Trout anglers face a number of gear decisions. There are questions about which rod is best for their fishing style, which lures or live baits to use, and which fishing line to choose.
With all the different ways to go after them, choosing the best fishing line for trout can be challenging. Read on for our recommendations on the best fishing line for trout for various fishing setups. Our recommendations also include our choice of particular types of the best fishing line for trout.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
KastKing Monofilament Superior Fishing Line
Best Bobber Line
Berkley Trilene XL
Best Jigging Line
Power Pro Spectra
Best Overall
KastKing Monofilament Superior Fishing Line
The “superior” notation for KastKing monofilament is no overstatement, and that’s why it has our recommendation as the best overall fishing line for trout. Available in strength ratings from 4 pounds to 30 pounds, this KastKing line is ready to reel in any trout you can hook.
In addition to its exceptionally stealthy clear line, KastKing monofilament is available in green, yellow, red, and blue for a variety of weather and water conditions. Kast King is also thinner than other monofilament lines but doesn’t sacrifice strength or abrasion resistance.
Pros
- Casts very smoothly
- Great quality at a good price
- Little to no curling as line comes off reel
Cons
- May be susceptible to knotting and snagging
- Line may have a tendency to twist
- Can stretch and deform when tying knots
Best Bobber Line
Berkley Trilene XL
Tossing a fishing line in the water with a red-and-white bobber is a popular method of trout fishing. If that’s the way you fish, that bobber should be supporting Berkley Trilene XL monofilament fishing line.
Berkley Trilene XL is our recommendation as the best fishing line for trout when using a bobber because it is designed to feel trout strikes. With Berkley Trilene XL, there’s no reason to wonder whether even the smallest movement of your bobber is due to winds or waves.
If your bobber is moving while attached to Berkley Trilene XL, you can just start reeling in your trout. And once you do, you’ll be grateful for this line’s resistance to kinks and twists that can impede landing your trout.
Pros
- An excellent choice as a best fishing line for trout fishing that also works for other fish
- Good choice for trout fishing in areas where potential snagging is an issue
- Doesn’t “bird nest” (become irreversibly tangled) during use
Cons
- May be susceptible to kinking
- Line length may be too short for some users
- May not be thick enough for some anglers
Best Jigging Line
Power Pro Spectra
If your idea of trout fishing is a day on the water refining your jigging techniques, you should be using braided fishing line. Braided line doesn’t stretch much, and its thin diameter keeps it concealed from trout. It’s also very sensitive to bites, making it a natural best fishing line for trout.
If you’re looking for a good line for jigging, one that can stand up to jerking or otherwise erratically moving your lure through the water to attract trout, you should be using Power Pro Spectra.
In addition to its strength and sensitivity, Power Pro Spectra comes in a green color that all but disappears in a wide variety of fishing situations. That, in fact, is a major reason Power Pro Spectra earns our recommendation as a best fishing line for trout when jig fishing.
Pros
- Can be cast for long distances
- Very effective at fooling trout
- Limited lien stretch helps in catching large trout
Cons
- Colored line may fade quickly
- May absorb water, making casting difficult
- Line may be wound too tightly at initial use
Best Fly Fishing Line
Piscifun Sword
Fly fishing is the very definition of finesse fishing, and a central factor in gently presenting flies to trout is the line chosen for that job. The Piscifun Sword line is heavier and thicker at its front than other fly fishing lines, which helps with both distance and smoothness in casting.
But that’s just one reason the Piscifun Sword fly fishing line is our recommendation as the best fishing line for trout for fly anglers. The Piscifun Sword line also has low “memory,” meaning that you won’t have to worry about kinks or tangles ruining your time on the water.
Piscifun Sword line is a great line for beginners while also being perfectly suitable for experienced fly anglers.
Pros
- Great line for beginning fly anglers
- Line helps flies land softly
- Excellent choice for trout fishing
Cons
- Can become very stiff during cold-weather fishing
- May not cast far enough for some anglers
- Doesn’t float as well as some anglers may expect
Best Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Seaguar InvizX
Fluorocarbon fishing line is a relatively recent development. Prized for its ability not to absorb water, which allows quick detection of bites, fluorocarbon line is also invisible to trout and other fish.
Seguar InvisX is particularly noted for the fact that it is manufactured by the company that pioneered fluorocarbon fishing line. It’s the choice of many professional anglers and can be used for trout and other species.
The fact that Seguar has long experience in fluorocarbon fishing line is one reason InvizX earned our recommendation as a best fishing line for trout. In addition, InvisX has low “line memory,” meaning it won’t kink or tangle. And Seguar InvisX also holds knots well, keeping your trout lures secure.
Pros
- Great sensitivity to strikes
- Casts well even with lighter baits or lures
- Abrasion resistance is great for fishing in brush and other underwater obstructions
Cons
- May not be as flexible as some anglers would like
- Knots for tying on lures or bait may not hold
- Line may have a tendency to tangle
Best Hybrid Fishing Line
Yo-Zuri Fluorocarbon/Nylon Hybrid
Another of the many possible choices in the best fishing line for trout is hybrid lines like Yo-Zuri. Combining fluorocarbon construction with nylon elements, Yo-Zuri’s hybrid line is noted for its compatibility with a number of trout fishing methods.
Because it can be used effectively with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and many other trout fishing lures, Yo-Zuri’s hybrid fluorocarbon and nylon line has made our list of recommendations as a best fishing line for trout.
Pros
- Can be used with a wide range of trout lures
- Ties lures securely
- Great price for outstanding performance
Cons
- May be susceptible to tangling
- Can break if it becomes kinked
- Has a tendency to curl, reducing casting distances
Best Trout Fishing Line for Your Setup Buyer’s Guide
As you’ve learned from our list of recommendations, fishing line for trout comes in four configurations — monofilament, braided, fluorocarbon, and hybrid. Before you decide which might be your best fishing line for trout, it’s helpful to understand each configuration.
Monofilament
Monofilament fishing line is typically made of nylon and has been widely popular for years. It offers great value for the money spent, but it does have some downsides.
For one, it absorbs water, which can compromise knots used to attach lures. Also, it isn’t resistant to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, so it will almost certainly degrade over time.
Braided
As its name indicates, braided fishing line comprises various strands of synthetic materials woven together. The result is a particularly strong line. It doesn’t stretch, meaning that it is sensitive to fish bites. And it’s a particularly good casting line.
However, braided line is expensive, and it also requires special knotting techniques for securing lures.
Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbon fishing line has been around for 50 years, but it has only recently gained wide acceptance due to technological improvements. Among the advantages of fluorocarbon fishing line is that it is nearly invisible to fish.
Also, fluorocarbon line isn’t subject to degradation from the sun’s rays. It is also abrasion-resistant, a plus when fishing in areas with rocks or other sharp obstructions. However, it is difficult to tie knots in fluorocarbon line, and it is a relatively expensive option.
Hybrid
In essence, hybrid line is braided fishing line in which the braided components have been fused together by heat. It is a versatile line that can be used in a variety of fishing setups. It is particularly useful for the finesse approach to trout fishing.
However, hybrid fishing line is very expensive, costing as much as four times the price of monofilament line.
Best Trout Fishing Line Frequently Asked Questions
After seeing our recommendations for the best fishing line for trout, it’s understandable if you’re a bit overloaded. Read on for answers to a few of the more specific questions you may have about choosing the best fishing line for trout.
Is there one type of fishing line that can be used for all trout fishing setups?
There are a variety of opinions on which type of fishing line can serve as an all-circumstances best fishing line for trout. But you’re likely to hear experienced anglers say that fluorocarbon line is the best overall choice.
For one thing, it can effectively cast the lightweight lures frequently used in trout fishing. Also, fluorocarbon line is nearly invisible, particularly in the clear water where trout often are found.
Finally, fluorocarbon line performs equally well in widely different applications. It is suitable for both finesse fishing when gently presenting bait to trout and in trolling as bait or lures trail behind a moving boat.
Are there any special techniques for using hybrid fishing line?
The most important thing to know when choosing a hybrid fishing line is whether its composition means that it will sink or float on the water. Floating hybrid line is the obvious choice for fly fishing, while a hybrid line that sinks can be used in a variety of trout fishing applications.
You can fish confidently with hybrid fishing line for two reasons. First, it holds knots extremely well, meaning you won’t lose baits or lures. And second, its strength ratings are consistently conservative, meaning that you can reel in trout much larger than expected.
What color of fishing line is best for trout fishing?
One thing you’ll notice as you select your own best fishing line for trout is the availability of a variety of colors. In addition to clear line, you can find green, blue, red, and yellow lines.
For trout fishing, the best choice generally is a clear fishing line. But you can try a green fishing line in vegetation-rich waters. And in clear water, it might be worth trying the blue line.
Red line will disappear to fish in deeper water, so if you’re putting your bait or lures a few dozen feet below the surface, it might be worth trying.
Finally, while the yellow line is easy for trout anglers to track in the water, it’s also easy for trout to see and avoid. That’s reason enough to never try the yellow line on your trout fishing reel.
Wrapping up the Best Fishing Line for Trout
Now that you’ve learned the best fishing line for trout in different circumstances, you can get out and use that knowledge to boost your catch.
And between trips to your favorite fishing spots, you can learn more about fishing in Minnesota through the many other fishing-related posts at Life in Minnesota. Good luck wherever you decide to wet a hook!
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Born in Madelia, MN, to a now 5-generation Minnesota family, Ryan’s MN roots go deep.
A painter by day, Ryan founded Life in Minnesota in 2013 with his wife Kelly to chronicle their musings on everything Minnesota. Ryan and Kelly are raising their 7 kiddos in Maple Grove, MN.
When he’s not shuttling his kids around to hockey practice, you might find him in the shop working on his leatherwork. Undoubtedly, there will be a family trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area every summer, and of course weekends at Grandpa’s cabin up north in the summer.