Author: Bullbuster Team
Ultimate Guide To Braid Vs. Monofilament Line
The guide below goes in depth into the differences between braid and monofilament fishing line. Braid and monofilament have different features which make each type of line better for certain situations. In this article we first cover the basic features of braid vs. monofilament and then we break down different types of fishing and recommend which one you probably should be using for that type of fishing. If you already know the basic features of each type of line then scroll down to the section for different types of fishing.
Comparing Features Of Braid Vs. Monofilament
Below we start with the features of monofilament and what positive attributes make it a great choice for you. Then we dial in on braids features.
Monofilament Fishing Line Features:
Monofilament fishing lines known to most as “mono fishing lines†are still today one of the most popular types of fishing line. Mono lines are easy to handle and have the give and take to keep your hook firmly set in a fish's mouth. Our monofilament lines have great casting, low memory and , have extreme tensile strength to diameter ratios.
Check Out The Video Below To Learn How To Spool A Spinning Reel With Monofilament:
We put together this guide to help you to not only learn more about monofilament and where it is your best bet, but to help you to figure out what type to you, how to choose your line colors, how much you need, how often to change it, etc. Our ultimate goal is to help you spend more time fishing.
Tips For Reading This Guide:
We have tried to order the from most basic to more advanced. This is so everyone can get started with this guide. If you know something already simply keep scrolling. Anyone can get started with this guide, but only those ready to make a commitment to spending more time fishing are going to get what they need out of it.
+ Why Mono Is Awesome?
+ It Is Easier To Handle Than Braid
Monofilament is softer and more flexible than braid so it is more forgiving on your hands. It is also more conducive to rapid rigging since it does not require fancy tools to cut through it like braid
+ Monofilament Acts Like A Shock Absorber
Our monofilament has high stretch and low memory. This means it has give and take to let you fight a fish without getting jerked around or tearing a bigger hole in the fish’s mouth and when the pressure releases the line goes back to its original form with little to no trace that it ever stretched.
+ Monofilaments Thicker Diameter Is Good Around Structure
When you are around structure monofilament’s thicker diameter comes in handy, it means that it can take more of a beating while maintaining more of its strength. If this is important to you, you may want to use a heavy leader topshot, or even a wind-on leader. If you are an intermediate to advanced fisherman you may consider using our hollow core braid to adjust your seamless leader length with ease.
+ It Floats!
While mono does absorb some water it usually remains neutrally buoyant, meaning that it is great for working topwater lures or not messing up the action of any number of lures that have different sinking rates.
+ It Is The Most Economic Fishing Line
Monofilament is pretty old technology so the methodology of making it has been perfected over time to make you a high quality product at a very affordable cost. Our monofilament is made by combining pellets of several different polymers that are extruded, stretched, and cooled at at optimal levels to bring you a line that catches fish and is simply badass.
+ It Is Really Easy To Tie Knots With
Our mono is designed to not only be easy to tie knots but to hold the strength of those knots when it is needed most. If you want any advice on how to tie knots take a look at our articles on knots.
To learn even more about monofilament fishing line check out our everything you need to know about mono guide.
A few other monofilament resources you may be interested include:
Choosing The Color Of Your Monofilament
Braided Fishing Line Features:
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 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. Our braid has been designed to be an all around performance braid, with excellent casting, delightful handling, and pure toughness.
Check Out The Video Below To Learn How To Spool Your Reel With Braid At Home:
(If You Know The Basics Benefits Of Braid KEEP SCROLLING)
+ It Is Extremely Thin
Braided fishing lines make big game fishing possibly on smaller and smaller reels. You will tire yourself out a heck of a lot less using a small conventional then a bulky 80 or 130wide.
Our braid is a fraction of the diameter of monofilament or fluorocarbon which allows you to pack amazing quantities of heavy line on small reels. Because of this braid has revolutionized big game fishing with light tackle. Anglers are constantly landing bigger and bigger fish with lighter and lighter tackle, and reels are being designed JUST to handle braids tensile strength capacity.
Because braid is so thin, it easily cuts through the water and can help you reach great depths. Whereas deep dropping was traditionally done with heavy reels full of monel steel, one can now deep drop with braid with smaller setups that can reach new depths.
+ Braid Has Very Little Stretch
Our braid has virtually no stretch. This means it has the sensitivity you need when trying to feel elusive bites. This is great for the soft thump of a a snook, or the distant thrashings of a daytime swordfish.
+ It Lasts For A Long Time
(Check out our article on how buying braid in bulk can help you spend more time fishing)
Braid, especially when used for backing can last for a long time! When compared to mono or fluoro, braid has a lot less wear and tear. This is because it stretches less and is not subject to weathering from sunlight.
So What Type Of Fishing Should I Be Using Monofilament For?
Trolling:
Many people fill their whole reel with monofilament for trolling. The reason for this is monofilament has the give needed for hooking big fish while the boat is still moving forward. Also most people scale their reels to the size fish they are targeting so there is not always a reason to add braided backing.
Kite Fishing:
Very few serious fishermen use anything other than mono for kite fishing. Our monofilament has the abrasion resistance needed to go in and out of kite clips all day and is subtle enough to handle as you pick up or drop your kite lines to keep your baits in the zone or take them away from unwanted bites.
Fishing Around Structure
Mono is definitely more abrasion resistant than braid around sharp objects. This is simply because of its larger diameter. Having a couple chunks cut out of our mono by sharp structure under pressure is not always an issue, whereas braid is not forgiving around anything sharp.
General Fishing:
If you are looking to fill a reel up for general fishing, monofilament line is the way to go. Braid has been dubbed the new “superline†but mono has been catching fish since the 50’s and there is a reason it is still around (It works!). When using monofilament be sure to check rinse it off after every use and change it after it begins to have some wear and tear or has had too much sunlight.
Monofilament or "Mono" Topshots:
When you fill your reel completely with braid there is very little give and take. Adding a monofilament or “mono†topshot can give you some give and take and act as a shock absorber for the tremendous amount of force that comes with a large fishes mass pulling against you at high speeds and with extreme acceleration. This can stop a big fish from jerking you around like a ragdoll and it can also reduce the movement of the hook in the fish’s mouth making it less likely to create a bigger hole in the fish’s mouth which often results in the hook pulling.
Land-Based Shark Fishing:
We strongly recommend a monofilament topshot for land-based shark fishing. We also recommend only kayaking your baits out to expose your monofilament to the water and use your braid as your secret backup. Monofilament line is a hell of a lot more abrasion resistant than braid. When fishing for sharks from the beach, there is often a lot of structure to provide abrasion against your line. There is always something, it can be the reef, rocks, crab pots, and even the constant grinding of the sand against your line. For this reason it is always good to have a fresh mono topshot. This topshot should be replaced on a regular basis as the elements their toll on the line. There are also lots of toothy critters out there such as blacktips, and blue fish that may cut you off. Getting cut off with mono will put a much smaller dent in your wallet.
If you are a serious shark fisherman looking to break records and win tournaments, you should be replacing your topshot after every several trips or every BIG shark. This is especially true for any line not originally designed for land-based shark fishing like Bullbuster monofilament.
General Big Game Fishing:
Monofilament or “mono†lines are great for big game fishing as top shots because they are easy to handle and have give.
Just In Case:
We know that lots of you use just in case braided backing to turn small reels in to beast slaying machines. It is always good to have a monofilament topshot to work with for rapid rig changing, easy handling, and give and take.
So What Should I Be Using Braided Line For?
Braid For Jigging
People who like to jig usually fill their whole reels with braid. Braids thin diameter helps your jig reach the bottom with lightning speed. It also allows you feel subtle bites on your way down.
Target Species When Jigging With Braid Include:
Braid For Deep Dropping
Whether you are fishing an electric reel or a big manual reel, you need braid for deep dropping. There is no other way to avoid big U’s in your line when dropping your baits deeper than 400 feet. Braid will help you get down there, and braid will help you .
Target Species When Using Braid For Deep Dropping:
- Vermillion Snapper
- Mystic Grouper
- Yellow Eye Snapper
- Queen Snapper
- Warsaw Grouper
- Snowy Grouper
- Golden Tilefish
- Blue Tilefish
- Etc...
Braid to Punch Grass For Bass:
Many bass fishermen exclusively use braid for punching grass. Braids thin diameter and extreme strength can be very useful and punching your lure through the grass. If your lure gets stuck, give it a good yank and get back to fishing! The bass fishermen we talked to usually use between 50 and 80Lb braid to tear big bass out of thick grass.
Braid For Daytime Swordfishing
We have a lot of ambassadors that are amazing at daytime swordfishing. You need braid for daytime swordfishing. The first reason you need braid for daytime swordfishing is that you need to cut through the water easily without a giant "U" in your line. When you are dropping for daytime swordfish you will often need to get your bait down to over 1500 feet. The second reason is that braid has very little stretch and therefor have great sensitivity. Without a big "U" and with very little stretch you will see your bites and hook more fish.
Braid For Sight Casting:
Braid For General Fishing:
If you are like us and you have some rods that you use for pretty much anything that comes your way. Braid is probably the way to go. Yea it is more expensive than mono but you really can’t beat it when it comes to castability, durability, your ability to pack tons of yards on a tiny reel.
Braid For Landbased Shark Fishing
You should be backing your reels with plenty of braid if you are targeting 10ft + sharks from the beach. Check out the video below to see #BullbusterAmbassador Sharking Down Under landing a big tiger shark using Bullbuster Braid.
Check out the video below to see why you need braided backing. When you hook a huge shark from the beach you are going to need to let them RUN!
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