Fishing-line cheat sheet · Compare two
How does each line type do on this? Tap or hover a cell for the reason.
Weak · Fair · Strong
| x8+ PE braid (8-carrier and up) | Soft fluorocarbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | ||
| Material quality (consistency at a price) | Strong — Often lists PE number and approximate diameter: easy to compare | Strong — Check it says 100% fluorocarbon |
| Thinner for the same strength | Strong — PE #1 ≈ 20 lb at ~0.171 mm (VARIVAS example) | Weak — 20 lb Advance FC = 0.432 mm (0.017″) |
| Floats | Strong — PE specific gravity ≈ 0.97, lighter than fresh water | Hardly ever — Specific gravity 1.78: sinks fast |
| Sinks | Hardly ever — Floats | Strong — 1.78: fastest |
| Water resistance (no uptake, little carried water) | Fair — Fibre absorbs almost nothing; the weave holds water | Strong — Absorbs almost no water |
| Casting | ||
| Quiet through the guides | Strong — Round and smooth: quiet in the guides | Strong — Smooth monofilament |
| Smooth line flow | Strong — Round and slick: clean payout | Fair — Fairly supple, still stiffer than nylon |
| Casting distance (light lures) | Strong — Best for long casts with 3–7 g lures | Fair — Thicker and heavier |
| Resists wind knots (low memory) | Fair — Loops if filled to the lip; leave 1–2 mm | Fair — Has memory; manage slack on spinning |
| Durability | ||
| Abrasion (rock, shell) | Weak — 20 lb braid kept 1.05 lb after 3 light sanding passes | Fair — A common contact section; compare products |
| Cover-friendly (weeds, timber) | Fair — Fine in weeds; add a contact section on rock | Fair — The lighter end of cover leaders |
| Feel & stealth | ||
| Sensitivity (seeing and feeling bites) | Strong — Near-zero stretch, and it floats where you can see it | Fair — Stretches, but more direct than nylon |
| Stretch (shock absorption) | Weak — Near zero: the rod tip and drag do the cushioning | Fair — Stretches under load |
| Stealth (to fish) | Weak — Opaque: relies on the leader | Strong — Clear; the usual leader |
| Knot-friendly (knot strength) | Fair — Slick: FG to the leader, wet and seat slowly | Fair — Wet and seat slowly; inspect the knot |
| Fishing | ||
| Small-lure friendly | Strong — 3–7 g rigs rely on its round surface | Strong — Keeps tiny lures moving naturally |
| Big-lure friendly | Fair — PE 2–3 for big swimbaits and glides | Weak — 4–16 lb: a finesse range |
| Bite-friendly (colour, stiffness, stretch, sensitivity, stealth) | Fair — Sensitive and supple, but opaque: needs a leader | Strong — Clear, supple, some stretch |
| Finesse-rig friendly | Strong — Drop shot, Ned, Neko and wacky with an FC leader | Strong — Soft FC keeps the action |
| Power-rig friendly (heavy cover, big fish) | Fair — PE 3–8 for pike and muskie with a bite leader | Weak — Finesse ratings |
| Cost | ||
| Price-friendly | Fair — Mid-priced | 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.