The best line for catfish depends on the conditions in the water. Plus the size of the fish. People use monofilament and braids for catfish. Choose the line on the qualities you need for your fishing conditions.
People at times overlook the line’s performance qualities. Lines have shock strength, abrasion resistance, memory, and diameters affecting performance. Sensitivity is less of a concern for catfish anglers.
Line Characteristics
The characteristics affect how a line performs. Fishing in places with rocks and other cover or debris you need abrasion resistance. In weeds or open areas, abrasion is not a concern.
Abrasion Resistance; how well a line holds up rubbing against rocks, branches, and other debris in the water. You want abrasion resistance if fishing in rocky areas.
Test Strength; the weight or pressure a line withstands before breaking. The majority of lines exceed the labeled test strength.
Memory; some fishing lines will retain the shape of the spool creating loops while casting or when slack, which is not a good thing.
Sensitivity; how well the line transmits the bite or hitting of structure. Two things that are very important in a line for many species.
Stretch; some lines will stretch under load. This is similar to a bungee cord effect. This can be desirable or not depending on how you fish.
Shock Strength; how well the line can handle a quick heavy load at hook set or when a fish thrashes. This is the line’s ability to stretch like a bungee cord.
Memory in a line is bad any time. It is common in the stronger monofilament lines. Stretch and shock strength work together. It helps if a fish thrashes. The line gives a little helping the hooks stay in the fish.
Sensitivity is not a factor for catfish. You are using heavier stiff rods without sensitivity. Test strength is self-explanatory. It is how much force the line takes to break.
Diameters for Lines Used for Catfish
| Line Strength lbs. | Mono | Braid |
| 12 | .014 | |
| 14 | .015 | |
| 17 | .016 | |
| 20 | .018 | .009 |
| 30 | .022 | .011 |
| 40 | .024 | .012 |
| 50 | .028 | .014 |
| 65 | N/A | .016 |
Choosing a Line for Catfish
Some people choose the line without much thought. Maybe they go with what others suggest. There are reasons to choose either braid or mono for your line. You will not get all the best qualities with any line.
Fishing areas with rocks, fall downs, and other debris will cause abrasion. Mono has abrasion resistance and works well in these places. You get the shock strength with mono lines also. The bungee cord effect keeps the hooks set better.
The mono is fine up to a 20-pound test. The diameter is small enough for good casting. At a larger diameter, it is too stiff for good casting. Plus the large diameter reduces the line capacity on the reel.
If you need a higher strength, a braided line is better. In this case, mono leaders of high strength are good to use. A leader does not affect casting. The majority of anglers use swivels in their rigs. That makes using a leader easy.
A drawback with braids is the smaller diameter. A braid too light is very thin. As a result, it may dig into the line on the spool. You overcome the problem using a higher strength line. Using braid a 40-pound test or higher works best.
When you need high strength, fish areas without rocks or abrasive cover, or in weeds use a braided line. Weeds are easier to go through with a braid.
Berkley Big Game Line on Amazon
KastKing Braided Line on Amazon
Conclusions
When choosing your best line for catfish, base it on the conditions. Each line has characteristics that help in certain conditions. If you need abrasion or shock strength go with monofilament. In weeds or needing a higher strength a braided line is a better choice.