The 5 Best Fluorocarbon lines for Carp Fishing - (Fluorocarbon Line Advantages Revealed)

What is Fluorocarbon fishing line?

Fluorocarbon line is a mixture of organic materials, combined and stretched into a strand (or as we like to call it… fishing line). Sea fisherman have known about it for years (which is good as they tend to catch some pretty big fish).

It’s fair to say all the qualities found in the best sea fishing line also transfer directly across to the best fluorocarbon line for carp fishing. It’s inherent properties make it a great choice, especially when carp fishing.

It is fairly stiff with little stretch giving excellent feel and feedback. It is also a very dense material, this is beneficial in a number of ways. Firstly, it sinks. As you’ll know, when carp fishing, shadows on the water caused by floating line are a sure-fire way to spook wary fish. Due to its density, for a given diameter the line is much stronger.

This means that it is durable and abrasion resistant. Perhaps the most interesting quality of Fluorocarbon fishing line is what is known as it’s ‘refractive index’. In simple terms what this means is that when it is submerged it is practically invisible, meaning you can go thicker without worrying about the fish seeing your line.

What is the difference between fluorocarbon and monofilament fishing line?

Mono does have it’s own undeniable benefits, and the debate as to which is ‘better’ has been raging for a while now (just don’t get us started on braid). Monofilament fishing line is less dense, meaning it is slightly more supple.

What you give away in breaking strain, you gain in softness. This is particularly useful in ‘shock’ resistance, due to its stretch mono absorbs jolts, such as ‘hard’ bites a little better. But that said with carp fishing, bites tend to be a more gentle, prolonged and sedate affair.

Monofilament can also be seen in the water. Whilst efforts have been made to make it camouflaged, it still has a ‘profile’. Due to its lack of stretch and sink-ability, as previously discussed, with fluorocarbon you end up with less of a ‘bow’ between your rod tip and hook point, meaning you are more in touch with whatever is at the end of the line. 

Can you use Fluorocarbon as a mainline

The short answer is... Yes of course you can! Fluorocarbon offers a nice compromise between braid and monofilament. You get the best of both worlds. A little stiffness, more strength, less visibility and better contact with your terminal tackle, what more do you want?

It is worth noting that due to its stiffness, even the best fluorocarbon line for carp fishing tends to be a bit springy, so you don’t want to overfill your spool.

When to use fluorocarbon line for carp fishing

You can use fluorocarbon line for carp fishing at any time. However there are a few instances where it comes into its own. If you are visiting a hard fished venue, then the fish are more than likely going to be pretty educated.

You’ll need a line that is low visibility, so opt for fluorocarbon to minimise the chances that your line will be seen. In parallel to this the best fluorocarbon line for carp fishing is one that matches the size of the specimens you are hoping to catch.

Due to its properties you can afford to scale down the diameter slightly whilst still ensuring adequate strength. Fluorocarbon with a big pit reel works well if you need to fish at distance. It also is used quite extensively for certain carp fishing rigs.

Fluorocarbon can be used with all carp reel types and we have a dedicated and complete article on the best carp reels on the market right here, if your interested.

Checkout this video that gives an overview of the use of fluorocarbon in your fishing:

What is the Best fluorocarbon line for carp fishing

We aren’t going to be glib and say ‘the one that catches the most fish’ as that won’t help you at all. What we will say is that reputable brands tend to manufacture the best fluorocarbon line for carp fishing.

Berkley in particular represent a solid choice if you are looking to invest in a new fluorocarbon line. If you go for 15lbs breaking strain you should get around 500m in a spool, depending on your reel size you might be able to load up two reels.

The line features all of the good stuff we have talked about above. It is fast sinking, with excellent strength for it’s diameter and ties to swivels and carp hooks nicely.

Consistency in diameter is particularly important when reeling in and ensuring uniform line lay. Fortunately with this line it goes on the reel pretty well, and therefore comes off in a consistent manner when casting. This is no doubt our number one choice as the best fluorocarbon line for carp fishing.

Conclusion

Ultimately you have to find what line works for you, and perhaps more importantly, works for your venue of choice. You’ll know when you’ve found the best fluorocarbon line for carp fishing when your shoulder is aching with a real fighter.

It is a balancing act, perhaps you might lose an advantage or two found in mono, but if you gain more, and therefore catch more, it is definitely worth it.

Thanks for reading.

Tight Lines!