The Rundown
Best Overall: KastKing SuperPower
“With a superior knot strength, zero stretch, and low memory, the SuperPower provides enhanced stability, sensitivity, and casting distance. A braided line that is simple to knot and easy to cast, the KastKing SuperPower is best for beginners!”
Runner-Up Choice: Power Pro Spectra Fiber
“The Pro Power Spectra Fiber’s specialty body design, round and smooth profile, and a high strength-to-diameter ratio offer superb casting and handling – making it well suited for use by those individuals who prefer an on the move style of fishing.”
Best Value For Money: Piscifun Onyx
“Piscifun Onyx features eight strands of fiber, consistent profile, and low memory for increased casting distance – best for those who regularly troll for trout in lakes and other open water areas.”
Trout fishing in a cool running creek can be among the most enjoyable ways imaginable to spend a Saturday afternoon. However, much of one’s success, or lack thereof, when trout fishing comes down to the quality of line used.
Trout are quick to spot abnormalities within their surroundings, and the use of less than adequate line often results in a poor day of fishing.
This article features the 10 best fishing lines for trout that will result in more strikes, and a more successful day on the water.




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Table of Contents
10 Best Fishing Line for Trout in 2020
KastKing SuperPower
Best Overall: Simple to use, yet capable beyond compare
KEY FEATURES
- Superior knot strength for additional strength
- Zero stretch for ultimate sensitivity
- Low-memory for enhanced casting distance
KastKing SuperPower is a user-friendly braided line, which might be the ideal for anglers who are making a transition from the use of monofilament to braid. New braided line users should find KastKing SuperPower to be simple to knot and easy to cast, which are two facets of braid use that newcomers typically struggle with. This line also features zero-stretch, which should drastically enhance sensitivity and allow for more efficient hook sets.
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Power Pro Spectra Fiber
Runner-Up Choice: Easy to cast, easy to retrieve, easy to love
KEY FEATURES
- Specialty body design boosts handling performance
- The round, smooth profile makes casting a breeze
- A high strength-to-diameter ratio provides enhanced durability
Pro Power Spectra Fiber offers superb casting and handling characteristics, which should make it well suited for use by those individuals who prefer an on the move style of fishing, such as covering water with the use of spinning tackle. The combination of these two characteristics compliments such an approach by providing smooth and seamless operation, even in demanding situations.
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Piscifun Onyx
Best Value for Money: Tough beyond reason, yet subtle in presentation
KEY FEATURES
- Features 8 strands of fiber for increased strength
- The consistent profile allows for an even line sink rate
- Low memory for minimization of backlash
Thanks to its ultra-durable 8-strand construction, Piscifun Onyx is a braided line that is likely to become a favorite of those that spend the bulk of their time fishing in deep pools around submerged logs, no matter how rugged such sites can be. This multi-fiber composition also allows Piscifun Onyx to maintain a small diameter profile, which should be a point of favor, as more line can be spooled to a given reel for increased casting distance.
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HERCULES Cost-Effective Super Strong 4 Strands
Best Budget: Subdued in cost, but not in performance
KEY FEATURES
- Micro-diameter design for ease of concealment
- Extreme abrasion resistance to prevent line breakage
- Zero stretch for improved sensitivity
If you are currently searching for a high quality fishing line, but have a rather restrictive budget in mind, then Hercules Cost-Effective Super Strong 4 Strand is likely your best bet. This line provides enhanced sensitivity, rugged strength, and superb castability, all of which anglers should be quite fond of. Even more impressive is the fact that line of this quality can be purchased for less than most will spend on breakfast when striking out to the lake.
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Mounchain Braid
Most Versatile: A line for nearly every application
KEY FEATURES
- Above-average abrasion resistance
- Ultra-smooth composition, free of any burrs
- Extremely UV resistant for increased service life
If you are an avid trout angler that fishes on numerous bodies of water in any given year, then you should love Mounchain Braid. This is because Mounchain Braid features several diverse, yet valuable, characteristics that make it great for nearly every type of application, such as noteworthy abrasion resistance, extreme sensitivity, and remarkable durability. This line is also approved for both saltwater and freshwater use, making Mounchain Braid applicable for use, even when fishing for sea trout.
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RUNCL Braid
Best High End: Sensitivity at its finest
KEY FEATURES
- Features compact weaving for zero stretch
- Constructed from 8 individual strands for enhanced strength
- Small diameter minimizes visibility by fish and allows for increased spool capacity
RUNCL Braid offers an unparalleled degree of sensitivity, which will likely make it a favorite of those that fish flowing creeks, where one must differentiate between the feel of a strike, and incidental brush contact. This line is also composed of 8 individual strands of durable fiber, which should enhance its longevity, and provide a pronounced amount of abrasion resistance. Additionally, RUNCL Braid’s minimal diameter makes it possible to spool additional line onto any particular reel, and cuts down on visibility by wary trout.
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Hercules Super Cast
Best Value: Next-level performance, at a price too reasonable to pass up
KEY FEATURES
- Diamond weave construction for better casting and increased durability
- Excellent knot strength to prevent fish loss
- Zero stretch for enhanced sensitivity
Hercules Super Cast is a line that offers excellent performance, at a moderate price point. If you are contemplating making a switch from mono to braid, but worry about incurring additional expense, Hercules Supercast is likely a wise choice. In fact, this line can be purchased at a price that is comparable to that of the bulk of monofilament lines currently available, yet offers noteworthy performance.
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SpiderWire Stealth Superline
Best Sensitivity: A line that takes concealment to the next level, so the trout will never see it coming
KEY FEATURES
- Minimal stretch for easy bite detection
- Uniform composition for increased casting range
- Specialized color pattern for concealment in any body of water
SpiderWire Stealth Superline is likely to be well received by those who seek flawless performance, but are strapped for cash. This line can be purchased at a modest price, yet sacrifices nothing in the way of quality. Superline is engineered to provide enhanced sensitivity, while also providing effortless castability. As a whole, these qualities should allow anglers to be more efficient when on the water.
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KastKing KastPro
Best Castability: Durable composition for a tireless performance
KEY FEATURES
- Features a specialized coating, making KastPro resistant to UV degradation
- Ultra-smooth finish for superior casting range
- Diamond Weave design provides ultimate strength and longevity
KastKing KastPro braided line features an exceptionally strong Diamond Weave design, which provides excellent abrasion resistance. This range of durability likely makes KastKing KastPro one of the best possible options for those who routinely seek out the biggest of fish on any given body of water. This line should be strong enough to manage the abuses of fighting even the largest of lake trout. Additionally, KastPro also features some other noteworthy traits, such as excellent castability and a significant degree of sensitivity.
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Reaction Tackle High Performance Braid
Best Variety: Endless options, at an excellent price
KEY FEATURES
- Available in 15 different colors, and 10 different weight ranges
- Thin diameter enhances spool/line capacity
- Features significant durability and abrasion resistance
If you are currently in the market for a quality braided line but have a rather restrictive budget to keep in mind, then Reaction Tackle High Performance Braid is likely to be your best bet. This line is ultra-durable, extremely sensitive, and super thin, yet can still be purchased for less than what most will spend on lunch before hitting the water. This saves an angler money, allowing one to put a little extra fuel in their boat for long days out on the water.
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Criteria Used For Evaluation
When searching for the perfect braided fishing line, several factors must first be considered. Each of these factors plays a vital role in determining how well a particular line will perform when on the water.
Criteria #1: Strength
When you hook into the trout of a lifetime, your line must be up to the task at hand.
If an angler’s line is not up to the task of handling all which is thrown its way, aggravation will almost certainly result.
For this reason, it is key to select only a line that is highly resistant to abrasion. Line of this nature can withstand a significant amount of abuse without breakage and provides an angler with the confidence needed to fish at their best day in and day out. This not only allows you to be more efficient on the water but prevents you from losing fish that would have otherwise been caught successfully.
Criteria #2: Concealment
Trout are notoriously reluctant biters, and will seldom strike when an angler’s line is visible.
In many cases, trout anglers can increase their success on a slow day by simply switching to the use of a smaller diameter line.
When keeping this in mind, one can see the value in steering clear of the bulky, hi-vis line whenever possible. Instead, a trout angler is far better off to employ the use of a micro-diameter line, that is neutral in color. This makes it significantly more difficult for fish to become keen to that which seems unnatural, and often leads to an increase in strikes.
Criteria #3: Sensitivity
The use of a sensitive line has the potential to significantly increase an angler’s catch ratio.
As much as we all love for fish to stroke our lures with authority, this is simply not always the case.
In many instances, trout will simply nibble at a bait, making it difficult for an angler to even tell that a strike has occurred. However, a highly sensitive line, which possesses little to no stretch, makes it far easier to detect the subtle bites of reluctant fish. As a result, an angler is better able to time their hook sets with efficiency, thereby capitalizing on many more opportunities than would be the case when using a less sensitive line.
Questions & Answers

What Pound Test Line Do I Need For Trout Fishing?
When fishing for trout, it is typically best to use as light of a test line as is practical. In the majority of cases, a 2-6 pound test tends to be the gold standard. However, this can vary on a case-by-case basis. Many anglers who troll for trout prefer the use of 10-12 pound test line, while those who fish strictly for sizable lake trout often employ the use of 20 pounds or higher test line. For the best results, always tailor your line selection to the circumstances of the day, and the body of water that you will be fishing.

Is One Type Of Line Preffered Over Another When Trout Fishing?
In the past, many dedicated trout anglers preferred the use of monofilament line. However, in recent years, subsequent improvements in the manufacturing of braided line has led to the production of many ultra-thin, micro-diameter variants. This new, easier to conceal braided line has become increasingly popular in the trout fishing world, as it is much easier to conceal than most would believe, especially when presented in a neutral color.