Monofilament line is the most popular type of line used by anglers. Because it is available in all pound-test varieties, has a low cost and is made from only one type of fiber, it is the most widespread type of line. It can be used on spinning, spin casting and bait casting reels. Monofilament lines are generally not used for deep-water fishing as it can take on water and its sensitivity will decrease, as well as it having a reputation for loosing knots under such conditions. However, monofilament line is virtually undetectable when submerged in water, which is of course its greatest plus.

Monofilament line can weaken when exposed to heat or sun, and therefore comes off the spool where it has been stored in coils which can prove a nuisance by becoming tangled quite often. It is therefore advisable to replace the line every fishing season or even more frequently, depending on the amount of wear and tear it has received. Despite all its apparent draw-backs, this is the most widely used type of line because it is cheapest and comes in a variety of colors and strengths.

The counter-part to the monofilament line is the braid line. This type of line is the strongest there is in relation to its diameter. Braids are made by weaving man-made materials into a line, hence making this type of fishing line quite resistant to abrasions. This line is so strong that you may have trouble breaking it when you get a snag, so a fish is even more unlikely to break it in a struggle. The obvious advantages of such strength - to name only one - is for bass fishing, which are known to put up quite a fight. In contrast to the monofilament line, the braid line is used for deep-sea fishing where strength and durability are of the utmost necessity. The braid line has a much smaller diameter and no stretch (whereas the mono line has considerable amounts in comparison), so every movement of a biting fish can be picked up. However, braided lines are in general much newer to angling and are considerably more expensive. However, if you’re going after trophy sized fish than braided line might be the way to go to land your fish for fishing pictures or to get it mounted.