Bass Pro Shops Excel Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Fluorocarbon line likely contains PFAS, skip if concerned.
Fluorocarbon fishing line is a Teflon-family coating material with high PFAS risk. Bass Pro Shops makes no disclosure about PFAS content.
The better-graded swap
Berkley
Berkley Trilene XT Monofilament Fishing Line
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Fluorocarbon polymer monofilament line
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Bass Pro Shops Excel Fishing Line is made of, ingredients and materials
Bass Pro Shops Excel Fluorocarbon is a monofilament fishing line composed of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or similar fluorocarbon polymers. These materials are chosen for their low water absorption, high abrasion resistance, and invisibility underwater, making them preferred by serious anglers. However, the fluorine chemistry that makes the line durable and chemically stable also means the polymer backbone contains fluorine atoms; fluorocarbon polymers can leach or degrade into smaller fluorinated compounds, some of which belong to the PFAS family.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Fluoropolymer detected
A Teflon-family coating is recorded for this product.
PFAS
Fluorocarbon monofilament inherently contains fluorine chemistry; degradation or leaching of the polymer under UV, heat, or water exposure may release small amounts of fluorinated compounds, some of which may be classified as PFAS. No independent test data for Excel line is publicly available, but this is a material-class risk, not a manufacturing defect.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microfiber shedding
Monofilament line can shed microscopic fibers when abraded against rocks, teeth, or guides. These fragments are not unique to fluorocarbon and are a known environmental concern in fishing tackle; fluorocarbon fibers degrade slowly in aquatic environments.
Physical entanglement and choking hazard
Discarded or lost fishing line is a documented hazard to wildlife and aquatic life; this is a disposal and user-practice issue, not a material toxicity issue specific to Excel line, but it is relevant to responsible use.
What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
No testing data available for Bass Pro Shops Excel Fluorocarbon regarding lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals in colorants or UV stabilizers. Standard industrial fluorocarbon resins typically do not include heavy metal pigments, but supplier transparency is absent.
Source, FDA ↗Leaching into food or water supplies
Fishing line is not designed for food contact or potable water filtration. The risk of this product leaching into drinking water or food is negligible under normal use. Risk is theoretical only if line fragments contaminate water supplies at scale.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Bass Pro Shops has not published specific safety data sheets, PFAS testing results, or material sourcing transparency for Excel Fluorocarbon line. The brand has not disclosed whether the resin supplier or manufacturing process uses PFAS precursors or intentionally adds PFAS additives beyond the inherent fluorine backbone. No voluntary third-party certifications (such as OEKO-TEX or similar) have been identified for this product line. This silence is typical in the fishing tackle industry, where PFAS disclosure remains minimal.
How it compares in its category
Fluorocarbon line is a mid-to-premium category product; most low-cost monofilament uses nylon (polyamide) without fluorine, while high-end alternatives include copolymer and braided polyethylene blends. Nylon lines avoid the PFAS question but offer less abrasion resistance and visibility underwater. Polyethylene braids have a different hazard profile (microfiber shedding risk). Excel is competitively positioned as a workhorse fluorocarbon without premium pricing, meaning it uses standard industrial fluorocarbon resin likely identical to dozens of other brands' offerings.
If you buy it
Store spools indoors away from direct sunlight and heat above 80°C to minimize polymer degradation and potential leaching. Fluorocarbon line does not require special disposal, but avoid burning or incinerating it, as heating may accelerate fluorine compound release. Replace spools annually or after heavy use, especially if the line shows cloudiness or brittleness, which indicates UV and oxidative degradation. Wash hands after extended handling if you have concerns about fluorine compound residues, though direct skin contact from fishing is low-risk for most users.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 62% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Bass Pro Shops has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Bass Pro Shops Excel Fluorocarbon Fishing Line?
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic shedding during use
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic fragmentation
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- UV degradation and polymer brittleness
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More fishing line grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.