Best Fishing Line for Crappie – Buyers Guide
Best Fishing Line for Crappie – Crappie anglers are well aware that papermouths require a light hookset. Crappie anglers often use ultralight rods to improve their sensitivity and finesse. This gear is paired with carefully chosen line. However, not all anglers choose ultralight. If you fish crappie with something stouter, your line selection becomes more important.
What fishing line is best for crappie? There are many opinions on the internet.
We discuss the criteria we use when choosing our crappie line and explain why. You can also read our top picks to help you make an informed choice.
Here is a quick overview of the top crappie fishing lines on the market:
- Seaguar Invizx – Fluorocarbon
- SpiderWire Stealth – Braid
- Sufix 832 – Braid
- Sunline Super FC Sniper – Fluorocarbon
- Stren Original – Monofilament
- McCoy Mean Green Monofilament
Review: Best Fishing Line for Crappie
Seaguar Invizx
Type: Fluorocarbon
Weights4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20, 25,
Colors:Clear
Seaguar Invizx is a shining example of the future fluorocarbon main line. It is simply exceptional: it is clear, sensitive, strong at the knot, and it’s just plain outstanding. This fluorocarbon is among the best available, although you will have to pay a premium.
Invizx’s strengths are in handling and knot strength. These areas are often overlooked by fluoro. It is soft, flexible, and tangle-free. And unlike many other fluoro products, it works well with spinning reels. It’s not as light as braid or mono for ultralight tackle but it is among the most effective handling fluoros available.
Its knot strength is unbeatable, solving a common problem with fluoro. A Palomar tied well will ensure that your line is strong and flexible before it breaks. This is more than any nylon monofilament, so Seaguar must be working some magic!
This is a very sensitive device, so it’s a good choice if you want a low-vis ‘feel’.
We have never had any issues with Invizx shedding its coating during use.
This line’s weakness is its poor abrasion resistance. We recommend that you keep this fluoros out of the hard stuff, as with all fluoros.
Pros
- Good casting
- Excellent sensitivity
- Amazing knot strength
- Low-visibility
Cons
- Poor abrasion resistance
- There are no high-visibility options
- Expensive
SpiderWire Stealth
Type: Braid
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 stunning and available in a wide range of colors and weights.
Ron Kiegl describes SpiderWire Stealth’s structure: “To turn Dyneema into fishing line, you begin with invisible strands with diameters that are only microns. This is similar to the width of a fine human hair. 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.
It is then coated with fluoropolymer for improved roundness, smoothness and waterproofing.
This results in a strong, smooth line that casts extremely well. It’s also extremely sensitive because braid has very little line stretch. However, braided lines often have weak knot strength. This is why we recommend Seaguar Invizx, McCoy Mean Green and Stren.
Its color options are excellent and can be used for braids in a variety of conditions. SpiderWire Stealth can fade quickly in water.
Overall, we like the performance of this line. If we were running braid on an ultralight we would be happy to reach for it.
Pros
- Castings of exceptional quality
- Extremely sensitive
- Color choices that are appealing
Cons
- Weak knot strength
- Poor colorfastness
- Not for the low-vis
Sufix 832
Type: Braid
Weights6, 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 fishing favorite that has a cult following. We are grateful for this. It’s our favorite braid.
Sufix is all high-tech. The unique Sufix approach, which uses a fiber from GORE that is braided with seven Dyneema Fibers, improves strength, casting and resistance to abrasions. You can feel the line with your fingertips. A few casts will convince you!
Casting is great with this line. And unlike other braids that have a thick coating, Sufix-832 doesn’t leave tiny particles on your gear or bleed onto your reel.
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 is normal with braided lines. However, Sufix 832 is one of the most colorfast braids that we tested.
However, it does suffer from a weakness that is common to all braids: weakening knot strength. Sufix 832 experienced knot failure in rigorous testing at approximately half the rated test. This is normal for braid and should be considered.
Pros
- Castings of exceptional quality
- Excellent colorfastness
- Color choices that are appealing
- Extremely sensitive
Cons
- Poor knot strength
- It is not exceptionally resistant to abrasions
- Not for the low-vis
Sunline Super FC Sniper
Type: Fluorocarbon
Weights5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 20,
Colors:Clear
The Sunline Super FC Sniper has a triple resin coating that improves limpness, handling and abrasion resistance. This makes it a superior casting for fluorocarbon. It’s not as good as braided mono or braid, but we are very pleased with it. This line is actually limp enough to be used on a spinning reel.
Sunline’s FC Sniper is extremely sensitive and resistant to abrasions. FC Sniper is a compromise between mono braid and braid. It offers a lot of sensitivity and feel, without sacrificing casting distance.
It has one weakness: its knot strength isn’t quite as high as that of McCoy Mean Green, Stren, Seaguar Invizx or Stren. This is a fact that you should keep in mind.
Pros
- Great abrasion resistance
- Good casting
- Excellent sensitivity
- Low-visibility
Cons
- Poor knot strength
- Expensive
- There are no high-visibility options
Stren Original
Type: Monofilament Nylon
Weights 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20, 25, 30,
Colors: Clear, Clear Blue Fluorescent Clear, Hi-Vis Gold and Low-Vis Green
Stren Original may have been your first line. For many anglers, the packaging of Stren Original will bring back childhood memories. However, line technology has advanced and many have relegated Stren to braid or fluorocarbon. However, it is worth considering if you are open-minded enough to reconsider.
There are two options for color: high- and low-vis, as well fluorescent for night fishing. Clear and Low Vis Green are solid options, while Hi-Vis Gold is available for nymphing and aging eyes.
Mono is generally tougher than braid or fluorocarbon in terms of abrasion resistance. Stren Original, a mono, is a great leader material and an affordable one. This line is a great choice if you are looking for long casting, cushion in your hookset, and fishing around stumps and rocks.
Stren’s line, which is quite limp, leads to incredible casts and it ties easily, as you would expect.
We were surprised at its sensitivity. Stren can detect light strikes even when there is a lot of water. Although it won’t offer the same slack-line sensitivities as fluorocarbons or braid feel, we believe you will be very pleased.
Pros
- Very low memory
- Excellent casting
- There are many options for night fishing
- Available in high-visibility versions
- Amazing resistance to abrasion
- It’s easy to tie
- Sensitivity is essential
- It’s affordable
McCoy Mean Green
Type: Nylon Monofilament
Weights2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 15, 17, 20, 25, 30,
Colors: Clear Blue Fluorescent and Mean Green.
McCoy’s Mean Green, a copolymer monofilament, has all the advantages of monofilament but many of its flaws. It is an excellent choice for crappie.
This line is not only available in Mean Green, but also in Clear Blue Fluorescent or Xtra Clear. Clear Blue glows in blacklight making it a great choice for night fishing. Mean Green is a master at disappearing in murky or stained water. We like Xtra Clear when it’s visible below the surface.
McCoy’s Mean Green is also very limp, especially in the lower levels you’ll use. It has very little memory and can cast like a dream. It can braid as well as braid. We aren’t sure.
It also knots easily and has a lot of strength. We recommend it over braided lines where this is a concern.
Mean Green’s abrasion resistance is exceptional, so we would not be afraid to use it where there is likely to be a lot of contact between stumps or other underwater objects.
Pros
- Very low memory
- Excellent casting
- There are many options for night fishing
- Low-vis options available
- Excellent abrasion resistance
- It’s easy to tie
- It’s affordable
Cons
- There are not many color options
- Not as sensitive than braid or fluoro
- There are no high-visibility options
Here’s a quick guide to choosing a fishing line for crappie
There is no one “best” crappie line, but what you choose depends on the tackle you use, your technique and the conditions in which you fish. It is a matter of weighing your strengths and weaknesses. We recommend that you do your research.
Take a look at these tips
Ultralight rods
Ultralight rods are shaped like whips and provide plenty of cushion for hooksets. They are generally more flexible in line selection than other crappie options.
You can run braid as your mainline if you have a high-quality ultralight rod such as a St. Croix. Although this setup will give you great sensitivity and casting, it will also reduce knot strength and make it less visible. If visibility is an issue, tie on a mono- or fluoro leader.
Both nylon monofilament or fluorocarbon make great choices. Monofilament will provide the best cushion, knot integrity, ease of handling, casting and invisibility. Fluorocarbon, on the other hand, is less sensitive than mono and, if you follow our recommendations below, will be about as good for everything else.
Ultralight rods will give you the most options.
Take a look at our top picks for crappie fishing rods.
Rods for light/medium-light
Ultralight is not for everyone, and many fishermen don’t have the money to buy a crappie rod. You will need to be more cautious about choosing the right line if you want a stronger rod.
Monofilament leaders are recommended for braiding to provide long-casting sensitivities. They are cheaper than fluoro and last as long.
Fluorocarbon can also be used as a leader material. However, it is more costly and more difficult to tie correctly, less strong at the knot and, in practice, much more invisible than mono.
Spinning reels
Fluorocarbon is not a favorite of most spinning reels. This is doubly true for ultralight reels. Fluorocarbon is typically stiffer than mono or braid and retains memory of the spool. It can also slip over the end and cause headaches.
These fluorocarbons are not recommended for spinning tackle. If you prefer to be safe, opt for mono or braid.
Take a look at our top picks for crappie fishing reels.
Technique
Jigging
You won’t find crappie in deep water if you use nylon monofilament or fluorocarbon if your jig is a nylon monofilament. These two materials have too much memory and can cause your jigs to twirl and dance in ways that are most certainly not appealing to crappie.
We recommend braiding if you are fishing ultralight. You can use a mono leader, or just braid depending on the water conditions. For fishing heavier species, we recommend braid with a longer leader. It can be as long as 6-10 feet. This will provide you with the cushion that you need to hook your set.
Lures with triple hooks
You can use any type of ultralight tackle. However, as your power increases, you should consider mono for shock resistance and give. We recommend using a longer leader if you don’t own an ultralight setup and need braid to cast the distance.
Nymphing
Nylon mono is the best choice if you fish crappie using techniques that require high-visibility lines to see strikes. You can find it in high-visibility colors such as gold, orange and neon shades.
You can also find braids in contrasting colors.
Night fishing
Mono is a good choice if you fish at night. Monofilament fluoresces under darklight and many brands make it easy to tie lines and handle them.
Trolling and spider-rigging
If you use a spider rig or troll rig, line selection can be difficult. Mono is the best option if you require high visibility. If you are concerned about snags, a heavier braid may be a better choice.
Cork
A heavier-weight braid can be used between the cork and your rod to catch live baits or jigs. You’ll need to increase your rod power from ultralight to light, medium, or heavy, while still running mono from the cork to your terminal tackle.
Conditions
Long casts are required
You have two options if you need to cast a country-mile: nylon monofilament or light braid. Fluorocarbon is a poor choice in this situation, as it can cast farther than the other options.
Problems with abrasion
Surprisingly monofilament is the most resistant to abrasion, beating braid and fluorocarbon. Braid is the weakest among the three, so we recommend that you avoid using it where you are likely to rub your line against rocks, piers, piling or stumps.
While some anglers still prefer braid, they increase the line’s diameter by adding weight. We aren’t convinced this is as efficient as it sounds. We will be testing it soon to find out!
Clear water
Clear water is best for low-via lines. If braiding is required, you will need a leader. We recommend monocarbon or fluorocarbon as an alternative.
Water stained or muddy
You can use braided line with no leader in murky waters. Be sure to match the line color to your fishing needs and to the reel and rod you are using.
Line Weights
This topic can be contentious, especially for braid lovers who insist that braided superline’s small diameter is one of its advantages. They will then use heavier braid with a similar diameter to weak mono or fluoro.
Let’s take a look at this.
In certain situations, a braid that is heavier than six pounds may be a good idea, such as when you are losing corks to snags. In most cases, however, line that is more than six pounds is too heavy and will limit your casting distances.
Professional anglers will use high-test line to get bass into their boats. We aren’t convinced that every fisherman should follow their lead. It’s true that what makes sense at a tournament may not be a good idea for a weekend trip to fish.
Cappie can be a fun fish to catch but they don’t grow that big. The world record for black and white is approximately five pounds, but the average weight of cappies is between 1/2 and 1 1/2 pounds.
It is not possible to carry a line that weighs more than eight pounds. We recommend four or six, as these are the most common choices.
Last Thoughts
There is no one ‘best crappie line’. This is why we recommend that you choose the best for your needs. If you are able to understand how to use them, and their strengths and limitations, any of our favorite lines will work.
Let us know what you think of our recommendations. What’s your experience with choosing crappie line?
We would love to hear from your comments, so please drop a comment below.
