Everyone has an opinion on braid versus mono, and for pike the answer depends on how you’re fishing. The useful question is what the line needs to do on your rod, and what it can get away with.
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What braid does well
Braid is made of woven fibres with almost no stretch. That has three effects that matter for pike:
- Sensitivity. You feel the lure working, you feel a take through the rod, and you feel a follow turning away.
- Distance. Braid is thin for its strength, so it casts further and cuts through wind.
- Hooksets. With no stretch, a strike on a long cast still reaches the hook, which matters with the big trebles and thick hook points on lures.
For lure fishing, strengths of 30 to 50lb are common. Our lure fishing for pike guide recommends this range, and I agree with it. It’s more than the fish needs, but braid is thin, and the extra strength gives you a margin when you’re pulling a lure free of a snag.
Where braid falls short
No stretch also means no shock absorption. A fish that lunges at the net or a hard strike close in can pull a hook or snap a knot if the drag is too tight. Braid is also harder to knot reliably. Slippery fibres can slip, so use a knot built for braid such as the Palomar, the double Palomar or the FG knot.
It can also fray where it rubs on rocks or weed, so check the first few metres regularly.
What mono does well
Monofilament stretches, and that works in your favour when you’re fishing static or slow. It absorbs shocks, it’s easy to knot, it’s cheaper than braid and it floats or sinks slowly depending on the type. For float fishing deadbaits, mono is a common choice because it holds on the surface and doesn’t cut into the float.
If you fish deadbaits mostly, a tough mono of around 15 to 20lb is a sensible choice, and some anglers use a lower strength. It gives a bit of forgiveness when a fish makes a sudden run.
Where mono falls short
Mono is thicker for its strength, so you lose casting distance. The stretch dampens feel, and on a long cast it can make a bite feel vague. It also wears with sun and age, so replace it every season.
Which should you use?
| Braid | Mono | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Lure fishing, long casts, feel | Deadbaiting, float fishing, shock absorption |
| Typical strength | 30-50lb | 15-20lb |
| Strengths | Sensitivity, distance, thin | Forgiving, cheap, easy to knot |
| Limits | No stretch, knots need care | Thicker, less feel, ages |
If you’re building one outfit for lures, go with braid: a heavy shad like the Fox Rage Super Slick Shad 18cm casts noticeably further on thin braid than on thick mono. If you’re mostly deadbaiting, mono is a perfectly good choice. If you do both, keep a spare spool on each reel and swap.
Products to consider
For braid, the Fox Rage Predator Elite Braid 40lb and the Fox Rage Replicant Cast Braid 55lb are made for predator work. For a thinner option, the Spiderwire Stealth Smooth8, 0.14mm, 36lb has a smooth finish that casts well.
Whichever you choose, load the line firmly onto the spool. A loose wind of braid can dig into itself under pressure, and a bird’s nest on the next cast will ruin your session. A reel with a clean, smooth drag helps too, and the Daiwa BG 4500A holds a good length of line at a size that suits pike. Pair it with a rod like the Fox Rage Warrior Pike Spin and you have a proper lure outfit.
Joining line to trace
Whatever line you pick, don’t tie it directly to the lure. Tie it to a swivel or a clip on the trace, and use the knot that suits the line. Our post on wire traces explains what the trace itself should be.
Gear that fits this
Here is gear that suits what this post covers, by type.
Lures: Fox Rage Pro Shad Jointed 14cm and Salmo Slider 10cm.
For deadbait and float work, Westin Pike Float Kit, Fox Rage Predator Oil and Air Kit and Fox Rage Predator Float Trace.
Reels that handle pike: Savage Gear Thoriz C3000 and Fox Rage Prism X Baitcast.
On rods, Fox Rage Warrior Shad and Spin and Fox Rage Prism X Pike Cast.
Questions anglers ask
Is braid or mono better for pike?
Braid is usually better for lure fishing because of its sensitivity, distance and zero stretch. Mono is often better for deadbaiting and float fishing because it stretches and is easier to handle.
What strength braid for pike?
30 to 50lb is common for lure fishing. It’s stronger than the fish requires, but braid is thin, so the extra strength helps when freeing snags.
Do I need a leader on braid?
You need a wire or titanium trace between the braid and the lure or bait to protect against pike teeth. Fluorocarbon alone isn’t enough.
Dan Whitfield grew up in Liverpool and started fishing aged seven on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at the end of his road. He never really stopped. He spent his twenties and thirties on the match circuit – club level rather than national – before deciding he’d rather catch one decent fish than a net of small ones.
These days he mostly fishes the River Dee for barbel and chub (barbel personal best 14lb 2oz, from the Trent on a trip south), the Leeds and Liverpool Canal for roach and skimmers in winter, and the occasional gravel pit when tench are spawning and the surface fishing is too good to miss. He’s a former club secretary and coaches children on Saturday mornings at a junior section of a Liverpool angling club, where most sessions start with a float, a tin of maggots and a lot of patience.
At The River Bend, Dan writes the coarse species guides, river fishing technique articles, and the match and pole content.
Covers: Barbel, bream, roach, tench, carp (coarse context), river fishing, canal fishing, feeder, float, match/pole