for virtually the same performance as the leading, top-dollar braid.
One more thing I would like to mention before I close out this point. You don’t want to pick and choose what to use based on the price. Whether you like to spend money or you are cheap, you need to consider what you are targeting before you make that call. This article, as well as extra research, can help you do this.
Conclusion
I hope that you guys have enjoyed reading this article as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I truly can say that I learned a ton about the differences between braid and mono, and I can see why these different lines are preferred in different scenarios.
At the end of the day, I still believe that we can’t really say that we have one better Line than the other overall. Instead, I would argue that mono and braid are both good at performing specific tasks.
Knowing what specific task or type of fishing you want to do should help you determine what kind of Line you should be purchasing.
I hope this article helps you out in your future fishing endeavors! As always, good luck and tight lines!
