What Are The Best Fishing Lines for Bass

Interestingly enough, choosing a line for bass fishing is something that even expert anglers can struggle with.

This is because there is so much choice available, with new options cropping up all the time.

As you can imagine, this makes hunting down the best fishing line for bass quite difficult.

With this in mind, I have put together a guide that lets you know just what it is that you should consider when you go looking for a fishing line.

I have also offered up a few possible products that you can choose from.

So, let’s get started…

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Best Fishing Lines For Bass

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The Importance of Choosing the Right Bass Fishing Line

It is easy to wonder what all the fuss about choosing the right fishing line is. After all, isn’t a strong line all that you really need?

While this may seem to be the case, the line that you choose will determine just how successful you are at catching bass.

See, the line offers the only real point of contact with the bass.

Therefore, choosing the right one will make it that much easier for you to catch bass in a variety of conditions.

Some Terms to Know

When comparing fishing line, there are two terms that you should be familiar with. This is because they are often taken into consideration when determining the quality of the line.

These are:

• Line Memory: fishing line is spooled onto a reel and may remain there for quite a while. During this time, it may take on the shape of the spool, coiling at intervals. This can greatly reduce the efficiency of your fishing line so ideally, a good fishing line will have no memory.
• Line Stretch: this refers to the elasticity of the fishing line. So, line stretch will determine how much a particular fishing line will stretch once a load (fish) is attached to it.
• Pound Test: a pound test is just how much weight a particular fishing line can endure before it breaks.
• Diameter: the diameter of the fishing line is directly related to the pound test – the greater the pound test, the larger the diameter. The diameter can also determine how far you can cast, how quickly the line will sink, and how far below the surface it will sink.
• Abrasion Resistance: this refers to how durable the fishing line is when it is rubbed over hard or harsh surfaces before it breaks.

Understanding the Different Types of Fishing Lines

There are three main types of fishing line that you can choose from – monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided.

Now, before we go any further, I should mention that there isn’t just one perfect line for all types of bass fishing. Rather, it is more about choosing a line that works well in a specific situation. This is because while each type of line has its own set of benefits, they also have several disadvantages as well.

Monofilament Line

Monofilament line was one of the earliest types of fishing line available and remains popular since it is one of the cheapest options as well. As the name suggests, this line is made from a single strand of nylon. In certain instances, two or more types of nylon may be used and these lines are known as copolymers or multi-polymers.

There is no denying that mono line has its advantages. For instance, it is often simpler to handle since its flexibility allows you to cast more easily. It also has great shock strength which comes in handy for hard hooksets or if you are fighting a larger bass. Then there is the fact that this type of line floats in the water making it ideal for topwater lures. Most anglers find it quite effortless to tie knots with it. Of course, last but not least, monofilament line is available in a multitude of colors as well.

Unfortunately, this type of line has just as many issues as it does benefits, which is why most anglers shy away from it unless it is necessary. See, one of the main downsides of this line is that it can break quite easily as it doesn’t have all that much abrasion resistance. Also, if you want greater line strength, you will have to make do with a rather thick diameter as well. Perhaps what makes monofilament quite frustrating to use, however, is that it has high memory, leaving you to contend with a lot of coils.

Best Use

The best use for a mono line would be while you are stream fishing and want to focus on topwater fishing. Even then, you should make it a point to use a line that has a pound test that is no greater than 4 to 10 pounds on a spinning rod. With a baitcasting rod, you can increase this to 10 to 25 pounds.

Fluorocarbon Line

Then, there is fluorocarbon line that is made from polyvinylidene fluoride. While fluorocarbon does bear some similarities to monofilament, it tends to be superior in a variety of ways. For instance, the line is more optically dense and doesn’t reflect or refract light as much. Due to this, it is a lot harder to see it in the water.

Another improvement is that the fluorocarbon has greater abrasion resistance, reducing the likelihood that it will break when you are trying to lure bass from heavy cover. There is also not nearly as much stretch which provides you with a better hookset.

Nonetheless, one of the main downsides of this line is that it has extremely high memory and is quite rigid. This means that it holds onto its coils for longer and isn’t all that manageable. You will also find it a bit more difficult to tie knots with this type of line.

You should note that fluorocarbon sinks more (and faster) than mono. Now, this is neither a good nor a bad thing. It simply means that you have to be careful about when you choose to use this line.

Best Use

If you are using crankbaits, tube jigs, or jerkbaits then you will find that fluorocarbon is a good choice. It also works well if you utilize flipping or pitching styles too. For spinning rods, you will find that 4 to 10-pound test is best while baitcasting rods will work with 10 to 25-pound test options.

Since fluorocarbon is a bit pricier than monofilament, some anglers prefer to have monofilament for the first few yards and then attach the fluorocarbon.

Braided Line

Braided line is made from strands of material woven together. This results in a smaller diameter and virtually no stretch. These days, it is not uncommon to find braided line that is made from Dyneema, Spectra, and Dacron. This means that these lines are incredibly abrasion resistant, don’t break easily, and have smaller diameters in relation to their pound test. This line is also less likely to twist and has very low memory. However, braided line also tends to be quite expensive.

The benefits afforded to you by braided line mean that you will be able to fish in heavy cover and can tackle larger bass without needing heavier or thicker line. You can also cast farther and will not have to worry about your line breaking in most circumstances.

That being said, this type of line also has its flaws. For one thing, it tends to be quite visible in the water and has a tendency to dig into itself with larger bass. On top of this, the line gains tangles and knots a little more easily than other forms of line.

Best Use

You can use heavier braids for heavy cover situations. If you want to use spinning rods and gear, you should opt for 10 to 20-pound test options while slightly heavier choices work well for topwaters, swim jigs, and swimbaits.

Read: Best swimbait rods

It can be tricky to tie a knot with braided line which is why there are many anglers who prefer to use it along with a fluorocarbon leader. To find out more about this, see here:

https://youtu.be/0P2TCsIKuRA

The Best Fishing Lines for Bass

Here are my choices for the best fishing line for bass:

KastKing SuperPower Braided Fishing Line

The one word that comes to mind after testing out this braided fishing line is durability.

This isn’t all that surprising considering that it is made from fibers that are used in bulletproof vests! Add this to the fact that the line is incredibly abrasion resistant and you have a line that works well for heavy cover or larger bass.

What I like most about this fishing line is that it tends to be more manageable than most other braided lines.

So, in terms of casting and even tying knots, I would say that this fishing line is above the rest. This is because although the line consists of eight strands, they are twisted together tightly enough to provide you with a thinner diameter.

The sensitivity of the line is also quite good so you will be alerted to any nibbles almost immediately.

The stretch is also negligible, providing you with some good hooksets.

Now, while there are a lot of good things about this fishing line, there are a few flaws as well.

For instance, the color doesn’t last too long on the high-vis options so you should be careful about the colors that you choose.

Seagur InvizX Fluorocarbon Fishing Line

If you are fishing in very clear waters and want a line that will blend right in, this is definitely what you need. At the same time, this fishing line has a lot more to offer.

What I recommend is the pound test as the manufacturer’s predictions are spot on, ensuring that you are getting what you pay for. It is also quite durable and the abrasion resistance makes this a useful line for fishing in heavy cover.

The line also has the benefit of being UV-resistant so you can use it and not find it deteriorating in any way. In fact, you can use this line in various weather conditions and have it perform remarkably well.

Now, the memory on this fishing line is actually quite low for a fluorocarbon line. That being said, it does become distinctly worse once the line has been stretched a little. So, you may find yourself having to contend with curls and kinks after a while.

Also, while it isn’t the softest line around, it actually casts quite smoothly offering up an impressive distance. The sensitivity is quite good, making it easier for you to reel in your catches more efficiently.

PowerPro Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line

The great thing about this fishing line is that it stands up to the pound test time and time again. Due to this, you know exactly what you are paying for and really will not be disappointed.

Perhaps what really sets this line apart though is the near lack of stretch. This way, you can handle larger fish without having to worry about the toll that it will take on the line. It also bears with your hooksets much better as well.

The other thing that makes this fishing line such a breeze to use is the smooth casting action that you are rewarded with. With this, you get a decent casting distance each and every time. This is only compounded by its small diameter and lack of memory.

There are a few negative points that I would like to mention, though.

The first is that some of the colors may fade after a while.

Also, the line doesn’t have the greatest abrasion resistance. While it is able to handle most large bass, rocks and thick weeds might prove to be a problem.

Apart from this, you get a good quality braided line that is fully worth the sticker price.

Piscifun Braided Fishing Line

This braided fishing line does seem to tick a lot of boxes.

For one thing, it is quite strong and durable – you definitely get the pound test that the company promises. This way, you can easily go after bigger bass without worrying that your line is going to snap. Speaking of which, this durability applies to the abrasion resistance of this fishing line as well. You can easily fish in heavy cover, even rocks, and be assured that it is not going to snap.

The line has a small diameter which helps you when it comes to casting. Actually, you will be surprised at just how much casting distance you can achieve with this line.

Another perk with this line is that you will be able to reach your chosen depth faster due to the smoothness and roundness of the line.

Interestingly enough, for a braided line, the knot strength is quite impressive as well, as long as you tie the right knots.

While Piscifun has also stepped things up with the line color, there are some issues with the color bleeding. This can lead to discoloration quite quickly.

Berkeley Trilene Big Game Monofilament Line

This is a good option if your sole purpose is to go after bigger bass.

Of course, in true monofilament fashion, the heavier pound test means that you have a greater diameter and weight to contend with.

While this can make things a bit trickier in terms of casting distance, it does come in handy when you are tying knots.

One of the best things about this line is that for the price that you pay, you really do get a line that is strong and more than able to hold its own even when trying to reel in some heavy hitters.

Since it is monofilament, it isn’t all that surprising to find that the line memory isn’t great. However, when compared to some of its other counterparts, the Big Game version doesn’t do too badly.

At the very least, you will be able to avoid any tangles or kinks. I enjoy the shock-resistant feature as well. This ensures that there is limited stretch even when you are fighting with a larger bass.

The line does afford you some abrasion resistance as well, which certainly does come in handy with the bigger fish.

P-Line FluoroClear Fishing Line

The thing to note about this fishing line is that it is fluorocarbon coated rather than being completely made of the material.

One of the perks of this is that it is actually a lot more reasonably priced than fluorocarbon line, allowing you to get the best of both worlds.

This is the fishing line to use if you are fishing in clear water and seem to be missing bass. Once it is in the water, this line is completely invisible which really will help you to catch more bass than before.

One of the things that really stands out about this fishing line, for me, is that it casts equally well with both baitcaster and spinning reels. So, regardless of which one you are comfortable with, you will get good results.

Also, this line stands up to its pound test really well too, providing you with consistent results every time.

Of course, you may not be able to experience as much strength as you would expect from a line that consisted completely of fluorocarbon.

My only gripe is that due to the thinner diameter (which does improve casting ability) makes it a bit difficult to tie knots.

Wrapping It Up

It can be quite difficult to name the best fishing line for bass since you are going to need different lines for different occasions.

That being said, you will do well with PowerPro Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line.

What makes this line stand out from the rest is that it lives up to its pound test claims, ensuring that you will always be able to get the exact weight of bass that you are looking for.

Furthermore, it has virtually no stretch which makes it an absolute dream for hooksetting.

On top of all of this, the line offers smooth and great casting distance, giving you just the amount of control that you need.

Now, you know what to look for in the best fishing line for bass and what your best option is as well.