What are the Best Fishing Lines for Bass in 2024 (Top Picks)
If you’ve been fishing for any reasonable length of time, or even just walked through a fishing shop, you know there are tons of options for every little piece of kit. There are tons of hook sizes, shapes, and brands, a nearly unlimited number of scent and bait formulas, more rod variations than most people could possibly need, that’s just before you get to the lures. The sheer variety of lures on the market that are similar, yet somewhat different, is absolutely mind-boggling.
However, most fishermen get a bit overzealous with all that while ignoring one of the key parts of any proper rod setup: The line.
Without a good line, you can hook into trophy-sized bass all day long, and you’ll lose 99% of them from breaks, or you might not get the chance to catch anything because the line is too heavy for the lures you’re using.
So, today’s guide is all about picking the right lines for bass in 2024. We’ll go over a general overview of what you should expect from a bass fishing line, and then we’ll hop into our top picks.
Why Pick Lines Specifically for Bass?
You might be wondering why you can't just run down to Walmart and grab the cheapest mono line you can find, or why that ultra-thick line you've catfished with can't be spooled onto your bass fishing reel. Well, there are a couple of reasons.
Keep in mind that bass fishing is a sport. You want the best equipment possible to match the rest of your rig without risking entire lure setups with breakages or going full-on overkill to where you can just drag the fish across the water like it's bluegill on an ultra-heavy rod.
This leaves us with two things to cover.
Too Cheap and Weak:
Getting the cheapest mono possible at your local big box store and tossing a lure on it isn’t the way to go. Bass are very aggressive fish, and they will thrash like it’s nobody’s business the second you hook into them.
A cheap line, regardless of its strength rating, is probably just as risky as using an ultra-light line more suitable for panfish and other smaller targets.
This doesn't mean a line's price should be the be-all-end-all of your decision-making process. There are plenty of affordable options on the market that perform admirably.
Just don’t be too frugal.
Too Bulky:
When it comes to bass fishing, you’ll likely be using a variety of lures. Unlike most live baits, the weight of your line is key to using a lure effectively, and you have to strike a balance between strength and versatility.
A 2 to 3-lb line is simply too weak, and while it’s great for ultra-light lures like weightless crickets, a bass will snap that in half the first time it thrashes.
However, throwing 25-lb catfish mono on your reel almost guarantees the line will weigh down even bulkier lures and make your casts come up short every single time. So, you don’t want to choose a bulky, heavy line. Not to mention, most of the fun of bass fishing comes from the fight. If you can simply tighten your drag all the way and reel the fish in with zero chance of it breaking when you mess up the fight, then you’re losing the bulk of the experience.
Because of this, it's usually best to go with an 8 to 12-lb monofilament, but you can go higher on the strength scale if you use braided lines or the super-strong and ultra-thin lines such as Spiderwire’s fluorocarbon offerings. They pack more strength into a smaller package than traditional mono, but they have their own characteristics that affect how you use them.
Mono, Braided, or Fluorocarbon?
So far, we've mentioned three types of fishing lines. All three serve their own purpose, and you'll see examples of each on the list of our top picks.
It’s not enough to just buy one of these and toss it on all your rods. You’ll want to have a full understanding of each one’s strengths and weaknesses and use them according to the situation.
Mono:
This is the basic fishing line everyone knows and loves. It’s usually clear, very cheap, and comes in a large variety of strength ratings. It’s also a good general-purpose fishing line since it’s clear, easy to use, and not prone to breaking easily if you use the right strength of line for the fish you’re targeting.
However, it has some drawbacks. First, it stretches when fish pull on it. This stretching weakens it until it eventually snaps.
It’s also prone to degrading in sunlight, and it has a high memory level; meaning that as you cast and re-cast this type of line, it will start to look coiled. This takes a while to happen, and if you re-spool your reels each year, it won’t be a problem. However, it is something to consider.
Braided:
Braided line is a bit more expensive than mono. It's made from thin strands of nylon string braided together; hence the name. This makes it pretty much impervious to aging, line memory, stretching, and abrasions, and it is a lot stronger than mono of the same diameter. For reference, a 25-lb braided line is about as thin as a 6 to 8-lb monofilament line.
However, this is reflected in its price, and you have another problem: Braided line floats. Your line floating is a good thing if you’re using topwater baits or rigs that will force the line into the water, but it will hold lighter lures up above the bottom where you’ll likely want to fish much of the time. This isn’t an issue with most bass lures, but if you decide to use some very light and thin braid for a little ultra-light bass fishing without sacrificing strength, keep in mind that your lure’s action might be affected.
Fluorocarbon:
Fluorocarbon line is a relatively new type of fishing line with some unique properties. For starters, it's practically invisible. That may be annoying to you, but it makes it pretty hard for the fish to see the line and get suspicious.
However, the main appeal is how strong it is for its diameter. Fluorocarbon line is some of the strongest stuff on the market, but remarkably, it’s hair-thin and extremely light. Like braided line, you’ll have to pay for those benefits, though. Fluorocarbon is very expensive per foot.
Unfortunately, it also takes some getting used to, and you’re likely to waste quite a bit of it with certain reel types. You have to be exceptionally careful about how you use it. While its tensile strength is impressive, it kinks easily and snaps almost instantly when it does. This is most noticeable when used with “closed-face” push-button reels, but you’ll swear it’s the weakest line you’ve ever used until you learn how to use it properly. With my first spool, I lost the whole thing casting lures from an old Daiwa Gold and thought I was wasting money. It was an embarrassing user error.
The Best Lines for Bass in 2024: Our Top Picks
The BassForecast team has gone through tons of lines over the years, but we’ve narrowed our top picks down to just three that should go in every bass angler’s tackle box.
These lines are the perfect balance of value, strength, and flexibility, and there’s no way you’ll be disappointed with any of them.
Berkley Trilene XL:
Berkley is a staple name in the fishing industry. From their lures to their rods, they always provide an exceptional value without sacrificing quality. The same is true for their monofilament line.
The Trilene XL 10-lb is our preferred bass fishing mono due to its decent strength, high-quality materials that prevent aging or damage, and the memory is exceptionally low for a mono line.
However, that’s not the only benefit, it’s also pretty cheap. You can purchase a 1000-yard spool of 10-lb Trilene XL for just $32, and while that sounds like a heftier investment over other, smaller spools of fancier line, keep in mind that, that is enough to re-spool a reel several times, or to outfit several reels for the whole season. You definitely get your money’s worth. If you want less, you can get a smaller spool for $10.00.
This is the type of line we'd recommend to anglers using a spinning reel or push-button reel for mid-sized bass and casual fishing trips. It can pull in a hog if you're really good at controlling the fight, but it's best to use a more resilient line when specifically targeting monster bass. Also, if you're using a baitcaster, this is a cheap route to take, but you’ll probably enjoy braided line or fluorocarbon a bit more.
PowerPro Braided Spectra Line: 15-lb/500-Yards:
PowerPro is a fairly high-end brand, and it’s going to hit your wallet a little harder than Berkley will, but their Spectra braided line is top-notch.
The version we prefer is the moss-green smooth variant specifically made for enhanced sensitivity with absolutely zero stretches. The moss-green variety blends into most lakes and ponds well.
We also prefer the 15-lb variety because it’s plenty strong enough to pull in even the largest bass thanks to its lack of stretch and other features, but it’s not overly bulky or heavy to make casting lighter lures easy.
The biggest drawback of this line is that it costs about $60 for 500 yards of line. That's half the amount you get in Berkley's mono for about double the price. Also, depending on the reel you use, you might only get one full spool of line and a partial. This will last you quite a while since it's not prone to be damaged, but don't expect it to be cheap if you use it for multiple reels.
Berkley Vanish: 17-lb/2000-Yards:
Once again, Berkley is our top pick for the fluorocarbon category, and that’s for one big reason: Value.
Berkley Vanish doesn't come in the 40-lb range as other premium brands do, but that's overkill for bass, anyways. The 17-lb maximum is perfect for bass fishing, and as the fluorocarbon line should be, it’s a lot lighter than any 17-lb line you’ll get from other categories.
Vanish is pretty much invisible once it hits the water, and it can even be difficult to see when you’re setting up your rod. This helps with creating the most lifelike action through your lures without tipping fish off to the line.
Like all fluorocarbons, Berkley will snap almost immediately if even the slightest kink develops. This is why this product is our most recommended in the category. For $99 at most retailers, you can get 2000 yards of line. This is a tremendous deal considering you can do a ridiculous number of re-spools with that much line, and it will keep you from having to rebuy a new line as you inevitably screw up while learning how to use it. $99 seems expensive, but when you break down the per-yard cost, it’s considerably less than practically any other worthwhile fluorocarbon on the market.
As a bonus tip, make sure you use a high-quality spinning reel or bait caster. Those are a lot less likely to kink the line and send your lure flying off into the void every time you cast.
This is a line we’d recommend for targeting your personal best. It’s strong, and it has all the characteristics of a fancy line with a value-driven price tag. However, it’s not one that you want to waste on casual fishing trips when you’re not paying attention to what you’re doing. Even with its value-driven price per yard, it’s a pretty hefty investment.
Which Line is Best?
We can sum this up pretty quickly. Our mono suggestion is your best bet for a cost-effective line you use for general bass fishing purposes and casual outings. The braided line is great for topwater lures and heavier rigs, and despite its high price per yard, you're unlikely to burn through a whole spool of line in a single season. Finally, fluorocarbon is the route you’ll want to take for complex rigs and targeting your personal best. You won’t want to use it on every setup, and it should be reserved for very specific situations where visibility and strength are key.
If you'd like more bass fishing tips and resources, check us out at BassForecast.