PFAS40/ 100Poor
Overall18/ 100Bad
Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ice Fishing Line

Yo-Zuri · Fishing Line

Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ice Fishing Line

Poor

Skip until the brand clearly discloses coating composition.

Verdict · SkipFishing line poses minimal acute hazards; PFAS uncertainty in coating warrants caution until Yo-Zuri discloses composition fully.

This ice fishing line features an unknown waterproof coating, and Yo-Zuri provides no PFAS transparency. High uncertainty exists because typical ice fishing line uses Teflon-family coating treatments.

The better-graded swap

Cortland Fairplay Monofilament Fishing Line

Cortland

Cortland Fairplay Monofilament Fishing Line

85/100 safety

85Excellent

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

Hybrid nylon monofilament with unspecified coating

Brand disclosure

Brand is silent on PFAS

Lab data

No public lab test

What’s concerning

♾️

Category baseline

The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.

90/ 100
♾️

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.

85/ 100
♾️

Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment

Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.

65/ 100
🫧

Microplastic shedding during use

Nylon monofilament degrades under UV, mechanical stress, and temperature cycling, potentially releasing microfibers into freshwater and sediment. Hybrid coatings may accelerate or slow this process, but no published data on Yo-Zuri's Hybrid line specifically exists.

70/ 100
🏷️

PFAS

The proprietary coating is likely optimized for low-friction and water-repellency in ice conditions, common roles for Teflon-family coating. Without composition disclosure, presence of PFAS cannot be ruled out; this is a material transparency gap, not a confirmed hazard.

Source, ATSDR
70/ 100

Coating degradation and leachate release

If the coating contains polymers or resins not rated for extended water immersion, hydrolysis or UV breakdown could release small amounts of monomers or additives. Risk is low in recreational fishing but increases with storage in warm, wet conditions.

70/ 100
⚠️

Entanglement and ingestion hazard to aquatic life

Monofilament fishing line is a well-documented entanglement hazard for waterfowl, turtles, and fish when discarded in or near water. This is not brand-specific but applies universally to this product category and is a disposal responsibility issue.

45/ 100

What’s reassuring

⛏️

Heavy metals

No public records of lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals in Yo-Zuri fishing lines. Nylon monofilament and standard fishing line dyes do not typically concentrate these elements, but complete ingredient disclosure would confirm this.

Source, FDA
95/ 100

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ice is nylon monofilament with an undisclosed proprietary coating claimed to improve handling and visibility in cold water. Nylon itself is chemically stable under normal fishing use and does not leach monomers into water or food. The coating composition is the unknown variable, it may contain Teflon-family coating (PFAS-based) or other chemicals to achieve low-visibility, low-stretch, or abrasion-resistance properties, but Yo-Zuri does not publicly specify this.

The brand's record and disclosure

Yo-Zuri (owned by Rapala-VMC) has not made public disclosures about PFAS or fluorochemical use in its fishing lines as of available records. The brand does not advertise third-party certifications (e.g., Cradle to Cradle, Oeko-Tex) for this product. No recalls or safety controversies specific to Yo-Zuri fishing lines have been widely documented, but the silence on coating chemistry reflects a broader industry norm of minimal transparency in tackle manufacturing.

How it compares in its category

Most ice fishing lines (monofilament, fluorocarbon, braided) are sold without detailed coating or fluorochemical disclosure. Yo-Zuri's Hybrid line sits in the mid-to-premium segment; competitors (Berkley, Trilene, Sufix) similarly lack public PFAS declarations. Braided alternatives avoid monofilament entirely but introduce microfiber shedding risk; fluorocarbon lines often contain perfluorocarbons and are harder to recycle. None of these categories have industry-wide environmental or chemical safety labeling.

If you buy it

Store line in cool, dry conditions away from direct sunlight to minimize UV degradation and any potential coating breakdown. Replace line seasonally or after visible wear (fraying, brittleness, discoloration) rather than stockpiling multi-year spools. Dispose of spent line in trash or a tackle recycling program if available; do not discard in water or compost. After each use in saltwater or heavily polluted water, rinse reel and guides with fresh water to prevent coating corrosion.

What we don’t know

Basis
Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
Lab test
None on record for this exact product
Brand statement
Yo-Zuri has made none

Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.

Better-graded alternatives in Fishing Line

BERKLEY TRILENE BIG GAME

Berkley

TRILENE BIG GAME

monofilament nylon fishing line

PFAS Grade85Excellent
Overall Grade63Good

UV degradation and embrittlement

High concern

20
🫧

Microplastic release during use

Limited concern

70

Low concern for standard monofilament with no coating triggers.

Brand says nothing about PFAS

Berkley Trilene Big Game Braid

Berkley

Trilene Big Game Braid

Braided polyethylene fishing line

PFAS Grade85Excellent
Overall Grade81Excellent
🫧

Polyethylene microfiber shedding

Limited concern

70

Low concern; braided polyethylene is not a typical PFAS application.

Brand says nothing about PFAS

Berkley Trilene XT Monofilament Fishing Line

Berkley

Trilene XT Monofilament Fishing Line

Nylon monofilament (extruded polymer)

PFAS Grade85Excellent
Overall Grade67Good
🫧

Nylon polymer degradation and microplastic release

Limited concern

70
⚠️

UV stabilizer additives in polymer matrix

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Skin irritation or eye contact from monofilament filament

Moderate concern

45

Low concern for basic nylon line without water-repellent coating or special coatings.

Brand says nothing about PFAS

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.