Best braided fishing lines

When braided fishing lines were first introduced to the sport they quickly gained popularity. Braided fishing line is a popular choice because of its many positive characteristics that make it a great choice for a wide range of situations and techniques.

There is no one line that is better than another, nor is there a “best” line for fishing. Braid can be used in many different ways. We can help you with superlines and when to use them.

It can be difficult to choose the right braided fishing rod. There are so many options, from high-end models to affordable ones. What are the best fishing lines? How do they perform in real life?

We’ll help you answer these questions by explaining what we look for when it comes to a braided superline and giving you our opinions on some of our favorite.

Here’s a quick overview of the top braided fishing lines on the market today.

Image Line Weights Colors Strands Material
Sufix 832 6, 8, 13, 18, 20, 26, 29, 39, 50, 53, 63. 79. 86. 99 Camo, Coastal Camo and Ghost. 8 Dyneema plus a GORE fiber
Berkley Fused Crystal Fireline, 6/2 Lb, 125 Yd , Crystal Berkley FireLine 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 20 and 30 Flame Green, Smoke and Crystal, Tracer, Metered n/a Dyneema
Dark Green, Chartreuse and White as well as Multi-Color 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40, respectively. Dark Green, Chartreuse and White as well as Multi-Color 8 Dyneema
POWER PRO Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line, Hi-Vis Yellow, 150YD/15LB Power Pro 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 30, 40, 50 and 65. Vermillion Red, Moss Green and White. 4 or 6 Spectra with resin infusion
SPIDERWIRE SCS15G-125 Braided Stealth Superline, Moss Green, 15 Pound, 125 Yards SpiderWire Stealth 6, 8, 10, 15, 30, 40, 50, 65, 80, 100, 150, 250 High-Vis Yellow and Moss Green, Blue Camo. Camo, pink, and Translucent multiple braided yarns Fluoropolymer treatment of Dyneema

The Best Braided Fishing Line Review

Sufix 832Our Choice!

Suffix 832 Braid 20 lb Low-Vis Green 150 yards

Weights 6, 8, 13, 18, 20, 26, 29, 39, 50, 53, 63. 79. 86. 99
Colors: Camo, Coastal Camo and Ghost.
Strands 8
Material Dyneema plus a GORE fiber

Sufix 832 is a favorite choice for anglers and has a growing following among braid lovers. It’s a favorite braided line, and we love it too.

Sufix uses a fiber from GORE, the company behind Gore-Tex! This fiber is then braided with seven Dyneema Fibers to form a cohesive whole. Sufix claims this increases strength, casting and resistance to abrasion. One feel will show that it is a very smooth and round braid.

Sufix 832 is a great line for casting. It doesn’t shed any tiny particles onto your reel or feel stiff in the hands, unlike other braids with a thick coating.

There are many options available in a variety of colors and weights, so there is something for almost every style and everyone. You should expect some fading as with any braided line. However, Sufix 832 is one of the most colorfast braids that we tested. Sufix has a variety of colors to match your needs, from the Coastal Camo to the muted Brown of Camo.

We think this line will be a hit if you fish and tie it like you should.

Pros

  • Castings of exceptional quality
  • Excellent colorfastness
  • Color choices that are appealing

Cons

  • There are no super-heavy-weight options

Berkley FireLine

Berkley Fused Crystal Fireline, 6/2 Lb, 125 Yd , Crystal

Weights 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 20 and 30
Colors:Flame Green, Smoke and Crystal, Tracer, Metered
Strandsn/a
MaterialDyneema

Berkley’s FireLine, which was introduced in 1996, was one of the first superlines. It has been a popular choice for many anglers. FireLine is a great choice if you don’t require a true heavy-weight line and prefer a spinning reel.

FireLine is not a braid. However, it starts life as one before being heat treated to fuse the fibers. This improves smoothness and resistance to abrasion. This is evident in the casting performance which is better than any other line we have used.

Although there are limited color options, they do offer “metered”, which provides contrasting colors that will tell you how much of each color you have left. This is a great option but, as with all braids, fade can be an issue.

This line is not our favorite because it only comes in a small range of colors and weights. It was specifically designed for spinning reels, so there are limited options. It’s an excellent line for these purposes.

Pros

  • Castings of exceptional quality
  • Designed for spinning reels

Cons

Daiwa J-Braid x8

Berkley Fused Crystal Fireline, 6/2 Lb, 125 Yd , Crystal

Weights 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40, respectively.
Colors: Dark Green, Chartreuse and White as well as Multi-Color
Strands 8
Material Dyneema

The J-Braid 8 by Daiwa is a fantastic choice for a superline and may be the closest competitor to Sufix’s 832.

J-Braidx8 is strong and can be made from eight Dyneema strands. You should be careful when choosing your color as not all options are available in every weight. It can be used in many situations due to the wide range of available tests.

J-Braid 8 x8 is very smooth and casts extremely well.

The color options are decent, but not great. Braid can fade, but it’s normal. Some anglers are concerned that the line’s coating will crack and, in extreme heat can become sticky. However, most anglers did not experience any of these problems.

Pros

  • Castings of exceptional quality
  • Large range of line weights

Cons

  • Decent colors
  • The coating may crack or become sticky under high heat.

Power Pro

POWER PRO Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line, Hi-Vis Yellow, 150YD/15LB

Weights 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 30, 40, 50 and 65.
Colors: Vermillion Red, Moss Green and White.
Strands 4 or 6
Material Spectra with resin infusion

Power Pro’s wide weight range makes it an extremely popular choice for freshwater and saltwater. It also has its own proprietary tech which results in a superline that is very durable and smooth. This stuff is capable, even though it’s not available in as many colors as some of its rivals. It’s very strong and we wouldn’t hesitate in putting it on, especially if you need heavy line.

Power Pro uses Spectra fibres and infuses them with resins to improve braid shape and abrasion resistance. As the resin is infused through the component strands, it reduces drag and speeds up water penetration. This brand is versatile and has a wide range of tests. There’s something for everyone.

Power Pro casts well, but it can sometimes be a bit “noisy”, through the guides. This is not a big deal for us, especially when our lures land exactly where we want them.

We have one complaint about this line: the limited color options. You have three high-visibility colors: red, white, or green. This isn’t a lot, but it will do the job.

Overall, Power Pro is a great product, especially for heavy-weight lines.

Pros

  • Castings of exceptional quality
  • Excellent colorfastness
  • Large range of line weights

Cons

  • There are not many colors to choose from

SpiderWire Stealth

SPIDERWIRE SCS15G-125 Braided Stealth Superline, Moss Green, 15 Pound, 125 Yards

Weights6, 8, 10, 15, 30, 40, 50, 65, 80, 100, 150, 250
Colors: High-Vis Yellow and Moss Green, Blue Camo. Camo, pink, and Translucent
Strands multiple braided yarns
Material Fluoropolymer treatment of Dyneema

SpiderWire Stealth braided line is a great choice. It’s available in a wide range of colors and weights. Some colors may not be available in the entire range of test options.

SpiderWire’s construction is unique. Ron Kiegl, their Ron Kiegl, explains that to make Dyneema yarn into fishing line, you need tiny strands of Dyneema fiber. These fibers have diameters of only microns. This is roughly equivalent to a human hair’s width. You then take these filaments and combine them to create a multi-strand yarn. Then, you braid a few of these multi-strand yarns (4, 6, 8 or more) together to create a sturdy, durable structure that has the strength and flexibility required.

To improve the roundness, smoothness and resistance to abrasions, SpiderWire Stealth gets coated with fluoropolymer.

We have found that the result is very strong and very smooth.

The variety of colors available is impressive, with many options to suit different needs and conditions. SpiderWire Stealth fades quickly in water.

Overall, we like the performance of this line but it is not our top pick.

Pros

  • Castings of exceptional quality
  • Large range of line weights

Cons

  • Decent colors
  • Poor colorfastness

Why choose braided fishing line?

Braided superlines are made of spun polyethylene fibers which are then woven into one strand. Manufacturers have two options for fiber: Dyneema and Spectra. The only difference is in the way they are processed. However, braided lines can vary in the number of fibers they weave together. They can range from three to eight. High-end superlines often have a coating to reduce water absorption, increase handling and casting, and offer greater resistance to abrasion. They are difficult to color because Dyneema or Spectra materials are extremely slick.

Pros

  • Strength– Braided Superline has a high tensile strength per inch. This allows anglers the ability to use heavier lines than they would if they were using monofilament or fluorocarbon alternatives. Sufix Performance Braid, weighing 20 pounds, has the same diameter and length as monofilament of 6 pounds.
  • Low stretch –Many anglers think braided superlines aren’t flexible, but this is not true. However, braid can typically stretch between 1 and 8 percent, compared to mono or fluoro which can stretch up to 25 percent.
  • Sensitivity – Braided superline has a low stretch, which means greater sensitivity. The longer the line is, the more noticeable this advantage will be.
  • Casting – Braided superline is usually very limp and has little memory. It increases the casting distance. The brand, weight, technique, rod, reel and technique will all affect how much.

Cons

  • Low shock strength Superlines have very little stretch so they are unable to absorb shock. This can cause sudden failure, often in a knot.
  • Tangling– Thin braid is more likely to get tangled in the wind than mono and can be much harder to work.
  • Low knot strength and poor tying– Braided superlines are not easy to tie. They are therefore very difficult to tie into a knot that will withstand force. Although the Palomar knot is a reliable option, it is not as strong on braided lines.

TackleTour’s tests showed that the average knot strength was only 49 percent. This means that an average braid will experience knot failure at 9.8 pounds for a 20-pound test.

  • Visibility Braid is difficult to dye. You will generally get darker colors that fade quickly or bleed. However, there are exceptions and some brands offer more colors. However, mono and fluorocarbon will be less obvious in clear water.
  • Poor abrasion resistance You have probably seen or heard advertisements touting the abrasion resistance and durability of braided superline. Even the manufacturers know this is hype. Berkley explained that superlines are not as resilient to abrasion due to their extremely thin diameter.

Others agree. Other experts agree. They allow water to penetrate a sealed surface if they separate, which can happen when something sharp scratches it. They can become damaged by water if they are opened up. We can assure you that big fish will escape from those stressors.

Braided superlines are generally not recommended for areas where you will encounter abrasive materials.

How to Choose the Best Braided Fishing line

When to Use Braided Fishing Lin

It’s easy to spot situations in which braid is a great choice after assessing its strengths and weaknesses.

  • We need more line – You need to have as much line as possible if you want to chase marlins or other large saltwater species. They can run hundreds of yards. It’s heart-stopping to watch the line run off the reel. You can carry a lot more braided superlines on your reel because they are extremely strong and have a very small diameter.
  • Fishing long and deep can be dangerous. Deep-running lures or jigging in deep water can make it difficult to spot light strikes and create quick hooksets. These situations are where superlines braided with braided wires perform best. They provide the ideal combination of sensitivity and low-stretch for this type of fishing.
  • Situations of very high strength– Did you ever have a largemouth break your line while you were trying to get it out of heavy cover? Have you ever lost a cork to the snag? The answer is obvious if you have fished a lot. You can deal with these situations by using heavy-weight braid as your mainline. This doubles or triples the strength of mono that is comparable in diameter. This can allow you to get some tough guys out there and will generally keep you from losing your expensive tackle.
  • If we have to go really far, –Long casts are another reason we prefer braid. Superline casting is a great choice if you have to cast long distances, cover large areas quickly, avoid spooking or target a shallow area.

How we use braided line

Skilled anglers are able to recognize the limitations of this amazing line and follow a simple step to make the most of it. Braided fishing line can break if it doesn’t give. Braids can also be damaged by rocks, oyster shells, and tree limbs. They can also be prone to being blown around by the wind while they are in a cast.

How can we overcome these weaknesses?

  • LeadersA fluorocarbon leader or nylon monofilament leader is a good choice for braided main lines. These options provide the same benefits as braid: shock absorption and abrasion resistance. They also make it easy to see.
  • Drag –We use braid, with or without a leader. Because braid can’t absorb shock, it is better to set our drags at a lighter setting than what we would do with mono. Your drag should act as a cushion for the line. You can turn it down to cause shock to cause the line to unspool.
  • Stripe line –You should be generous with your line and re-tie frequently. Also, it’s best to take a conservative approach when dealing with abrasion. You should remove any “fuzz,” which is the first sign of fraying. You’ll need more line, but what you do have will work as expected!
  • You will be amazed at how much you can spool.Wind knots can be encouraged by overfilling your spool. We prefer to have a little more space than with mono. You’ll still get a lot of line from your reel, even though the braid is thinner than comparable braid. Just don’t be greedy.

What we look for in a quality braided fishing line

All braided superlines have strong casts and are well-made. They don’t all knot well and aren’t very resistant to abrasion. However, not all superlines can be trusted. There are certain things that we look for when choosing our top picks.

  • Choose from a variety of colorsIt is difficult to dye braided line. It’s very visible. We look for braids with a wide variety of colors to reduce this problem. This is a rare commodity in this type of line.
  • Colorfastness– Braid can bleach and bleed quickly. This can cause havoc on your hands, gear, and boat. This can also make your line dull and murky, which is not ideal. This is what our favorite superlines do for as long as they can.
  • Smooth and roundBraided lines are not smooth or round by nature of their composition. The best lines will have a higher strand count and can also be coated with braid to improve these characteristics. They are therefore more resistant to abrasion and easier to cast and handle.

Our Pick – Sufix 832!

The braided superlines are known for their exceptional casting and strength. They also have extreme sensitivity. They are distinguished by their attention to color and colorfastness as well as overall quality.

Sufix 832 stands out in these categories. All braids are strong and durable. This line is unique for its wide range of colors and resistance to water and sun.

We recommend Power Pro if you require a greater number of tests than Sufix-832. This line has a huge range of options and will not disappoint. Daiwa J-Braid 8 is another excellent option, which is almost as good as Sufix.

These superlines are strong and well cast. If you know the limits of braid you will be satisfied with them all.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about our recommendations. If you have a favorite we missed, leave a comment below.

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