Carp Fishing Lines

Without the most appropriate line for your carp fishing, you simply cannot expect to improve your success rates and land that elusive catch. That’s why Angling Direct has worked tirelessly to assemble a market-leading collection of fishing line products and accessories which cover all fishing styles and all budgets across the board. 

Types of Carp Fishing Lines

When considering the best carp fishing line for you, you first need to check out the different line types made for carp anglers. There are three main types of line, each of which has its benefits and drawbacks depending on the style of carp fishing you’re interested in. Here is a quick breakdown of the main strengths and weakness of each of the line types to enable you to pick the perfect line for your needs.

Monofilament -  Highly, abrasion-resistant, grippy line. Easy to manufacture therefore low cost as it only uses a single strand of nylon in its construction. Mono line’s natural colouring is translucent, perfect for easily spooked carp. Can also be dyed easily, too. An excellent choice for the junior or novice angler, monofilament fishing line is stretchy and the stretchiest lines can give an additional 25% of length. This means that the line has a significant amount of giving in it, so it can absorb the shocks from aggressive takes or lunges. Monofilament line also has a high memory, so it will hold some semblance of the shape even after it has been removed from the reel. 

Fluorocarbon - denser than monofilament line, fluoro offers the same refractive index as water, so it bends light like a liquid. This means that it vanishes in the water, making it practically undetectable and it is the preferred choice for anglers fishing in clear waters or angles targeting easily spooked fish. It also sinks fast so it better pins bait to the lake or river bed, even when using weightless setups. A very popular choice of leader for fishing with bottom baits, fluoro line is also exceptionally sensitive.

Braid - composed of multiple fibres which have been moulded and welded together, braided line ensures incredible strength with a small diameter which is excellent when targeting harder fighting carp. Braid is also a dense line type, so it sinks quickly through the water column – making it an excellent choice for the angler fishing with bottom baits. Colour options to choose from are more limited with braid as it is a more visible line.

Is braided line good for carp fishing?

With no memory and no stretch, a braid is the preferred choice for carp anglers who are looking to cast long distances. For long-distance casting tips, check out the fishing tips and tricks on our AD Blog.

What is the best line for Carp Fishing?

Our range here at Angling Direct,  features dozens of lines and line types from the world’s foremost authorities in the field, each of which has been personally selected and approved by our in-house expert team. Every household name makes an appearance, including Korda, X Line, Daiwa and so many more besides. The right line really can and will make all the difference in the world, and we aim to stock only the best – no matter your choice you’re getting the highest quality for value line the market can offer. 

Diameter to strength ratio in carp fishing lines:

Monofilament line - sports a large diameter to strength ratio, so if you’re looking for a super strong line for battling huge carp then this isn’t the choice for you. However, if you have a lot of spools to fill and a limited budget with which to do it, monofilament is a great choice. The increased diameter also means that this line is more buoyant than other line types, making it an excellent choice for surface fishing. As this line is not as quick sinking as other line types, it might not be such a good choice for slackline angling. 

Fluorocarbon line - offers a similar diameter to strength ratio as monofilament line as it is constructed from a single strand. However, your fluoro line does not become visible in the water as you increase the breaking strain (and therefore the line diameter), allowing you to target bigger fish, as you are able to increase your breaking strain without fearing detection.

Braided Line - due to its expense, it is often paired with fluorocarbon leaders, giving you the best of both worlds, maintaining a high break strain and sinking density.

What strength fishing line do I need?

As you’ll have noticed, there are a few key things to look out for that span the three line types. Carp Fishing Line strength is referred to in breaking strengths which are measured in the maximum lbs and many carp lines range from 20lb, 30lbs braid to 50lbs plus. 

Breaking strain lets you know how much force you can exert on a line before it snaps, so the larger the fish you’re looking to target the higher your breaking strain needs to be. You can somewhat manipulate the strains of lines by pairing them with different leaders but without the appropriate break strain for your angling, you are going to be left with lots of lost fish. 

We offer a range of line types in a wealth of breaking strains and spool sizes. No matter what you’re looking for, you can guarantee you’ll find the perfect option on our site.

What colour line is best for carp fishing?

A benefit of monofilament line is that is can be dyed very easily, so it is available in a wide variety of colours to blend with a range of backgrounds and you can always find the perfect colouring to complement your venue of choice. What’s more, it can also be dyed vibrant and fluorescent colours, which is ideal if you’re fishing a style which requires you to watch your line carefully. Most carp line on our site is either clear or dark brown or green to camouflage into the bankside.

Why do you need to replace a fishing line?

Lines can become tired over multiple seasons, especially lines which have stretch and memory, so it’s important to change the line you use year on year to keep getting the best from your product. Remember, any old line can be recycled, check out details for this here.

Want to know more about Carp Fishing Lines?

If you want more information on carp fishing lines that would best suit your fishing choices then get in contact with our customer services team or look through our Angling Direct Blog which features a Line beginners guide. You can also find video tutorials on our own Youtube Channel on ADTV.