Best-of guide
Right, here's the lot. Every bit of mainline we've dug into, ranked by our on-paper score — that's our own desk research on specs, build and price across five things: product quality, performance, how much it helps you catch, ease of use and value for money. We haven't bank-tested these, so treat it as a smart shortlist, not gospel.
Top of the pile right now: Preston Innovations Reflo Powerline Mono (9.1/10), Preston Innovations Reflo Power Line (9/10) and Gardner Tackle GT-HD Line (9/10). Tap into any review for the full lowdown, the comparison and a buying checklist.
Top tip: match the kit to how and where you actually fish before chasing the highest number. A cracking bit of gear for big open waters can be overkill on a snug club pond. How we score.
87%Preston Innovations
Clear · 100m spool · Multiple strengths and diameters
Soft, clear mono with high knot strength and useful stretch. Reflo Power makes most sense on your pole rigs and hooklengths, where choosing the right diameter matters more than chasing a big breaking-strain number.
87%Shimano
Kairiki 8 range; diameter, colour and spool length vary
An eight-carrier mainline with a tight weave and plenty of predator appeal. Kairiki 8 makes sense for anglers who want direct lure contact, provided you choose the right strength and sort your leader properly.
87%Fox Rage
Fluoro green · 150m · Multiple breaking strains
An eight-strand lure-fishing mainline with a smooth coating, a bright green finish and very little give. Properly useful for staying connected to a jig — provided you pick the right strength and sort your leader.
87%Airflo
Superflo Ridge 2.0 Power Taper floating
A slightly heavy weight-forward fly line for loading the rod readily and turning over less delicate outfits. Properly useful when you want authority rather than the softest possible touchdown.
87%Airflo
Tactical Taper · WF2–WF7 · Bamboo/watery olive
A weight-forward fly line for anglers who care about presentation and line control, with lighter sizes, a low-stretch core and neat connections. More about placing the fly than simply giving it a massive wallop.
87%Airflo
Superflo Ridge 2.0 Universal Taper Floating
A versatile floating fly line with a longer rear taper, a textured finish and slim running line. A cracking fit for anglers who want control as well as shooting potential.
86%Airflo
Pike Elbi's Sixth Sense · WF 9/10 · Sink 7
A dedicated sinking line for pike fly anglers who need streamers down in the water, without turning every cast into a full-on faff.
86%Airflo
Sixth Sense 2 sinking range: Di3, Di5, Di7 and Di8
A stillwater sinker with a low-stretch core, a long front taper and a handy hang mark. Pick the right density and it gives your flies a proper chance of reaching feeding trout.
86%Fox Rage
150m spools · 55lb / 0.32mm or 65lb / 0.41mm
A sinking, 8+1 carrier braid aimed squarely at casting Replicants and other hefty lures. Proper predator mainline, rather than an all-round braid for every rod in the shed.
86%Snowbee
XS weight-forward floating; Ivory and Hi-Viz Orange
A weight-forward floating fly line with a low-stretch core and a coating designed to keep things slipping through the rings. A sensible all-round option for trout fishing, provided you pick the right line weight.
86%Airflo
Superflo 40+ Sniper · WF8–WF10 · Floating, Fast Intermediate, Di3 and Di7
A short-headed fly line for shifting bulky flies, with floating and sinking options to cover different depths. Just match the head weight to your rod before getting carried away.
86%Guru
Clear mono · 100m spool
Clear Japanese co-polymer for hooklengths and pole rigs, with a useful spread of diameters. Just don’t mistake the 100m spool for a bulk mainline buy.
86%Korda
SUB-green monofilament, 8lb–20lb, 1000m
A 1000m, low-stretch green mono intended as an affordable all-round carp line. We break down the strains and the trade-off between casting and abrasion room.
86%Korda
Kaizen Mono Brown, 0.40mm / 20lb, 1000m
Korda’s low-stretch, abrasion-resistant carp mono. In 20lb it’s a heavy-duty choice for snaggy or weedy venues where you need to pull hard.
85%Airflo
Forty Plus Expert range; WF7 and WF8 Di3, Di5 and Di7 options
A 45-foot head, Power Core construction and Ridge running line give this distance-minded fly line plenty of appeal for reservoir anglers. Just don’t mistake it for a shortcut to tidy casting.
85%Snowbee
Floating WF · WF1/4, WF2/5 and WF5/7 · Olive/buckskin
A weight-forward floating fly line with multi-rating options, looped ends and a braided core. Properly useful for trout fishing, provided you don’t mistake its broad ratings for a promise that every rod will feel the same.
85%Fox Rage
300 m spool; 40 lb and 60 lb options
An eight-strand floating braid with a round profile, sturdy breaking-strain options and a handy halfway marker. A sensible fit for predator bait fishing, especially when you want to manage line above the water rather than pin it down.
85%Drennan
Original clear Supplex Mono · 100m spool
Clear, ultra-limp mono with a useful spread of strengths. Supplex makes plenty of sense for float and lighter feeder work, though that 100m spool needs a bit of planning.
85%Daiwa
Standard J-Braid X8; dark green sizes referenced
An eight-strand braid with plenty of appeal for feeder work, feature finding and lure fishing. Just don’t mistake it for a straight swap for mono on every carp water.
85%Fox
Exocet Spod & Marker Braid · 300m · 23lb · Fluorescent yellow
Thin, floating and almost stretch-free, Fox’s bright yellow braid is built for the graft before the rods go out: finding a clean spot and getting bait onto it.
84%Daiwa
300m spool · 4lb–10lb options
Sinking nylon, a low-glare brown finish and a halfway marker for splitting the spool. N’ZON covers the feeder-fishing basics without making a song and dance about it.
83%Drennan
150m spools · 8lb, 10lb and 12lb options
Thin, smooth and stretch-free, this eight-carrier mainline is aimed squarely at distance feeder and bomb work. Just leave the heavy-handed striking at home, mate.
83%Daiwa
5lb–15lb options; spool length varies with breaking strain
A slick-finished mainline with low memory and an emphasis on abrasion resistance and knot strength. Plenty to like on paper, without pretending it’s had a workout on our rods.
83%Daiwa
J-Braid X4 range; spool lengths and breaking strains vary by colour and diameter
Four strands, a round profile and plenty of choice. J-Braid X4 makes sense when you want low-stretch contact, but it isn't a straight swap for mono on every coarse or carp setup.
81%Drennan
100m spool · 4lb, 5lb, 6lb and 8lb options
A straightforward 100m mainline for float fishing, with a soft feel, a slick finish and sensible strength choices. Just match it to the swim, not simply the size of carp you fancy catching.
81%Drennan
100m and 300m spools; 5lb, 6lb, 8lb and 10lb options
A dark brown, fast-sinking mono aimed squarely at feeder fishing. Sensible strength options and two spool sizes make it a straightforward choice for commercial-water work.