
When I started tournament fishing in the early 1990s, we didn’t have many choices when it came to fishing line. We had a couple different brands of monofilament and that was about it. To be honest, they broke pretty easily, so in big fish or heavy-cover situations you had to scale up to 20 pound test or risk losing fish. We were still able to be competitive, partially because everyone else had the same limitations, but we certainly would have caught more if we’d had more and better choices.
Today we’re spoiled by comparison. Not only are the lines much better, but there are far more choices out there. Not just fluorocarbons and braids, but various types of each specifically tailored for particular applications.
That’s great news, but it can be a bit overwhelming. Also, some of the lines are quite expensive. They may be worth it in some cases, but the budget-minded beginning angler needs to make hard choices. It’s critical to make the right ones, because the kind of line and its size can make major differences in casting, the performance of your bait, the number of strikes you get and the percentage of fish you land.
I use Seaguar products. I’m sure there are other good brands out there, but that’s the one I’m most familiar with and have great confidence in their consistency and performance. No matter which premium brand you choose, find a few choices that maximize effectiveness for the way you fish. I rarely use monofilament anymore, so I’ll limit my discussion to fluorocarbon and braid, but you can make your own choices.
When it comes to fluoro, find a lineup that has the properties you need for the way you fish. In Seaguar’s options, for example, InvizX will likely be a great choice for most of your applications. It’s not inexpensive, but it’s not their most costly option, either. I go through a ton of it in 12- and 15-pound test. The latter of those is what I use for most of my cranking, jerkbaits and even casting light Texas rigs. That brings me to another point. When you can, buy bulk spools. That’ll save you money and prevent you from wasting sections of line that aren’t long enough to fill a reel.
When you’re making a line budget, you’ll also want to consider how often you change it out. With braid, I might spool up a reel at the beginning of the season and keep it there all year, just changing out fluorocarbon leaders (if I’m using them) on a daily basis. With fluoro, it depends. For example, if I’m using it with jerkbaits, the line may stay good for several tournaments. If I’m pitching boat docks and I know it’s getting beat up, I may change it out every tournament day.
If InvizX is out of your budget range, most of the premium line manufacturers have a quality budget choice. It may not be as supple, but it’s usually pretty good. For example, I’ve used Seaguar’s Red Label extensively, and I’ve been very impressed. On the other hand, if you want the best of the best, Tatsu is absolutely incredible. If you can afford it, it’ll definitely enhance your fishing experience. I use Seaguar’s AbrazX for flipping and pitching. It’s more abrasion-resistant than InvizX, but also a little harder to manage. Most starting anglers can get away with one premium variety, then expand out to fit their needs.
With respect to braid, I also recommend you find a couple of varieties you like, possibly one for power and one for spinning techniques. I go through a lot of Seaguar Smackdown in Stealth Gray for topwaters, flipping and pitching, and some frogging. There are times when I flip with straight fluorocarbon, but often I just add a fluoro leader to my braid. That allows me to save money and replace the leader every day. I just attach a section of Seaguar Gold Label with a Double Uni knot and it’s the best of both worlds.
For spinning gear, the new PEX8 is exceptional – super-sensitive, high-visibility and thinner diameter than the competition. That means I can use 24- or 33-pound test and it’s stronger yet thinner than others’ lighter options. It’s all part of a system that makes me confident in my choices wherever I go.
I know that trying a new line or changing your line isn’t as sexy as tying on the latest and greatest lure. It’s a tough process because there’s no cut-and-dry answers. You simply have to figure it out for yourself. I promise you, though, that coming up with a line system that works for you will improve your overall effectiveness, perhaps more than any other change you make.