Top 5 Best Fishing Lines for Trout in 2022

The best fishing lines for trout

Didn’t catch any trout… again?

If your fishing expeditions have been proving futile recently, your fishing line could be the culprit. When it comes to small and feisty species like the trout, it’s crucial that you use the right fishing line to improve your chances of catching them.

So what are the best fishing lines for trout? We’ve got you covered. Highlighted below are reviews of top-rated trout fishing lines, and a guide to help you make an informed decision.

Best overall

To be successful at fishing, you need to invest in the best fishing line, the Trout Magnet S.O.S.  

This fishing line’s nature is summarized in its name: S.O.S. It stands for Strong, Obscure and Small, all the features you need for a successful fishing expedition.

It is a smooth copolymer fishing line. A copolymer is a combination of two nylon lines. This makes the Trout Magnet S.O.S much stronger than other fishing lines with the same 16mm diameter. It also has an excellent stretch and is extremely abrasion-resistant.

If you want stealth and invisibility when fishing, this line offers just that. Its color makes it very difficult to see in most water conditions. And with a length of 350 yards, this line also has an excellent casting distance and manageability.

Since it is a copolymer, this line is a bit more expensive than a monofilament, but it is well worth the extra bucks.

Best affordable

If you are looking to buy a good fishing line that will not cost you an arm and a leg, consider the Stren Original Monofilament Fishing Line.

Other than its amazing value, the Stren Original also performs well when out in the water. First off, the line itself is coated with UV Guard, which increases its durability. You don’t have to worry about replacing it every so often due to damage from sun exposure.

The Sten Original is available in four different colors: clear, blue fluorescent, low-visibility green, and high-visibility gold. This variety allows you to choose the colors you want depending on your fishing conditions.

Since this is a monofilament fishing line, it has high abrasion resistance. This means the line is less prone to breaking.

It also has a superior knot and tensile strength. The Sten Original is also very smooth, which increases casting distance and retrieval speed.

On the flip side, as with most monofilament lines, it has line memory issues. And, it has a tendency to absorbs water, which weakens it over time.

Best for trout & salmon

Are you looking for a fishing line best suited to fishing trout and salmon? The Seaguar STS is the first of its kind made to target these species.

This is a genuine 100% fluorocarbon fishing line. Fluorocarbon is a type of monofilament. The line has a very small diameter. This means that, unlike the more common monofilament lines, the Seaguar STS is less visible underwater.

The line is extremely abrasion resistant and has a good knot strength, making fishing in rocky water conditions quite easy.  

The Seaguar STS is also a fast sinking line. It can get you within the strike zone very fast.

The only problem with this fishing line is the length. Although it is labeled to be 100 yards, it is much shorter than that by several yards.

Best invisible underwater

Fishing for trout can be difficult. But it becomes really easy when you use the best invisible fishing leader line, the Trout Magnet Phantom.

The Magnet Phantom is 100% fluorocarbon, which makes it almost completely invisible underwater. This is a very important characteristic when fishing for trout.

Although it is not the strongest, this leader line is strong enough to handle a little fight from fish. It also has a good abrasion and impact resistance, features that increase its durability.

Another amazing feature is that it has zero stretch, which assures you of a fast hookset.

The major disadvantage with this line is that it tops out at 4 lb test. It is, therefore, only suitable for small fish and cannot handle anything big. It is also important to note that this is a leader and not a line.

Best leader & line

Landing a good fishing line is great. But landing one that can also double as a leader is a steal. Yet this is exactly what the Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon offers.

The line is completely fluorocarbon, which is an excellent feature as it helps it remain clear underwater. But what gives it an edge over other fluorocarbons is that it is coated with the best vanish formula. This simply means that it completely disappears underwater, so the fish aren’t scared away.

The Berkley Vanish also has superior wet strength. What this means is that even when wet, it still maintains amazing strength and abrasion resistance.

The line is very sensitive. This sensitivity allows you to feel the slightest nibble from fish and achieve a fast hookset. It has great casting thanks to its smooth texture. It also has low memory and stretch.

The Berkely Vanish sinks underwater. It is, therefore, not the best line or leader to use if you prefer topwater fishing.

What to look for in a good fishing line for trout

There are a few things you should keep in mind when buying a trout fishing line. They include:

Type

The first thing you’ll want to account for is the type of fishing line. Choosing between the three varieties available is not the easiest thing. This is because each one has its fair share of merits and drawbacks. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each:

Monofilament line

Popularly shortened to mono, the monofilament is the most recognized type of fishing line. It’s used in a broad range of applications, and this includes trout fishing.

What attracts anglers to this fishing line is the fact that it’s cheap and incredibly easy to use. For instance, it stretches more than other models, which makes for an easy knot-tying process.

Plus, a monofilament is not as highly visible as a braided line. And, it comes in multiple colors, allowing you to pick one that matches the water conditions.

That said, it has one major drawback, that is, it’s less sensitive. This makes it difficult for an angler to detect any kind of movements made by the fish. So if you aren’t paying keen attention when fishing with a monofilament, it’s very easy to miss your target.

Another feature you won’t fancy in a monofilament fishing line is its high memory. If you’re unfamiliar with this term, a line’s memory is its capability to “recall” the loops that form when it’s wound on a spool.

For trout fishing, you want to go for a fishing line with low to zero memory. Such a line is able to remain straight once it comes off the spool; thus, developing less friction on guides and reels. This, in turn, allows you to cast more smoothly and at longer distances.

Braided line

If you’re not a fan of monofilaments, another model you can go for is the braided fishing line.

As implied in its name, it comprises several lines that are braided together with the aim of increasing its strength. This translates to increased strength and minimal stretch.

One of the greatest benefits of a braided line is that it allows you to cast further than you would with a monofilament.

This fishing line also boasts a higher degree of sensitivity. This then makes it easy to know what’s happening to your lure or hook in the water. This trait is particularly crucial in detecting the most trivial or subtle bites, more so when you’re fishing in very deep waters.

Another critical point to note is that a braided line has almost zero memory. This translates to a lower amount of friction, which is exactly what you need when you’re throwing lightweight lures for trout.

Fluorocarbon line

The last type of fishing line that you should get accustomed to is the fluorocarbon.

The biggest selling point of this line is the fact that it has very low visibility in water. This trait makes it handy for fishing trout- a species that has ultra-sharp eyesight.

For illustration purposes, try immersing a fluorocarbon line in water, and you’ll notice that it becomes almost invisible.

Compared to the monofilaments, fluorocarbons offer better resistance to abrasion and UV light. These traits make them more durable and suitable for fishing trout.

That said, this fishing line is not the easiest to work with, especially when you want to tie knots. A lot of fluorocarbon lines are very stiff, making them slightly difficult to work with.

Size & Weight

It’s important to note that size in this case doesn’t refer to the spool’s length but rather its diameter. This is usually measured in millimeters.

The most suitable fishing line for trout shouldn’t be too thin or too thick. If it’s too thin, then it might lose its strength pretty quickly. However, if it’s too thick, then it will be easier for a trout to spot it.

When it comes to weight, your decision should be based on the specific trout species you’re planning to fish.

If you’re aiming to catch an ordinary-sized trout that’s about 10 to 20 inches, then use an ultra-light line ranging between 2 and 6-pound tests.

But if your goal is to catch bigger trout species – the likes of lake trout and steelheads – you’ll want to upgrade your line size to a 20-pound test or more.

Keep in mind that certain species like the lake trout weigh up to 30 pounds. So ensure you invest in a line that can handle its size and weight.

Another factor that can help is establishing the location of your fishing activity. If you’ll be fishing in streams and creeks, the species that you’re most likely to encounter will have an average size of 10 inches. This means a light fishing line will work just fine.

However, if you’re fishing in big lakes, you’ll come across bigger-sized species like the brown trout. Thus, a bigger fishing line is necessary.

Color

As we mentioned earlier, trouts are the kind of fish that have a very sharp eyesight. This enables them to avoid baited hooks by keeping an eye out on colored fishing lines.

To get around this, you’ll want to choose a fishing line whose color closely matches that of the water. The only exception to this rule is when you’re fishing in clear water. In such instances, a colorless fishing line is the best choice.

Shock resistance

Also referred to as impact resistance, this is another important trait that shouldn’t miss from a fishing line.

FAQ

Final verdict

If you’ve been looking to purchase the best fishing line for trout, you should consider a few things. First, figure out the best line to use between a monofilament, fluorocarbon and braided.

It’s also good to establish the most suitable weight and size of your fishing line. This decision will depend on the specific trout species you’re looking to catch.

The best trout fishing line should also be suited for the water conditions you’ll be fishing in, and have unmatched shock resistance.