With advances made daily with fishing line, braided fishing line has come a long way from its start in 1953. Braided line used to be a heavy, bulky line. In today’s world, braids are compared to spider silk made from steel! The new KastKing KastPro 13X Finesse Braided Fishing Line has tipped the scales to perfection. This fishing line is not only super thin, it coils nicely on the reel, and is as smooth as silk. Combine all these attributes in and you have a superior braided fishing line that no other can compare to.

Tying 13X Braid Line to Leader Line

I remember when I first tried it earlier this year. I tied a double uni-knot on 10-pound test 13X Finesse to 6-pound test KastKing Kovert fluorocarbon leader line. I pulled tight and the knot failed miserably. My first thought was, “maybe this braid is not all that good.” I re-tied, and again, knot failure. Then it hit me. This braided fishing line is so smooth, and such a thin diameter, that the double uni-knot just needed more loops. Instead of my normal four to six loops, I upped the number to eight to ten on the braided line side, but kept it at four to six for the Kast King Kovert Fluorocarbon line. Cinched the knot and “bingo” it was a solid connection with no slip and super small. Even though I trust my knots, the silky smoothness of the 13X also has me adding a drop of Crazy Glue to the knot. A little insurance can go a long way to ensuring the knot holds fast, especially when that trophy smallmouth bass over 5 pounds is tugging on the other end.

Strong and Smooth

On the fishing front, the 13X braided fishing line casts like no other, allowing for long and accurate casts to your target. I fished this in rocky areas as well, and found the 13X to be quite abrasive resistant, with minimal to no break offs. The KastKing 13X is one of the smoothest and strongest braids I have ever fished. I have used this braid extensively over the last three months with no issues whatsoever. The braid is super strong, smooth, and a great line to add to your arsenal. I would highly recommend it.  

How This Is Possible

These qualities of KastKing KastPro 13X Finesse is made possible by some interesting fishing line manufacturing processes. Here’s what I’ve learned. For starters KastKing uses a proprietary, highly specialized fiber. There are 12 strands, or carriers, wrapped around a central strand. What makes the line so extremely smooth is KastKing wraps the 12 strands 36 times per inch along the center fiber strand. That’s pretty much unheard of in fishing lines. This tight wrap eliminates those little gaps between wraps that cause friction. That’s what makes it possible to cast farther than other brand lines. It also makes the line more limp making it an excellent choice for spinning reels.

Pin Point Casts

I can remember on one outing fishing Candlewood Lake in Connecticut. Smallmouth bass were a little on the skittish side, so long and accurate casts to a shallow hump was needed. The wind was blowing about 15 to 20, so making accurate casts was made even more difficult. I was using 10-pound test KastKing 13X in hi vis chartreuse. I like the hi-vis as it makes it easier to detect subtle bites, especially in windy or rough water conditions, where seeing the line can be difficult at times. I positioned the boat so I would be casting into the wind and locked in the trolling motor on anchor mode. I was able to pin point my cast exactly where I wanted and get the small swimbait into the strike zone with ease. I feel the thin diameter of the 13X was key due to its smoothness coming through the guides and its super thin diameter allowing me to make the long cast needed. On one stop I was able to land five smallmouth bass to 4 pounds in a short period of time. The key was making the cast hit the “right” zone on top of the hump, and allow it to drop down into the strike zone where the smallmouth were lying.

Fishing with Isa – Distance and Quiet

I fish a lot with my son-in law Isa. He loves braided fishing line. On one outing we were discussing the braided fishing lines on the market and I introduced him to the KastKing 13X braided fishing line. He could not believe how smooth the line was. We stopped the boat and stripped his favorite reel of the line he was using, which was an off-brand braided fishing line. After re-spooling with the KastKing 13X, he said he was able to cast farther then he had ever done before with this outfit. Isa also commented that this is the first braid he has ever used where it did not sound very loud going through the guides. I told him the noise you heard from other braids unlike the KastKing 13X braided fishing line was due to friction, which also caused the cast to come up short. As I showed Isa the line, we both could not believe how smooth it was. This smoothness was the reason it glided through the guides with ease, and without a sound. The process KastKing uses - wrapping the 12 strands, 36 times per inch along the center fiber strand – really makes a difference in the braided line. The last great feature of the line is its ability to lie evenly on the spool of the reel, which in my opinion will also eliminate a lot of wind loops associated with spinning reels. The 13X braided fishing line is a great line and one you should highly consider adding to your arsenal. The hi-vis colors make line watching easy when conditions warrant, and believe me, seeing that subtle “tick” of the line when smallies are feeding in a less aggressive manner is paramount to a successful day on the water. Before your next trip, spool up your favorite reel with KastKing 13X, I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

Tom Melton is an expert in all aspects of inshore saltwater fishing and freshwater fishing. As an authority on angling he strives to excel while teaching others, and in his own outdoors adventures. Whether it is a freshwater bass fishing tournament, or recreational fishing with family, his skills and knowledge always shine. Tom has been an outdoor writer for more than three decades.