The 6 Best Braided Fishing Lines of 2023

May 25, 2023

The Power Pro Spectra Fiber Line is essential angling equipment

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Tripsavvy / Chloe Jeong

Braided fishing lines have been around for a long time—and rightly so. This style of line braids together two or more synthetic materials to create a stronger, less flexible, and narrower line than monofilament or fluorocarbon lines. They’re also more durable and can be acquired in various weight test limits and colors, making them some of the most versatile fishing lines available. To help you find the best option for your fishing needs, we researched the top picks on the market, considering their price, color, line weight, and line length.

Cabela's

Various colors available

Casts well

Responsive

Gummy when new

Expensive

Marketed as the value-priced, all-rounder from respected brand Power Pro, the Spectra Fiber Fishing Line is a favorite amongst angling pros. The line's braided Spectra fiber construction is strong and durable, earning praise from many customers. This fish braid is treated with Enhanced Body Technology, making it rounder, smoother, and more sensitive than your standard line. The benefits of these qualities include improved casting distance and the ability to feel even the subtlest bites.

With a wide range of line lengths and pound tests, this braided fishing line is excellent for everything from bass and trout fishing to angling for saltwater gamefish. Once your spool is filled, the braid's long-lasting nature means you shouldn't have to change the line for some considerable time. Color options include moss green, hi-vis yellow, white, and vermilion red. Moss green suits most fishing conditions, while hi-vis yellow lets you see the line moving in response to smaller bites in murky water. Pair the latter with a clear fluorocarbon leader to maintain the element of surprise.

Price at time of publication: $32

Line Weight: 8 to 150 pounds | Line Length: 150 to 1,500 yards

Amazon

Cost-effective

Durable

Responsive

Very stiff

Can stain skin

Those looking for a more wallet-friendly line than high-end options from brands like Sufix and Seaguar should consider KastKing's SuperPower Braided Fishing Line. A bestseller, it's an affordable option that still offers all the benefits usually associated with braid. It has a good strength-to-diameter ratio, boasts excellent sensitivity, and never suffers from line memory.

It's also specially treated to ensure it flies smoothly through the guides and enables natural lure action. Available in 10- to 150-pound tests, the braided fishing line incorporates four interwoven fibers for smaller pound tests and eight fibers for lines rated to 65 pounds or more. Many fade-resistant colors exist, including low-vis gray, moss green, and ocean blue.

Price at time of publication: $42

Line Weight: 6 to 80 pounds | Line Length: 327 to 1097 yards

Amazon

Casts well

Responsive

Durable

Expensive

The Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid is one of the more expensive lines in the market, yet for many, the price tag is justified by its superior castability. Its perfectly round profile is particularly impressive, which helps the braided line fly effortlessly through the rod guides. Constructed from eight interwoven fibers with 32 weaves per inch, it is also one of the strongest small-diameter braids on the market. Seven of these fibers feature Dyneema for added strength, sensitivity, and water resistance.

The last fiber is the brand's patent-pending GORE Performance Fiber, providing excellent abrasion resistance, reduced line vibration, and improved casting distance and accuracy. There are three colors to choose from: ghost, lo-vis, and neon lime. Whichever one you go for, TGP Technology enhances the line's color retention so that fading is minimal, even when fishing in heavy cover. Pound tests range from 6 to 80 pounds to suit various angling scenarios.

Price at time of publication: $27

Line Weight: 6 to 80 pounds | Line Length: Not listed

Amazon

Multiple color options

Easy to attach to leader

Minimal stretch

Waxy feel

Saltwater fishermen planning on targeting large pelagic species such as tuna or sailfish will love Piscifun's Onyx Braided Fishing Line. It features up to eight powerful strands with a small diameter, which allows the line to cast out further onto offshore waters. The small diameter also helps to tie strong knots onto a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader. Plus, it boasts epoxy coatings that increase the line's abrasion resistance by 10 percent. This extra strength ensures that when your big catch bites onto your line, it won't break when you reel it in.

Piscifun built its Onyx braided line with long-lasting color that will resist fading after hours of submerging in saltwater. It's best to use this model in a 150-pound/547-yard line for game fishing, but it also comes in smaller weights for other fishing conditions.

Price at time of publication: $10

Line Weight: 6 to 150 pounds | Line Length: 150 to 547 yards

Amazon

Versatile

Multiple color options

Sensitive

Tangles easily

You can fish with confidence knowing that SpiderWire's Stealth Braided Fishing Line won't break, thanks to its durable construction. The line features Dyneema PE microfiber. This way, the braided fishing line doesn't stretch and allows for greater power to catch more fish. Still, it's affordable, super thin, flies through the fishing rod guides for long casting distances, and has a small diameter compared to other fishing lines. Perfect for bass, trout, and most other species, the braided line is available in 10- to 150-pound tests and can perform in freshwater, saltwater, surf fishing, and more.

Price at time of publication: $13

Line Weight: 6 to 150 pounds | Line Length: 125 to 3000 yards

Amazon

Durable

Sensitive

Not good for large fish

The Berkley NanoFil Uni-Filament Fishing Line takes the braid concept further by bonding hundreds of Dyneema nano-filaments into a single, super-thin line that's neither braid nor mono. With the former's strength and the latter's smoothness, it casts further and with more accuracy than any other Berkley fishing line and has won four international awards. It also has the brand's thinnest line per pound test, making it ideal for fishing with ultralight tackle. Other benefits include zero line memory (therefore eliminating tangles) and zero stretch (allowing you to feel even the lightest pick-ups). It's available in 1- to 17-pound tests.

Price at time of publication: $20

Line Weight: 2 to 17 pounds | Line Length: 150 to 300 yards

Treated to be extra smooth and available in various models, the Power Pro Spectra Fiber Line catches our best overall spot. For an affordable line that's also well-reviewed, pick up KastKing's Super Power Line.

Braided lines are more expensive than traditional monofilament lines, but that higher price tag gives you a stronger, thinner overall fishing line. That also means that braided lines last longer than lines crafted from other materials. Higher-priced braided lines blend additional technologies to make casting smoother or include features like blending nano-filaments into a super-thin line that gives you the best of both braided and monofilament fishing lines.

Most braided lines are available in various colors, from high-vis yellow or pink, which lets you easily track your line even on long casts, to more subtle colors like moss green or transparent, which are designed to blend into the aquatic environment. If you go with a more pronounced color, consider pairing the line with a clear fluorocarbon leader to distance the lure or bait from the line itself.

Match the test weight limit of the braided line to the species of fish you’re targeting, which will ensure that your line can handle the weight of the fish. Most lines are available at various weight limits, helping you cater your rig to match your angling ambitions.

The first consideration for selecting the correct line length is knowing the capacity of your reel, though you should have at least 100 to 150 yards at a minimum. If you target larger fish, you’ll need more line as those species tend to fight more and will take your line out further. Those looking to shore cast in salt water also need considerably more line than those who like to fly fish. Most line spools come in variable lengths, and if you buy longer lines, there could be some cost savings; you merely unspool another length of line and re-rig it once the previous line has outlived its usefulness.

The short answer is yes, but because braided lines come with little to no stretch, it is easy to rip the hook right out of the fish or break the rod on a hookset if you have aggressive fishing styles, so consider using braided lines with rods that have a lighter action, which will add a bit of flex in the rod to prevent unintended hard pull-backs.

Braided fishing lines boast a high knot strength, lack of stretch, great overall power, clean casting, and less resistance to sea currents. They work well when fishing in thick aquatic-weeded areas thanks to their durability and power. Because they’re a blend of different line materials, they also come with a thinner overall diameter than other lines, adding finesse. And, because they’re made of synthetic materials, they often last longer. But their strengths also highlight one drawback: because they’re so strong, they can sometimes be hard to un-snag or break when situations demand it.

Jessica Macdonald is a UK-based writer and gear reviewer for TripSavvy. Jessica has honed her skills as a freelance writer specializing in travel, scuba diving, and wildlife conservation. She is a two-time winner of The Telegraph's Just Back travel writing competition and has written extensively for various magazines, travel agencies, websites, and PR companies.