Your guide to main line types
Thinking of re-spooling your reels? Don’t know what to choose? Here are some suggestions to make that decision easier!
From top to bottom: fluorocarbon, braid and monofilament.
Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbon is by far the most effective line choice for the angler who wants to keep everything well out of the carp’s way. The line is designed for fishing at close- to medium-range, as it is not ideal for casting at distance because of its wiry nature. When slackened off, the line will sink and hug the contours of the lakebed. The line is very high maintenance and needs to be cleaned on a regular basis.
Braid
Braided main line is designed for extreme fishing. The line is highly abrasion resistant, so when snag fishing this can prove highly effective. Another huge bonus is that the material has no stretch, which means better bite indication. When fishing at range or tight up against snags or far margins, this will give you far better bite indication on a tight line over a monofilament main line.
Monofilament
Monofilament main line is easily the most popular line type on the market (head to tacklebox.co.uk, download their brochure and view a very thorough line test). The line is a good all-rounder with them being the most superior for casting. Mono is also tough and can deal with a lot of wear-and-tear. There are many different types on the market so it is best to try different ones until you find one that you trust. If you want a line, which will do pretty much everything, then monofilament is the one for you.