Author: Bullbuster Team
The Ultimate Guide To Monofilament Fishing Lines
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.
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?
(If you already know the basic benefits of monofilament SCROLL DOWN)
+ 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.
+ How People Use Our Mono:
(If you already know the basic uses for mono KEEP SCROLLING)
+ 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.
+ What Is the Best Color Monofilament Fishing Line To Use?
Everyone has their preferences when it comes to fishing line, so instead of telling you which line color is THE BEST! We decided to come up with a guide that tells you the trade offs between the different colors and different situations where one line color might be better than the other.
Clear Monofilament Fishing Line
Pros:
Clear is our number one selling fishing line. Clear is simple it gets the job done, its definitely translucent. If you are going to be using a reel for a bunch of different types of fishing, clear is probably the way to go. If you are going to be making leaders with your bulk mono, clear is probably the way to go as well. Bottom line you pretty much can't go wrong with clear fishing line.
Cons:
If you aren't following our tips on how to make your line last longer. You're clear line, can end up looking like white line. If you don't rinse it off, you will easily see the salt build up, and any scratches they may have accumulated from using your line for a while without re-spooling or proper care.
Blue Monofilament Fishing Line
Pros:
Blue monofilament lines are great for offshore fishing line, as they blend it with the offshore water. We have many boats that use our blue mono right off of a 1Lb spool for sailfish leaders (It definitely works because we see their flags flying high). Blue also can look really nice on your reel depending on its color.
Cons:
We tried really hard to come up with a con for blue, but simply couldn't come up with one, sorry. Blue mono is awesome!
Pink Monofilament Fishing Line
Pros:
Pink monofilament is one of most popular colors especially for fishing in South Florida. Red is the first color to fade out under water so using pink line can improve your chances of getting a strike.
Cons:
Like blue, its kind of hard to come up with a con for pink fishing line. Pink mono is awesome!
Yellow Hi-Vis Monofilament Fishing Line
Pros:
Yellow hi-vis fishing lines are great for situations where you need to have a big picture, and see all your lines at once. We get lots of fishermen that use our hi-vis lines for kite fishing so that the whole team can know what is going on when it goes down with a large pod of sails. It is also great for big game fishing where you are fighting big fish and need team communication.
Cons:
The name "hi-vis" says it all. There are many situations where your hi-vis lines can prevent you from getting a bite because the fish can see your line more easily. We recommend always using either a long mono leader our fluorocarbonwhen using hi-vis line.
+ What Mono Do You Need & How Much Do You Need?
Register your reels with us so that we can help recommend you lines, or try our braided backing and mono topshot calculators to do it yourself. We also have a handy tool to help you figure out how much monofilament you need for your reel. We are ready to help you spend more time on the water with our brand direct monofilament lines.
Below are some resources to help you find out how much line you need for your reel:
Monofilament Line Capacity For Everol Reels
+ How Often Should You Change Your Monofilament?
This is a question we often get from customers. Our best answer really depends on how much you go fishing. In your closet, without sunlight (UV rays are your monofilament fishing lines worst enemy), your line will last for years. On the water fishing and out in the sun, your line has the opportunity to get plenty of sunlight, as well as rub against any number of objects while you are fishing.
Our Best Rule Of Thumb = Change It Every 6 Months
If you are an active fisherman, or weekend warrior meaning you are fishing at least 4 times a month, we recommend that you change your mono at least once every 6 months. To get the best performance out of your line, be sure to store your rods out of the sun, as well as rinse them to rid yourself of any excess salt after each use.
When To Change Your Mono More Often
We can think of three specific times when you should be changing your mono more than once every 6 months.
1) If You Are Fishing Heavy Drag - If you are fishing more than 20% of your mono's rated strength and have fought several fish for extended periods of time, you may want to re-spool your reel after several of these big fish.
2) Do you fish every day? - If you are a charter boat mate, or are fishing 10-15 days a month, we recommend that you change your line a little bit more often. At this rate, you should be changing your line every month or two.
3) Are You Fishing A Big Money Tournament? - If you are fishing a big money tournament and the money is literally on the line, you should be changing your mono more often. There is literally no way for you to keep your eye on the whole length of mono for each reel, you should be feeling for any markings or kinks on your way in from fishing, and replacing any line that has even the slightest damage.
+ When Mono Is Not Your Best Bet:
+ Are You Trying To Get Your Baits Deep?
If you are trying to get your bait deep with very little weight, or very little scope, monofilament is not your best bet. Pull out the braid here! Mono like mentioned in other places on this page is neutrally buoyant unlike fluorocarbon and braid, and has a thicker diameter than braid, these qualities do not aid you to get your bait deep quick.
+ Do You Need Sensitivity To Feel The Bite?
If sensitivity is what you need to feel the bite, mono is probably not your answer. Remember all that talk in other parts of this page about monos give and take, that is not good for feeling a bite. We recommend braid if you need to feel the bite of a fish that is either very finessed with its hits or you have your bait hundreds of yards away
+ Do You Need 1000 + Yds Of Line?
There are some situations where you are just going to need a LOT of line. This is an instance where you are going to want to add some braid to your reel instead of just mono. If you are trying to scale down your tackle and need line capacity, this is one time where it will be a good idea to add some braid to the mix.
+ Do You Need Invisible Line?
Monofilament for the most part is pretty translucent underwater, but there are certain situations where you need invisible. If you are fishing extremely clear water, if the bite has shut off, if your target species has excellent eyesight, then head over to our fluorocarbon page.
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