Is a fishing line better than another?

[Boomstick]

Line is largely subjective for the most part. I like braid to fluoro leaders on spinning reels, straight fluorocarbon on casting reels when I don't need braid for heavy weeds or a frog, and straight mono for other topwaters on casting reels personally. Many people prefer straight braid or even straight mono, and it's not always because it's cheaper. I can name some of our very own forum members who prefer straight mono, and they also catch more and larger fish than me to, so I'm not going to say they're wrong.

 

I have been using Berkley Trilene Fluorocarbon for fluorocarbon line, largely because I buy it buy one get one free from Bass Pro Shops ever year but I have stuck with it because it's strong and has served me very well -- regardless of the price. There's many other quality options too: InvisX, AbrasX, Tatsu, I think Sufix and Sunline make a few that are supposed to be good etc. The one I would not recommend is Berkley's Vanish.

 

For braid, I run 12lb Sunline SX-1 on my finesse setup. That line is particularly abrasion resistant for its size, and for braid that thin that's important. When it comes to 30lb and up, I usually go with Daiwa J-Braid x8 Grand, which is a fairly abrasion resistant 8 strand braid. Power Pro Maxcuatro is also a very good line which is a thinner than normal 4 strand braid, but regular old J-Braid or Power Pro is also decent and a little cheaper.

 

For mono, I usually go with Berkley Big Game early in the year when it is possible it could be exposed to freezing temperatures because it's good and cheap, but later in the year I prefer the Sufix Siege which is some abrasion resistant and well handling line. I personally think it's worth the premium.