Korda Subline Brown Ultra Tough Sinking Mono

Strength & Abrasion

Toughness is the Subline's whole reason for being, and it's where it scores highest. It's built for toughness and knot strength, and the swims it's made for are exactly the ones that wear through ordinary mono fastest.

The diameters back that up. The 12lb is 0.35mm, the 15lb is 0.40mm and the 20lb is 0.43mm, so it's a chunkier line than Gardner's GT-HD, which is 0.35mm at 15lb.

That extra thickness gives more material to absorb abrasion before the line weakens, which is what you want when it's dragging over gravel or cutting through weed.

The 20lb is there for extra-heavy-duty carping and European fishing too. Overall, I think it's about as tough as mono gets for carp fishing, and I'd trust it in swims where I wouldn't want to use a finer line.

Casting & Handling

Casting is the trade-off. A line that's 0.40mm at 15lb creates more friction through the rings and more drag in the air than something finer, so on paper it won't reach the same distances as a dedicated distance mono like the Fox Exocet Pro.

The handling is better than the diameters might suggest, though. The extrusion process gives it suppleness without the wiry stiffness that tough lines often have, and a supple line should sit better on the spool and come off it with less memory.

That's a real plus, because stiff, springy mono is a bit of a faff to fish with.

So, will it hold you back? Only if you need serious range, and for short to medium-range fishing I think it should handle well. On balance, it's a good-handling line for how tough it is.

Presentation

For presentation, the dense formula is the key. It's a fast-sinking mono, so it should get down quickly and lie on the bottom rather than hang in the water. In weed especially, a line that sinks well is less likely to sit up in the fronds where fish can brush against it.

The colours are understated too. From the photos, the Sub Brown is a muted olive-brown that should suit silty or leafy lake beds, and the green version gives you an option for weedier venues, so you can match the line to the water you fish.

It isn't as fine as the Gardner GT-HD, though, and a thicker line is a little easier for fish to see, so it's not quite as discreet on clear, pressured waters. Overall, it presents very well for a heavy-duty mono.

Is it good value for money?

Value depends a lot on where you fish. Every strain comes on a 1000m spool, so one spool goes a long way, and it costs a touch more than the Gardner GT-HD.

It isn't a budget line, though, and the Korda Basix or Trakker Mono Reel Line costs a lot less if your venue is fairly clean.

To be fair, on a snaggy or weedy water a tougher line protects your rigs and, more importantly, the fish, so paying a little more makes sense. Losing a fish to a frayed mainline is far more costly than the difference in price.

Overall, I'd recommend the Subline to carp anglers who fish weedy, snaggy or gravelly venues, and to anyone heading abroad who needs the 20lb. If your waters are open and clean and you want maximum distance, a finer mono will suit you better.