What line should i use for my carp rod?

[elisabeth]

Hi, so I have a 3,60 m 3,5 lb carp rod and I was wondering what line I should use to catch carp with it? I bought a 8,4 kg (18,5lb) line, but im not sure if it's okay. I plan to fish on lakes and ponds. Thanks for all. 

[framey]

Should be fine but 

You need to give more information for a better answer

it depends on how big the fish are 

The set up may be overkill if the fish are small and the lake is clean with no weed etc

 

[elisabeth]

Hey, thank you. The lake has a lot of branches on the lake's floor and fish can be quite big. It depends really. But I wouldn't be surprised if I hooked a 20 kg carp. 

[framey]

All good then 👍👍👍
that line will probably be the least I would use

Edited July 26, 2023 by framey

[elisabeth]

Thanks, the line is 0,29 mm thick, is that too little? I also have 20 kg line (0,35mm) at home but it seem too heavy. 

[framey]

If you say it is littered with branches use the thicker line 

does your reel have an extra spool?

[elisabeth]

But can the line be too heavy for my rod, if you know what I'm trying to say? Like can the rod break if the line is too strong? No I dont have an exstra spool sadly 😕

[framey]

No it cannot be too heavy you just need to use the clutch or wind backwards 

what reels do you have ?

there are 2 types that cover “most” anglers fishing rear drag or front drag 

use this as a guide for the line

https://tacklebox.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/line_tests_issue_13h.pdf

 

a clear water with no snags you could  use 10lb (around 5kg) line 

a lot of bits in the water you may need the stronger line

0.3/0.35 are general all round lines

 

[framey]

You could do a lot worse than watching a few of these videos 

https://youtube.com/@fishingtutorials

[elisabeth]

Thank you, my reels have a rear drag, just because im kind of used to these and they are in great shape, so i just dont see a reason to replace them

[ouchthathurt]

The line on my reels are 0.40 18lb breaking strain coupled to 3lb 12ft carp rods. I fish some quite snaggy lakes and canals, this set up does me well. 

[elisabeth]

Thank you, but how can the breaking strains be the same and not the thickness. Which one should i look for/is more important? 

[framey]

have a look at the link I sent you there are big differences 

that’s why most go by diameter

[elisabeth]

I did take a look thank you so much. 

[crusian]

It's what Framey has typed - ignore the quoted breaking strain and go by the thickness i.e. 0.40 as Ouch. says . 

You need a thicker line for abrasion resistance against the branches ; a thinner line may well break at the same figure , but with a straight pull on a weed / snag free water .

😀

 

[salokcinnodrog]

7 hours ago, elisabeth said:

Hi, so I have a 3,60 m 3,5 lb carp rod and I was wondering what line I should use to catch carp with it? I bought a 8,4 kg (18,5lb) line, but im not sure if it's okay. I plan to fish on lakes and ponds. Thanks for all. 

The type of water will make a big difference, snaggy, clear, whether you need to cast long distances. 

 

15lb 0.35-0.38mm is probably the standard, and newer lines co-polymer are more abrasion resistant than nylon monofilament.

 

I pretty much use 15lb on most waters where I'm carp fishing for carp over 20lb. For smaller fish up to say 20lb, it will be 10lb on a lighter rod.

[Carl walker]

I’m only used to fishing the canal float style but have a large reservoir near by . I am going to have a bash at the carp in there . I’ve spoken to dedicated fishermen who camp there for days and they even have names for the large carp they pull out of there  so I know there is some 30/plus pound fish . As I’m new to it I’ve got a few good quality telescopic ten footers and I’m using braided line . Ten lb be ok? There’s no logs /branches , there was a lot of weeds a couple of summers back but it’s all died off till spring I suppose??so should I get some 15/20 lb braid ? I prefer it to the mono .

 

Someone advise me please???!

[commonly]

Gardener GT HD in 15lb will be perfect for all the conditions you've described.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264062311611?chn=ps&_ul=GB&var=563603293364&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=563603293364_264062311611&targetid=1405282543879&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006689&poi=&campaignid=17218284410&mkgroupid=142217514411&rlsatarget=pla-1405282543879&abcId=9300867&merchantid=113624833&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA_tuuBhAUEiwAvxkgTugjLYm0znfcO12PDhFrAYqSTngOGy0HcFUyzdBXQm_foknpEM9A9hoCU9IQAvD_BwE

[framey]

10 hours ago, Carl walker said:

I’m only used to fishing the canal float style but have a large reservoir near by . I am going to have a bash at the carp in there . I’ve spoken to dedicated fishermen who camp there for days and they even have names for the large carp they pull out of there  so I know there is some 30/plus pound fish . As I’m new to it I’ve got a few good quality telescopic ten footers and I’m using braided line . Ten lb be ok? There’s no logs /branches , there was a lot of weeds a couple of summers back but it’s all died off till spring I suppose??so should I get some 15/20 lb braid ? I prefer it to the mono .

Use what you are confident in 

you want to go higher with braid 

as a guide

if you look at a decent quality mono around 15lb and use the diameter rather than breaking strain then you can match that to a similar braid. But 30lb will be close enough

[Carl walker]

Yes thanks the line I ordered is .30mmive done some checking and I think that works out to be around 40 lb? Yet it doesn’t look very thick?.. 

[salokcinnodrog]

19 hours ago, Carl walker said:

Yes thanks the line I ordered is .30mmive done some checking and I think that works out to be around 40 lb? Yet it doesn’t look very thick?.. 

A braid of 0.36mm is around 50lb. I say around as diameters may vary between brand. 

 

In terms of mono vs braid, I use 15lb, 0.35mm Gardner Pro for carp fishing, I don't like braid for anything other than marker float work, yet for pike fishing it's braid all the way.

With braid, I would suggest using a mono leader, as braid can cut into the fishes flank, if not use around a metre of anti-tangle tubing to prevent that cutting.

The braid you use should be in the diameter of the mono you use, so my 15lb mono is 0.35mm, go for a braid around the same.

 

 

[Carl walker]

I’ve just got 0.30 mono invisible line it says it’s like tiger patterns if you look at it under light green/black kind of ..? I’m going to put it on the rod tomorrow now as I’m new to carp fishing

 

I usually do canal  I’ve had some stunning large perch like pound and half which is huge for me as it’s normally always little ones  I even try using large hooks an wedge a squillion maggots on it to dissuade the little gits but no , oh no , the little bleeders will swallow the whole thing and most of the time you end up killing them trying to disgorge the hook !