4 Strand vs 8 Strand Braided Fishing Line

Braided fishing line is incredibly useful and advantageous for a variety of fishing situations. You can get a few different types of braided line, and the number of strands is one of the differences between braids.

The two most popular strand counts for braided line are 4 and 8. So let’s quickly break down 4 strand vs 8 strand braided fishing line.

What is the Difference?

So as you might have guessed, the difference is that 4 strand line is 4 individual strands of material woven together into one braided line.

And then 8 strand line is 8 individual strands of material woven together into one braided line.

But what does this actually mean?

Ultimately, 4 strand braid is rougher. Because there are only 4 strands, there are bigger gaps between each braid.

And 8 strand braid is much smoother. Having twice as many thin strands leads to smaller gaps between each braid and creates a very smooth material.

Pros of 4 Strand Braid

Because the individual strands that make up the 4X braid are twice as thick, they are a bit stronger. And like I mentioned above, 4X braid is also rougher to the touch.

This gives 4X braid two pros:

• Higher Abrasion Resistance: The thicker, rougher strands are able to withstand more beating without cutting or tearing. So 4X braided line will be more durable when rubbing against rocks, wood, docks, sharp teeth, or any other object that could tear up your line.
• Cuts Through Vegetation: If you are fishing in heavy vegetation like lily pads, reeds, milfoil, or others, the rougher 4X line is able to cut through better, almost like a saw. So you can get your line, lures, and fish back to you easier by cutting through the thick vegetation.

Cons of 4 Strand Braid

• Noise: When casting, retrieving, or fighting a fish, the rougher 4X braid makes a sound as it rubs against the rod guides. Now this sound doesn’t affect the performance of the line at all. Some guys just find the sound a bit annoying. Personally, I don’t care at all.
• Less Casting Distance: The rougher 4X line creates more friction as it comes through the guides of your rod, which slows the lure down faster and reduces casting distance a bit.

Pros of 8 Strand Braid

Because there are twice the number of strands that make up the 8X braid, it makes the line smoother.

This gives 8X braid one main benefit:

• More Casting Distance: The smoother 8X braid has less resistance as it comes through the rod guides. This reduces the friction and helps you to cast farther.

Cons of 8 Strand Braid

• Less Abrasion Resistant: The thinner strands of line that make up the 8X braid are more easily damaged. This reduces the abrasion resistance and makes the 8X line a bit less durable when fishing it through cover.

When to Use 4X Braid

Because of the advantages 4 strand braid has, it works better when fishing in and around cover. Think about fishing frogs, jigs, Texas rigs, and other heavy cover baits up in thick vegetation or structure.

I use 4 strand braid for most of my bass fishing applications because heavy cover is really the only time I use braid while bass fishing.

When to Use 8X Braid

Because 8 strand braid gives you extra casting distance, think about the techniques where you need to make very long casts.

The two scenarios when I use 8 strand braid are finesse fishing and saltwater fishing. My finesse fishing setups all have a thin 8 strand braided mainline.

This gives me extra casting distance which really helps in ultra clear water conditions. And then I also use 8 strand braid for all of my saltwater fishing.

Especially for surf fishing, you need to be able to cast extremely far. And the 8 strand line gives me the little bit extra that can sometimes make all the difference.

How Big of a Difference Does It Really Make?

After reading all of that, you might be wondering, “How big of a difference does it actually make?”. And do you really need to buy different braid types for different scenarios?

To be honest, it really doesn’t make that big of a difference. For the most part, both braided line types both work in just about all fishing conditions where you would use braid.

And if you didn’t know about the differences, you might not even be able to tell (although the noise of the4X line would give it away).

Me personally, I take fishing quite serious and I try to maximize every aspect of my techniques, all the way down to the strand count of my braid.

But I don’t think it matters all that much. So if you can’t decide which one to choose, I suggest getting 4X line because it will always be a bit cheaper than the 8X versions.

Reeling this In

In conclusion, while both 4-strand and 8-strand braided fishing lines offer the significant advantages inherent to braid, they each shine in slightly different scenarios.

The tougher, more abrasion-resistant nature of 4-strand braid makes it a solid choice for battling heavy cover and vegetation, while the smoother profile of 8-strand braid provides enhanced casting distance, proving beneficial for finesse and saltwater applications.

Ultimately, the performance difference might be subtle for the casual angler, but for those seeking to optimize their gear for specific techniques, understanding these nuances can be worthwhile.

If cost is a primary concern, 4-strand braid presents a more budget-friendly option that will still perform admirably in most situations.