Fishing-line cheat sheet · Monofilament
How does each line type do on this? Tap or hover a cell for the reason.
Weak · Fair · Strong
| Nylon monofilament | Copolymer / fluoro-coated nylon | Soft fluorocarbon | Stiff fluorocarbon | Ester line (polyester monofilament) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | |||||
| Material quality (consistency at a price) | Fair — Formulas vary; budget spools are inconsistent | Fair — An "upgrade" label is not one formula | Strong — Check it says 100% fluorocarbon | Strong — Check it says 100% fluorocarbon | Fair — Niche category, few models |
| Thinner for the same strength | Weak — 20 lb Sufix Elite = 0.457 mm (0.018″) | Weak — Monofilament: far thicker than PE | Weak — 20 lb Advance FC = 0.432 mm (0.017″) | Weak — Monofilament: far thicker than PE | Weak — Monofilament: far thicker than PE |
| Floats | Fair — ≈ 1.14; rides the surface film for a while | Weak — Near neutral | Hardly ever — Specific gravity 1.78: sinks fast | Hardly ever — Specific gravity 1.78: sinks fast | Hardly ever — Polyester ≈ 1.38: sinks |
| Sinks | Weak — Sinks slowly | Weak — Near neutral | Strong — 1.78: fastest | Strong — 1.78: fastest | Fair — ≈ 1.38: sinks |
| Water resistance (no uptake, little carried water) | Weak — The polymer absorbs water; wet properties change | Weak — Still a nylon; check the product | Strong — Absorbs almost no water | Strong — Absorbs almost no water | Strong — Polyester mono: very low uptake |
| Casting | |||||
| Quiet through the guides | Strong — Smooth monofilament | Strong — Smooth monofilament | Strong — Smooth monofilament | Strong — Smooth monofilament | Strong — Smooth monofilament |
| Smooth line flow | Strong — Supple: flows easily | Strong — Supple: flows easily | Fair — Fairly supple, still stiffer than nylon | Weak — Stiff, with memory | Fair — Stiffish; manage slack |
| Casting distance (light lures) | Fair — Thicker, but supple | Fair — Thicker, but supple | Fair — Thicker and heavier | Weak — Stiff: high payout drag | Fair — Made for fine sizes and tiny lures |
| Resists wind knots (low memory) | Fair — Has memory; takes a set | Fair — Has memory | Fair — Has memory; manage slack on spinning | Weak — A full spinning spool coils like a spring | Weak — Stiff with memory: tangles easily |
| Durability | |||||
| Abrasion (rock, shell) | Fair — 6 lb nylon kept 4.5 lb in the same test | Fair — Product-specific | Fair — A common contact section; compare products | Strong — Chosen for an abrasion-resistant contact section | Weak — Fine and easily scuffed |
| Cover-friendly (weeds, timber) | Fair — Forgiving, but lets fish into weeds | Fair — Product-specific | Fair — The lighter end of cover leaders | Strong — First choice for cover leaders | Hardly ever — Not suited |
| Feel & stealth | |||||
| Sensitivity (seeing and feeling bites) | Weak — High stretch | Weak — High stretch | Fair — Stretches, but more direct than nylon | Fair — Stretches, but more direct than nylon | Strong — Low stretch: light bites read clearly |
| Stretch (shock absorption) | Strong — Most stretch | Strong — High stretch | Fair — Stretches under load | Fair — Stretches under load | Weak — Low stretch |
| Stealth (to fish) | Fair — Clear or tinted | Fair — Clear or tinted | Strong — Clear; the usual leader | Strong — Clear; the usual leader | Fair — Clear monofilament |
| Knot-friendly (knot strength) | Strong — Knots easily | Strong — Knots easily | Fair — Wet and seat slowly; inspect the knot | Fair — Avoid sharp kinks | Weak — Weak at the knot |
| Fishing | |||||
| Small-lure friendly | Fair — Supple, but thick | Fair — Supple, but thick | Strong — Keeps tiny lures moving naturally | Weak — Can deaden tiny lures | Strong — Made for tiny lures at 0.2–0.6 gou |
| Big-lure friendly | Fair — Stretch keeps trebles pinned | Fair — Product-specific | Weak — 4–16 lb: a finesse range | Strong — 12–30 lb | Hardly ever — 1–4 lb |
| Bite-friendly (colour, stiffness, stretch, sensitivity, stealth) | Fair — Soft and forgiving, but low sensitivity | Fair — Soft and forgiving | Strong — Clear, supple, some stretch | Fair — Clear, but stiff | Fair — Sensitive and clear, but little cushion |
| Finesse-rig friendly | Fair — Workable; thick and stretchy | Fair — Workable | Strong — Soft FC keeps the action | Weak — On the stiff side | Strong — Japanese light-lure fine line |
| Power-rig friendly (heavy cover, big fish) | Weak — Stretchy and thick | Fair — Product-specific | Weak — Finesse ratings | Strong — Cover leaders | Hardly ever — Not suited |
| Cost | |||||
| Price-friendly | Strong — Cheapest | Fair — A little above plain nylon | Fair — Mid-priced | Weak — Pricier | Fair — Mid-priced |
PE wins on thinness, sensitivity and cost per strength; fluorocarbon and nylon win on stealth, stretch and knots. That is why most spinning setups are PE plus a leader.
Levels compare line types, not brands: one product can sit a level higher or lower. Diameter figures are manufacturer labels, not measured break loads.