Are you looking for the best line for baitcaster reels?
You’re in luck! This guide will help you choose the best fishing lines based on your application and species. We’ll also cover when to use braided, mono, or fluorocarbon fishing lines.
The baitcasting reel is the favorite of a wide variety of anglers. You’ll find baitcasters working the cattails and lily pads on your favorite bass pond, you’ll find them set in rod holders on trolling boats in freshwater, and in the hands of both experienced and novice anglers on offshore ocean ventures.
Below is our picks for the best line for baitcaster reels! Keep reading for full reviews on our top 8 picks!
The exceptionally smooth surface of the line allows long, smooth casts. The low memory aspect of Spiderwire means fewer snarls, limited wind wrap, and added sensitivity when trying to feel the light strikes of walleye and perch.
Trolling anglers, using heavier baitcasting reels locked into rod holders use metered line. Offshore anglers chasing salmon, rock bass, and halibut use the metered line as well.
The line moves up in strength in 10-pound increments from 10 to 50 pounds and has two extra-large sizes in a 65-pound design and their largest size, an impressive 80-pound test variety.
Large species anglers found a friend in the Maxcuatro Spectra by PowerPro. Offered in a standard neutral moss green color, the Maxcuatro is designed for battling hard fighting saltwater fish, and the occasional monster lake trout, carp, or catfish you can find in freshwater.
The FireLine starts in a four-pound test size and extends to 30-pound test. The smaller weight rating is reflected in a smaller diameter, allowing more line on your smaller baitcasting reel.
Teflon coated, with an ultra-smooth finish this line is made for the surfcasting, lakeshore tossing, and heavy river running angler.
Test ratings of six-pound test to a whopping 150-pound test monster in variable lengths from 327 to 1037-yards.
WindTamer comes in four-pound to 100-pound test sizes and in a neutral slate green color. It casts easily, even into the wind and its slightly smaller diameter allows you to pack more line on your reel.
What type of line should you use with a baitcasting reel?
The obvious answer is braided fishing line. Almost every baitcasting reel is spooled with some variety of braided line. The smaller diameter of braided lines, with much greater strength than monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing line with the same pound-test rating is the reason.
Another factor is the spool size of baitcasting reels compared to open-faced spinning reels. The design of the spinning reel allows very large spools with corresponding big bails. Increasing the size of the spool increases the weight of a spinning reel, but not enough to limit usage.
That’s not true with a baitcasting reel. The horizontal, drum-style of the baitcasting design with the line guide moving back-and-forth as the line is reeled in prevents oversized spools.
As the spool on a baitcasting reel increases in size, so does all the associated hardware that drives the baitcast reel.
Large baitcast reels used in surf fishing, on deepwater charters, and by professional anglers pursuing huge ocean-dwelling monsters often use reels that weigh five pounds or more. That weight isn’t a good thing for the weekend angler to pack around all day.
With the size limitations on compact baitcasting reels, braided line is the only choice.
With that being said, there are some uses with baitcasting reels that require monofilament and fluorocarbon lines, sometimes at the same time if you enjoy elegant solutions to problems.
Braided line is strong for its weight, floats, resists abrasion, is hard to cut on rocks or other sharp structure. Moreover, it doesn’t weaken as fast as monofilament fishing line does in direct sunlight, but it doesn’t hold a knot well.
Unless you’re adept at knot tying, you’re going to lose a few fish with those basic overhand knots that work on monofilament lines.
Braided fishing lines are slicker, with less gripping ability than monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing line as well, making it tricky to get a good base tied to a baitcasting reel before you wind line onto the spool.
The answer to these problems comes in a pair of popular knots. The Albright and the Alberto knots are similar in appearance but slightly different in tying technique. These two knots are good ones to learn if you’re going to use braided fishing lines.
The loop and wrap style of each knot allows braided lines to tie back onto itself, eliminating much of the slippery surface that releases lesser knots.
These are great knots, but you don’t want to tie them directly to a lure, a hook, or even a snap swivel. Add to the problem with these large knots is the high visibility of braided line in clear water.
The solution is to tie a length of fluorocarbon line as a leader on your baitcast reel. The majority of the line remains braided, but a careful connection between the braided line and your fluorocarbon leader with an Alberto or Albright knot makes it easier to tie lures, hooks, or jigs onto the leader. Fluorocarbon lines are nearly invisible to fish, eliminating bait shyness.
The other end of the braided line also presents a problem.
Tying braided lines on a baitcasting spool is a challenge with a spool containing a central tie-hole. Those reels that are smooth and rely on the friction of the line to hold the line in place present a nearly impossible challenge with braided fishing line.
The solution is to get a section of monofilament line that has the same pound-test rating as the braided line you want to spoon onto your baitcasting reel.
Monofilament lines hold knots well, and it grips a spool much more effectively than braided lines can.
Slip monofilament line through the line guides on your rod, slip the monofilament fishing line through the tie hole and knot it, or wrap it a few times around a smooth, non-perforated spool then tie the mono into place. Wind the monofilament line in with pressure on the line until the spool is covered with three wraps of the line.
Cut the monofilament line a foot or two off the end of your rod tip and tie it to the braided line you want on your baitcast reel using an Alberto or Albright knot. It’s an elegant solution that guarantees maximum performance from your baitcasting reel.
Which braided fishing lines are best for a baitcasting reel?
Now that you understand the benefits and limitations of braided line in general, it’s time to find the line that best suits the baitcasting reel you want to use, and match it with the line that fits the type of fishing you’re about to do.
We’ll rate various types of braided contenders based on price, quality, durability, ruggedness, and a few other intangible factors like manufacturers’ reputation and length of duty on the water.
The Best Line For Baitcaster Reels Reviewed
Spiderwire EZ-Braid Fishing Line Green
An old favorite earns the top spot among a host of solid contenders. Spiderwire has been around for a long time. Those anglers who were unfortunate enough to forget clippers or a pocket knife in their gear bag can attest to the nearly impossible to cut strength of Spiderwire.
The most popular size of this translucent green braided fishing line is 10-pound test. The 10-pound variety spools well on baitcasting reels of all sizes and is one of the few braided lines that compete well in the spincast and spinning reel applications too.
Spiderwire is available in sizes from 10 to 50-pound test. Sportsmen repairing tents, tying down loads, or even pulling out a stuck vehicle have used these incredibly strong braided lines to solve problems not usually associated with fishing. Wrap enough lengths of 50-pound test Spiderwire together into a multi-strand rope, and you have an exceptional pulling strap.
Spiderwire is three times smaller than monofilament lines of the same strength, meaning you can wrap three times as much fishing line on the same sized spool. It has almost zero stretch, making it a favorite with bass anglers who must react quickly to hard-hitting largemouths.
The exceptionally smooth surface of this fishing line allows long, smooth casts. The low memory aspect of Spiderwire means fewer snarls, limited wind wrap, and added sensitivity when trying to feel the light strikes of walleye and perch.
The 10-pound test size arrives in a 110-yard spool.
Power Pro Depth-Hunter Metered Fishing Line
We’ll step away from bass fishing in the second-rated baitcasting line. Metered fishing line is a proven fishing technology in conjunction with a fish finder, depth finder, or even all by itself if you are already familiar with the subsurface terrain you’re fishing.
This multicolored fishing line changes color every 25 feet as you reel it out. Inside each color band are black tick markings every five feet for even more precise measurement.
Trolling anglers, using heavier baitcasting reels locked into rod holders, use metered fishing line for baitcaster reels. Offshore anglers chasing salmon, rock bass, and halibut use the metered line as well.
PowerPro solved a lot of problems for trolling usage with the Depth-Hunter fishing line. It is available in sizes from 20-pound to 100-pound test.
It can be ordered in lengths of 167, 333, 500, 1500, and 3000-yard lengths in the 20-pound test brand.
With a single reel the 167-yard spool makes good sense on smaller baitcasters, the 333-yard variety will fill almost any baitcasting reel used in freshwater applications.
The longer lengths are popular with professional guides and with charter tours that must equip dozens of reels for their customers.
This fishing line has minimal stretch and is an excellent choice for jigging as well as trolling. Moderately priced, it fills a wide range of applications in braided line usage.
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid
Braided line is a product that begs for superlatives. The Superline by Sufix has one of those monikers, but the unique design of this product might just live up to the Clark Kent reputation.
This fishing line is constructed of an eight-fiber braid, with seven Dyneema fibers and one GORE Performance fiber.
The strength is at the top of the market, as is the abrasion resistance that comes with the eight braided technology.
Sufix has worked on the exterior coating of this fishing line to increase casting distance and enable smoother retrieves.
It comes in low visibility green with the most popular size being the six-pound test.
The line moves up in strength in 10-pound increments from 10 to 50 pounds and has two extra-large sizes in a 65-pound design and their largest size, an impressive 80-pound test variety.
This fishing line works well in topwater settings with largemouth bass and is powerful enough for surfcasting and saltwater trolling.
PowerPro Maxcuatro Spectra Moss Green Fishing Line
If you’re fishing budget has a little extra room in it you might want to consider PowerPro’s latest creation in the Maxuatro Spectra braided line.
Available in any color, as long as that color is green, this fishing line is 25% smaller than competitive braided line in the same size pound-test rating.
It is available in 500-yard lengths in 20, 30, 40, 50, 65, and 80-pound test sizes, and smaller, single reel applications lengths of 150-yards in 40, 50, and 80-pound sizes.
The four-strand braid has a tighter weave, creating a smaller diameter line while retaining strength. The smaller diameter allows more line on your spool without lowering strength, a nice feature if you have the extra cash to purchase it.
This fishing line is composed of Honeywell Spectra HT fiber.
Berkley FireLine Ultra 8 Superline Braided Fishing Line
Our number five choice is made of a different material than the competition. FireLine Ultra uses a polyethylene weave in its braided design.
Polyethylene creates a crystal line, not as transparent as a fluorocarbon line, but nearly equal to monofilament lines. The size range is perfect for walleye, perch, salmon, and lake trout fishing in venues where fishing line visibility could shy away fish.
The FireLine starts in a four-pound test size and extends to 30-pound test. The smaller weight rating is reflected in a smaller diameter, allowing more line on your smaller baitcasting reel.
Berkley designed FireLine to have four times the already impressive abrasion resistance of its traditional FireLine offering.
Claims by Berkley are that this fishing line cast 10% farther than other braided lines of similar size in field studies due to the round rather than flat construction of the weave.
The most popular sizes of this fishing line are the six and eight-pound test.
P-Line TCB 8 Carrier 300-Yard Braided Fishing Line
P-Line created a different style braided line using polyvinylidene fluoride fibers. It’s not quite fluorocarbon line, but it shares some similarities.
This green-tinted fishing line has lower visibility than traditional braided line, zero stretch, and is arguably the longest casting line on the market.
Teflon coated, with an ultra-smooth finish, this fishing line is made for surfcasting, lakeshore tossing, and heavy river running angler.
The line starts at a 10-pound test rating and extends to 80-pounds.
It is gaining traction in a variety of fishing venues, from surface bass applications to walleye and trout jigging, and is also making inroads among saltwater surf casters and offshore trolling.
Moderately priced, it’s one of the best fishing line options and certainly worth looking at for a change of pace.
KastKing SuperPower Braided Fishing Line
You can’t lose with a KastKing product. This moderately priced braided line is designed on a double-knit platform and has the widest selection of sizes and lengths of any competitive braided line on the market.
Manufactured in low visibility gray, moss green, multi-color metered, blue and yellow the wide spectrum of color choices will fit any application.
Test ratings of six-pound test to a whopping 150-pound test monster in variable lengths from 327 to 1037-yards.
Engineered to have better knot retention than other braided lines, with almost no memory so snarls, wind knots, and backlash are greatly reduced this is a product that covers almost the entire baitcasting reel market. Those are just a few reasons one this is one of the best fishing line choices today.
Fins Spectra 2000-Yards Windtamer Fishing Line
If you have ever experienced those annoying little q-shaped loops of line around the end of your rod you know the frustration of fishing line with high memory. This fishing line retains the loop of the spool after its wound on your reel and it expresses itself in those frustrating wind knots.
Fins has introduced a braided line specifically designed to lessen or even eliminate wind knots.
This is an especially popular feature on the often gusty conditions with surfcasting and deep-sea fishing.
WindTamer comes in four-pound to 100-pound test sizes and in a neutral slate green color. It casts easily, even into the wind and its slightly smaller diameter allows you to pack more line on your reel.
Designed for the saltwater angler tossing heavy lures and weighted baits from shore, it is equally effective trolling and is gaining popularity in freshwater fishing. This kind of versatility makes it one of the best fishing line options available.
Which is best for which species?
Baitcasting reels are a ubiquitous tool for modern anglers. The old days of constant backlash have been solved with improved design, and the modern braided lines have accompanied the baitcast reel on the improvement march as well.
Braided lines have more limited variations than monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing lines, but there are a few breakthrough brands with lower visibility, better knot holding capacity, and even a few more colors to choose from.
The ability to have metered line is a feature available only with braid, it’s an option that serious trolling anglers take seriously.
The biggest thing to consider aside from the few variants already mentioned is the size of the line. Catching one-pound perch with 30-pound test braid works, but it’s not a great fishing experience.
Fish with braided lines as you would with monofilament lines. If you’re after trout, four to 10-pound test braid is all you’ll need.
If you want to crank in some bottom-feeding channel cats that can weigh over 20 pounds, it’s a good idea to spool your reel with 15 to 25-pound test line.
The lower the weight rating, the greater the sensitivity.
If you’re after monster carp, hard fighting Northern Pike, or sharks, select a higher test fishing line for baitcaster reels. In the case of pike, muskie, and sharks, tie on a steel leader too. Just because braided lines have a higher abrasion resistance doesn’t mean it can handle those razor-sharp teeth.
Selecting the best fishing line for baitcaster reels and using it properly in the fishing venue you’ve chosen are all part of the journey to becoming a skilled angler.
Conclusion
The Baitcaster’s are a popular reel, second only to spinning reels in total usage. They are the top choice of serious anglers and professionals, surpassing even the spinning reel in popularity.
You’ll find huge baitcasting reels attached to rods 10, 12, or even 15-feet long getting tossed with heavy weights hundreds of yards offshore by surfcasting enthusiasts.
Yes, the baitcasting reel is a workhorse of the fishing industry.
For more guidance on choosing the best fishing lines, check out the pages below:
- The 20 Best Braided Fishing Lines for 2021
- 15 Best Fluorocarbon Fishing Lines
- Best Mono Fishing Line
- Best Line for Ice Fishing | Why Fluorocarbon Is Our Choice
- Best Fishing Line for Spinning Reels
- Best Fishing Line for Walleye | Mono, Braided, or Fluorocarbon?
- Best Fishing Line For Crappie | Mono, Braided, or Fluorocarbon?
- Best Fishing Line For Trout | Braided, Mono, or Fluorocarbon?
- Best Mono Line for Bass
