Braided fishing lines have hit the fishing world by storm in the last few years and there is a good reason for it.
The best braided line has qualities that monofilament lines and fluorocarbon lines just can’t have as both fluoro and monofilament fishing line are single stranded polymers. Whereas, braided line can be made of 4, 8, or 16 strands fiber giving it zero stretch, an ultra thin diameter, and lots more that we’ll cover later.
- Strong, reliable, durable
- Doesn’t tangle or backlash
- Excellent casting performance
- Huge range of color options
- Super tough, thing and no stretch
- Low absorption for saltwater durability
- Strong, reliable, durable
- Doesn’t tangle or backlash
- Excellent casting performance
The hard thing about braided fishing lines is understanding the differences between each braided line and then choosing the best braided fishing line for your fishing gear and needs. One braid might cast farther or better than another, while one is more abrasion resistant than the next.
Join me as I run through some of the best braided lines on the market and highlight the differences so you can choose the right one for you.
Top 3 Best Braided Fishing Lines From The Reviews
Top Pick
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid
An awesome braided line that is durably built from 8 strands of quality fibers. It has no stretch, almost no memory, and it slides out your rod guides for excellent casting distances and accuracy.
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid
As one of the top performing braided fishing lines on the market, this line has it all. It’s durably built, handles abrasion, and has a lot of fishing stopping power.
Its thin diameter means you can pack a ton of line on a spool, the low memory takes away tangles, and the lack of stretch equals bite sensitivity and spoiled hook sets.
Best for Saltwater
Daiwa J-Braid
Built with saltwater in mind, this braided line is strong, durable, and handles the salt thanks to its low absorption coating
Daiwa J-Braid
Between the lack of stretch, small diameter, no memory and color options, you have an ideal braided line to hit the surf, inshore, or offshore with.
Best for Freshwater
Seaguar Smackdown Braid
Without doubt one of the most reliable braided fishing lines when it comes to casting performance and stealthy approaches, this braided line is excellent for clear freshwater fishing.
Seaguar Smackdown Braid
Durably built with incredible abrasion resistance, no stretch, no memory, and with a tiny diameter, this is an amazing line to use. Its casting performance is also quite incredible and you’ll experience more accuracy and distance than ever.
Our Best Braided Fishing Lines
Top Pick
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid
This is one of the most reliable braided fishing lines on the market as it does everything from great castability to knot strength, no tangles and great fishing pulling power.
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid is almost the most popular braided fishing line on the market with both saltwater fishermen and many anglers who take bass fishing seriously. Additionally, the Sufix 832 is one of the top fishing lines for crappie.
Features
The key features of these lines is that these braided lines are made from 8 strands of GORE Performance Fiber and Dyneema Fibers which come together to make super strong fishing lines. These braided lines are tough, durable, and handle abrasion well.
This is a slick line without stretch, a small diameter, and little memory and this ticks all the boxes. You can add a lot of line to your spinning reel spool, it casts long and accurately with ease, it’s sensitive to bites, and you can really drive a hook set when needed.
You also won’t experience annoying tangles or line twists with this line and it’s designed to have low vis in the water, even more so than more expensive fishing lines.
Specs
- Strands: 8
- Yards: 150 yards
- Weight: 6 – 80 lbs
- Color: Low Vis Moss Green
- Material: GORE Performance Fiber / Dyneema Fibers
Pros
- Quite a low visibility
- Excellent casting distance
- Zero stretch for great hook sets
- Eight strand braid for great durability
- Sensitive for a natural lure action
- Great for baitcasting and spinning reels
- More abrasion resistance than other braid
Cons
- A little bit of memory
Best for Saltwater
Daiwa J-Braid
Built with saltwater in mind, this braided line is strong, durable, and handles the salt thanks to its low absorption coating. Between the lack of stretch, tiny diameter, no memory and color options, you have an ideal braided line to hit the surf, inshore, or offshore with.
Daiwa J-Braid
Daiwa J-Braid is the best braided line for saltwater in my opinion and this is due to the build and the coating it comes with. The 8 strand Dyneema build is tough as nails against fish and abrasion while the coating stops water absorption for lasting durability.
This braided line also comes in lots of color options which is ideal in saltwater. You can choose high vis to see your line against the blue water, get a multi color line when fishing deep to know the depth, and lots more.
Diameter
It comes with a thin diameter increasing how much line you can add to your spinning reels and the lack of stretch means you’ll feel more than with other fishing lines. This means when fishing bait at 100 feet, you’ll know about every bite unlike with monofilament line.
The only downside to this line is that it can fray a bit so you might have to change out a bit earlier than other lines but the benefits outweigh this small flaw.
Specs
- Strands: 8
- Yards: 330
- Material: Dyneema
- Weight: 8 – 100 lbs
- Color: White, Moss Green, Multi, Chartreuse
Pros
- Good knot strength
- Holds its color well
- Doesn’t get wind knots
- Multi strands for durability
- Great abrasion resistance
- Excellent for baitcasting reels
- Comes in a large range of colors
- Minimal stretch for solid hook sets
- Great for surf fishing and deep sea fishing
Cons
- Can fray a bit
Best for Freshwater
Seaguar Smackdown Braid
Without doubt one of the most reliable braided fishing lines when it comes to casting performance and stealthy approaches, this braided line is excellent for clear freshwater fishing.
Seaguar Smackdown Braid
The Seaguar Smackdown Braid is one of the top braided fishing lines for use in freshwater in my eyes as it’s thinner than other lines.
This makes it the perfect braided fishing line for bass fishing, trout fishing, and more as you can add more line of a lower pound test to a reel, and it gives you a lot more casting control.
Casting
The casting performance of these braided fishing lines is incredible. You’ll be able to drop your bait wherever you want it and push further distances than ever before. It also comes as a low vis fishing line to ensure the fish don’t see it trailing behind your fluorocarbon leader.
Despite being thin, this is a strong braided line that can handle big fish pulling hard around snags but it does fray a little bit due to being extremely thin. This means you might need to change out your main line or snip bits off to keep it reliable.
Specs
- Strands: 8
- Yards: 150
- Color: Stealth gray
- Weight: 10 – 65 lbs
- Material: Micro fiber
Pros
- Tie strong knots
- Zero line memory
- Ideal for long accurate casts
- Small diameter compared to other braids
- Low stretch to feel even the subtlest bites
Cons
- Can fray easily
- Poor abrasion resistance
Power Pro Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line
The Power Pro Spectra Fiber Braid is built with 16 strands for ultimate durability and resistance to abrasion while its smooth body ensures excellent casting performance and the low memory stretch takeaway tangles makes landing fish easy.
Power Pro Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line
The Power Pro Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line is a little different from the previous line above as it is made with 16 strands and Power Pro enhanced body technology.
Features
This combination of extra strand count and the body coating creates a super strong and ultra smooth line. This line will handle big fish, being dragged around heavy snags, and it casts like a dream – eventually.
Coating
The main issue with this Power Pro line is that it arrives sticky and it gets a bit “clogged”. Once you have added it to your casting or spinning gear, let it out the back of the boat a few times and wind it back in to solve this.
Otherwise it casts very nicely, is super sensitive, and the lack of stretch means you can control a fish in the fight.
Specs
- Strands: 16
- Yards: 150 – 1500
- Weight: 8 – 100 lbs
- Material: Spectra Fiber
- Color: Moss green, dark green, flame green, neon lime white, yellow, multi
Pros
- Super durable with 16 strands
- Smooth for reduced line vibration
- Thinner diameter for extra line capacity
- Abrasion resistant and handles heavy cover
- Multiple color options for high or low visibility
- Enhanced body technology for casting performance
Cons
- Sticky when new which can cause tangles
SpiderWire Stealth Braid Fishing Line
This braid comes coated with fluoro for low vis in the water, giving you the best chance of not spooking fish in clear water. Combine this with its durable build, abrasion resistance, and great castability, and you have an awesome fishing line for a baitcasting reel or spinning reel.
SpiderWire Stealth Braid Fishing Line
SpiderWire Stealth Braid is a little different from the other braided lines we have covered as it comes with a fluoro carbon coating which makes it a lot less visible to fish.
While the fluoro coating doesn’t make the line invisible, it does help disguise it in the light that is refracted through the water making it much harder for fish to see the colorful braid.
Durability
This braided line is tough and resistant to abrasion thanks to the 8 strands of quality fiber used in its build so you can fish it around heavy cover and stop fish getting into snags.
This braided fishing line casts like a dream thanks to its smooth coating and smaller diameter and you can pack a ton of it onto your casting or spinning reels. The lack of stretch also makes serious long distance hook sets very easy too.
While this braided line does come in lots of different colors and Spiderwire’s Color Lock Technology, the colors do fade pretty fast.
Specs
- Strands: 8
- Color: Multi
- Material: PE fiber
- Yards: 150 – 1500
- Weight: 10 – 65 lbs
Pros
- Small line diameter
- Great casting performance
- Coated with fluoro for low vis
- Ideal for casting and spinning reels
- Zero line stretch for control and hook sets
- Durable and with great abrasion resistance
Cons
- Colors fade quickly
PowerPro Spectra Hi-Vis Yellow Braided Line
With a strong 8 strand build and an excellent coating that makes it easy to fish with, this high-vis braid is one you can see at distance. It’s ideal for chasing fish that like to run long distances like tarpon and sails as you can always see your line.
PowerPro Spectra Hi-Vis Yellow Braided Line
The PowerPro Spectra Hi-Vis Yellow Braided Line is another excellent Power Pro fishing line that comes in a bright color to ensure you can see it when fishing conditions require it.
When fishing for larger species inshore or offshore like tarpon, being able to see your line a hundred yards away is incredibly useful and this hi-vis line makes that easy.
Built For Bigger Fish
It’s also built to handle large fish with a solid 8 strand build from quality Spectra and with a thin diameter you can pack a load of line on a spool when you need to.
To top it all off, this line is easy to fish with, doesn’t tangle and casts excellent but it is bright yellow so be sure to use a long leader as fish will see it.
KastKing SuperPower Braided Fishing Line
A great budget braided line that is durable, casts well, and handles fish too but it arrives sticky, smelly, and the colors will fade quickly. You can catch fish with it, but be prepared to do some work to get it working well
KastKing SuperPower Braided Fishing Line
For anyone fishing on a budget that’s looking for some affordable braid, the KastKing SuperPower Braided Fishing Line is a good option.
Features
While being affordable, this braid also has enough good qualities to get the job done. It has the same diameter as more expensive options meaning you can add a lot of it to a reel.
Its strong build means it can handle big fish running through abrasion too and it ties strong knots quite easily, unlike thinner, smoother, more expensive braid.
Casting
From a casting perspective, this braid does a good job for the affordable price. You will push longer distances more accurately than you would with mono or fluoro, but it doesn’t come without its issues.
This braid has a rough coating and thus it is not smooth and this means it’s quite noisy to cast with. Also, it arrives sticky, smelly, and it needs some time in the water for it to fade, but you’ll also lose the color in the process – you do get what you pay for when it comes to braid.
Pros
- Handles abrasion very well
- Thin diameter for more capacity
- Extra durable and great for knots
- Great for long and accurate casts
- Comes in a large range of color/line length/lb options
- More affordable than other braided lines
Cons
- Color fades quickly
- Stiff and rough feel to it
- Sticky and smelly when new
Piscifun Onyx Braided Fishing Line
This is a solid braided line for anyone on a budget that is tough and handles abrasion well. You get all the good qualities such as a small diameter and low stretch but it also is a bit rough for casting with and noisy too.
Piscifun Onyx Braided Fishing Line
The Piscifun Onyx Braided Fishing Line is another solid budget braid that is great for anglers looking for something less expensive but you will have to sacrifice a little quality.
Strands
Unlike all the other braided lines featured, the Onyx braided line is built from 4 strands instead of 8 or 16, this makes it a little less resistant to nicks and abrasion than the others. But, despite this, it does hold up against strong fish in heavy cover situations.
Diameter
The diameter is small and the stretch is close to to nothing so you can pack a lot of line onto your same spool.
The issues with this line lie in the coating which makes it not so great to cast with compared to the others. It’s rough, noisy, and a little sticky which creates friction as it rides through the guides on your fishing rod.
Specs
- Color: Multiple
- Strands: 4 or 8
- Yards: 150 – 547
- Weight: 6 – 150 lbs
- Material: Polyethylene
Pros
- Nice small diameter line
- Comes a lot of options
- No stretch line for solid hook sets
- Super affordable for a braided line
- Quite strong and superior abrasion resistance
Cons
- A little sticky
- Quite noisy when casting
- Doesn’t cast that smoothly
Finding The Best Braided Fishing Line
What is a braided fishing line?
Braided fishing line is a lot different from fluoro or monofilament line as both fluoro and monofilament lines are made from a single strand of nylon.
Whereas, most braided lines are made from 4, 8, or 16 strands of fibers like spectra, dyneema, or polyethylene. This design creates a line that has a lot of advantages compared to mono and fluoro which we’ll discuss next. But before that, here is my review of the best fluorocarbon fishing line in case you need one.
Advantages of Braided Fishing Line
Overall braid allows you to have more line on your reel spool, it makes casting easier, it lasts longer, and you can control fish more with it – let’s go into the details.
Line Diameter
The diameter of braid is much smaller than mono or fluoro and this allows you to fill your spool with a lot more line, ideal when casting miles or fishing for species like sailfish that run long distances.
Stretch
Braid has almost no stretch at all and this comes from the multiple woven fibers and it increases your pulling power and the line’s sensitivity. You will feel every bite with braid even when fishing deep and when you get a bite, the low stretch allows you to set the hook very well.
Casting Distance
Being thinner and less stretchy allows the braid to have less wind resistance and a better energy transfer in the cast. This translates to much longer casting distance as there is more energy propelling the cast and less wind stopping it.
Durability
When using mono, you should change your line every season as it degrades in sunlight and absorbs water. Braid doesn’t do this and therefore you can use the same spool of braid for a lot longer and it will handle abrasion better too.
How often should you change a braided fishing line?
On average, you should swap out your braid every 3 to 5 years but it depends on what you put the line through.
If you are fishing 300 days a year around oyster beds, it could need changing in one or two years, for example.
What pound braided line should I use?
This comes down to the fish you are trying to catch and how much of a challenge you want in the fight.
In general, choose a line that is twice as heavy as the fish you want to catch until the fish reaches around 50 lbs, then stay around the 50 – 80 lb mark and add a strong leader with a double uni knot.
What is the best color for braided fishing line?
Choosing the best color braid is all about matching the color of the water, and this changes in fresh and saltwater.
Freshwater
When freshwater fishing for bass, the water is usually green and the braid should be green too in order to disguise it.
Saltwater
When saltwater fishing, ocean blue or white are a great choice, particularly if the water is clear.
What is the best braided fishing line?
The best braided fishing line will be durable, built from quality braided fibers, handle abrasion well, cast excellently, be thin, have no stretch, and not tangle. If you find a braid that has all the qualities then stick with it as it’s on the money.
Braiding Out
Thanks very much for reading my article. I hope you enjoyed it, found it useful, and discovered the best braided fishing line for you.
Braid is a great line to use and a worthwhile investment, just make sure to spend enough so that you don’t end up with a line that causes issues like backlashes.
Feel Free To Share!
Please share the article with your fishing friends, leave us a comment with any questions and check out some of our other articles too – we cover everything from fishing rod guides to making carolina rigs.
