Deciding when to use braided fishing line vs. monofilament fishing line might seem intuitive in most cases. Not so fast! One pro advocates braided line for all bottom fishing applications, while another says braid inhibits bites in clear water, even with a fluorocarbon leader. One says monofilament offers more abrasion resistance; another says braided line does.
As usual — easy ain’t easy in the braid vs. mono equation. And questions like “why use braided fishing line” or asking “when to use braided fishing line” all of a sudden becomes a lot harder to answer. Most fishing pros agree on the following basic generalizations for the best fishing line in specific situations — with a few caveats:
- Trolling: mono
- Live-bait fishing: mono
- Kite-fishing: mono
- Bottomfishing/jigging: braid
- Fishing structure: braid
- Casting plugs/lures (especially with spin tackle): braid
- Fishing kelp: braid
When to Use Braided Fishing Line
Redfish tournament pros often use braid because it doesn’t stretch yet improves casting distance. A lot of fish on shallow flats, in places such as Florida’s west coast, remain spooky and wary. Anglers need to cast as far as possible so the bait stays away from the boat. With a bait that far away, the taut, no-give braid can better drive home the hook point. Just how much farther braid casts remains debatable, but its smaller diameter compared with mono means it flies through the air and cuts through water more easily.
When is the best time to use braided fishing line? Lighter braid in the 10-pound class works well on open flats. Switch to heavier braid — 25- to 40-pound — reels when fishing around structure such as mangroves.
