Best Ice Fishing Line in 2021 – Buyer’s Guide

Ice-fishing lines are ones that can handle the freezing cold and the heavy abrasion of ice fishing, which is fishing through holes drilled in ice to expose a frozen body of water.

Because an ice-fishing line deals with the trickiest environment, it is not easy picking the right way. So, we’ve done our research to help you find the best ice-fishing line.

List of the Best Ice Fishing Lines:

1. KastKing SuperPower Braided Fishing Line – Best Overall
2. Piscifun Superline Abrasion Resistant Braided – Runner-Up
3. Reaction Tackle High-Performance Braided – Best Budget
4. Sufix 832 Braid Ice Fishing Line – Best Braid
5. Sufix Ice Magic – Best Monofilament
6. Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon – Best Fluorocarbon
7. Sufix Performance Tip-Up – Best Tip-Up

The 7 Best Ice Fishing Lines in 2021

1. KastKing SuperPower Braided Fishing Line – Best Overall

The KastKing SuperPower braided line has it all. It comes in test strength ranging from 6 to 150 pounds, with the line being 4-strand for high strength and 8-strand for even higher strength from 65 to 150 pounds. Also, it offers sizes in 327, 547, and 1097 yards.

An abrasion-resistant braided line for ice fishing is all you need, and that’s exactly what the KastKing SuperPower offers. You won’t have to worry about this tough one against rough or sharp edges.

This line basically has no stretch, which means it has ultra-high sensitivity. You need this level of sensitivity with low-activity fish, so you don’t lose them. It is also good for easy and far casting, thanks to its low memory.

Pros:

• Different size options
• Different fade-resistant color options
• Strong knot strength
• Low memory
• Ultra-high sensitivity
• Smaller diameter
• Great abrasion resistance
• Great castability

Cons:

• Not the most affordable

Bottom Line

The durability, strength, sensitivity, and versatility of this line have earned it our number one spot.

2. Piscifun Superline Abrasion Resistant Braided – Runner-Up

The Piscifun comes in test strength ranging from 6 to 150 pounds, with the line being 4-strand for high strength from 6 to 50 pounds and 8-strand for maximum strength from 65 to 150 pounds. It also comes in sizes in 150, 300, and 547 yards.

Thanks to the Nano-Resin coating, this braided line has 10% more abrasion resistance than other braided lines. The minimal stretch gives the line high sensitivity and fast hook setting powers.

Our product has low memory, and that reduces the possibility of twists and increases line smoothness for accurate casting.

If you’d like different color options, the Piscifun Superline has got your back. It offers 6 colors for different purposes: black, green, multi-color, ocean blue, white, and yellow.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Strong knot strength
• Different size options
• Different  color options
• Great abrasion resistance
• High sensitivity
• Low memory
• Precision braiding
• Nano-Resin coating

Cons:

• Color fades

Bottom Line

An affordable, low-memory, abrasion-resistant, and sensitive line like this one is what you need for ice fishing.

3. Reaction Tackle High-Performance Braided – Best Budget

The Reaction Tackle line is good for fishing in freshwater, saltwater, ice fishing, surf fishing, or bow fishing. There isn’t a scenario where this line won’t work.

It comes in 4-strand options from 10 to 100 pounds and 8-strand options from 120 to 300 pounds in for ultimate strength. The line offers an amazing selection in sizes of 150, 300, 500, 1000, and 1500 yards to cater to all your needs.

Our product is 100% UHMWPE, which is the world’s strongest fiber for the abrasion resistance you need in a tough environment.

The line also has near-zero stretch for high sensitivity, which is essential for ice fishing. In addition, our round and smooth line is coated for extra-long casting distances.

Finally, no other line can beat its 16 colors with color-lock technology to prevent fading.

Pros:

• Affordable
• 100% UHMWPE
• 16 color options
• Color-lock technology
• Different size options
• Small diameter
• Great abrasion resistance
• High sensitivity
• Great castability

Cons:

• Tying knots isn’t easy

Bottom Line

There is no other line that would offer you this versatility at its price point.

4. Sufix 832 Braid Ice Fishing Line – Best Braided

The Sufix 832 is our best-braided option, and it is, without a doubt, the strongest small-diameter line you’ll find out there. It balances out being thin yet strong enough to handle the worst environments in ways you won’t believe.

Our line comes in strengths ranging from 4 to 30 pounds. The line is an 8-strand one with patent-pending construction of 7 Dyneema fibers and 1 GORE performance fiber. This 8-strand wonder is coated with water-repellent protection.

It comes in 50 yards only, which is a downside despite how good it is.

The lack of stretch offers high sensitivity to detect the faintest of bites and movements easily. In addition, the line’s low memory makes using it pretty much a hassle-free experience.

Pros:

• Different color options
• Durable
• High abrasion resistance
• Small diameter
• Patent-pending construction
• Water-repellent protection
• High sensitivity
• Low memory

Cons:

• Comes only in 50 yards

Bottom Line

If you won’t fish too deep and you need one strong line that lasts, the Sufix 832 is the choice.

5. Sufix Ice Magic – Best Monofilament

The Sufix Ice Magic comes in line strength ranging from 2 to 8 pounds and a one-size 100 yards. It basically establishes itself as a line for the light species, considering its buoyancy as well.

If you want a line that will remain strong and durable despite the harsh weather, there’s nothing better than the Ice Magic. It’s an all-temperature line that works perfectly for ice fishing. You’ll love its monofilament manageability and ability to repel water.

Thanks to its very thin diameter, you can cast farther and tie knots more easily.

Our line comes in the color clear that is so invisible it justifies the “Magic” in its name. The fish won’t know what hit them with this one.

Pros:

• Manageable
• Clear color
• All-temperature line
• Waterproof
• Easy to tie knots
• Thin
• Strong and durable

Cons:

• Has memory

Bottom Line

The Sufix Ice Magic’s manageability and strength for ice fishing are simply unparalleled.

6. Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon – Best Fluorocarbon

Berkley Trilene has line strength ranging from 1 to 6 pounds. So, it works best for light species. It comes in 75 yards, which means it’s perfect for topwater fishing.

Our line is strong, durable, waterproof, and unfazed by the ice. You’ll forget you’re ice fishing with how manageable it is. It is easy to tie knots with it, as well. The high sensitivity will make you aware of every move, bite, and attack.

Nothing can beat the ultimate invisibility of a pure fluorocarbon line, thanks to its thin diameter and clear color. Using it as a leader when trying to catch easily-spooked fish will change your life.

Pros:

• Ultimate invisibility
• Thin diameter
• Manageable
• High sensitivity
• Easy to tie knots
• Clear color
• Strong and durable
• waterproof

Cons:

• Has memory

Bottom Line

The Berkley Trilene is your best option when it comes to fluorocarbon ice fishing.

7. Sufix Performance Tip-Up – Best Tip-Up

Sufix Tip-Up offers a smooth alternative to normal braided lines with a smooth and strong tip-up line. Like most tip-up lines, it is available in 20 and 30 pounds of line strength. It can handle fish that many fishing lines out there can’t, especially for ice fishing.

But what actually makes it strong or even unique? Well, it’s made with a high tenacity Polyester braid known as HTP. This HTP, along with the Hydro Fusion Process responsible for crafting this line, gave the line to-die-for qualities.

It has exceptional abrasion resistance and durability to withstand the worst, sharpest, and roughest edges. The low memory makes casting much smoother and easier. In addition, the lack of stretch gives the line the sensitivity needed for ice fishing.

Pros:

• Exceptional abrasion resistance
• High diameter-to-strength ratio
• Low memory
• Durable
• High sensitivity
• Sinking speed

Cons:

• Comes in black only

Bottom Line

It doesn’t get better in durability or smoothness in tip-up lines than this.

Why You Need a Line Specifically-Made for Ice Fishing

1. The Cold Won’t Bother It Anyway

The cold does awful things to fishing lines. A regular line will snap, freeze, tangle, brittle, and stiffen.

You need a fishing line that is flexible enough to be handled in freezing temperatures, yet strong enough not to break. That’s a tough thing to balance.

2. High Sensitivity

Cold winter makes fish far less active and way more subtle than normal, which means you need a seriously sensitive fishing line to detect their tiniest movements and lightest bites.

A highly sensitive line has little to no stretch, a quality you’ll find in abundance in lines specifically made for ice fishing.

3. It Is Tough out There

An ice-fishing line is one that has impressive abrasion resistance because it has to deal with the sharp edges of ice holes and shards of ice, which can wreak havoc on a fishing line.

Sometimes an ice-fishing line deals with vegetation, sand, and dirt as well when it gets warmer. So, you need extraordinary tensile strength to even manage.

4. Low Memory

Low to zero memory is a blessing for ice fishing. A low-memory line is less likely to twist, coil up, or tangle on a spool. A line like that makes casting easy and comfortable. You need a low-memory line for ice fishing for manageability and hassle-free experiences.

How to Pick an Ice Fishing Line

This is our little buying guide to help you choose the perfect ice-fishing line according to your needs.

1. Weight and Pound Test

Most anglers prefer a line that is as light as possible for ice fishing to make the whole experience easier. 

However, keep in mind that you should pick a line with a pound test that is capable of carrying the fish you want to catch. You need to find a balance between a line that is light enough for you to carry in the awful cold but strong enough to carry your fish.

2. Abrasion Resistance

We’re stating the obvious here, but you need to find a tough line for ice fishing. Your ice-fishing line will have to deal with sharp edges in ice holes resulting from the drilling. It might also have to deal with other challenges when the weather gets warmer such as vegetation or sand.

If you get a line with low abrasion resistance, it will break at the slightest challenge.

3. Cold-Resistance

Since we’re talking about ice fishing, it only makes sense for you to find a line that can withstand extremely cold weather. A regular line will heavily disappoint you, so don’t bother.

A good ice-fishing line comes with a waterproof or anti-freezing coating.

4. Visibility

If you get a line with a high-viz color such as neon lime hue, you will see all the action clearly underwater. However, a visible line might spook fish away.

Many anglers solve this issue by using a fluorocarbon leader or a fluorocarbon-coated line to have the benefit of seeing the line and not have the fish see it.

5. Type

Monofilament

It is a popular type for many reasons. Obviously, it is the most affordable type. Also, it is highly manageable, which makes it perfect for ice-cold weather and beginners. It stretches, so it is good at shock absorption, but not good in sensitivity.

One of monofilament’s downsides is that it doesn’t have the highest abrasion resistance, and you will have to change it often. Also, you have to get ice-specific monofilament, or it will degrade faster because of wetness.

Fluorocarbon

Fluorocarbon’s best quality is its invisibility, thanks to almost having the same refractive index as water. In addition, its high density makes it sink easier, so it will get the deeper fish. Also, it has less stretch, so better sensitivity than monofilament.

Yet, it has a higher memory with a tendency to coil up, which won’t be nice, especially in the cold.

Braided

A braided line is one tough bad boy. It is the target for every angler that needs something durable and abrasion-resistant. Also, it has the highest sensitivity, which you’ll desperately need with the less-active fish in the winter. Its low memory means no tangles.

The cons of braided lines include being expensive and prone to ice-buildup.

Tip-Up

A tip-up line is one made of braided nylon fibers; it is a much smoother option than a braided line because it doesn’t coil or kink. Also, it has amazing hook setting powers.

Copolymer

Unlike single-polymer monofilament, copolymer combines two polymers for different benefits. 

A copolymer line sinks moderately, has low memory, has great abrasion resistance, and is waterproof. It is also manageable like monofilament.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is a Fluorocarbon Line Good for Ice Fishing?

If the following qualities fulfill your needs, then yes. Fluorocarbon’s invisibility makes fish not know what’s coming. The high density makes it sink faster, so it is perfect for using crankbaits.

Also, fluorocarbon’s low to zero stretch gives it high sensitivity, and that is highly beneficial in an environment where fish don’t do much, and you don’t want to waste the few chances you have.

Will a Normal Fishing Line Work for Ice Fishing?

Mostly no. Ice fishing needs the toughest fishing lines to withstand ridiculous weather and excessive abrasion. Ice fishing lines usually have low memory and come with cold-resistant and waterproof coatings.

Normal fishing lines often break, snap, brittle, stiffens, and freezes. So, we don’t recommend that.

Can You Use an Ice Fishing Line in the Summer?

Yes. Many anglers use their ice-fishing lines in the spring and summer instead of buying other lines. Also, the benefits of ice-fishing lines that are their durability and abrasion-resistance are always a plus.

However, some lines that have cold-resistant coatings become stiff when placed in a body of water that has no ice.

Do I Need a Leader for Ice Fishing?

The use of a leader depends on your own needs and your mainline. The most popular leader for ice fishing is, of course, fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon’s invisibility, combined with a braided line’s durability, makes the best ice fishing experience. 

Final Words

It is not easy to pick the best ice-fishing line, but we hope our list made it easier.

For budget choices, make sure you check out the Reaction Tackle, the Piscifun Superline, and the Sufix Ice Magic line.

If you’d like a versatile choice, give the KastKing SuperPower a try.