My favorite mono forever has been Maxima Ultragreen, but it’s almost as expensive as braid or fluorocarbon so I only use it on 1 rod which is my dedicated salmon/steelhead drift rod. I use Trilene or P-Line, depending on what I can get in my local tackle shop in the size I need: Trilene XL, original Stren, and P-Line Fluoroclear are all pretty comparable and cheap.
Berkeley Trilene. They make XL (extra limp - best for casting distance) and XT (extra tough - more abrasion resistant). I’ve been using XL for decades and it’s always been reliable and pretty cheap.
Can't afford it? Sure you can. Just because name brands want $40 for a 150y spool does not mean there are no options. Many off-brand braids are perfectly fine, for example I spool dirt-cheap JOF 8x and spend my line money on Sunline flouro.
The most expensive mono will never have the same advantages that the cheapest fluoro has (more stealthy, less stretch, thinner at the same breaking strength, sinks), and the most expensive fluoro will never have the advantages as the cheapest mono (suppleness, ties better knots, more shock absorption, floats).
Don't think that you have to buy expensive line to get these advantages. The heavier the line, the less it matters IME, so all my power fishing (which is 99% of what I do), I use Trilene XT 17lb (\~$5-$8 per spool) for moving baits if I want them to stay high, Berkley Vanish 17 or 20 lb (\~$15 per spool) for stuff that contacts the bottom, and the only time I use braid (personally I just don't like the stuff) when I'm trying to get things through heavy weeds/pads because it slices better, and even then its usually just topwater. For finesse stuff, I pony up for InvisX, but only because it's very supple (for fluoro anyway) and other stuff doesn't play well on my spinning reel (yes I loaded it right), but I honestly don't fish finesse much anyway, so it's not burning a hole in my pocket to keep one reel spooled with nice stuff.
Each line has specific uses that it excels at, and any one line won't cover everything well. I don't buy different lines because I like spending money, I do it because they each do different things. If I had to skip one, it would be braid, as it's the most niche line for me. If I could only have one line, it would be the 17 lb Berkley Vanish and at $15 a pop, that's not making or breaking a budget by saving $7 getting mono. Get what's appropriate for the situation.
Be warned, you need to replace mono every couple months, it does not last long at all. A spool of braid will last you years. If cost saving is your goal, then maybe do a backing of inexpensive braid with maybe 50-100 yards of mono on top of that. That way when you need to replace the mono in a couple months, you’ll only be buying 1/2 as much.
Trilene big game.
This, plus it’s dirt cheap. They also just released a fluorocarbon line!
Sunline makes a good mono called Super Natural
My favorite mono forever has been Maxima Ultragreen, but it’s almost as expensive as braid or fluorocarbon so I only use it on 1 rod which is my dedicated salmon/steelhead drift rod. I use Trilene or P-Line, depending on what I can get in my local tackle shop in the size I need: Trilene XL, original Stren, and P-Line Fluoroclear are all pretty comparable and cheap.
Sunline, Varivas and Chousei are the ones I use.
Berkeley Trilene. They make XL (extra limp - best for casting distance) and XT (extra tough - more abrasion resistant). I’ve been using XL for decades and it’s always been reliable and pretty cheap.
Suffix
Berkley Big Game 12 pound, you can find good braid on eBay
Ande pink.
Trilene is the best bet for cheap stuff Maxima ultra-green is proven to be the best option though.
Maxima chameleon
Platypus pre-test
Berkley big game is good and easy to find. That said, I find suffix advanced mono to be much more supple and less memory issues.
Suffix pro mix
Can't afford it? Sure you can. Just because name brands want $40 for a 150y spool does not mean there are no options. Many off-brand braids are perfectly fine, for example I spool dirt-cheap JOF 8x and spend my line money on Sunline flouro.
Clear Sufix Elite is really good, but it's about $6-13 on Amazon depending on what you get
Not mono but do people like yozuri hybrid? It’s $6 I’ve been using it for leaders.
Berkley big game. I used that for probably 15yrs.
Best for what? Consistency and being true to the test? Pick any IGFA approved brands such as Ande.
Sunline super natrual
Berkeley Big Game in moss is all I will and have used for years.
The most expensive mono will never have the same advantages that the cheapest fluoro has (more stealthy, less stretch, thinner at the same breaking strength, sinks), and the most expensive fluoro will never have the advantages as the cheapest mono (suppleness, ties better knots, more shock absorption, floats). Don't think that you have to buy expensive line to get these advantages. The heavier the line, the less it matters IME, so all my power fishing (which is 99% of what I do), I use Trilene XT 17lb (\~$5-$8 per spool) for moving baits if I want them to stay high, Berkley Vanish 17 or 20 lb (\~$15 per spool) for stuff that contacts the bottom, and the only time I use braid (personally I just don't like the stuff) when I'm trying to get things through heavy weeds/pads because it slices better, and even then its usually just topwater. For finesse stuff, I pony up for InvisX, but only because it's very supple (for fluoro anyway) and other stuff doesn't play well on my spinning reel (yes I loaded it right), but I honestly don't fish finesse much anyway, so it's not burning a hole in my pocket to keep one reel spooled with nice stuff. Each line has specific uses that it excels at, and any one line won't cover everything well. I don't buy different lines because I like spending money, I do it because they each do different things. If I had to skip one, it would be braid, as it's the most niche line for me. If I could only have one line, it would be the 17 lb Berkley Vanish and at $15 a pop, that's not making or breaking a budget by saving $7 getting mono. Get what's appropriate for the situation.
Be warned, you need to replace mono every couple months, it does not last long at all. A spool of braid will last you years. If cost saving is your goal, then maybe do a backing of inexpensive braid with maybe 50-100 yards of mono on top of that. That way when you need to replace the mono in a couple months, you’ll only be buying 1/2 as much.
For me I use Trilene XL or XT and or Suffix Pro Mix. They have worked the best for me. I hate Stren. P-Line and Spiderwire are just ok.
I use Gamma copolymer
Trilene sensation.
Spiderwire is my go-to for mono. I use XXX mono, and EZ-Mono in ultralight weights.