All categories/Fishing & Aquariums/Fishing Line/Berkley/Berkley Trilene XL
Berkley Trilene XL

Berkley Trilene XL

Scored on 68 verified owner verdicts, from 247 comments read across 5 communities
TL;DR
Anglers trust it as a cheap, low-memory, smooth-casting all-around mono, though its notable stretch reduces sensitivity and hooksetting power and a few report break-offs.

88% of 68 verified owners recommend the Berkley Trilene XL, based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.

See the problems 3 owners report →

What 68 owners say
247 comments reviewed · scored on the 68 clearest verdicts
88%
Recommend
60 owners
8%
Neutral
5 owners
4%
Don't recommend
3 owners
Source
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
89%
57
Other forums
90%
10
Independent blogsino affiliate links
0%
1
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
YouTubeiowner comments
47%
15
Affiliate blogsipaid commission
100%
1
No clear verdictiSetup, tips & quirks
2

Affiliate blogs here say 100% recommend, while the owner-based score is 88%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.

The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, blogs with no affiliate links, and YouTube owner-comments when they line up with owners. YouTube and Affiliate blogs are shown for perspective but kept out here — hover the i for why.

What owners like
  • Low memory, casts smooth and far · 30 · 44%
  • Reliable and trusted for decades · 30 · 44%
  • Inexpensive and widely available · 25 · 37%
  • Great for ultralight and light lures · 18 · 26%
  • Easy to knot and cut · 6 · 9%
What owners flag
  • Stretchy, softens hooksets · 12 · 18%
  • Occasional break-offs or knot slips · 8 · 12%
  • Less sensitive than braid · 6 · 9%
Who it's for
A great fit if
  • Ultralight and spinning-reel anglers targeting trout and panfish
  • Budget-minded anglers wanting reliable all-around mono
  • Anglers who prefer mono's stretch and forgiveness
  • Beginners wanting easy-casting, easy-knotting line
Look elsewhere if
  • Anglers needing maximum sensitivity or hooksetting power
  • Braid users who dislike line stretch

Synthesized from what Berkley Trilene XL owners say — not a spec sheet.

How buyers rate it elsewhere

Retailers' own star averages, for comparison — separate from our vetted owner-verdict score above.

Top quotes, sourced

247 reviewed · 85 shown
Sentiment
Community
Sort
YouTube▼ don’t recommend

Trilene xl is trash. Is doesnt perform well in my experience

Reddit▲ recommend

I recommend mono as it is a bit more forgiving, cheaper, and casts further.

Reddit— neutral

Trilene XL is totally fine. I switched to braid many years ago because I prefer the way it handles over mono, but there is nothing wrong with Trilene

TackleTour— neutral

It performed as expected coming off both casting and spinning reels easily and with few memory issues especially when freshly spooled. Sensitivity is average for a nylon monofilament which is to say not very good

Reddit▲ recommend

I fish with 4-6 lb test Berkley Trilene XL Smooth casting on a 7' ultralight Ugly Stik.

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

i kept snapping my line. i tested the line and i could break the line with my hands. it was 10 pound test.

Reddit▲ recommend

a $10 spool of Berkley trilene XL will treat you well.

Reddit— neutral

There's nothing wrong with Trilene, but if you don't try something a little better you'll never know if the difference means much to you.

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

Used XL in the old days and had too many break offs

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

That stuff is junk….

YouTube— neutral

na prvi pogled i vezanje izgleda solidno neću reći extra ima boljih. Ali cijena i kvaliteta u skladu

Reddit▲ recommend

Get some 10lb Berkley Trilene XL. Basic but casts well and is up to the fight IMO.

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

Trout Magnet SOS monofilament is far superior more superior than Berkley Trilene XL although can be found for relatively the same price point because it curls less allowing for a smoother and farther cast and it is stronger.

Boundary Waters Fishing Forum— neutral

I use clear Trilene XL in the Quetico....don't know if it is the best but it has worked for me.

Reddit▲ recommend

For mono I love Berkley Trilene XL. I am trying Berkley Sensation this year and so far I like it. But Trilene XL has been my go to since the 90s.

Reddit▲ recommend

Berkley Trilene XL smooth casting is limper and cast well. Plus it is low-cost. It has fewer loops and memory compared to most other lines.

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

I use Neither only Line I found worth a Dang is Suffix.

YouTube— neutral

Impossible to tie it as leader with a thin thread line

Reddit▲ recommend

Berkley Trilene XL is a must have for any mono setups. I’ve been using this line for over a decade now, and it is now my most trusted mono line for sure!

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

I was previously using 6lb Berkley Trilene XL smooth cast monofilament and it was fine fishing line. I decided to switch because I launched a rooster tail into orbit when a Trilene knot slipped off at the swivel. I found that the line itself was very stretchy under pressure and I fish with no barbs so I had a fish get loose when I unloaded the rod while reel

YouTube— neutral

Bout 20 years ago, that was good stuff…

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

I think the line is bad

Reddit— neutral

I used to LOVE TrileneXL. Had it on all my reels. It casts a mile... Here's the thing. Long casts = more water coverage, more water coverage means putting bait in front of more fish... But that line has stretch. And if something hits on a really long cast - that stretch comes in to play. It's hard to get a good hook set on Bass.

Reddit▲ recommend

I know its old tech, but i prefer berkley trilene xl monofilament on my spinning reels.

Showing 124 of 85

Common problems & things to know

Practical notes owners raise — setup, quirks, and issues to watch for. They don't say whether the person likes the product, so they're not counted in the score, but they inform the pros, cons, and who it's for.

Redditⓘ good to know

I've got some 12 lb mono "Berkley® Trilene XL® Smooth Casting™". I've backlashed it a few times but have always been able to recover it, so there's that.

Redditⓘ good to know

Nope. Won't be an issue.