Of all the fishing gear in which we invest our hard-earned dollars, line is often an afterthought. Most of us settle into what we’ve always used for a specific species and technique. We might have countless spools in the garage, but we spend a lot more time worrying about electronics and hot, new baits than we do thinking about line.
And of those species and techniques, rarely do we pay as much attention to our panfish gear as we do our bass, walleye, salmon, trout, and Esox gear. “Sure, we’re going to fish crappies — what’s the big deal?” Right?
Actually, it is a big deal. In my lifetime I’ve seen lots of changes in the panfish lines available on the market. As a kid, you used whatever was strung on your Zebco combo, and later, probably Stren or Trilene XL on an open-face outfit. But, with advancements have come many advantages: stronger lines, easier casting lines, less memory, stealth, and overall, increased longevity.
Here’s a breakdown of the best fishing lines for crappie and other panfish. These are general-purpose lines for most situations you will find yourself in while casting to crappies, whether you’re soaking a cork and live minnow over a brush pile, shooting docks with a small plastic and jighead, or sniping main basin fish with forward-facing sonar.
- Bass Pro Shops CRAPPIEMAXX Super-Vis Monofilament – Buy From Bass Pro Shops
- Lew’s Mr. Crappie MEGA SPOOL Hi-Visibility Monofilament – Buy From Amazon
- Maxima Ultragreen- Buy From Bass Pro Shops
- Daiwa J-Braid X8 – Buy From Bass Pro Shops
- Sufix NanoBraid – Buy From Tackle Warehouse
- Sunline SX1 – Buy From Tackle Warehouse
- Daiwa J-Fluoro Samurai Hidden Concept – Buy From Bass Pro Shops
- Sunline Super FC Sniper – Buy From Bass Pro Shops
Monofilament Crappie Lines
Monofilament has long been the choice of panfish-seekers because it’s cheap, readily available, and it catches fish. By nature, monofilament lines are limp and they stretch, float, and are available in high-visibility colors like yellow that many crappie anglers prefer for detecting bites. It’s also typically the least expensive of all fishing line, which means more money for other fishing upgrades.
Bass Pro Shops CRAPPIEMAXX Super-Vis Monofilament
Available in 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-pound-test strengths, this line isn’t the narrowest in terms of diameter but it is super strong, defies spool memory and coiling, and has a great hi-visibility yellow hue. Diameters vary from .203mm (4 pound), .254mm (6 pound), .279mm (8 pound), to .304mm (10 pound).
As mentioned, Bass Pro Shops CRAPPIEMAXX monofilament resists coiling, the fact along that led me to re-spool several of my crappie rods with this line. The line comes off the spool limp and straight, just as you would hope a monofilament line would. Plus, the value can’t be overlooked. You get a 3190-yard spool of 4 pound for $8.99, encouraging re-spooling a couple times a season just to make sure you line is as strong and fresh as it needs to be to haul in crappies for the fryer.
Lew’s Mr. Crappie MEGA SPOOL Hi-Visibility Monofilament
A favorite with southern crappie long-line trollers, Lew’s Mr. Crappie MEGA SPOOL line is one super-strong monofilament, making it ideal for pulling jigs out of tree branches or brush when jigs tangle. Plus, it’s extremely abrasion resistant and has low memory for increased casting distance.
Field tested and approved by Mr. Crappie, Wally Marshall, himself, so you know it’s crappie-approved. Available in clear, camo, or hi-vis, and 4-, 6-, and 8-pound test strengths, with 1,500 yards selling for $7.99. A great option for catching crappies in turbid waters, especially dock shooting where abrasion can be an issue, buoyant line keeps the jig riding higher in the water column, and bite visibility is key.
Maxima Ultragreen One Shot
A classic choice for trout, salmon, and steelhead set-ups featuring monofilament, Maxima Ultragreen One Shot features outstanding abrasion resistance also making it great for tapping crappies in brush and around docks, plus super-strong tensile strength per pound rating and spectacular knot strength. Plus, its moss green color is perfect for clear-water crappies where stealth is key.
Superlines/Braided Crappie Lines
With the advent of forward-facing sonar, casting distance has become more critical, with transducers showing fish and baits 100 feet-plus in some instances. That said, tech-savvy crappie anglers are seeking out the farthest-casting lines possible to drop jigs on unsuspecting crappies.
The best line here is braid and superlines, which feature no memory, resist wind knots, and have ultra-small diameters to fill even small reels with lots of line. But most of these crappie anglers are not fishing superline all the way down to the crappie jig – they are attaching a leader of fluorocarbon or copolymer via a Double-Uni, FG, or similar knot or utilizing a micro-barrel swivel which also minimizes jig spin. These are the best fishing lines for crappie when you want the utmost sensitivity.
Daiwa J-Braid X8
I have been using the 8-carrier (strand) braid Daiwa J-Braid X8 for years. It has a super small diameter, a perfectly round profile, it’s ultra-strong, not waxy, has amazing knot strength, and casts a mile. Plus, I have had the same braid on some of my reels (all species) going on three years now.
Manufactured of high-end Japanese materials, it’s also super smooth and flies unfettered off the reel spool and through guides. Long casts? You bet.
Available in dark green, chartreuse, white, and multi-color, Daiwa J-Braid X8 is available in everything from 6-pound to saltwater weights. The 6-pound has a diameter of .002 inches and is equivalent to 1.5 pound monofilament. The 8-pound is equivalent to 2 pound mono and even the 10 pound is only the diameter of 2.5 lb. test. So, can you size up to pull jigs out of brush and wood? Absolutely.
Sufix NanoBraid
If there’s a line on the market that reminds me of the old Berkley Nanofil, which was one of the earliest and best superlines on the market, it’s Sufix NanoBraid. Ultra-low diameter and silky smooth, it’s great for Olympian casting super-small baits.
The magic behind it is apparently a wide-angle braiding technology, resulting in a tighter weave and strong, silky performance. The company purports up to three times more strength per test than other lines in the category, and loads of shock strength besides ultra-sensitivity.
Call it a “finesse braid”, it’s available in test strengths as low as 2- and 3-pound-test, too, and the 6-pound features a .004-inch diameter, 8-pound is .005 inches and 10-pound is .006 inches. Pretty amazing.
Sunline SX1
Billed as “strong and sensitive” Sunline’s SX1 braid has long been a favorite with Japanese finesse bass anglers. One professional panfish guide I know, Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, is incredibly bullish on this stuff. He spools all his crappie, bluegill, and perch rods with the lowest-test-strength SX1 available, the ultra-thin hi-vis yellow SX1 in 8-pound test. He ties it to a Sunline Super Sniper FC fluorocarbon leader at the business end. He says he can “cast a mile” and it performs especially well in the wind when he’s far casting tungsten jigs under FF sonar or whipping a micro-plastic jig combo under a bobber back in shallow, crappie spawn bays and coves.
Leader Lines for Crappie
Whether you’re flinging micro-baits, far-casting to FFS revealed fish, or trying to make headway in windy conditions with superline/braid spooled crappie set-ups, make sure to terminate your mainline by a micro-swivel or line-to-leader knot to a fluorocarbon leader. The only exception is fishing straight braid in super dirty water where line visibility doesn’t matter or you need the added sensitivity and bite detection that tying a jig straight to braid provides.
Daiwa J-Fluoro Samurai Hidden Concept
Like the Daiwa J-Braid, I have been fishing Daiwa J-Fluoro Samurai Hidden Concept leader material on all my species set-ups for several years. This Japanese-made fluorocarbon is small in diameter, super strong, and has an invisibility factor due to its unique camouflage, green/brown hue. Fishing crappies is no different, especially in the clear waters of the upper Midwest where stealth can put more fish in the boat.
Hidden Concept also features a narrow diameter, low-stretch, abrasion resistance, and low memory, all great features to consider in a fluorocarbon leader. For me, the 5-pound is my go-to leader for crappies fished with braid.
Sunline Super FC Sniper
Once again, this leader material is Brosdahl’s go-to choice. He ties the Sunline Super Sniper FC to his hi-vis yellow SX1 8-pound test with a micro barrel swivel and says he “never has to worry” about abrasion or whether it’ll be strong enough to land slabs. He uses it in 5-, 6-, or 7-pound depending on the conditions. That’s definitely one of the cool things about this line are the odd test strength sizes – 5-pound when 4 isn’t quite enough and 7-pound when you want something just a bit beefier than 6-pound.
Super Sniper FC features ultra-low diameter, extreme sensitivity, and abrasion resistance, besides being silky smooth and resisting any memory. A great all-around fluorocarbon; a bit expensive, but worth it according to those who use it.
What to Consider When Choosing Line for Crappie Fishing
When choosing a fishing line for crappie or other panfish fishing, you’ll want to focus on a few key factors to match how and where you’re fishing. Crappie are relatively light-biters with soft mouths, so line choice matters more than you might think. Here’s a breakdown of what to look for when selecting the best fishing lines for crappie:
Line Type
There are three main types used for crappie and other panfish.
Monofilament
- Usually floats
- Good stretch helps prevent pulling hooks from crappie’s soft mouths
- Can be less sensitive and less abrasion-resistant than fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbon
- More invisible in water, good for clear lakes
- More sensitive, better for feeling light bites
- Sinks, not ideal if you’re using topwater or bobbers
Braided Line
- Very strong, thin diameter
- Super sensitive
- Highly visible; usually needs a fluorocarbon/mono leader
- No stretch; greater risk of tearing hooks out
Line Strength (Pound Test)
- For most crappie fishing, 2–6 lb test is ideal
- Use 2–4 lb if you’re fishing ultra-clear or want super finesse
- Chooose 6 lb for a bit more strength in heavier cover or around structure
- If you’re vertical jigging or spider rigging, lighter is usually better.
- For casting into brush or around docks, 6 lb gives you a bit more abrasion resistance.
Water Conditions
- Clear water: Fluorocarbon or low-visibility mono
- Stained or muddy: You can go up in line strength; visibility is less of an issue
- Heavy cover/brush: Slightly heavier line or braid with leader
