A good carp fishing line needs to be good for casting, have good abrasion resistance, fast sinking, good knot strength, not to stretchy, low visibility, and doesn't break the bank!
Fishing line is usually measured by its breaking strain. This is the measurement of the amount of poundage the line can take before it will snap. I however like to go by diameter rather than breaking strain as I think that is a more realistic reflection of the strength of the line.
So we now have the criteria as to what to look for, so lets see which one is the best fishing line for carp.
These are the mainlines that I've used over the last few years.
SO MY TOPS 5 MAINLINE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER ARE
First up is korda touchdown. it casts well. even the .40, and you do get good feedback up the line when the lead touches down. The only downside is they don't do it in 0.35 so the choices are 0.33 or 0.40.. I'd go 0.33 in the winter and 0.40 in the summer when the weed is up.
- Good for casting- even the .40 casts well.
- Abrasion resistance- has stood up well.
- Fast sinking- It sinks well, but not the best.
- Good knot strength- good with paloma.
- Low stretch- one of the best for stretch.
- Visibility - Weedy green blends in well.
- Doesn't break the bank!- value for money.
Korda Touchdown
ESP syncro loaded XT. This line sinks extremely well, one of the best mono's for sinking, great for slack line fishing. it has good knot strength when using the recommended 5 turn grinner knot. The 0.33 or the .037 are both a good choice.
After using the syncro XT (not the loaded) for a while now i'm extremely impressed with it. is it the best fishing carp line? at the moment yes!
- Good for casting- cast very good.
- Abrasion resistance- up there with them.
- Fast sinking- perfect for slack lines
- Good knot strength- 5 turn grinner knot.
- Low stretch- not as good as the touchdown.
- Visibility- Blends in well
- Doesn't break the bank! value for money.
ESP Syncro Loaded XT
Shimano technium (black) as it's also known. This line is one of the best casting lines, it's a very supple line, knot strength is up there with using a paloma. it's a little more stretchy than the other mono's.
- Good for casting- cast extremely well.
- Abrasion resistance- up there with them.
- Fast sinking- sinks ok not the best.
- Good knot strength- using a paloma knot.
- Low stretch- not as good as the touchdown.
- Visibility- Dark colour blends in well.
- Doesn't break the bank! not the cheapest.
Shimano Technium
Fox Exocet has got a reputation as a very good casting line, with low memory. It is also low stretch sinks rather well, nearly as good as the syncro xt for sinking. A good all round line.
- Good for casting- cast extremely well.
- Abrasion resistance- Great abrasion results
- Fast sinking- sinks well for a supple line.
- Good knot strength- using a paloma knot.
- Low stretch- not as good as the touchdown.
- Visibility- One of the best.
- Doesn't break the bank! Very good value.
Fox Exocet Khaki
Nast NXT-D-cam is the replacement for the orginal Nash bullet. This line does have high abrasion resistance, however it's not the best casting line compared to others. also available in 0.35
- Good for casting- not as good as the others.
- Abrasion resistance- Great abrasion results
- Fast sinking- sinks well.
- Good knot strength- Great knot strength.
- Low stretch- not as good as the touchdown.
- Visibility- Does well on visability.
- Doesn't break the bank! Very good value.
Nash NXT-D-cam
Daiwa sensor is the line pretty much every angler have used over the years, and a lot of people end up going back to the this line. It's value for money as the 12lb .33 comes on a spool of 1160m, and for not a lot of money. The colour is a dark brown that blends in well with the lake bed.
- Good for casting - It's not the best casting line
- Abrasion resistance - Average abrasion resistance
- Fast sinking - Does take a bit of time to fully sink.
- Good knot strength - Great knot strength.
- Low stretch - More stretch that touchdown.
- Visibility - The colour might not be to everyone's liking.
- Doesn't break the bank! Extremely good value for money
DAIWA SENSOR BULK SPOOL
The korda carp line is their budget line which is in direct competition to the Daiwa Sensor, with the value for money type of carp mainline. It comes in a 1000m spool and is about the same price. Damian Clark was one of the Korda anglers that was involved in the development of this carp line. He know his stuff especially when it comes to casting a line to the horizon!
- Good for casting - Not bad for a budget line.
- Abrasion resistance - Good reported abrasion resistance.
- Fast sinking - Good sinking line not as good as the ESP Loaded.
- Good knot strength - Very good knot strength.
- Low stretch - More stretch that touchdown.
- Visibility - Comes in Weedy Green.
- Doesn't break the bank! Up their with value for money.
Korda Carp Line
Mainline Accessory's
Nash spot-on
This is my favorite line marker, for when you can't use market sticks. As long as you let it dry a little it does stay in place.
Korda Marker
This is what i first used to mark my line, before we started using marker sticks. Again good when marker sticks isn't an option.