In this guide we’ll look at the best ice fishing lines.
We’ve compared abrasion resistance, strength, amount of stretch and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
What Is The Best Ice Fishing Line?
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More Detailed Ice Fishing Line Reviews
Skysper Nylon Monofilament Fishing Line
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Skysper Nylon Monofilament Fishing Line Review
Made of abrasion-resistant nylon, the Skysper monofilament fishing line is suitable for freshwater and saltwater and really excels at ice fishing since it tends not to freeze.
This line is low-stretch and very strong. It comes in black, white, blue, and green and is available at a reasonable price point. The combination of great value and performance gives this line the edge; I’ve got it on several rods and I find myself reaching for them first when I’m going ice fishing.
Measuring 1000m long with a line diameter of 0.27mm, the SKYSPER line is available in 10-pound, 20-pound, or 30-pound test. It’s one of the best ice fishing lines for walleye, which can grow quite big (20+ pounds).
Berkley Trilene Micro Ice Fishing Line
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Berkley Trilene Micro Ice Fishing Line Review
A lighter option on this list, the Berkley Trilene line is available in 2-pound, 3-pound, 4-pound, 6-pound, and 8-pound test, so it’s one of the best ice fishing lines for perch or any other species on the smaller side. This is a monofilament line, and there are 110 yards per spool.
The line is pretty low stretch, which give you good sensitivity so you can feel what’s happening under the ice. It has a good strength-to-diameter ratio. Overall, I’ve found this to be a reliable line that offers good control and fast hook sets.
It’s available in “solar,” a lime green color that shows up well against snow and ice, or in the less visible “clear steel.”
Bottom line: The Berkley Trilene is possibly the best ice fishing line for panfish. It offers good control and flexibility while standing up to harsh, cold conditions.
Jigging Hunter Superior Monofilament Fishing Line
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Jigging Hunter Superior Monofilament Fishing Line Review
Another excellent monofilament option, this line is virtually invisible to avoid spooking shy and skittish fish. It’s fast-sinking with a small diameter, excellent strength, and high sensitivity.
This line is specially treated to increase its abrasion resistance. This is a useful feature when ice fishing or under any harsh or challenging conditions.
The Jigging Hunter line is available in an astonishingly wide range of strengths, from 9-pound test all the way up to 133-pound test for huge catches. It’s a quality, reliable, durable line that will serve you well on the ice.
Sufix Ice Braid Fishing Lines
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Sufix Ice Braid Fishing Lines Review
Comprising multiple fiber strands, the Sufix Ice Braid combines strength with a thin diameter. It handles and casts smoothly and is designed to resist ice buildup.
Like most braided lines, there’s virtually no stretch, so you have superb sensitivity to every small movement below. It’s quite a thin, supple line that retains good flexibility even under the coldest, iciest conditions.
This braid is available in 6-pound, 10-pound, 20-pound, and 30-pound test. It comes in a glacier blue color. If you’re on the market for a solid ice fishing braid, the Sufix is definitely worth consideration.
PowerPro Ice-Tec Ice Fishing Line
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PowerPro Ice-Tec Ice Fishing Line Review
Available in 5-pound test and 15-pound test, the PowerPro Ice-Tec is made of spectra fiber with a Teflon coating to reduce water retention and help prevent the line from icing up. This helps it stay flexible, easy to handle, and easy to knot.
This line is extremely sensitive with almost no stretch. The blue color offers good visibility above the ice. Like other lines on this list, the PowerPro is resistant to abrasion and can handle a good deal of use in cold, icy, and challenging conditions.
All in all, this is another solid choice for ice fishing. It gets the job done reliably and holds up to harsh conditions.
Ice Fishing Line Buyer’s Guide
What makes a good ice fishing line? A few qualities are absolutely essential. These include:
Abrasion Resistance
Important for fishing in areas with dense cover, a durable, abrasion-resistant line can hold up to bumps from rocks, ice chunks, brush, branches, and so on.
Strength
Obviously you want a line that won’t snap when you’ve finally got a big catch. So choose a line of the appropriate strength.
This is called the “test” and is usually measured in pounds. As I mentioned in the above reviews, these lines are each available in an array of tests. Which once you choose depends on the weight of the fish you plan to catch.
Do some research on the fish species in your area and find out how big they can get; then choose your line accordingly.
Match the weight of the fish to the weight of the line. A 20-pound test line can generally handle up to a 20-pound fish, and so on.
The Berkley Trilene line is ideally suited to catching smaller fish since it’s available in lower tests, while a line like the Jigging Hunter is effective up to super high weights.
Amount of Stretch
Low stretch means high sensitivity; you can feel even tiny nibbles and bites and know exactly what’s going on with your bait. I recommend a sensitive line, like the Skysper or the Berkley lines, for ice fishing.
Resistance to Ice Buildup
You want a line with low water retention, since any water that seeps into the line will freeze and make the line stiff and unwieldly. Ice fishing lines—including Sufix Ice Braid Line and PowerPro Ice-Tec Ice Fishing Line are designed to avoid this common problem.
Conclusion
In my experience, these are among the best lines for ice fishing; they cover all your bases with regard to abrasion resistance, strength, resistance to ice buildup, and other vital factors. If I had to pick a personal favorite? It’s hard to beat the value of the Skysper, but you won’t go wrong with any of them. Have fun and stay warm out there!