If you’re a beginner, choosing the right fishing gear is crucial for a successful fishing trip. However, it can be confusing to decide which type of line to spool your reel. Braided fishing line, also known to most as “braid” has been steadily gaining ground in the fishing world for the past decade. Braided lines have a very little stretch and have extreme strength to diameter ratios when compared to monofilament or fluorocarbon lines. These features make braid an ideal line for long casts, reaching previously unheard of depths and feeling soft bites.In recent years, braided fishing lines have become incredibly popular among anglers as it combines the advantages of high-quality monofilament and fluorocarbon with low cost and versatility. Braids are closely woven synthetic fibers that are encased in a super thin sheath for protection against the elements and for easier handling. The result is a line that looks like cloth and handles better than a traditional fishing line.With hundreds of different fishing lines on the market, what types, sizes, and diameters should you use? It’s about the most difficult choice for most anglers. To help you answer these questions, Koala Outdoor breaks down all the different fishing lines reasonably according to their uses, faults, and certain types of fishing best suited for each style. We are going to focus on everything you need to know about braided lines.So, here are some tips on each type to help you make the right choice for your next fishing trip.Understanding braided fishing lineBraided fishing line, or braid, is a popular type of line used to catch large fish and fish in heavy cover. As its name implies, a braided fishing line is made up of multiple strands of line that are woven together. Known for its durability, strength, and longevity, braid tends to be more expensive than other lines like monofilament or fluorocarbon lines but outlasts them by years.One of the best parts about fishing with a braided fishing line is that it's almost impervious to water and incredibly difficult to break. The tightly-woven strands of the line don't allow water to pass through the knots or spaces where the strands are connected. This means that braid can be used in water that's much deeper than most other types of line can handle.The benefits of these qualities include improved casting distance and the ability to feel even the subtlest bites. It ensures a smooth fly through the guides and also allows natural lure action. Perfect for bass, trout, and most other species, the braided line is available in 10- to 150-pound tests and can perform in freshwater, saltwater, surf fishing, and more.On top of this, braid is incredibly strong and hard to break—it has a tensile strength rating of about 55 pounds per 1/8 inch width; for comparison, monofilament has a rating of about 7 pounds per 1/8 inch width. Their strength can also be useful in other circumstances as well—for instance, if you’re trying to reel in a hefty catch that weighs upwards of 600-1,000 pounds!This means you can use less braid than you would need of any other kind of fishing line! Also unlike other lines, braid doesn't absorb water very easily so it retains its strength no matter how long you're fishing.One of the cons of using a braided fishing line is that it can be more difficult to manage than other types of line. The tightly-woven strands have a tendency to tangle more easily, and knots can be more difficult to tie. Additionally, because braid has very little stretch, it can be more difficult to handle when setting the hook or fighting a fish.If you are a novice angler, you may want to consider using a different type of fishing line until you get more experience. However, if you are an experienced angler who is looking for a high-performance line, braided fishing line may be the right choice for you.How and why anglers use braid?Braid has a very low stretch rate when compared to monofilament or fluorocarbon. This means that if you feel a fish bite, you will feel it almost immediately. There is little to no delay. The braid I use for most of my fishing trips has about half the stretch rate of the monofilament line. This gives me a better idea of what is going on with my line and allows me to react faster to any changes in tension or bites.For example, if you are using a monofilament line you might not feel a nibble until it is too late, but with a braid, you can react immediately and set the hook or fight the fish while it is still on the initial bite. This can be incredibly important when fishing in turbid water or when fishing around rocks or other structures where you have little visibility into the water column.Braid also has a very small diameter when compared to other types of fishing line. This means that you can fit more braid onto your reel than you could monofilament or fluorocarbon. When using braid, you can also downsize the size of your reel since the line is much thinner. This can save you money when buying new gear or when traveling since you can pack a smaller reel and rod combo.The small diameter of the braid also gives you an advantage when fishing around the cover. When using braid, your line is much less likely to get caught on rocks, logs, or other structures. This can save you time and frustration when fishing in areas with a lot of covers.The lack of stretch in these kinds of lines can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on what you’re fishing for. The taut pressure that braid lines put on your lures or bait can help wear out a smaller game like bass or bluegill; however, their lack of stretch makes them far less ideal for fighting bigger games like tuna or marlin.The braided line has also a small diameter than mono of the same strength, making it a good choice for those fishing with smaller reels or in areas where line size restrictions are in place. But because they’re thinner, braided lines are more susceptible to being cut on sharp objects like shells or rocks.Koala Pro Tip: If you need a tough line that can help you reel in some deep water monsters, Spiderwire Stealth Braid may be an ideal choice for you.So, is braided line really the best? It depends on what you’re looking for. If you need a strong, durable line that can handle heavy-duty fishing applications, then braided fishing line is a good choice. This reduced stretch has made braided lines popular in a myriad of scenarios, from fishing deep to battling elements such as surf and current, to casting lures.However, if you prefer a line that is easier to manage and less likely to break, then monofilament fishing line may be a better option.What is braided fishing line good for?A braided fishing line is good for a variety of different applications, due to its incredible strength and durability. It is most commonly used in heavy-duty fishing applications where high tension or abrasion is likely to occur. The casting braid is rounded and smoothed by Enhanced Body Technology, a process that also makes it super sensitive. It also has a small diameter compared to other fishing lines, which makes it perfect for trout, bass, and many other species.Inshore anglers like the extended casting distance they get with braid. Additionally, braided fishing line has a smaller diameter than other types of fishing line, making it ideal for use on smaller reels or in areas with line size restrictions. Providing high-density braid with excellent abrasion resistance and strength.It also has the advantage of being more abrasion resistant due to the larger fibres and its coarser feel also means that it acts like a saw, cutting through aquatic weed and other softer structure.Braided fishing lines are the best line to have in your tackle box for a variety of situations. When you're fishing heavy vegetation like grass, hydrilla, milfoil, lily pads, pennywort, cattails, and more, braid can cut through it with ease. It's also great because it's super thin and strong—it can easily handle deep sea fishing and pulling big fish out of heavy cover.It's not bulky like monofilament or fluorocarbon, so it won't weigh down your rod or get hung up on branches. Braid is also the best line to use when you're fishing deeper than 20 feet - this is one of the best-braided lines out there. It has no stretch and gives you a better hookset with lots of lines out. Plus, it boasts epoxy coatings that increase the line's abrasion resistance by 10 percent.Braid is also the best option if you want to make long casts or want to prevent line twists on spinning rods. Braid is an excellent choice for just about any situation!Koala Pro Tip: When you're jigging in deep water you want each up/down arm movement to have the maximum action on the lure, when fishing deep the low stretch and small diameter line provides a big benefit. Additionally in the open ocean having a lot of line on your reel for a big fish is important, and as we've already covered the small diameter of braid enables you to put on 2×3 times more line on the spool.What is a leader line and why should you use it with braid?Leader lines are used to connect the main fishing line to the lures or bait. They are typically made from a material that is different from the main line, and they are usually shorter in length. The purpose of using a leader line is to reduce the visibility of the main line, as well as to provide additional strength and abrasion resistance.When using a leader line with the best-braided fishing line, it is important to choose a material that is compatible with the braid. For example, if you are using a braided line made from Kevlar, you would want to use a leader line made from fluorocarbon or another type of high-strength material. This will help to prevent the leader line from breaking under the high tension of the braid.The fluorocarbon leader again comes into play here as many believe that the finer fibres of the braid, combined with a lack of stretch, decrease its abrasion resistance, especially across varying structure types. In addition, using a leader line will help to keep your bait or lures from being pulled off by the fish. This is because the leader line is typically much thinner than the main line, and it will give way before the main line does.Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use a leader line is up to the individual angler. Some anglers feel that they provide an extra level of security, while others find that they are not necessary.Why do fisheries ban braided line?Why do fisheries ban braid? There are a few reasons why fisheries may choose to ban braided lines. The first is that braided lines can be more difficult to manage than other types of fishing lines, making them more likely to break or tangle. Additionally, braided lines can be more visible in water than other types of lines, which may spook fish. Finally, braided fishing lines can be more expensive than other types of lines, which may not be affordable for all anglers.Most braided lines are also significantly more visible than monofilament lines, so it's easier for fisheries to see illegal fishing activities like snagging and spotlighting.In some areas, there are easy alternatives to braid that are just as strong and durable. For example, Power Pro is a superline made from Dyneema fibers [Dyneema PE microfiber] and Spectra fiber [treated with enhanced body technology for a round and sensitive line]; it's strong enough for handling large fish and has a breaking strength of 130 pounds.It's softer than braid, so it won't cut into the fish when you're reeling them in. Power Pro also floats, which makes it easy to spot if you drop your line overboard. If you don't want to use Power Pro, there are plenty of other similar lines that may be available in your area.These alternatives are not available everywhere, however—and if you're going fishing out of state or on a charter boat, you might have no choice but to buy braid if they have a strict no-braid policy.Can fish see braided fishing line?We all know that fish can see, but did you know that they can see different types of fishing lines? In fact, many anglers who choose to use braided line over monofilament fishing lines or fluorocarbon are actually making themselves more visible to the fish. While fish can generally see underwater with more clarity than humans, the type of line you use will alter how much a fish can see you and your presentation.The three main types of fishing lines are monofilament, braid, and fluorocarbon. Braid has a significantly smaller diameter than monofilament lines or fluorocarbon, so it’s more visible to the fish. If you’re fishing in clear water, the braid’s visibility is even more pronounced because it blends into the environment.Braid also absorbs color more readily than other types of fishing lines do. This means that if you’re fishing in clear water like blue-green light, the braid may blend into the water so much that it becomes almost invisible. If you choose to use the best-braided fishing lines, for this reason, remember that you also need to match their color to the water you’re fishing in order for it to be less visible.But what happens when the water is murky? In such conditions, using a visible color on your fishing line can seem like a good idea at first because you will be able to see your line and detect any movement.However, this is actually the worst possible time to use a visible color on your fishing line because the fish will be able to see it as well! The best color for the braided line in murky water is green because it will blend in well with its surroundings making it almost invisible to fish.A bright yellow or pink will allow us as saltwater fishermen to detect the slightest movement and react accordingly.Is braided line better than Mono?If you’re just getting started fishing, you might notice two ubiquitous types of lines advertised on the market: braided or traditional monofilament. Each line has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages and is better suited to tackling some tasks than others.Braided line is better than mono for a lot of reasons. Braided lines are more durable than mono, and they're more resistant to the wear that comes with fishing in heavy current or from being used with heavy bait. They're also lighter than mono and cut through the water's surface better, allowing your bait or lure to get to the bottom faster and farther.Braided lines are a lot more abrasion resistant to wear than mono ones and are better suited to deep-water fishing as they simultaneously have a thinner diameter and are heavier, cutting through the water to reach the bottom faster. It's ideal for fishing with ultralight tackle.Mono lines have a bad rap for being more prone to breakage than braided ones, but this is not entirely true. In fact, with proper care and handling, monofilament and braided fishing line can be as reliable as one another. However, there are some situations where one type is definitely more advantageous than the other braids.Because of the knotted structure of monofilament lines, they are often made with a softer material (i.e. nylon) that makes them more prone to abrasions and kinks from rocks, branches, or other underwater obstacles.Not only do these abrasions weaken the line, but they also make it more susceptible to snapping when used in excessively rocky environments or when you're dealing with a lot of debris in the water.The braided line's simple structure doesn't allow for anywhere near as many frays so its durability is far better in such settings. It also provides improved accuracy and casting distance and reduced line vibration. Mono lines are also easier to detect underwater due to their larger profile (much like a rope) whereas braid gets thinner as you fish deeper which makes it harder to see.What colour braid is the best?As anglers, we all know that fish have very sensitive senses of sight, smell, and taste. Because of this, most of us tend to overlook the importance of their sense of sight when it comes to fishing. When fishing in clear water, we are able to see our baits clearly so it is easy for us to tell if the fish has taken notice or not.Many anglers use it for everything from summer bass fishing to deep sea fishing because this braided line has such an extensive range. It also comes in moss green, yellow for high visibility and transparent for those gin-clear lakes.Using a green braid fishing line is often recommended by anglers. This is because they say that green braided fishing line is the most invisible in water. However, this claim is not entirely true. In fact, there are actually a lot of factors affecting the visibility of the braided fishing lines. To know what color of braid is really the best for fishing, let’s take a closer look at each color:Green/Neon limeGreen is actually one of the most visible colors in the water. It reflects the sunlight so it’s quite bright and can be easily seen by fish. That’s why fishermen recommend it as an additional tool for catching fish, but not as your primary bait.WhiteWhite should be your first choice when you want to use a braided line for trolling. It blends perfectly with sunlight and refracts it perfectly. A good jigging rod and a white braided fishing line will give you a perfect day on the water. Personally, I like to keep a spool of white braid handy at all times because my experience shows me that this type of braided fishing line works best in all types of conditions.BlueThis one might be the worst color you could choose if you plan to use your best-braided fishing line in clear waters. The thing is, ocean blue is the complementary color of green and it stands out quite a lot when used in clear water. The fish will be able to see your line quite easily which means they’ll be less likely to bite.BrownBrown is another good choice for trolling because it blends in well with the water. It’s not as visible as white but it’s still a good option if you want to use a braided fishing line for trolling.ClearClear braided fishing line is the best choice for freshwater fishing. It’s almost invisible in water and it doesn’t reflect sunlight so the fish won’t be able to see it. If you want to use a braided line for fishing in clear waters, clear is the way to go.So there you have it, a closer look at each color of braided fishing line and what conditions they work best in. As you can see, there is no one “best” color for braided fishing lines. The best color for you will depend on the type of fishing you plan on doing and the conditions you’ll be fishing in. Experiment with different colors and see what works best for you.ConclusionBraided fishing lines are better suited for certain conditions than others, regardless of the kind of fish you're trying to catch. The lines that I've recommended here, which include fluorocarbon and braid, fall into that category. Whether you're in a tournament or just catfishing and bass fishing with these lines, braids will offer greater strength and protection in various scenarios.If you're already fishing with braided lines, it's good to be aware of some of their risks and benefits. If you're an angler looking for a new line, you're in luck—braided lines have come a long way in recent years, and offer distinct qualities that many anglers will find useful.Hopefully, this article has allowed you to clear up the confusion about fishing line types and clearly identified what line is best for your needs. Best of luck out there!
