New & Standard Lines

Today, whether for casting or trolling, most muskie anglers and many pike anglers rely on superlines, a category that includes braided and thermally fused lines. These lines have fundamentally changed the way we fish.

Compared to monofilament, superlines are thinner, stronger, more sensitive, and have little to virtually no stretch. They’re constructed with high-molecular weight polyethylene (HMWP) fibers—trade names: Dyneema and Spectra. Superfibers are made by gel-spinning (a type of extrusion process) the base polyethylene material, resulting in long, molecular chains that provide high tensile strength. Consequently, these fibers have been used in products from body armor to parachute cord to kite string.

Companies have strived to make superlines easier to fish with. Efforts have focused on building a braid with rounder shape, to spool and cast more smoothly while not cutting into the reel spool under pressure. Coatings applied to the fibers also make lines easier to handle by making it slightly less supple, thereby avoiding wind knots and rod-tip twists. This has also improved knot strength. Colors also have been added to make the lines blend better with the surrounding environment.

The lines from most companies start with similar base materials, so it’s how each company constructs its line that provides unique performance characteristics. Anglers need to experiment to see which superline best suits the way they fish.

The Lineup

Berkley: Berkley’s superline workhorse, FireLine, entered the market in the mid-1990s. Not a braid, FireLine is constructed by thermally fusing a bundle of Dyneema fibers. Bass, pike, and walleye anglers like its smooth and castable properties, along with its small diameter and high strength. Available in tests up to 30 pounds in smoke and flame-green colors, it meets the demands of most pike situations, although muskie anglers generally prefer higher break-strengths.

Berkley recently introduced FireLine Crystal, the first superline with transparent properties for low visibility. Their newest braid is Big Game Braid, available in tests up to 200 pounds. The company says this Dyneema line is a good option for trolling, jigging, and livebait fishing. berkley-fishing.com

Cajun: Expanding on their red line selection, Cajun introduces Cajun Braid in 2008. It features an “Advanced Cajun Guard” protective coating that helps lock on the red color, improve abrasion-resistance, and enhance flexibility. Available to 100-pound-test. cajunline.com

Cortland: With almost 100 years of braiding experience, Cortland introduces Master Braid, featuring a unique coating that keeps the line stiff and a construction process that makes it rounder. Cortland says their proprietary process bonds the color and finish into the braid’s fibers, eliminating fading and flaking. A water-repellent coating keeps the line dry. Available in green, yellow, and brown, in break-strengths to 200 pounds.

Spectron, also available in breaking strengths to 200 pounds, features roundness and a limp body for better casting. Muskie anglers like Spectron Green for its dull sheen and low-vis properties. Made from low-stretch Micron fibers, Musky Master remains a classic. Offered in black up to 60-pound test. cortlandline.com

Daiwa: Daiwa’s new Samurai Braid has a unique 8-strand weave and boasts strength, sensitivity, smoothness, softness, and flexibility. It’s said to have less line noise on the retrieve, and a faster sink-rate due to reduced current resistance. Low-vis green, available in up to 150-pound test. daiwa.com

P-Line: Spectrex IV, braided with Spectra fibers, is cross-linked with a color matrix that locks the color into the fibers to ensure color stability. A reinforced resin system increases tensile strength and makes the line water-repellent. P-Line says it has an unlimited life on the reel because the line is UV-resistant and hydrophobic. Available to 200-pound test in moss green. p-line.com