Best carp mainlines: My top 7 lines (2022 UPDATE)

What are the types of carp fishing line?

There are 3 types of carp fishing lines: monofilament, fluorocarbon and braid. They each have their own characteristics and uses and there’s a lot of information on this out there. Here’s what you really need to know when you’re fishing with these lines.

What is the best line strength for carp fishing?

Over the years, I’ve used every strength of mainline from 10lbs to 30lbs. Actually when I started as a boy, I used 4lb maxima straight through!

Line strength is not what matters.

In match fishing, anglers talk in terms of line diameter. I think us carp anglers have some catching up to do in this regard. It’s not the line strength that counts, it’s the knot strength, and knot strength depends on line diameter.

As a rule of thumb, fish with the thickest line that can be cast the distance you’re fishing

In the rest of this blog, I’m going to refer to line diameter and knot strength more than rated pound strength. I’ve learnt this lesson the hard way. Beausoleil is a mixed species lake, we have both large carp and catfish. As the catfish grew bigger and reached the 100lbs mark, we started to see too many mainline failures. I decided to do my own line testing and that’s when I realised that:

• The poundage indicated on the packaging rarely translates in real life (with the exception of Berkley Big Game)
• Mainline will fail at different strains depending on which knot you use.

1. Use 10lbs line (0.20 – 0.30) for distance work

Nowadays, 10lb is probably the lightest weight of mainline you’ll see anyone use. 10lbs mainline is usually only used in combination with a shock leader when fishing at maximum range.

There is a modern trend with supposedly high tech monos that claim 10lbs rating at 0.20 diameter. The trouble is it’s just not true. As soon as you introduce a knot, in many cases, that number is at least halved. So your 10lbs line becomes 5lb line at 0.20. Even in the hands of an expert angler, fishing at range with mainline than can only take 5lb of force is dangerous.

For distance work, I’d go for 0.25 to 0.28. As long as the venue is open water and snag free, this should be perfectly capable of banking anything that you hook.

2. Choose 15lbs to 20lbs line (0.28 – 0.45) for general carp fishing

For many years now, 15lbs has been the accepted norm for carp fishing mainline for the majority of situations. Fishing 15lbs line straight through at 100 yards is commonplace.

The only time you need to go heavier would be due to the nature of the lake bed. For many years I fished 0.40 mainline that was rated at 15lbs but was actually good for 20lbs. I certainly couldn’t cast 100 yards with it of course but it never let me down. Again I’d be highly suspicious of any line rated at 15lbs that was only 0.28 diameter. For me 0.35 to 0.38 is the number that I’d be looking at for general carp fishing work.

3. Go to 25lbs line (0.35 to 0.50) for carp and catfish fishing in an ultra rugged environment

On paper, carp fishing with 25lbs mono might seem complete madness but it’s what I’ve done for years now at Beausoleil. After reports of multiple losses from customers using mono rated at 25lbs but was only 0.35 in diameter, we changed our rules to Berkley Big Game in 25lbs which is 0.48.

Overnight, virtually all the losses were eliminated. Our own knot testing revealed the problem. Knot strength has got everything to do with line diameter and nothing to do with the rated poundage on the spool. If you’re fishing a venue with massive cats and carp then lines of 0.45 to 0.50 are what you really need.

What is the best colour line for carp fishing?

I’ve fished loads of different types of waters. From gin clear gravel pits that were as weedy as hell to small estates lake with a high level of cloudiness and I’ve used clear, green and brown coloured mainline in all of them.

The honest truth is that I’ve never not caught because the mainline colour was wrong and I’ve never caught more because the mainline colour was right.

Nowadays, I tend to stick to clear mainline but that’s because it’s easier to see when a clear line is dirty and needs cleaning. For me, line colour has zero impact on your carp fishing.

Best Mono Carp Lines

Choosing mainline is a very personal thing. Everyone fishes different waters and lakes and what suits one angler may not suit another.

With that said, here are my favourite mono carp lines. It’s a list that I put together originally in 2014 and that I’ve updated in 2020 and now 2022 based on the fishing I’ve done.

1. Nash Bullet

I’ve fished with the Bullet in 12lbs (0.33) to 20lbs (0.40) since 2020 and I’m very happy with it. It’s “underrated” and by that I mean that it’s possible to achieve the stated BS (breaking strain) on the box. I’ve found the strongest knots are achieved when connecting Bullet to a lead free leader but it also knots very well to a mono shock leader. That way, I can consistently exceed the stated BS. As a result, I have dropped down to 12lb Bullet for general carp fishing. I only add a shock leader for big chuck work or when river carping for the added abrasion resistance. 

At Beausoleil in the winter I’ve found that I can use the 12lb version straight down to the cling-on leader. I’ve been seriously impressed by the incredible abrasion resistance of this line. I’ve not tested the 12lbs version on one of catfish yet but TBH I’m quietly confident. 12lbs is 4 x more powerful than my little 9ft Dwarf rods can apply and considering the number of 30s, 40s and the 50 I banked on this setup, 99.9% of anglers won’t have an issue with using the 12lbs version in their everyday carp fishing.

It ticks a lot of boxes without having any big downsides

I was that impressed with the Bullet that we now allow the 20lbs (0.40) version to be used at Beausoleil during the main season. That’s a big change after 5 years on the Big Game. For anglers that visit us that are specifically targeting the catfish then I still recommend the 25lbs or even 30lbs Big Game just because of its track record and the ease with which anglers can achieve a high degree of knot strength. For those anglers that are more interested in the carp then the 20lb Bullet is plenty enough and has banked some very large catfish.

Excellent knot strength and abrasion resistance

Bullet has excellent knot strength and fantastic abrasion resistance. It has considerably less stretch than the Big Game which makes it less spongy to fish with. At 0.40 the Bullet is better suited to medium pit reels. The 0.45 Big Game is best suited to Big Pit Reels.

I really like the Bullet but like any mainline it’s not perfect. Everything is a compromise! After a few days of fishing with the Bullet, if you aren’t using a shock leader, you’ll find the last few yards will go a bit curly due to repeated casting loads. It’s slightly annoying but it’s not a deal breaker for me. When it gets too bad, I just cut off a few metres, re-tie and I’m back to a clean section. This is purely an aesthetic quality. It makes no difference whatsoever to its performance. Bullet is a robust, reliable choice that can take an absolute pounding and casts for miles and that’s all I’m looking for 99% of the time.

2. Berkley Trilene Big Game

I discovered the Berkley Big Game a few years ago when I was looking for a stronger mono for Beausoleil. We used to have problems with mainline failure on branded carp lines and I decided to do my own line testing. We tested lines that were rated at 30lbs that broke at 10lbs… repeatedly, no matter what knot I tried.

The Big Game was the only line that consistently achieved the lbs printed on the label.

For many carp anglers of a certain age, Berkley Trilene Big Game was the original carp mono. Across the world, its reputation for strength, shock absorption and abrasion resistance is legendary.

Why is it one of the best mono carp line?

• First, it’s actually as strong as what it says on the tin. As long as you properly wet and cinch down your knots, you’ll get 25lb out of the 25lb version and that can be said right across the range.
• Big Game was designed and developed to absorb powerful lunges from massive fish and that makes it an excellent choice for carp fishing. It’s easy to fish with too and it doesn’t suffer too badly from memory issues. On paper it might seem thicker than lines of supposedly comparable strength but out in the real world, Big Game will actually do what it says it can. Abrasion resistance is also excellent. The 25lbs version can take an absolute caning!
• If you need to cast a long way, then go for the 10lb version and put a 25lb (Big Game) leader on the end of it. For general work, the 15lbs or 20lbs versions are great.
• Not only is it a great mainline, it also makes great hooklink.
• Big Game responds really well to being given a good stretch. Stretch the last 20m on a regular basis and it will lay flat as you like when slack line fishing.

The other great thing about Big Game is the price. A standard 600m spool is under £10 and you can buy big bulk spools of 2500m+ for £25. That’s enough line to keep even the busiest of anglers fishing hard and trouble free for a couple of years.

My most successful braided rig

💥 Here’s a rig you may find interesting if you struggle to tie your own. It’s based on the multi rig so it’s really easy to tie and re-usable. Unlike a traditional multi rig, it’s made with braid so you can easily put it into a solid PVA bag and you’ll get a good presentation over a wide variety of bottom types even if you’re not a great caster. You can use the material time and time again and just change your bait and your hook. Anglers at Beausoleil have been using this rig for the last 2 years and everyone’s got on very well with it. It’s caught some amazing carp and it’s helped anglers keep their fishing simple, effective and reliable

3. Insight – GR60x in 15lb

The original GR60 in 15lb was the line I used and loved the most. Then the GR60x came out and it cast better and was even tougher than the original with excellent knot strength. After using it for a couple of seasons, I did think it suffered from higher memory than the regular stuff.

The GR60x is not the best casting line on the market but it sinks very well and is very tough. It’s limp and supple, and hangs nice and limp through the rings. For general all round use up to ranges of 90 yards, it’s been very good to me.

4.   GLT Pro-Clear in 16lb

A few years ago, I did some weeks on the Abbey lakes complex in France. I used Pro-Clear both as mainline (16lb) and as zig hook link (8lb). I fished Fox lake which is chocked full of weed and being able to cast a long way was essential.

The Pro-Clear was awesome.

I only had one hook link fail and landed 27 carp including 3 x 40s. If you’re fishing at range in gin clear water then it’s definitely worth looking at. It casts very well but it doesn’t sink so well though so it’s not a line I’d recommend for Beausoleil. I’ve used it but had to change it after a few sessions.

Best braided mainlines

1.   Spiderwire Stealth Smooth

I’ve been fishing with Spiderwire Stealth Smooth on large French public venues and rivers for the last few years and I’ve also been using it as hooklink.

It’s a joy to fish with.

It’s good for long range fishing, abrasion resistance is excellent and it’s helped me bank some incredible specimens from swims where other materials have failed me.

Spiderwire holds its colour well and doesn’t fray. I’ve not had any issues with the dreaded wind knots even when fishing at max range in a cross wind.

The 0.25mm version can be cast for a very long way. Again I would kind of ignore what the pound rating says or at least halve it, especially if you buy it in the UK/Europe. It’s an American line and the rating system in the states is different but actually much more relevant in the real world. As mainline, the strongest I’ve used is 90lbs (0.35) for certain swims.

2.   Suffix 832

I had no real reason to look beyond Spiderwire for my braid needs but Suffix 832 caught my eye so I bought some spools to test.

It’s very close to the Spiderwire braid. On paper, the 39lbs 832 is thicker than the 40lbs Spiderwire but you can’t really tell the difference. Both can be cast a very long way. I haven’t tried the Sufix 832 in the heavier grades so can’t comment on abrasion resistance etc. but I’d expect it to perform similarly to the Spiderwire. You won’t go far wrong with either of these for long range carp fishing.

3.   PowerPro

PowerPro was one of the first materials I tried as a braided mainline and I must admit that I hated it! I think that was more down to my inexperience at the time. It’s very easy to overload braid and the resulting wind knots will make you hate braid and the brand!

PowerPro is on the list as it’s a great choice as a heavy duty leader material. I’ve not had the chance to test and fish with this yet but I know a lot of top guys that swear by the stuff.

Once upon a time the strongest and toughest leader that was available to the pioneering carp angler was Kryston’s Ton Up. It’s still used today although it’s insanely expensive and very difficult to get hold of. Ton Up is rated at 85lbs and labeled as a catfish braid. The baby version of Ton up was Kryston’s Quicksilver. I used Quicksilver quite a lot, both as a hooklink and as a leader. Sure it can just about cope when the going gets tough but when faced with some real man’s fishing it will get shredded!

This is where the PowerPro comes in. It’s available in some very heavy grades. The strongest version I can find is 75kg (165lbs or 0.56). As it’s available in 275m spools, it makes it much better value for money than any carp branded product. At the end of the day, it’s virtually the same stuff in a similar thickness. I will update this when I’ve had the chance to put it through its paces.

🎣 My 2022 carp lines:

Nash Bullet: https://amzn.to/3PWzkgK
Skinlink: https://amzn.to/3QSUAFk
Armourlink: https://amzn.to/3AsEjzQ
Cling-On leader: https://amzn.to/3RbwJ3j
Heavy duty mono snag leader: https://amzn.to/3wwPuq4
NXT Zig-flo: https://amzn.to/3pNDBIH
Fluoro link: https://amzn.to/3KouSpB

Purchasing through these links gives me a small commission to support my blogs and videos – the price to you is the same.

Conclusion

I hope this gives you food for thought when considering your next mainline.

For many waters, the choice of mainline will make very little difference to your level of success but on harder venues, it really can be the difference between success and failure.

Personally I wouldn’t believe any manufacturers’ blurb that you read or watch. These guys will tell you exactly what you want to hear to sell product. At the end of the day you can’t beat personal experience but being objective and going through a logical process can save you time and money. The golden rule is to test it yourself before you even put in on a reel. It should take a considerable amount of effort to break the line, knotted or not.