Fishing Line for Bass: Mono, Fluoro, Braid and Copolymer by Technique
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Bass line choice starts with the technique, not the brand. Each rig wants a line type and a lb test range, shown below with 1 example spool per group.
The short version: fluoro for most bottom rigs and cranks, braid for frogs and heavy cover, light braid with a fluoro leader on spinning gear, and mono for topwater. Copolymer sits between mono and fluoro.
Line by technique
| Technique | Line type | lb test | Why this line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drop shot | fluoro, or braid with a fluoro leader | 6 to 10 lb fluoro; 15 to 20 lb braid with a 6 to 10 lb leader | sinks, light, feel on the bottom |
| Ned rig | braid with a fluoro leader | 15 to 20 lb braid, 6 to 8 lb leader | thin line for a light head |
| Wacky rig | fluoro, or braid with a leader | 8 to 12 lb fluoro; 15 to 20 lb braid with a 6 to 10 lb leader | slow fall, spinning gear |
| Texas rig | fluoro; braid in heavy cover | 12 to 20 lb fluoro; 40 to 65 lb braid | feel in open water, power in cover |
| Carolina rig | main line plus a lighter leader | 15 to 20 lb main; 10 to 15 lb fluoro leader | the leader breaks first on a snag |
| Crankbait | fluoro or mono | 10 to 15 lb | fluoro runs deeper, mono floats the bait up more |
| Jerkbait | fluoro | 8 to 15 lb, most often 12 lb | sinks with the bait on the pause |
| Topwater | mono | 15 to 20 lb | sinks slowly, so the nose stays up |
| Frogs and mats | braid | 40 to 65 lb; 65 lb in thick mats | no stretch, cuts through grass |
| Alabama rig | braid or fluoro | 50 to 65 lb braid; 20 to 25 lb fluoro | heavy lure, open water |
These are starting ranges from our rig pages. Clear water pushes you lighter. Cover and big fish push you heavier.
Monofilament
Mono is the old standard. It stretches the most of any line here, and it sinks slowly. A spool like 10 lb Berkley Trilene XL is the kind of all-round mono most of us started on.
Stretch is the point for some lures. A topwater plug or a crankbait with 2 treble hooks needs a little give. On a hard hookset with no stretch, the hooks can tear out of a soft mouth. Mono softens that.
Slow sinking helps topwater too. A walking bait or popper stays nose up when the line doesn't drag it down.
Mono also knots easily. The improved clinch was built for it. It's forgiving if your knots aren't perfect yet.
The tradeoffs are feel and diameter. Mono is thicker than braid at the same test. On a deep worm, the stretch hides light bites.
Fluorocarbon
Fluoro is the bass line for most bottom work. It sinks, it stretches less than mono, and many anglers pick it because it's harder for fish to see. A spool of 15 lb Seaguar InvizX fits the middle of the Texas rig range.
Sinking line keeps a worm or jig close to the bottom. It also helps a crankbait run a little deeper than on mono. On a jerkbait, the line sinks with the bait when you pause.
Fluoro is stiffer than mono. On a spinning reel, heavy fluoro comes off the spool in coils. That's why many finesse anglers use light fluoro, or switch to braid with a fluoro leader.
Knots need care. Wet every knot and pull it down slowly. Friction heat can curl fluoro and weaken the knot. The uni knot and Palomar both close well in fluoro.
Check diameter, not just test. On the InvizX chart, 15 lb is about .013 in. Other brands differ.
Heavy braid for frogs and cover
Heavy braid is for power. It has almost no stretch. It's thin for its test, and it cuts through grass instead of wrapping around it. A spool of 50 lb Berkley Trilene braid sits at the bottom of the frog and mat range.
That's the frog and punching line. When a bass eats a frog in matted grass, you need to drive the hook and pull the fish up and out fast. Stretchy line can't do that.
Braid floats. That helps with frogs on the surface. It's also visible, but in thick grass and dirty water, that matters less.
Braid is slick, so some knots slip. Tie a Palomar or a modified uni. See knots for braided line for which ones hold. On a bare spool, braid can spin; the arbor knot page covers backing and tape.
Light braid for spinning gear
Light braid is the finesse angler's main line. It's thin and limp, so it casts far on a spinning reel. A 15 lb SpiderWire Stealth braid on a 125 yd spool fits drop shots and Ned rigs. Pair 15 to 20 lb braid with a 6 to 10 lb fluoro leader.
Most anglers add a fluoro leader. 15 lb braid is about .008 in. on PowerPro's chart. An 8 lb fluoro leader is about .009 in. The leader is less visible and gives a little stretch near the bait.
Braid gives feel. You'll sense the bottom change from gravel to rock in 15 or 20 ft of water. That's why drop shot and Ned anglers like it.
Watch for wind knots. Light braid on a spinning reel can loop over itself if you cast with slack. Close the bail by hand and lift the line before you reel.
Copolymer and hybrid lines
Copolymer blends 2 or more nylon types. Hybrid lines blend nylon with fluorocarbon. Makers place them between mono and fluoro on stretch and sinking.
The 15 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid is an example. It's a nylon and fluorocarbon blend sold on a 600 yd spool, and 15 lb fits the middle of the crankbait and Texas rig ranges above.
Why use it? It's softer than straight fluoro, so it handles better on a spinning reel. It sinks more than plain mono. For cranks and spinnerbaits, some anglers find it a fair middle ground.
The downside is that blends vary a lot. 2 copolymers can feel nothing alike. Read the label and try a spool before you fill every reel.
Braid with a leader: the joint
Braid main line with a fluoro leader is common on spinning and casting gear. The joint is a line-to-line knot.
- Double uni: 2 uni knots, fast to tie on the water. Good for most bass pairings.
- FG knot: slimmer, passes the guides better. Takes longer to learn.
Leader length depends on the rig. Drop shot anglers often use 6 to 10 ft. A Carolina rig leader is a separate piece below the swivel. For a long leader that goes through the guides, tie a line-to-line knot, not a swivel.
Match the diameters. The leader should be thicker than the braid. 20 lb braid at .009 in. is thinner than 12 lb fluoro at .011 in. Lb test alone tells you little.
Matching line to the rod
Your rod sets limits too. Most rods print a line range on the blank, just above the handle, such as 8 to 17 lb. Stay inside it.
- Medium-light spinning, 6 ft 10 in. to 7 ft 2 in.: 6 to 10 lb fluoro, or 15 to 20 lb braid with a 6 to 8 lb leader. Ned and drop shot.
- Medium spinning, about 7 ft: 8 to 12 lb fluoro, or 15 to 20 lb braid with a 6 to 10 lb leader. Wacky and neko.
- Medium-heavy casting, 7 ft to 7 ft 6 in.: 12 to 20 lb fluoro. Texas rigs, jigs and Carolina rigs.
- Heavy casting, 7 ft 3 in. and up: 40 to 65 lb braid. Frogs, punching and the Alabama rig.
Too light a line on a heavy rod breaks on the hookset. Too heavy a line on a light rod won't cast well, and it fills a small reel fast.
Line by water clarity
Clarity changes the line more than species does. We start here and adjust after a few bites.
| Water | Visibility | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Clear | 6 ft or more | 6 to 10 lb fluoro, or light braid with a 6 to 10 lb leader |
| Stained | 2 to 6 ft | 10 to 17 lb fluoro or mono |
| Muddy | under 2 ft | 15 to 20 lb fluoro, or braid tied direct |
To check visibility, lower a white lure on the line and watch it. Note the depth where it fades. That's your number.
In clear water, a leader matters most. Fish get a long look at the bait. In muddy water, they find it by feel and sound. Line size matters far less, so go heavier and pull baits out of cover.
Line through the year
Cold water, early spring. Fish move slowly. Finesse rigs on 6 to 10 lb fluoro or light braid with a leader. A jerkbait on 10 to 12 lb fluoro.
Spawn. Bass are shallow and often guarding beds. Wacky rigs on 8 to 12 lb fluoro, or Texas rigs on 15 lb.
Summer. Fish split between deep structure and shallow grass. Deep cranks on 10 to 12 lb fluoro. Frogs on 50 to 65 lb braid in the mats.
Fall. Bass chase shad. Cranks and spinnerbaits on 12 to 15 lb fluoro or copolymer.
Winter. Back to finesse. A drop shot or Ned on light line, fished slowly in 15 to 30 ft.
When to respool
Line wears out. Mono and fluoro take nicks from rocks and lose some of their strength to sun and heat. Braid lasts longer, but its color fades and it can fray.
Before each trip, run the last 3 to 5 ft through your fingers. Cut off any rough or flattened section. Retie after every big fish or hard snag.
Many anglers respool mono and fluoro once or twice a season if they fish often. Braid can go longer.
Some anglers reverse it end for end on the spool, so the unused line goes out first. With 100 yd or more of braid on the reel, you get more use from 1 spool.
What to check on the label
- Diameter. The most useful number. Compare it at your lb test across brands.
- Lb test. The maker's figure. Brands rate differently.
- Main line or leader. Some fluoro is sold as leader material on short spools.
- Yards per spool. Check against your reel's capacity. A small spinning reel may hold 120 to 150 yd of 15 lb braid.
- Color. Braid comes in bright and low-vis colors. Fluoro is usually clear.
- Blend. For copolymer and hybrid lines, the label should say what's in it.
Common mistakes
- Heavy fluoro on a small spinning reel. It coils. Go lighter or use braid with a leader.
- Improved clinch in braid. It slips. Use a Palomar.
- Braid tied straight to a bare spool. The spool spins. Add backing or tape.
- Buying by lb test only. Check diameter.
- Never changing line. Mono and fluoro wear with use and sun. Respool when you see nicks or kinks.
How to pick
- Spinning or casting? Spinning: light fluoro, or light braid with a leader. Casting: fluoro or heavy braid.
- What's the cover? Open water: fluoro. Grass and mats: heavy braid.
- Bottom, middle or top? Bottom: fluoro or braid with a leader. Topwater: mono, or braid for frogs.
- Clear or dirty water? Clear: lighter, with fluoro near the bait. Dirty: you can go heavier.
- What does the rig page say? Start with its range and adjust from there.
Gear for this page
Berkley Trilene® XL®, Clear, 10lb | 4.5kg, 300yd | 274m Monofilament Fishing Lin10 lb mono for topwater, tied with the improved clinch.
Seaguar Invizx Freshwater 100% Fluorocarbon Fishing Line 15lbs, 200yds Break Str15 lb fluoro for the Texas rig and jigs.
Berkley Trilene Big Game Braided Fishing Line, 50lb, 330 yd, Lo-Vis Green, 1 Ct50 lb braid for frogs and mats, tied with the Palomar.
SpiderWire Stealth Braided Fishing Line, 10lb, 125 yd, Moss Green, 1 Ct15 lb braid for main line under a leader, joined with the FG knot.
Yo-Zuri Hybrid Clear Line 600YD Spool in 15LB15 lb hybrid line for cranks, tied with the Palomar.
Read next
- Knots for braided linewhat holds in braid and what slips
- Double uni knotjoining braid to a fluoro leader
- Arbor knottying line to the reel and spooling it
- Drop shot riglight line and leader lengths
- Texas rigline by cover
- Fishing rigsevery rig with its line range
- Gear we referenceevery product on Dockrig, with the knots and rigs it fits
Sources: line ranges from our linked rig pages, each with its own sources. Diameters from the PowerPro and Seaguar InvizX charts on Tackle Warehouse product pages. Product details from the maker's listing in each box. Method on our methodology page. Seaguar, "Advanced Jerkbait Fishing" and "Simplify Your Spinning Setups"; Westernbass, "Simplifying Fishing Line Selection"; Wired2Fish topwater gear and Alabama rig guides; Berkley, "How to Choose the Perfect Line for Freshwater Fishing," for line ranges by technique.