Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last several years, by now you’ve at least heard of “copolymer fishing line.” You might have heard of it and not thought anything, simply because there are always new terms floating around. After all, innovation is at the heart of our sport, and behind it, a lot of ambitious anglers, driven to get better and better at their craft.
But what is it? How does it handle? What situations is it best for? Answers to all of these questions and more below. But first, here’s our recommendation:
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The Kastking Max Performance (Our Pick)
So what’s the best copolymer fishing line? While many guys swear by the Gamma, the Sufix, or the P Line copolymer fishing line, we recommend the Kastking Max Performance.
Saltwater, freshwater, bass, trout, or even ice fishing, this is a line that delivers. An especially great line for jigging, suspension rigging, or deep water crankbaiting.
What is Copolymer Fishing Line?
Copolymer fishing line is similar to monofilament in that it is a single strand, but as the name might indicate, the line is actually made of 2 types of nylon, that are fused, or “bonded” together. This lends itself to a tidy little bundle of benefits.
Strength
Copolymer fishing lines also have a greater strength at thinner diameters. This means that you’ll be able to cast further and fit more line on your reel.
Sensitivity
They are slightly less elastic than their monofilament counterparts, giving them more responsiveness and faster action when it comes time to set the hook. In turn, this helps you get a better hook set, and ups your chances of actually landing the fish.
Abrasion resistance
It has awesome abrasion resistance, making it an ideal choice for fishing shallow streams or shorelines.
Further Casting
It also has less “line memory”, which means fewer tangles or wind knots. This in turn helps you cast longer distances, with greater accuracy.
Sinkable and Water Resistant
These lines sink, so they can be used effectively for trolling and jigging, but they don’t absorb water (unlike mono lines).
Knot Strength
Another great advantage is that the knots you tie in your copolymer fishing line have a greater strength than those of a monofilament line. Greater knot strength means less lost tackle. In fact there are guys that report getting their hooks caught, and actually pulling so hard that their hooks bent and came loose, before the copoly line broke.
Downsides
Because they are nylon fishing lines, they are susceptible to the same damage from the sun’s rays and heat that a monofilament line would. Accordingly, you should change your copolymer lines about as often as you change your mono lines. They are also more invisible in the water than many standard flourocarbon lines.
Copolymer Fishing Line vs. Monofilament
Specifically, how does copolymer line stack up verses monofilament line? Well, first of all, it should be noted that in this day and age, there are so many variants on every style, that there tend to be noticeable fluctuations between brands and manufacturers.
In general however, if you’re comparing copolymer line to monofilament, copolymer will have:
- Less line memory
- Better abrasion resistance
- Worse visibility to fish (i.e. slightly easier to see)
- Slightly higher cost
Copolymer Line vs. Fluorocarbon
What about copolymer vs. fluorocarbon line? Under this filter, copolymer line is:
- Stronger than fluorocarbon lines of the same diameter
- Less expensive than fluoro
- More visible than flourocarbon lines (at least the standard copoly vs. the standard flouro)
- Not as durable over the long term
Looking for another type of fishing line? Check out our recommendations for the best: