Musky are some scary fish. They are mean, aggressive, and have some monster teeth. However, their teeth aren’t the only consideration when choosing the right fishing line. You also need to consider what lures your are throwing, and how big the fish are.
Quick Look
- 100 lb. Test (But go lighter for small musky)
- Best: Braid
- Leader: 130 lb. Test Fluorocarbon
Why Use Braid Fishing Line For Musky?
Musky anglers use braid fishing line because it’s the only line you can practically use with the strength of 100 lb. test. However, 100 lb. test braid is more about saving your lures rather than reeling in the fish.
Many musky anglers are out there throwing large swimbaits and lures. Some of these can way up to a pound. When throwing big baits like this, you really need to consider what fishing line to use.
One of the best things about braid is the thin diameter. This is why you are able to cast a line with a strength of 100 lb. However, one downside to thin braided line is that it can dig into itself on the reel. This can cause backlash when you cast.
Backlash is a big problem when you are casting a 16 oz. lure. That’s enough to rip the rod out of your hand and send it sailing, or break the line. Using thicker 100 lb. test braid, reduces the likelihood of the line digging into itself and causing a backlash.
Those big swimbaits aren’t cheap. Another benefit of using 100 lb. braid, is that if you get snagged, you can usually bend your hooks out and get your lure back.
What lb. Test Fishing Line For Musky?
100 lb. test braid is a good fishing line for large musky, especially if you are casting large baits. If you are fishing for small musky, then you can use 30 to 60 lb. test braid.
I pretty much covered the reason for using such a large braid in the section above.
I should clarify that if you aren’t throwing big baits, then 40 to 60 lb. test braid is plenty strong for reeling in musky.
What Leader Material For Musky Fishing?
The recommended leader for musky fishing is 130 lb. test fluorocarbon. Musky have big sharp teeth, so you need a leader that can hold up to the abuse. Fluorocarbon has good abrasion resistance, and is less visible than steel leaders.
The other option for mucky leaders is wire. This again comes down to what bait you are using. If you are using a stop and go bait like a jerkbait, glider, or topwater dog, then you should use a wire leader. The stiff wire leader won’t get caught up in the hooks and gives the bait better action.
Can You Catch Musky on Fluorocarbon Fishing Line?
If you are just targeting small musky with small to medium sized lures, then you can use fluorocarbon fishing line. It’s when you get into bigger fish, and using large baits, that you want to change to 100 lb. test braid.
Can You Catch Musky on Monofilament Line?
If your rod is already spooled up with monofilament fishing line, and you are only fishing ponds or rivers with small musky, then you will be fine to use mono. But if you are targeting big musky, then you should switch to braid.
