Low stretch mono options 2024
DN3 reply :
Looking to spool up a do everything baitcasting setup....I'd like to put mono on it, and am wondering what some of the lower stretch/more sensitive options are out there???
..I'd get Fluorocarbon but this setup will throw a lot of topwaters, and braid is out for the moment until I get better at tying leaders, and I'll have other rods with braid
hoop12 reply :
I love Berkley Tri-lene mono. Its really good stuff, and they have a few different versions of it. I typically throw the XL Casting Tri-lene in low-vis green and normally use 12# test. Works great for pretty much any lure you wanna throw. I like the green for the lakes and rivers I fish in Texas because they are all pretty stained water.
PECo reply :
On 4/5/2018 at 11:54 AM, DN3 said:braid is out for the moment until I get better at tying leaders
Get better at tying leaders. 
Tywithay reply :
It's a little pricey, but Sunline Defier Armilo is the lowest stretch mono I've used, pound for pound. Toray Bawo Superhard Polyamide Plus (mouthful of a name) is a very close second, though it's pricey as well. After that, I'd probably look at something like XT or Big Game. I usually pick a couple lb's lower when I use those kinds of lines because the diameters are really thick compared to the actual weight rating. They under rate them to make it seem like they have the strongest lines on the market.
CroakHunter reply :
P-line cxx is as tough as nails. Virtually no stretch, down side is that it's thick and that it doesn't handle the best over 15lbs. If I had to pick one line to frog and punch with besides braid, it would be cxx. And if you have some 25Lb cxx laying around it makes great weed eater string...yes I've done this
KP Duty reply :
X2 on p-line cxx. AND the moss green filler spools are buy one get one free right now at TW.
smalljaw67 reply :
Spider Wire Ultra Cast Ultimate Mono, I'm really liking it. I fished it side by side with Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon and Sunline Defier Armilo mono to see how good the line was. The Sunline handled better but got nicked up faster fishing through rocks and it felt like there was more stretch and the InvizX had similar handling properties but wasn't even close in knot strength. The only knock on the Ultimate Mono is that it handles like fluorocarbon but a couple of spritzes of KVD line and lure conditioner and it is great!! It has excellent knot strength and the abrasion resistance is outstanding, it makes me wonder why more anglers aren't using it. I'm on my 4th full season with this line, I usually try at least 1 new line per season but I didn't go with one last year, the first time in a long time as I don't know if I'll get better than the Spider Wire. I know a lot of guys like Sunline and it convinced me to try it and perhaps I got old line but I tried the Super Natural and the strength wasn't good, it handled better than any other mono I ever used but I had more break offs in one trip than I did in 3 years combined. The Defier Armilo was also good but I suspect that whatever Sunline does to make their line supple ends up hurting the abrasion resistance and with a lot of my fishing being done in an extremely rocky environment it makes for a lot of trouble. The Ultimate Mono as I said, isn't the best handling line but the low stretch, knot strength, and abrasion resistance makes it the best mono I've used so far, 1 break off in 3 years and that was on a snag, still haven't had it happen on a fish which is something I can't say for any other mono I've tried.
PatrickKnight reply :
On 4/5/2018 at 6:45 PM, smalljaw67 said:Spider Wire Ultra Cast Ultimate Mono, I'm really liking it. I fished it side by side with Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon and Sunline Defier Armilo mono to see how good the line was. The Sunline handled better but got nicked up faster fishing through rocks and it felt like there was more stretch and the InvizX had similar handling properties but wasn't even close in knot strength. The only knock on the Ultimate Mono is that it handles like fluorocarbon but a couple of spritzes of KVD line and lure conditioner and it is great!! It has excellent knot strength and the abrasion resistance is outstanding, it makes me wonder why more anglers aren't using it. I'm on my 4th full season with this line, I usually try at least 1 new line per season but I didn't go with one last year, the first time in a long time as I don't know if I'll get better than the Spider Wire. I know a lot of guys like Sunline and it convinced me to try it and perhaps I got old line but I tried the Super Natural and the strength wasn't good, it handled better than any other mono I ever used but I had more break offs in one trip than I did in 3 years combined. The Defier Armilo was also good but I suspect that whatever Sunline does to make their line supple ends up hurting the abrasion resistance and with a lot of my fishing being done in an extremely rocky environment it makes for a lot of trouble. The Ultimate Mono as I said, isn't the best handling line but the low stretch, knot strength, and abrasion resistance makes it the best mono I've used so far, 1 break off in 3 years and that was on a snag, still haven't had it happen on a fish which is something I can't say for any other mono I've tried.
Sounds like a good leader material for me to try!
Hulkster reply :
Im a sufix Siege fan in 10 and 12 pound tests.
Scott F reply :
On 4/5/2018 at 11:54 AM, DN3 said:.. and braid is out for the moment until I get better at tying leaders, and I'll have other rods with braid
Leaders are not required when using braid. I've been using braid for a very long time and have never used a leader.
WRB reply :
Maybe someone can offer accurate "stretch" comparative test data; Force applied over 1 second of time, wet, controlled length. If I was still working it would be a easy test to perform.
Tackle Tour may have some current data?
My point is mono doesn't stretch ( yield strength) any more then any other single filament line including Fluorocarbon and copolymer lines of the same diameter. There is differences in tensile & yield strength between various brands and this will show up under controlled tests, my educated guess is the variance will be within 10%.
Sunline claims* Defier Shooter Nylon has the lowest % of stretch, Defier Armillo being very close. I use Defier Armillo for other reasons; small diameter per pound rated test with high tensile strength with lower memory then other mono line. The combination of high tensile strength, small diameter, high abrasion resistance and low memory is very difficult to achieve.
Tom
* intellectually honest unlike most line companies.
FryDog62 reply :
I did a line stretch test a couple years ago, tested 20-30 lines... mono, co-polymer and fluorocarbon. The lowest stretch lines were Trilene XT and Yo-Zuri Hybrid. However, once wet the mono soaks up water and stretches more. Yo-Zuri Hybrid does not soak up water and was the lowest stretch line in the test once all the lines were wet.
Log Catcher reply :
On 4/5/2018 at 11:21 PM, Hulkster said:Im a sufix Siege fan in 10 and 12 pound tests.
I agree 100 per cent with this.
WRB reply :
On 4/6/2018 at 6:40 AM, FryDog62 said:I did a line stretch test a couple years ago, tested 20-30 lines... mono, co-polymer and fluorocarbon. The lowest stretch lines were Trilene XT and Yo-Zuri Hybrid. However, once wet the mono soaks up water and stretches more. Yo-Zuri Hybrid does not soak up water and was the lowest stretch line in the test once all the lines were wet.
Post the test results and test methods.
Yo-Zuri Hybrid is one of the largest diameter line per lb test on the market, diameter matters and should be how line is grouped for testing, not advertised lb test.
Tom
fissure_man reply :
Loosely relevant info from an intellectually honest line company 
Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo (SDA)
“Designed by Morizo Shimizu to be a nylon with characteristics similar to fc products, especially low stretch for better hooksets.”
17 lb diameter = 0.0134 inches
Sunline Shooter Defier (SD)
“Designed by Morizo Shimizu to be a superior nylon specifically for use with hard baits. Has minimal line friction with allows easy, long distance casts. It has high abrasion resistance and knot strength for good strength going over rocks and wood.”
17 lb diameter = 0.0134 inches (note: exactly the same as SDA)
Consider the following chart published on www.sunlineamerica.com:
No labels or units; judging from scale I assume this “SS” (stress-strain) curve shows load (kg) on the vertical axis, elongation (%) on the horizontal. Don’t know the loading rate, or the test conditions (dry/wet, temperature). Maybe this is all published elsewhere.
Anyway, according to my interpretation of this chart:
- 17 lb SDA tested stronger than 17 lb SD: 9.8 kg (21.7 lb) vs. 8.4 kg (18.6 lb)
- 17 lb SDA stretched considerably less than 17 lb SD for any given load (including loads far below breaking strength).
Over the course of these tests, depending on the load, SD appears to elongate 30-80% more than SDA. At 2.5 kg for instance – SDA stretches ~6.9%, SD stretches ~9.3% (33.6% more).
No real point to make, just that the above does appear to demonstrate significantly different stretch characteristics of two nylon lines from the same manufacturer with ostensibly identical diameters, under the same testing conditions.
WRB reply :
That is good comparative test data. Would be interesting to know the applied force rate and wet vs dry, with other mfr.'s line tested the same controlled method for comparison.
note, 2.5K = 5.5 lbs.
Tom
Josh k reply :
Hands down sunline shooter defier armilo. This stuff rocks
Brad in Texas reply :
Great information here.
One technical point: There is a difference between elasticity and plasticity.
Traditional monofilament lines are more elastic usually. The most elastic line I have ever used? the Red Cajun line reeled up on many Zebcos. That stuff stretches a mile.
Back to elasticity. This would be analogous to a rubber band where after it is stretched, it retreats to its original length. It can be stretched over and over . . .though it does weaken by repeated stretching and it definitely is weaker when it absorbs water.
Plasticity? Something that can be elongated, has some rebound back to its normal length, but its structure changes after a stretch. Think, here, of something like a stick of juicy fruit gum. You can pull on each end of it, it'll stretch, but it never returns to its original length. According to some really good testing over on TackleTour, fluorocarbons stretch about the same as monofilaments, I recall this surprised the testers, but only on the initial tug.
I'm sure, just like the stretchy red line I mentioned, there are examples of lines that have very high plasticity characteristics, others that are somewhere in-between the extremes.
*** For mono, I am a fan of Sufix Elite, use it on a reel or two.
Brad
WRB reply :
When a line yields or stretches, taking a permanent set, the diameter is reduced. Line like Flurocarbon takes a permanent set, the diameter is reduced or deformed and severely weakened, i.e. Knot strecth compromised. This factor has spawned dozens of new knots trying to reduce the weaken knot problem.
Keep in mind nylon is a hygroscopic polymer, water absorbsion doesn't tend to weaken this polymer within ambient temperature the line is used and a primary reason monofilament line is made from nylon compounds.
Tom
FryDog62 reply :
On 4/6/2018 at 7:08 AM, WRB said:Post the test results and test methods.
Yo-Zuri Hybrid is one of the largest diameter line per lb test on the market, diameter matters and should be how line is grouped for testing, not advertised lb test.
Tom
Yes, but the 6 lb YZH stretched less than the 8 lb counterparts in my testing as well. And doesn’t soak up water and stretch more over time. Trilene XT is thicker and soaks up water affecting its stretch too.
I’d take 6 lb YZH in a stretch test over any 8 lb 100% fluorocarbon.
WRB reply :
Every plastic monomer or polymer will creep or stretch over with force or strain over time. It takes close to 30% of the lines tensile stretch to start to yield point where stretching begins to occur until it reaches it's ultimate strength and breaks. If you apply 30% of the line strength over a few seconds like a hook set, how much stretch occurs? Answer; very little. If the force is applied very fast it becomes Impact strength, the line breaks before it can stretch.
Yo-Zuri is a fluorocarbon jacket extruded over a nylon polymer core, therefor water proof. My issue with Yo-Zuri is their lb test labeling doesn't come close it's diameter and tensile strength misleading anglers to believe it is stronger then other line with equal lb test labels. What amazes me is bass anglers accept this type of marketing and call it thick line. Yo-Zuri 6 lb Hybrid is .010 D, Sunline Armillo Nylon 11lb test is .010 D.
Anglers believe mono line stretches because the read it does.
Tom
zell_pop1 reply :
Yo zuri hybrid 10lb diameter is the same as Stren, Suffix, McCoys, and Gammas mono/copoly lines, cxx and xt are larger. So really the line diameter of Yo Zuri is the norm and it is stronger at its diameter than most. My only problem with it is like any fluro have a backlash and you will most likely get a break in your spool which is why I went to Gamma or McCoys.
The Bassman reply :
On 4/6/2018 at 11:15 AM, WRB said:Every plastic monomer or polymer will creep or stretch over with force or strain over time. It takes close to 30% of the lines tensile stretch to start to yield point where stretching begins to occur until it reaches it's ultimate strength and breaks. If you apply 30% of the line strength over a few seconds like a hook set, how much stretch occurs? Answer; very little. If the force is applied very fast it becomes Impact strength, the line breaks before it can stretch.
Yo-Zuri is a fluorocarbon jacket extruded over a nylon polymer core, therefor water proof. My issue with Yo-Zuri is their lb test labeling doesn't come close it's diameter and tensile strength misleading anglers to believe it is stronger then other line with equal lb test labels. What amazes me is bass anglers accept this type of marketing and call it thick line. Yo-Zuri 6 lb Hybrid is .010 D, Sunline Armillo Nylon 11lb test is .010 D.
Anglers believe mono line stretches because the read it does.
Tom
Good point. I don't know how many times I've stressed that one should shop diameter, not stated strength. Then consider physical characteristics of a given product.
Bluebasser86 reply :
HI-SEAS Grand Slam has really impressed me. Really good abrasion resistance, good knot strength, and low enough stretch to use with jigs and plastics. Plus I can get it anywhere and it's very reasonably priced.
Team9nine reply :
If you want sensitivity with nylon lines, keep your casts short and your diameters small. Beyond the fancy graphs and technical terms, brand is largely irrelevant...they're all nylon based, they all absorb moisture and they all suck (relative to subject matter) 
fissure_man reply :
On 4/6/2018 at 11:15 AM, WRB said:It takes close to 30% of the lines tensile stretch to start to yield point where stretching begins to occur until it reaches it's ultimate strength and breaks.
How would you reconcile this with the chart I posted from Sunline? Those samples elongated 7-10% by the time they reached 30% of their ultimate strength. Does this not count as “stretch”?
WRB reply :
Yes it's stretched, we don't know the time envolved or the length of line tested.
5 lbs is a lot of pulling force, Max to bottom out most MH average bass rods.
Tom
BobP reply :
Have we confused you enough yet? I like Yozuri Hybrid because it's pretty strong, pretty low stretch, pretty manageable, and moderately priced. It’s easy to get wrapped around the axle about mono lines but there are lots of choices and many of them will work OK. The biggest difference I notice among lines is that most companies sell a hard line that is stronger and has better knot strength and less stretch but more spool memory, and a softer line that is more manageable (less spool memory) but with more stretch and less knot strength. Some American companies use names like XT (hard) versus XL (soft). I’d choose XT in summer on a baitcaster and XL in winter, or anytime on a spinning reel. I tend toward using braided line with a leader these days. It’s less trouble, lasts a long time, and performs well. I can stop worrying about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, and just go fishing.
fissure_man reply :
On 4/6/2018 at 10:47 PM, WRB said:Yes it's stretched, we don't know the time envolved or the length of line tested.
5 lbs is a lot of pulling force, Max to bottom out most MH average bass rods.
Tom
We don’t really need to know the tested length if we’re describing “stretch” as % elongation. Linear stretch (i.e. measured in ft) is proportional to length, strain or % elongation is not.
The loading rate is unknown, but there’s no reason to assume Sunline would be testing their lines so slow as to induce significant time-dependent creep (at least for the low-load portion of the curves, <30% ultimate strength). Doing so would make their line appear “stretchier,” counterproductive to marketing.
Another example: Tackletour’s FC stretch tests used 12 lb Trilene XL mono as a control – static load of 3 lbs, “over a length of time just long enough to measure each samples’ change in length and write this down”. Results showed ~10% stretch after soaking, with 100% linear rebound upon unloading. If plastic creep was a factor in the elongation, the line would not have fully rebounded to original length.
Agreed that 5 lbs is a lot of dead weight, but probably (possibly?) achievable momentarily on a strong hook set. In any case, my point was that the elastic stretch began immediately upon loading, not at 5 lbs or at 30% ultimate strength.
I don’t have any dynamic testing results for mono fishing lines, but one can prove that it still stretches by just tying 20-30 ft to a sturdy tree and yanking quickly on it, right?
@BobP the point that some are making is that the same qualities/differences you appreciate between XL and XT can arguably be found by just changing diameter of the same type of line. And if you look at lines marketed as “hard” or “tough,” they tend to be thicker and stronger than lines of the same rated strength marketed as “limp” or “manageable” (12 lb XT is the diameter of 17 lb XL, for example). So if you want a stronger, less stretchy, abrasion resistant line at the expense of poorer handling, just buy a couple sizes up from what you have now, cross out the rated strength and write whatever (lower) number you want to fish with that day. Or buy an “extra tough” line where the manufacturer has already done this for you. 
WRB reply :
What 99% of bass anglers feel as mono stretch is actually line bow do to high coeffient of drag going though water. FC has far less drag so anglers feel less bow in the line and translates into better feed back to what a underwater lure is doing, no debate there. My issue with FC is knot strength.
My argument is you can achieve the same hook setting force at 40 to 50 yards of line out with mono as FC line if you maintain contact with the lure or minimized bow in the line using the proper hook setting technique. Proof, my catch record of several hundred DD bass caught on jigs using 10 lb to 12 lb mono line, every one of my giant bass over 16 lbs for examples.
I agree with the above post, well written. I haven't read a TT test that includes Sunline mono or groups line by diameter. TT does reference line diameters, it's up to the reader to group them. Trilene XL is 1 lb test size smaller (.002) then XT for example so comparing 12 lb XL (.013) to XT (.015) is comparing 10 lb test to 12 lb test for example.
Tom
PS, the 17 lb test Armillo is .013 for comparison.
Boomstick reply :
Sufix Siege line would fit the bill well. It's a little bit more expensive, but well worth it imo
Choporoz reply :
On 4/7/2018 at 12:54 AM, WRB said:What 99% of bass anglers feel as mono stretch is actually line bow do to high coeffient of drag going though water.
This is a very interesting wrinkle to the discussion. And still not outside the realm of measurable. Not anything I'm about to tackle, but it is a concept that won't occur to most fishermen considering 'stretch'; but could be quite significant. Not just the drag, but possibly even the amount of bow or arc that different lines might have. Straightening out the 'bow' will affect the angler about the same as 'stretch', but not as easy to picture, especially when considering dry 'stretch' tests that seem authoritative.
WRB reply :
I know trying to educate bass anglers is sometimes like whipping a dead horse.
If Sunline wanted to market their Defier Armillo 17 lb (.0138) as 12 lb test like Berkley XT 12 lb (.015) and the majority of mono line on the market it would be by far the strongest 12 lb mono line. This is why diameter matters in line testing and in selecting line.
Peace
Tom
fishwizzard reply :
The thing I’ve always wondered about discussions of line stretch is this;
The things we are dealing with are the rod, the line, the fish, and the fisherman. The rod will flex per it’s power and action, the line will stretch, and the unsuspecting fish will move a little before the hook penetrates and if we are fishing from a boat or kayak, we could move a little too. So when looking at “line stretch” in isolation, are we really getting useful information, assuming we are testing line stretch between two fixed points? What percentage of the total “stretch” in the entire system comes from the line, and what is caused by these other variables, especially the rod?
Team9nine reply :
On 4/7/2018 at 1:27 AM, Choporoz said:This is a very interesting wrinkle to the discussion. And still not outside the realm of measurable. Not anything I'm about to tackle, but it is a concept that won't occur to most fishermen considering 'stretch'; but could be quite significant. Not just the drag, but possibly even the amount of bow or arc that different lines might have. Straightening out the 'bow' will affect the angler about the same as 'stretch', but not as easy to picture, especially when considering dry 'stretch' tests that seem authoritative.
These tests have been done before and the data is out there, hence my suggestion to focus on the two things you really have control of to overcome them - line diameter and cast distances. Tom's point about technique to overcome distance plays into this as well.
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