Best Carp Fishing Line

For me, the Technium is the mono most carp anglers could spool up with and stop worrying about. Its three-layer build pairs a hyper-resistant, low-stretch core with a supple middle layer and a smooth, UV-protective outer skin, so it casts well, knots well and stands up to abrasion.

Stretch is cut to 12 per cent, which helps bite indication and feel at range, and the strength for its diameter is high, with the 12lb at 0.32mm and the 15lb at 0.38mm. A quarter-pound spool holds 1,100m of 12lb or 790m of 15lb.

To be fair, it isn't the cheapest, and it doesn't sink as fast as a dedicated low-vis mono or a fluoro. As one dependable mainline for most carp fishing, though, I think it's the all-rounder to beat.

The Exocet Pro is Fox's distance mono, and the Low Vis Green version blends in on most lake beds. It's super soft and supple, which helps it peel off the spool cleanly on a big cast, and it sinks rather than sitting up in the water.

It comes on 1000m spools from 10lb to 23lb, at 0.261mm to 0.400mm, with high abrasion resistance and good knot strength for a line this supple.

So, what's the catch? A soft, supple mono gives a little away on toughness next to a dedicated abrasion-resistant line like the Korda Subline. For distance work with a low-vis line, though, I think it's a great choice.

If you want a mono that sinks fast and lies flat, the GT-HD is the one I'd look at. It's a copolymer blend made to sink quickly and settle flush to the lake bed, and the Low Viz Green colour helps it disappear over silt and weed.

It comes in 12lb, 15lb and 18lb, at 0.33mm to 0.39mm, with reduced stretch, a crisp, responsive feel and a smooth, supple finish. Knot strength and abrasion resistance are both high.

To be fair, the range is narrower than some, with nothing under 12lb. For most carp fishing, though, I think it's a superb sinking mono.

Subline is Korda's ultra-tough sinking mono, made for the hard stuff, from heavy weed and snags to abrasive gravel. A denser formula helps it sink, and it comes in brown or green to match the lake bed.

It's available from 10lb to 20lb, at 0.30mm to 0.43mm, on 1000m spools. Despite the toughness, it's supple rather than stiff or wiry, which helps it lie well and come off the spool cleanly.

The trade-off is that toughness comes first, so it scores a little lower for casting than a dedicated distance line like the Fox Exocet Pro. For snaggy, weedy waters, though, I think it's one of the safest bets you can make.

Trakker's Mono Reel Line is a dark green, fast-sinking mono on 1000m spools, which is enough to fill at least three reels. It's ultra-smooth and low visibility, and it's supple enough to follow the contours of the lake bed.

It comes in 12lb, 18lb and 20lb, at 0.30mm to 0.40mm, with high knot strength and an abrasion-resistant build.

There's no 15lb in the range, so you'll be choosing between 12lb and 18lb. As a good-value bulk spool for filling a set of reels with sinking mono, though, I think it's hard to argue with.

Daiwa Sensor is one of the most versatile monos you can buy, with breaking strains from 4lb right up to 60lb on bulk or 300m spools. It's supple, has a consistent diameter, knots superbly and is built to be rugged and durable.

For carp, the 12lb and 15lb are the obvious choices, and a bulk spool goes a long way, which keeps the cost per reel low.

It isn't a dedicated low-vis or fast-sinking carp line, so presentation isn't its strong point. As a dependable, good-value mono for all-round use, though, I think it's great.

Korda Basix is about as cheap as a decent carp mainline gets, and it still covers the basics. It's camo green, very abrasion resistant and tough, with good knot strength and relatively low stretch, and it casts well.

It comes in 12lb at 0.35mm and 15lb at 0.40mm, on 500m or 1000m spools.

To be fair, it's on the thick side for its breaking strain, so it won't cast as far as a finer line like the Technium. For beginners or anyone filling reels on a budget, though, I think it's great value.

If you want your mainline as hidden as it can be, Kontour is the one I'd start with. It's 100% fluorocarbon, practically invisible underwater and fast sinking, so it hugs the bottom rather than rising off the lead.

It's a soft line that peels smoothly from the spool and casts up to and beyond 100 yards. It comes in 12lb, 15lb and 18lb, at 0.33mm to 0.37mm, with high abrasion resistance and genuine knot strength.

The catch is spool length, as each spool is 200m, so filling three reels costs a lot more than with mono. For wary fish and clear water, though, I think it's well worth it.

FTX is Thinking Anglers' pure fluorocarbon mainline, in a mist grey tint made to blend in. It has reduced stretch, is unaffected by UV and doesn't absorb water, so it keeps its strength over time.

It comes in 14lb at 0.35mm and 16lb at 0.37mm, on 200m or 600m spools, and the 600m spool has markers at 200m, 300m and 400m, which helps when you're loading three reels.

The catch is cost, as it's one of the dearest mainlines per metre. For anglers who want the stealth of fluoro with a choice of spool size, though, I think it's a great option.

SBX is a sinking braided mainline for anglers who fish weed or want direct contact at range. It's a tightly woven, round braid made from a fast-sinking blend of fibres, so it settles down rather than floating like an ordinary braid.

It comes in 25lb or 40lb, on 300m or 600m spools with removable markers on the 600m, and it has zero stretch, high abrasion resistance and fewer wind knots for easy casting.

As with any braid, there's no stretch to cushion a lunge under the rod tip, so you'll want a leader and a forgiving rod, and some waters ban braid, so check the rules. For weedy waters, though, I think it's top of the pile.

Trakker's Sinking Braid is a dark green braided mainline with an ultra-smooth finish made for distance casting. It's supple and fast sinking, with low stretch for better bite indication at range.

It comes in 30lb, 40lb, 60lb and 80lb, at 0.29mm to 0.49mm, on 300m spools, with high knot strength and abrasion resistance.

The heavier strains are a lot of line for most carp fishing, so most anglers will want the 30lb or 40lb. As with any braid, use a leader and check your water allows braid. For long-range fishing over weed, I think it's a great choice.

Descend is RidgeMonkey's sinking braid, with a round, low-diameter profile and a weed green colour. It's super-fast sinking and has virtually zero stretch, so you get direct contact and clear bite indication.

It comes in 20lb at 0.28mm and 30lb at 0.35mm, on 300m or 1000m spools, and it's highly abrasion resistant.

As with any braid, you'll want a leader, and some waters ban braid, so check the rules. For a fine, fast-sinking braid at a fair price, though, I think it's great value.