Choosing a carp fishing line is quite a crucial decision, as it’s the only thing between you and the fish. Get it wrong and you could be left with a slack line, rather than a new personal best. Get it right and you’ll never look back.
There are countless monofilament carp lines available today, all capable of bringing a good sized specimen to the bank, but what type should you go for, and what points should you consider before choosing which carp line is best for you? In this handy Anglers’ Net carp line guide we’ll cover all the bases and offer up some choice recommendations.
Breaking strain, diameter, colour, abrasion resistance, stretch; all are important factors when it comes to picking the right line for your fishing, but it’s often a case of getting a balance between them all.
If you are only fishing one water, it’s often much easier to select the line that should suit, as the size of the likely fish you will be hooking along with prevalent snags, weed or such like will dictate the breaking strain required; the more strength required, the heavier the breaking strain selected. Likewise, the colour of the water will dictate whether it’s worth fishing a matching colour, but when you start fishing lots of different waters with the same rods and line, then you need to look at the bigger picture.
Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, is getting the breaking strain right. You might think having the heaviest line possible would allow you to fish effectively and safely on all the waters you fish, but in many cases it could actually go against you. The thicker the line, the harder it will be to cast, and something resembling tow-rope might get laughed at by the fish in a gin-clear lake where submerged tackle stands out like a sore thumb. So try and go for a happy medium; if, on average, the waters you are fishing are free of heavy snags and weed, lines between 12lb and 15lb should allow you to cast good distances and get even the largest of specimens back to the bank safely.
Similarly, pick a colour that’s not going to go against you. If unsure, stick to a clear mono, which will cover all bases. If you are going to be fishing at range, you want a line with minimal stretch, which will put you in contact with the fish much quicker when you make contact, and likewise if you’re going to be fishing over bars, gravel or other submerged features that could rub up against your line on a regular basis, then abrasion resistance will also be paramount.
As a final note, cost should also be factored in, as to get the best from your line you will need to be changing it each season, so budget accordingly but don’t scrimp – it’s the only thing between you and the fish, so our advice is to get the best you can reasonably afford.
So, where do we start? Well, a cult line that just seems to keep doing the business for so many, despite it’s meagre price tag, is Daiwa Sensor. I’ve tried all kinds of fancy lines in the past, but I just keep coming back to the Sensor. For me, it’s all things to all men. Excellent abrasion resistance, strength and performance. I use it in various breaking strains for all my carp angling, including 10lb, 12lb and 15lb, and it’s never let me down. Sensor Monofil is both highly durable and resistant to abrasive textures. Enduring level of suppleness also ensures that Sensor Clear continues to cast smoothly even after long periods of use. Priced at £8.99; full details HERE.
Another extremely popular line in specimen angling circles is Korda Adrena-Line. Korda claim this line is the ultimate casting line, with ultra limp properties and suppleness. It’s also incredibly abrasion resistant and is built to stand the rigours of modern day carping. Priced at £17.99 and available in sizes: 10, 12, 15 and 18lb; full details HERE.
TF Gear GS Carp Line is another good choice for the angler who wants to stay in contact with the fish. It’s unique low contrast gunsmoke colour offers a good degree of camouflage. It has low memory so that it sits on the spool beautifully and extra-high abrasion resistance for fishing in snaggy swims. A consistent diameter throughout its length allows perfect casts every time and great knot strength gives confidence in your approach. Priced at £15.99 in 12-18lb. full details HERE.
Whilst on the subject of line, there’s nothing more laborious than having to strip or load spools by hand – not to mention the fact that it can be difficult to get a constant, even and taught application. So, to make things nice and easy, get yourself one of these. The Daiwa Sensor Line Loader is a helpful little gadget which lets you load up any spool size, smoothly and conveniently by yourself. The spring loaded shaft lets you lock the spool into place and let it rotate under your choice of tension – it makes spooling up a dream! Priced at £9.99; full details HERE.
We hope this carp line guide has proved useful, and don’t forget to check out all the other carp lines available via the Anglers Net Fishing Tackle & Bait Finder.
Julian Grattidge
November 2010
All prices and offers correct at time of publishing.
