I realize there is no definitive answer as to what is the “best” line, but if someone were to only use one type of line for fishing rivers, ponds, and lakes- what line would you choose? And what pound test would you recommend? 

Copolymer.

 

Really it's going to be Yo Zuri Hybrid due to it being good for anything at an excellent price. 12lb on a baitcaster can uproot a tree. 

You'll get lots of opinions here. Do a search in the search box on " fishing line". Lots of info on line there

Does braid with a fluoro leader count?

 

15lb braid to 10-15lb leader will cover anything

13 hours ago, Glaucus said:

Copolymer.

 

Really it's going to be Yo Zuri Hybrid due to it being good for anything at an excellent price. 12lb on a baitcaster can uproot a tree. 

I pulled a buddies 19 foot Deep V to shore when I hooked a tree near shore with 12 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid. 

 

6 or 8 lb for spinning, 12 lb for a baitcaster.. Less stretch than any fluorocarbon, manageable like mono.

12# Hybrid

If I had to use 1 type of fishing line for everything, it would be mono, Big Game. No way I could pick a pound test because I use everything from 4# to 25# for bass. I use 15# more than the rest if that counts for anything. 

Well I like 8lb XL on spinning and 12lb XL for BC.  So I'd split the difference and use 10lb XL.  I'd be comfortable using it on spinning and casting reels.  Weightless senkos, 1/4oz t rigs, 3/8oz spinner baits/chatter baits, in line spinners, lipless cranks, shallow cranks, and more are possible

Between 1968 to 1995 I fished with mono line exclusively, 10 lb and 12 lb for bait casting and 6 lb for spinning. Started using Fluorocarbon line for jigs and worms in 1995  and stayed with Big Game mono for everything else baitcasting and Maxima spinning and still using it. FC line I have treid them all, started with Sunline Shooter 10 and 12 lb, the 14 and 16 lb and every premium brand availble trying to solve random knot failure issues that plague FC lines unsuccessfully. 

If I had to pick line it would be 12 lb Big Game for bait casting, 25 lb Armillo for swimbaits and 5 lb Maxium Ultra Green for finesse spinning.

Tom

It's a newer line, I would go with Sufix Advance. Strong and very sensitive

30# Power Pro braid 

30lb Daiwa jbraid x8 to a 15lb fluorocarbon leader if using a casting reel and 8-10lb strait fluorocarbon on spinning 

Mono is probably the best jack of all trades line. It doesn't do most things the best but it does everything ok. Braid and fluoro both have limitations that don't make them good for certain techniques. Copoly might work also as long as you have one that floats well for topwater. There isn't a single size that would be good for everything though.

40lb braid. You can literally do everything with it besides super finesse techniques 

10 hours ago, Glaucus said:

Copolymer.

 

Really it's going to be Yo Zuri Hybrid due to it being good for anything at an excellent price. 12lb on a baitcaster can uproot a tree. 

How does that link rank as far as visibility in the water 

1 hour ago, Al Brown said:

How does that link rank as far as visibility in the water 

It's clear.

I have been a Yo-Zuri Hybrid fan for more than a decade. However, I have converted to Seaguar Tatsu.

 

Spinning gear: #6

Baitcasting: #12 or #15

 

Yo-Zuri Hybrid 12 lb copoly.
 

Monofilament is the best overall line. Flourocarbon is well known for knot failure and seems to be less durable than monofilament. Braid is good for fishing in aquatic vegetation but gets cut too easily when fishing in rocky areas and other types of abrasive cover. 

2 hours ago, Al Brown said:

How does that link rank as far as visibility in the water 

Same as 100% FC or extremely close.  Sink rate is “neutrally buoyant.”  I’ve used it for bottom contact, suspended jerkbaits and for topwater and it’s worked at all 3 levels in the water column for me.  Versatile line.  

13 hours ago, Smokinal said:

15lb braid to 10-15lb leader will cover anything

 You will have you heart broken if you try fishing that way down here in heavy aquatic vegetation for big bass. You might get lucky every once in a while but you run the risk of having a +8 pound bass snap your 15 pound braid since these big bass tend to dig deep into the aquatic vegetation. You need at least 30 pound braid for this type of fishing and many Florida fishermen use 50-65 pound braid to pull out the bass from these places. 

10# Yo-Zuri Hybrid.  WITH KVD Line Conditioner 

Sufix Siege for me, 12 pound on Baitcasting, 8 or 10 on spinning. 

Kastking Flourokote 8# for spinning gear, 12# for baitcasters.

Silver Thread Excalibur copolymer, or Izorline XXX Super Copolymer! Been using the Silver Thread Excalibur for over 30 years. LOVE IT!!!!!!

when using 10 & 12lb, I like the Excalibur line, and when using 6 & 8lb test, I like the Izorline XXX