It is that time when the days are warmer and the nights slightly chilly. Frost has long melted from the lakes and rivers and flowers are about to bloom. This weather is perfect to grab your fishing spinning reel and head towards your nearest lakes and try your luck at fishing.
If you have never done this and are wondering to yourself, what in the world is a spinning reel then let us tell you. A spinning reel is a cylindrical device that anglers use to catch fish. They are very common and use shorter learning curve than other reels.
You may easily be able to find a good spinning reel for yourself. But when it comes to finding the best line, that’s when things get a bit tricky. Monofilament lines are popular among anglers because they are affordable and very durable.
You should look for one that is lightweight, comfortable and suitable for your reel. We have tried to make your job easy by looking and recommending what we think are good monofilament lines.
Berkley Trilene Big Game Fishing Line – Best Monofilament for Spinning Reels 2021
If you didn’t know until now then it is time that you got this information.
Berkley produces some of the best monofilament fishing lines in the world and Big Game is one that has been consistently touted for its performance.
It is highly popular among inshore and offshore anglers. You may think that there are tons of lines out there to choose from, why go for a mono? No matter what line your reel holds there will always be some space for Big Game mono in there. That is probably why, it is the top choice of anglers in America and is the strongest mono available in the market.
Diameter and Colors
The diameter of this fishing line is just right. It is neither too thin nor too thick. It can easily go through the reel guides. But it is thick enough to hold knots and stay aligned. It is durable and strong. It is available in steel blue, green, brown and clear colors.
Breaking Strength
You can find it in 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100 and 130 Lbs. of breaking strength. This is the first mono in this article to offer such breaking strength. However, for casual fishing you go as high as 15 Lbs. With its strength, you will be able to catch some big fishes. There won’t be any need for you to buy a 100 Lbs. line.
Length
Berkley has gone to great lengths with this line, pun intended. It is available in all kinds of possible lengths. It starts from 55 yards and goes all the way to 10800 yards. Depending on the fishing needs, you can go for whatever length that is suitable for you. So, you can choose the length as per your needs and this gives you a customization benefit.
Control
The spool on which the line is wound is not too heavy. It is easily manageable. One thing is for sure with this line. You will be able to fish to your heart’s content with undeterred confidence using this line. It offers you strength, sensitivity and great operational control.
Shock Resistance
The controlled stretch of this line lets you transfer optimal amount of energy from your wrist to the hookset. It will resist any tackle that comes your way and will fight the fish pretty well, too.
Casting
The cast on this line is good. It easily covers large distances. Since it is very manageable, you can easily maneuver and operate it. You can assemble the gear in a jiffy and then hook it up with this line and the bait. It has a user-friendly control to be operated easily.
Quality
It is made of high quality materials, which is commendable considering it is a low cost line. It is especially designed to help anglers catch more fish.
Resistance to Abrasion
The resistance to abrasion on this line is no joke. You will be amazed. Whether you are fishing in a dock or whatever strump filled place you have found for yourself, it will resist wear and tear. If you regularly fish from a bank then this line will be useful for you. For a spinning reel we would recommend you to not go higher than 8 Lbs. on this line. It is a bit thick so there will be issues with memory.
Sensitivity
Compared to some other mono lines the sensitivity on this line is a bit compromised. But if you look at the other features and its price, you can easily overlook that.
Stren Original Monofilament Fishing Line
The Stren monofilament fishing line is pretty basic and an affordable fishing line. But that doesn’t reflect in its quality at all. It is made of good quality nylon and is quite durable. It is suitable for knots. It has low visibility so your chances of successfully baiting fish with it would be higher.
This line is smooth and easy to cast. If you are new to fishing and want just a basic setup then this fishing line is for you. It is a good choice if your target is under 20Lbs. It is decently resistant to abrasion. It holds the knots pretty well so tying the knots will not be an issue.
But if you are planning on heavy fishing then this line is not right for you. It stretches quite a bit and also has memory issues. With this line you will have then choice of choosing from high to low visibility colors, which includes: gold, green, clear and blue fluorescent.
You can buy it in 100, 220, 250, 300, 330, 1000 and 2400 yards. If you buy the 1000 yard line, you will not run out anytime soon. You can opt for lines with breaking strength of 4, 6, 12, 14 and 20 Lbs. These breaking strengths will fulfill your most basic fishing needs. One good thing about this line is that it is guarded against UV, so it likely will last for a while.
It is suitable for use in both salt and fresh water. It absorbs water over time, which could become an issue. It also stretches, which could be a good thing and bad.
Berkeley Trilene XL Fishing Line
Berkeley Trilene has made a name for itself in the fishing gear industry. It especially gathered praises for its high quality fishing lines. One of their most popular products is the XL monofilament fishing line.
It’s been around for a while and is very famous among anglers. It goes pretty well with spinning reels. This fishing line gives full control to the angler, you will get to attain maximum manageability. It is strong and it casts very well. That’s what most people look for in a fishing line.
It is smooth so you will be able to avoid twist and skinks. You won’t want your fishing to slow down because of knots and tangles. Its strength will give you confidence. You will be in-charge of the whole activity. What we like a lot about this line is that it is versatile and gives you freedom of using it however and with whatever bait you want.
It has thin diameter, which increases its sensitivity. This means that will be able to feel the interaction of the fishes with your bait in water. Its knot strength is up to par too. This line is available in three colors, which includes: green, fluorescent blue and clear.
You can buy it in line breaking strengths of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 20 Lbs. and all the way to 30 Lbs. If you are a casual fisher then 2 to 14 Lbs. fishing lines should be enough for you. It is available in 110, 250, 270, 300, 330, 1000, 2300, 2600, 3000 and 9000 yards.
It is not very stretchy so it will hold its own in the water when fighting with snag.
SeaKnight Blade Nylon Fishing Line
SeaKnight started small, but it has been around for decades. It is committed to making high quality products. This monofilament fishing line is made of 100% Japanese imported nylon, which is super strong. It will not break on you while you pull your catch out of the water. Imagine how disappointing that would be.
That brings us to the abrasion resistance of this line. It is quite durable so it will resist abrasion quite well despite hitting sharp obstacles. It doesn’t stretch a lot and has low ductility. It is a good thing since the line will not vibrate and resist debris and fishing reefs. It is smoother and has high knot strength.
The manufacturer claims that you it can be used in tournament matches in both salt and fresh water. Its multiple features make it very easy to handle. The perfect balance of strength and durability allows it to be suitable for long casting. It has thin diameter so it has high sensitivity.
It is available in some bright and light colors, which includes: black, green, yellow, blue, multicolor and white. You buy it in the breaking strength of 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20 and all the way to 35 Lbs.
It is only available in two lengths, which are 547 and 1094 yards. That is one downside of this fishing line. It sinks, but rather slow, so it would probably be better to use it with another line as leader.
How to Choose Monofilament Lines for Spinning Reels
No matter what kind of fishing line you choose it is important to know that none of them are perfect. Monofilament lines are suitable for beginner and average anglers. You can nearly catch all smaller fishes using it. It is the default choice for most people. If you are not sure, just go for mono.
However, it is also possible for you to end up with a bad product if you don’t make a wise decision. In this section we are going to go over a few factors that you must keep in mind when buying a monofilament line.
Flexible
Monofilament lines are supposed to be stretchy and flexible. This makes sure that there is less pressure on the rod due to its shock absorbing properties. The stretch will be forgiving while fighting with the fish and pulling out of lures.
Knot Strength
Look for a monofilament lines that is kind of sticky. That will allow it to hold knots well. But make sure that you wet the knots before you pull them tight to lubricate the line. A well tied knot will hold up to 95% of the test strength.
Affordable
As long as you don’t get enticed by those designer monofilament lines, most monos are pretty cheap. If it is inexpensive, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t be any good. That is how monos are. So, you can buy more than one line at a time. If your line breaks or gets tangled, you will not be in a great loss.
Clear in Water
You may find monofilament lines with different refractive index. But make sure that the one that you buy is clear. It needs to be clear to be invisible in water. This will make it harder for the fish to see it and increase your chances of successfully baiting the prey.
No Noise
You need to be as quiet and calm as possible when fishing. Your instrument too shouldn’t be making much noise. Because it may spook the fish. Buy yourself a mono line that is easy on the reel and rod so that it doesn’t contribute to noise.
Resistant to Abrasion
Also make sure that mono line that you buy is resistant to abrasion. Most mono lines are somewhat susceptible to abrasion and easily wear out and break in places. This will limit the strength of the line. You don’t want your line to give up on you while the fish is on it.
So check for reviews of the line brand. Make sure that is durable. And always check the line for wear and tear before you go on your fishing trip.
How Often Should You Change a Monofilament Line?
Monofilament fishing lines are mostly made of a single continuous line of nylon. Depending on the manufacturer they might use varying qualities of nylon to improve the strength and abrasion resistance of the line.
Most monofilament lines are stretchy, affordable and last for a while. But they might behave a little bit different when wet. They also weaken up when exposed a lot to UV rays.
The durability of monofilament line mostly depends on how much you use it. As a general rule of thumb, you should change your line once every year.
But if you are a heavy fisher, then you need to change your line 3 to 4 times a year. Moderate fishers only need to do it twice or thrice. Those who only go on fishing on weekends may change it only once a year.
But if your line remains unused for 2 or 3 years then you can throw it away.
Is 150 Yard Enough Fishing Line for Spinning Reels?
Fishing is not just a hobby, it is a sport. And it is good not just for your body, but your brain as well. The first thing that an angler thinks about after buying a reel is the line and its length.
Suppose, you have monofilament line in mind. Now, you are wondering about how much line you need for your spinning reel.
Well, to be honest it does depend on two things. The first thing is the type of fish you want to catch and the second is the casting distance. Normally, for 8 to 10Lb fishes, a 150Yd line is more than enough. In open water, you need to throw your line loose for a good catch.
What we mean to say is that for basic fishing sessions, 150Yd fishing line is a good choice. It is enough. You don’t want to be throwing your line again and again. With 150Yd line, you won’t have to spool it repeatedly.
Alternative to Monofilament
Monofilament lines account for the 2/3 of the fishing lines sold in US alone. Low cost is a big contributor to this figure. It is a nylon based line that has been in use for more than 60 years. Mono is a good choice for beginners. But as you grow your skills and expertise you can move on to other lines such as braided and fluorocarbon lines.
So alternatively, you can use fluorocarbon and braided line for fishing for your spinning reel. Let’s first start with the braided line.
Braided Line
A braided line is made of various synthetic materials woven together. Its diameter is about the ¼ of the monofilament and fluorocarbon fishing line. This means that there will be more space on your spool. More line means that at the given strength you will more line available to you.
The common polymers that are used in making braided line are Micro-Dyneema, Spectra and Dacron. Braided lines are often used in long distance casting situations. These lines have a high sensitive feel. You will be able to feel it when the fish bites.
Braided Line is Often a Better Solution for Spinning Reel
A braided fishing line can be used in most situations. It has a versatile use. You can use it as your main fishing line or with another leader. It is actually a better solution for spinning reels. The only thing that you need to be mindful of while using it is that it floats.
You can use it in spots, where snag happens. It is hard to break so you will be safe. You will be able to pull your lures out of weed and tackle big catches without losing them. Also, it is very sensitive. If your rod is bad then that is all the more reason to use braided line. You will be able to feel how the fishes interact with your lures. It won’t tangle much and it doesn’t stretch a lot either too.
You Should Use Monofilament or Fluorocarbon Leader with Braided Line in the Reel
There are many advantages to using braided fishing line, but one glaring disadvantage of using it is visibility. The mostly come in bright colors that can be clearly seen in water. The best way to use this line is with a mono or fluorocarbon line as leader.
Both fluorocarbon and mono lines are clear and very hard to see in clear water. Also when you are fishing near rocks, docks or bridges, throw in a leader with braided line. Your line will continuously rub against hard surfaces and eventually break. You won’t want your costly braided line to go to waste like that.
Conclusion
Fishing is a fun hobby and sport. But you do need to have some information and patience to properly learn it before you dive head first in to it. Fishing equipment is not very complicated. The two main things that you will need are reel and fishing line.
In this article we talked about monofilament fishing lines for spinning reels. Monofilament lines are among the first fishing lines that were produced and used. They have been around for a while, but despite the production of other kinds of lines, they are still in demand and use.
Monofilament lines have their advantages, but they are best used with braided or fluoro as leaders. We reviewed 4 mono lines in this article, but our recommendation for you is Big Game by Berkley. It is strong, affordable and available in lots of lengths and colors.