Float fishing, which is also referred to as bobber fishing, entails suspending your bait at various depths in the water. You can also reach previously inaccessible spots by using a float. Which fishing line is the most highly recommended for float fishing?
A monofilament fishing line is the most complementary for float fishing. You’ll be able to easily cast with a lightweight mono fishing line, and it should float for a while so your bobber will stay suspended on the waterline.
This guide to using a monofilament line for float fishing will delve more into why this type of line is the best pick. We’ll also share some of the most buoyant monofilament fishing lines available so you can stock up!
Why Monofilament Is the Best Fishing Line for Float Fishing
When float fishing, many anglers are so concerned about which type of bobber they’ll select that they don’t pay as much attention to their fishing line. This is a critical mistake, though.
After all, a fishing line can work in conjunction with a float, so you need to select both with care.
A monofilament fishing line is an excellent choice to use with your bubble bobber, pencil float, or slip bobber. Here are some of the exemplary qualities of a monofilament line.
Related Reading: Braided fishing line vs. mono: How to choose which is best?
Exceptional Strength
In most instances, you’ll use a monofilament fishing line when float fishing as a leader line. That leader line should be rated for 40 or 50 pounds if you’re going to attach a split shot, swivel, and fishing hook to it.
You can also use a lighter-weight setup depending on your float fishing rig.
Easy Casting
Float fishing is a long-distance form of casting. If you can’t cast several feet out with your fishing line without it snagging or catching on the reel, then you’re using the wrong type of line for float fishing.
A monofilament fishing line has many qualities that we’ll discuss in this section that make it simple to use when casting. You’ll be able to explore new depths with a float fishing rig that includes a monofilament line.
Thin for Less Drag
The diameter of a monofilament fishing line is another great quality. Although some braided fishing lines can be skinnier than a monofilament line, that depends on the compression of the strands.
Traditionally though, you can rely on a single-stranded monofilament fishing line to have a skinny diameter.
The slimmer the diameter of a fishing line, the lesser the risk of drag. You can’t have drag when float fishing, as you’re relying on your fishing line to cast out far and then sit on the water. A fishing that line drags would prevent either activity from happening as they should.
Lightweight
What weighs more, several strands bonded together or a single-strand of fishing line? The answer is the latter almost every time. The lightweight quality of a monofilament fishing line makes it the best friend of any angler who’s going float fishing.
Buoyant
Among the most important traits of a float fishing line is its buoyancy. Now is not the time for a fishing line that absorbs water after a few hours and will eventually sink. When your fishing line sinks, after all, so too does your bobber.
A monofilament fishing line won’t fill with water no matter how long it spends floating on the surface of a lake, ocean, or river. Your bobber will remain upright as well (unless it’s supposed to be partially suspended in the water).
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Can You Use Other Types of Fishing Lines for Float Fishing?
You just used up the last of your monofilament fishing line yesterday and you don’t have time to go out and buy more between now and your fishing trip. Could you use a braided fishing line or a fluorocarbon fishing line instead?
If you had no other options, yes, but we don’t necessarily recommend either type of fishing line. Here’s why.
A braided fishing line might not absorb water, so it will float, but the higher the strength of the line, the harder the line is to work with.
You don’t want to spend hours untangling a braided fishing line. You don’t get that time back, and so now you have many fewer hours to do some float fishing.
If you must use a braided fishing line, these lines are good for their lack of water absorption (which is very important when float fishing), thin diameter, lack of stretch, UV resistance, and suppleness.
A fluorocarbon fishing line is very stiff, so it’s not the best choice for float fishing either. If using a stiff fishing line, your casting distance can be negatively impacted.
What makes matters worse is that the stronger the fluorocarbon fishing line–such as for a leader line in a float fishing rig–the stiffer it is.
The most damning quality of a fluorocarbon fishing line, especially for float fishing, is that the line sinks over time. As we touched on earlier, when your fishing line goes underwater, so too does your bobber, or it will try to at least.
You’d have to reel in the line and replace it, but the same thing would happen again if you’re using a fluorocarbon fishing line.
A monofilament fishing line is truly best for float fishing. If you can’t use that type of line, then a braided fishing line is a decent enough alternative. We wouldn’t suggest using a fluorocarbon fishing line since it sinks.
Plus, both fluorocarbon and braided fishing lines are significantly more expensive than a monofilament fishing line!
Our Most Recommended Monofilament Float Fishing Lines
As we said we would, we now want to spotlight 6 exceptional, high-buoyancy brands of monofilament fishing line for float fishing.
P-Line TWFC-10 Topwater Copolymer Fishing Line
To start, there’s P-Line’s topwater copolymer fishing line, which is both fluorocarbon and monofilament.
Although we discouraged anglers from using a fluorocarbon fishing line for float fishing, this copolymer blend ensures only the best qualities of fluorocarbon are featured.
Renowned for its buoyancy, P-Line’s copolymer fishing line is supple so you can cast it long distances. The fishing line will feel as smooth as butter.
Further aiding you in topline fishing is the quality abrasion resistance and lack of memory.
P-Line says you can crawl, twitch, and walk your artificial lures using a reliable copolymer fishing line like theirs.
Blood Run Tackle Co. Floating Monofilament Fishing Line
For pure monofilament, try Blood Run Tackle Co’s fishing line. This 10-pound monofilament fishing line at 300 yards is designed for catching mid-sized fish (although not steelhead).
A fluorocarbon coating atop the monofilament fishing line allows the line to resist damage from hard surfaces right under the water such as coral, rocks, and the shells of crustaceans.
High-floating, Blood Run Tackle Co’s monofilament fishing line mends easily. The company recommends attaching the fishing line to a leader with a diameter of .009 inches or .230 millimeters for the best result.
This fishing line is clear so line-shy fish won’t notice it even as it lingers on the surface of the water.
P-Line Hydrofloat Fishing Line
Here’s another monofilament fishing line from P-Line that we like quite a lot, the Hydrofloat line.
Built for freshwater and saltwater fishing and recommended for anglers of all experience levels, the Hydrofloat line is awesome at casting. Its high visibility would be an issue for other types of fishing, but for float fishing, it’s not as big of a deal.
Plenty buoyant and featuring no stretch so it’s sensitive, the Hydrofloat fishing line is strong, hardy, and ready for float fishing.
The strength-to-diameter ratio is certainly worth mentioning, as this fishing line is tested for 20 pounds of load at 150 yards. You can buy a sturdier version still that’s rated for up to 30 pounds.
The P-Line Hydrofloat fishing line is available in one color, High-Vis Yellow.
Sunline Super Natural Monofilament Fishing Line
The authentic Japanese fishing line that is Sunline’s super natural monofilament comes on a 330-yard spool that’s rated for up to 10 pounds.
The jungle green hue would work well in an ocean as well as a dirtier lake. You can also buy this floating mono fishing line in a clear hue.
Designed for manageability and durability, short-distance and long-distance float fishing alike will be easy to do. You can rely on the strength of this line when fishing for small to mid-sized fish species.
Berkley Trilene Big Game Monofilament Fishing Line
What if you’ve set your sights on something bigger? In that case, you need a heavier-duty monofilament fishing line such as the Berkley Trilene Big Game line.
Boasting, as Berkley says, “extreme fighting power,” the Trilene line is intended for the biggest game fish in the river, lake, or stream. You’ll have optimal control whether casting out or reeling your line in thanks to the undeniable strength of this fishing line.
The controlled degree of stretch ensures that your line doesn’t snap when you’re relying on it. You won’t have to worry about missing bites on your line, as the Trilene line is sensitive enough that you’ll still feel when your line is getting a tug.
You can also rely on your bobber as a visual confirmation!
Shock-resistant, this fishing line resists everyday wear and tear incredibly well. One spool ought to last you a long time, so you get more bang for your buck.
Stren High-Impact Monofilament Fishing Line
For the angler on a budget, Stren’s High-Impact mono fishing line is a low-cost way to do more float fishing.
With a breaking strength of 15 pounds at 860 yards, the Stren fishing line goes invisible in the water, especially when you buy the clear version. As we said before, this doesn’t matter quite as much when float fishing, but you still don’t want your line to be as clear as day.
If you like doing offshore and coastal float fishing, the Stren monofilament line is built tough so it can withstand fishing in saltwater and freshwater conditions alike.
Plus, you get fantastic shock resistance for reeling in more game fish!
Final Thoughts
Float fishing with a bobber requires a buoyant, smooth, lightweight fishing line that can easily travel long distances. A monofilament fishing line fulfills the above requirements while reducing drag, maintaining strength, and not breaking the bank.
With the monofilament fishing lines we suggested, you should be ready to have your best float fishing days yet!