All braided fishing lines are not the same. So how do you choose the best braid for the type of fishing you do?

To answer that question, let’s start with a quick overview of the basics of braid construction.
 

4-Carrier Braided Fishing Line vs. 8-Carrier Braided Fishing Line

Braided fishing line is constructed with microfibers spun together to create carriers, or strands. These carriers are woven together to create braided line.
 
A braided line constructed from four carriers is going to be tough and durable, with a rougher finish that will saw through weed.  A braided line constructed from eight carriers will be smoother, rounder, and quieter when passing through rod guides. As a result, it will generally cast further. However, 8-carrier lines tend to be more expensive.

Which Braided Fishing Line is Best for You?

Let’s apply what we know to the lineup of braided fishing lines offered by one manufacturer, PowerPro.
 

PowerPro begins with ultra-strong braided Spectra Fiber, which is treated with “Enhanced Body Technology” (EBT), a resin that permeates the woven line to make it rounder and smoother. As a result, PowerPro is a round, smooth, and sensitive line that also saws through vegetation and stands up to abrasion. It is the value-priced workhorse of the PowerPro line-up.

Uses: PowerPro is a great all-around choice, especially when fishing heavy cover and weedbeds. Excellent for bottom-fishing, jigging, and trolling. 

Maxcuatro is also a 4-carrier braided fishing line, but it uses the latest Spectra technology to create a product that is 25% thinner than standard PowerPro lines with equivalent strength. It’s like buying a line one size smaller. Its thin diameter allows anglers to maximize reel capacity and downsize tackle.

Uses: Maxcuatro is a high-end, advanced fishing line for serious anglers. It’s an excellent choice for targeting large, strong fish like striped bass and tunas that have the potential to dump line off a spool. Its thin diameter also works well for vertical jigging by reducing the amount of water resistance on the line.

Made with a dense weave, 8-carrier construction that creates an exceptionally smooth surface and reduces line friction on the spool and through the rod guides, Super 8 Slick casts like a bullet. It also features added abrasion toughness to give it strength and power that is on par with most traditional 4-carrier braids.

Uses: PowerPro Super 8 Slick V2 is the obvious choice for striped bass surfcasters and all types of boat fishermen – anyone who values making long, smooth, quiet casts.

Hollow Ace is a specialized form of PowerPro that is constructed to have a hollow center. This allows anglers to use spliced connections instead of knots. With Hollow Ace, you can achieve strength translation near 100% compared to 65% to 70% with a typical knot.

Uses: Popular for offshore and big game fishing where splices are preferred over knots, you can use Hollow Ace to create your own wind-on leaders for casting or jigging bluefin tuna.