What is the best ice fishing line?

Ice fishing line. I will just use my regular fishing line.

Have you ever found yourself having the above conversation before embarking on a fishing trip?

If so, you are going to enjoy this post.

In this article, we are going to discuss what is the best fishing line for ice fishing and tips to keep in mind when searching for the best option.

Let’s begin…

Table of Contents

The Best Ice Fishing Line 2020

Here is a quick preview of my top 8 picks. For more information, please keep reading below.

Before we go any further in this post, let’s address a concern that many ice fishermen which is: what is the difference between a fishing line that is designed for ice fishing and regular fishing line?

Ice Fishing Line vs Regular Fishing Line

Just what is the difference between regular fishing line and ice fishing line?

Some ice fishermen may claim to use regular fishing line while ice fishing and have success doing so, but is it worth the risk?

You may get away with it today, but what if one day you lose a big fish because of poor line selection?

For that reason, I recommend you use a line that was specifically designed for ice fishing.

6 points to consider when choosing which ice fishing line to buy:

1.Regular fishing line coils: When it gets cold fishing line can coil much like a slinky. This can lead to all sorts of problems.

In fact, you may find yourself spending more time untangling your line than fishing. Worse yet, it can cause you to miss out on bites.

To avoid fishing with a slinky, choose an ice fishing line that has low to no memory.

2.Line Strength: As we know cold weather can take a toll not only on us but it also can take a toll on our equipment as well.

This is no different when it comes to our fishing line.

Fishing with a regular fishing line in cold weather over time can cause the line to become brittle.

What are the chances of landing a fish with brittle line? Highly unlikely.

Also, don’t forget you will be fishing around ice. Ice can be sharp and can easily damage or even cut your line. While ice fishing we want to choose a line that is strong enough to handle these harsh conditions.

You may also enjoy reading: A Look At The Best Ice Fishing Tip Ups

3.Sensitivity: Yes, it is important to have an option that is abrasion-resistant especially when ice fishing.

However, don’t sacrifice durability for sensitivity.

In the end, if you can’t feel the fish biting, it may just cost you some fish. Make sure to find a fishing line that has a nice combination of both durability and high sensitivity.

4.Fish become spooky: Burning a crankbait in the open water is much different from ice fishing.

While using a crankbait, the fish may not have much time to examine the bait. In fact, most of the time we may rely on a reaction strike, meaning they simply react to something moving in the water.

However while ice fishing, fish have more time to examine the bait. If anything looks suspicious they will avoid the lure entirely.

For this reason, while ice fishing it is also important to choose a line that has little to no visibility when in the water.

5.Resist Line Freeze: Some new ice fishing lines come with a hydrophobic water-repellent coating.

This coating is designed to actually repel the water, thus preventing your line from freezing up. This is a great way to protect your line from the harsh climate.

One such line is the Sufix Ice Braid Fishing Line, but more on that later.

6.No stretch means more fish: When shopping for a good ice fishing line, you want to look for one that has little to no stretch.

This means that it will be easily for you to set the hook. If you have better hookups you will catch more fish.

Best Ice Fishing Line 2020

Berkley Trilene Micro Ice

Are you losing bites because of finicky fish?

If so, then Berkley Trilene Micro Ice may be the answer for you. It is available in two different colors, clear steel, and solar (bright-green).

The solar works great when ice fishing because it contrasts nicely against the snow and ice making it extremely easy to see what your line is doing.

However, if you are fishing with fish that spook easily, the clear steel may be a better option for you.

This line also features little stretch properties giving you more control of your lures and better hooksets.

Berkley Fireline Micro Ice | Thinnest Ice Fishing Line

If you are tired of fish not wanting to commit because they can see the line, you have to give Berkley Fireline Micro Ice a try.

The reason, this is such a great line is because it is extremely thin making it nearly invisible when in the water.

However, don’t let its thinnest fool you. This a very strong fishing line. It is made with micro fused Dyneema fibers that are up to 4 times stronger than monofilament.

That is definitely strong enough to bring in larger fish.

In addition, because it is so thin it is also very sensitive and you won’t have any problems detecting even subtle bites under the ice.

Lastly, it has very low memory meaning you will not have to worry about fishing with a slinky when out on the ice.

Berkley Trilene Cold Weather

Another to add to the list of best fishing line for ice fishing is the Berkley Trilene Cold Weather.

As we mentioned earlier cold weather can do funny things to your fishing line.

That being said you will notice no difference fishing with Berkley’s Cold Weather line in cold conditions.

In fact, it is just as flexible in 32 degrees as it is in 70 degrees. It has very low memory meaning no more line twist.

Lastly, it is available in blue or gold making it very easy to be seen against the ice and snow.

Sufix Ice Braid Fishing Line| Strongest Ice Fishing Line

When fishing in cold weather, your fishing line can start to behave differently. In addition, when fishing around or in ice, you need to be careful that the ice doesn’t cut your line.

For those reasons, it is important to choose a line that isn’t easily affected by cold water and one that is durable enough so that it won’t break every time it comes in contact with the ice.

One such line and perhaps one of the strongest ice fishing lines on the market is the Sufix Ice Braid.

Like Sufix 832 Braid, their Ice Braid is made from 7 Dyneema fibers and one gore fiber. This makes it both durable, but highly sensitive at the same time.

On top of that, one added feature that I really like is the hydrophobic water-repellent coating that helps to prevent your line from freezing.

For more information take a look at the following video:

Sufix Ice Magic

Another great line worth considering, also made by Sufix, is their Ice Magic line.

This is a monofilament line meaning it will sink rather quickly. This is exactly what you want to use when fishing over deeper water. Its low visibility and low memory making it very easy to work with.

Like the Sufix Ice Braid, this line also has a water-repellent coating to avoid ice build-up.

It is available in two different colors a nearly invisible clear option or a highly visible neon orange option.

You May Also Enjoy Reading:The Best Ice Fishing Heater 2020 – My Top 5 Picks

PowerPro Ice Tec

Another option specifically designed with the ice fisherman in mind is Power Pro’s Ice Tec.

Ice-tec is made with more fibers than a standard fishing line. This helps to make it durable and yet sensitive at the same time.

Now you might be thinking that since it is made with more fibers it must have a larger diameter right? Wrong.

Power Pro was able to design a line that is super sensitive, super abrasion resistant and yet it still has a small diameter.

In addition, the line is coated with Teflon coating protecting it from the cold and ice thus ensuring that it won’t become brittle and hard to fish with.

Lastly, it is available in a very visible blue color, making it easy for us fisherman to see exactly what our line is doing when above water.

P-Line Floroice

Next up, we have P-Line FloroIce.

What is interesting about this option is P-Line chose to go with a copolymer line that has a fluorocarbon coating.

The fluorocarbon properties really help to make this line nearly invisible when underwater.

Also, the perfect combination of the two materials helps to prevent it from freezing and becoming brittle.

This line also has low memory, making it very sensitive to bites, and yet very manageable.

Rapala Invisiline

When you are on a school of fish that are holding up deep, you want a line that is going to help your lure drop down quickly. The quicker you get down there the better your chances of catching more fish.

That is what I like about using a fluorocarbon line when ice fishing.

For that reason, the next option on our list is Rapala’s Invisiline which is 100% fluorocarbon.

Being that is t is fluoro helps to make it sink much quicker than other options and it is nearly invisible making it a great option when fishing for finicky fish.

Lastly, it is hydrophobic which means that it is water repellent. This is a must when looking for a good ice fishing line because it won’t allow the line to absorb the water which will prevent it from freezing up and becoming brittle.

Insider Tip: How to avoid line twist?

There is nothing more frustrating than to be out ice fishing, you look down the hole and your lure is just spinning.

This is a result of line twists.

How can this be avoided?

Even after choosing the best ice fishing line you still may occasionally experience line twist.

One easy fix is to use what is called an InvisaSwivel. This Invisa Swivel can allow you to attach another line to your main ice fishing line, thus helping to reduce or completely eliminate line twists.

This may be a small tool, but it can be very effective in making you a more effective ice fisherman.

Final Thoughts…

Let’s go back to the question we asked at the beginning. Can I use regular fishing line for ice fishing?

As you can see from this post, the answer is no. You would be much better off using a line that is specifically designed for ice fishing.

In this post, we have looked at a variety of different options. They all have similar characteristics, but at the same time, they also have some different characteristics as well.

I hope this post will help you to choose the option best suited for your ice fishing needs.

Now it’s your turn. What do you think is the best ice fishing line? Please leave thoughts in the comments below.

(If you enjoyed reading this article, you may also enjoy reading: What is the best ice fishing reel? )

Enjoy the following links on ice fishing:

Ice Fishing Line Tips
Beginner’s guide to ice fishing
Ice Fishing Myths

The Best Ice Fishing Line 2020 – My Top 8 Picks

The Best Ice Fishing Line 2020

Ice Fishing Line vs Regular Fishing Line

6 points to consider when choosing which ice fishing line to buy: