Choosing the best leader line can drastically improve your bites. Fishing leaders have many properties that will improve your bait’s presentation and fool even the most cautious fish. In this guide, I reviewed and ranked the best leader lines that you should be fishing with.
The purpose of fishing leaders is to:
- improve bait presentation
- protect your mainline
- prevent your line from breaking off
In order to choose a leader line that is right for you, you will need to understand the basic properties that make an awesome leader:
- High Abrasion Resistance
- Low Line Visibility
- Zero – High Line Stretch
- Floats or Sinks Slowly
- Low Line Memory
When it comes to making your leader lines for your situation, there is no exact guide. It’s more of an art and skill you develop over time. Determining how long your leader line needs to be and how strong your leader needs to be is completely dependent on your situation.
Trying to pick the best fishing leader can be daunting. There are tons of different products on the market today trying to sell you why they are the best. There are just a handful of solid braided line brands that I like and have demonstrated why they are the best.
If you are looking to catch more fish, then you need to check out these best leader lines!
What are the Best Leader Lines On The Market Today?
Here are my top picks for the best leader lines you need to try.
- SF – 100% Pure Fluorocarbon Leader – (Best For Freshwater)
- Berkley – Vanish Fluorocarbon Fishing Line – (Best For Casting)
- KastKing – FluoroKote Fishing Line – (Best For Low Line Visibility)
- Sufix – Superior Leader – (Best For Beginners)
- Seaworx – Fluorocarbon High-Density Fishing Leader Line – (Best Overall)
- Seaguar – Red Label – (Best Low Line Memory)
- ANGRYFISH 100% Fluorocarbon Fishing Line and Fluorocarbon Leader – (Best For Jigging)
- KastKing – Destron Braided Fishing Line – (Best For Saltwater)
SF – 100% Pure Fluorocarbon Leader
Best Fluorocarbon Leader for Freshwater Fishing
Brian’s Thoughts
From one of Japan’s top fluorocarbon fishing line factories comes the popular SF brand pure fluorocarbon leader.
Fluorocarbon is a perfect material for making fishing lines and leaders due to its relatively low light refraction index. In fact, these leaders become virtually invisible under the water because the refraction index is very similar to the water itself.
Rather than focusing on the line, fish will be able to better zero in on the bait or lure that you are presenting to them.
Best of all, they have the same properties both wet and dry, especially when it comes to strength, sensitivity, and handling.
You will find that the SF fluorocarbon leader features superior quality, low malleability, and high abrasion resistance.
Pros
- Made in Japan
- Virtually Invisible
- Waterproof
- Abrasion Resistant
Cons
- Has Some Noticeable Line Memory
Get Your SF 100% Pure Fluorocarbon Leader Today!
Berkley – Vanish Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Best Leader for Casting
Brian’s Thoughts
Berkley is known as one of the leaders in fishing lines, regardless of whether it is monofilament, fluorocarbon, or braided.
One of their up-and-coming designs is the Vanish Fluorocarbon Fishing Line.
This specially designed blend of fluorocarbon polymers is 20% stronger than previous lines. It still retains the same low light reflection index of other lines, rendering it virtually invisible underwater. The line itself provides amazing shock strength and an improved knot strength over comparable lines.
Best of all, because it is waterproof, it will retain the same strength as well as abrasion resistance underwater.
Pros
- Easy Casting
- Better Shock Strength
- Clear Under Water
Cons
- No One Size Fits All Option
Get Your Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon Fishing Line Today!
KastKing – FluoroKote Fishing Line
Best Leader for Low Line Visibility
Brian’s Thoughts
When it comes to award-winning lines and leaders, no one can compete with KastKing.
Their popular FlouroKote line is the company’s number one selling product.
It features a blend of 100% fluorocarbon polymers that reduces the line’s visibility underwater to practically nothing. The line features low memory, as well as an amazing castability when compared to other similar lines available today.
The low stretch, superior abrasion resistance, high strength, reduced visibility, and greater density making FluoroKote perfect for bottom feeders and toothy fish.
Not only is the line extremely durable, but it is also versatile and provides one of the best knotting strengths of any fluorocarbon leader currently available.
Find out why more and more anglers are switching to KastKing today.
Pros
- Low Stretch
- High Strength
- Abrasion Resistant
- High Density
- Reduced Visibility
Cons
- Not the Best for Limited Budgets
Get Your KastKing FluoroKote Fishing Line Today!
Sufix – Superior Leader
Best Leaders for Beginners
Brian’s Thoughts
There are many excellent brands of fishing lines and leaders that are available on the market today, but none are known quite as well as Suffix Superior.
For decades, Suffix has been providing some of the highest quality monofilament lines available to anglers around the world. They are extremely durable, provide superior strength when compared to other lines and leaders, and ultimately offer some of the fastest recovery imaginable.
In fact, the line is so strong and versatile that it has been ranked as one of the highest tensile strength in the world. No matter where you choose to fish, you will find that the Suffix Superior fishing line offers some of the best abrasion resistance imaginable.
It is so tough that the sturgeon barely damage the line at all. The only downfall is that the knot strength is not necessarily the best, which is why many anglers tend to glue their knots to ensure they stay locked.
Pros
- Incredibly Strong
- Extremely Tough
- Abrasion Resistant
- Controlled Stretch
Cons
- Not the Best for Knot Strength
Get Your Sufix Superior Leader Today!
Seaworx – Fluorocarbon High-Density Fishing Leader Line
Best Leaders Overall
Brian’s Thoughts
If you’re looking for the best overall fishing leader line, then look no further than the high-density Seaworx fluorocarbon leader line.
The line itself has a high stretch strength and a low memory, making it perfect for taking on just about any fish. Fluorocarbon is so good at resisting abrasion that there will never be an issue with dealing with a fish thrashing through the water or rubbing against debris, rocks, and other underwater features.
Take on bass and never worry about another snapped line when you choose to use the Seaworx high-density fluorocarbon leaders. Because of the special blend of fluorocarbon polymers, the line is invisible underwater, making it perfect for multiple presentations.
It is very smooth and has a small enough diameter which makes it perfect for casting all day long. Unlike other fluorocarbon lines, this particular line is actually quite buoyant, so it is perfect for top-feeding fish.
As a result of the high tensile strength to diameter ratio, the high-density fluorocarbon line is great for reeling in trout and salmon.
Pros
- High-Stretch
- Low Memory
- Abrasion Resistant
- Low Sink-Rate
Cons
- Can Be Quite Costly
Get Your Seaworx Fluorocarbon High-Density Fishing Leader Line Today!
Seaguar – Red Label
Best Leader for Low Line Memory
Brian’s Thoughts
If you are looking for the perfect line for fishing in freshwater, then look no further than the Seaguar Red Label.
This extremely versatile lightweight line packs a punch with one of the highest tensile strengths available for its line weight. The 100% fluorocarbon line has amazing tensile strength and offers some of the best knotting capabilities on the market today.
Best of all, because of its amazing knotting capabilities, it is easy to tie Red Label onto itself or even other types of lines.
Pros
- Great Tensile Strength
- Good Impact Strength
- Clear in Color
Cons
- Not the Best Option for Saltwater
Get Your Seaguar Red Label Today!
ANGRYFISH 100% Fluorocarbon Fishing Line and Fluorocarbon Leader
Best Leader for Jig Fishing
Brian’s Thoughts
If you are looking for a fluorocarbon line that is perfect for jig fishing, then look no further than Angryfish.
This 100% pure fluorocarbon line is virtually invisible when under the water and is extremely durable. Not only is it easy to cast, but has an amazing abrasion resistance which makes it perfect for dealing with bottom feeders.
The line itself features a specific gravity that is 80% greater than that of water, ensuring that the line sinks faster than any monofilament line, as well as most other similar fluorocarbon lines.
Pros
- Pure Fluorocarbon
- Invisible Underwater
- Abrasion Resistant
- Fast Sinking Rate
Cons
- Some Line Memory
Get Your ANGRYFISH 100% Fluorocarbon Fishing Line and Fluorocarbon Leader Today!
KastKing – Destron Braided Fishing Line
Best Braided Leader for Saltwater Fishing
Brian’s Thoughts
Take your fishing to the edge with the KastKing Destron braided fishing line.
This scientifically advanced braided line features second-generation Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene fibers that provide some of the best weight-to-strength ratios imaginable. In fact, the Destron fishing line is considered to be ten times stronger than that of similar-sized steel lines.
The diameter to strength ratio of the line is nearly 75% less than that of standard monofilament lines. As a result, you get a whole lot more power with a much thinner line, which allows you to spool up more line on your reel than ever before.
The diamond weave and colorfast technology used by KastKing ensures the braided lines’ long-term strength and color fastness. When it comes to a lightweight line that floats on the surface and is perfect for fly fishing, look no further than Destron.
Pros
- MultiTuf Fiber
- Ultra-Thin Diameter
- Strong and Tough
- Abrasion Resistant Coating
- Easy to Cast
Cons
- Too Expensive for Budget Fishing
Get Your KastKing Destron Braided Fishing Line Today!
What Fishing Line Is Best for Leader?
Without a question, fluorocarbon is one of the best materials for fishing line leaders. One of the biggest qualities of using fluorocarbon is the fact that is virtually invisible underwater when compared to monofilament. As a result, your presentations will appear more natural.