What Is Copolymer Fishing Line? [vs Fluoro vs Mono vs Braid]

Fishing lines keep evolving through the years and materials become better and better. Of course, that makes them highly specialized for certain fishing conditions.

Most popular fishing line types are mono, braided, and fluoro, but there are also hybrid lines, ice fishing lines, and similar sub types.

Another line type is copolymer fishing line. It is a new technology that combines two different nylon types. That enables this line to combine advantages of different line types. Although it has excellent performance, that doesn’t mean that it can completely replace other line types.

Every line type has specific advantages and disadvantages, and it is made for a specific purpose.

There are many anglers, especially beginners, who are not familiar with these lines, and don’t know how they can benefit from them.

Here I will tell you more about these lines and even give you some recommendations if you want to try them!

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What Exactly Is Copolymer Fishing Line? [Definition]

So, copolymer fishing line is a line made from two different polymers (nylons). It is thinner than mono line of the same strength, and it is very resistant to abrasion, more than fluoro lines. It also has less stretch than mono, and less memory.

Because it is so thin, you can put more line length on your reel, which is very important. These lines are not prone to breaking, and they are almost invisible!

Copolymer lines are also very sensitive. You can really feel the movement of your lure and you have excellent control over it.

As you can see, it combines features of different line types into a single line. That means that it is versatile, but it can’t always replace all other line types.

What is a Copolymer Fishing Line Good For? [Pros and Cons]

Now you are probably asking what is copolymer fishing line used for? Well, it can be used for many different fishing conditions.

It can be used anywhere where mono lines are used, and when compared to mono, it definitely has more benefits. They can also replace braided lines on some limited occasions.

Here is a short list of copolymer fishing line pros and cons so that you can get a better idea. Some were already mentioned in the previous chapter.

Pros:

- Stronger than mono and fluoro
- Low stretch
- Greater line capacity
- Low memory
- Minimum water absorption
- Low visibility

Cons:

- Sinking – not good for topwater fishing
- Expensive
- Not extremely durable

These lines go well with deep water crankbaits and can work excellent for jigging and trolling.

Which One is Better: Copolymer or Fluorocarbon or Monofilament or Braided?

To know which line is better, or more suitable for certain fishing condition, you should know their differences.

Here I will compare three main types of lines with copolymer.

Copolymer Fishing Line vs Mono

Copolymer Fishing Line vs Fluorocarbon

Copolymer Fishing Line vs Braid

What you can see above is that when you compare fluoro and mono against copolymer, you will see that the results are the same. That is due to the fact that both fluoro and mono are made from a singe strain of nylon. Although fluoro and mono are different, and fluoro is much stiffer, their physical properties have the same similarities and differences when compared to copolymer lines.

Is Copolymer Fishing Line Good/Better for Spinning or Baitcasting Reels?

Knowing when to use copolymer fishing line will make you get the most of it. When it comes to reel types, you can use it on both spinning and baitcasting reels.

As I already said, it is a good replacement for mono. You can expect less tangles that usually intensify when a line has a lot of memory, and the loops are formed.

But, most often, mono is used on spinning reel, which means that copolymer lines also go a bit better with it. It can work on a baitcaster in certain situations; however, braided lines may be more suitable for that.

Copolymer will work better than mono on a baitcaster, but you could face problems with backlashes or bird nests. Braid with a fluoro leader could work excellent on a baitcasting beginners’ setup to get all qualities of braided lines plus invisibility of fluoro.

For What Fish is the Copolymer Fishing Line the Best?

When it comes to fish species, you can catch various ones. I already said that copolymer lines can be used for jigging, deep diving crankbaits, and even trolling. As it has less stretch than mono it will be more sensitive than mono so you will be able to feel the lure.

Basically, you can catch almost any fish on it is you are using proper techniques. That includes:

- Trout
- Bass
- Panfish
- Walleye
- Many saltwater species

Your options are almost unlimited, and they depend on which species are available in your area.

Do Copolymer Fishing Lines Float?

I already mentioned that in pros and cons, but here is a bit more detail. Copolymer lines do not float and that makes them suitable for fishing conditions where you want your line to sink, such as using deep crankbaits.

When it comes to topwater fishing, this line is not a good choice.

These lines sink faster than mono, although their sinking profile can be described as moderate.

If you are searching for a line for some topwater lures, go for braid, or mono. Today, there are so many options that it is hard to exclude one line type. Manufacturers make the same type with different sinking rates too. Fishing lines are science nowadays.

Is Copolymer Fishing Line Good for Ice Fishing?

Ice fishing lines need certain features to be considered ice lines. Adequate ice fishing lines have great abrasion resistance and coating that prevents them from becoming stiff in low temperatures.

You can get copolymer ice fishing line on a market. Keep in mind that not every copolymer line is good for it. Search for those that are rated as ice lines.

The right ones will make your ice fishing experience much easier. These lines will be tough and strong, but also very flexible, sensitive and shock resistant.

This is important because when fishing through a hole, line will constantly be pulled against the ice and unsuitable lines may snap.

You can use these lines with fluoro leaders for some winter walleye fishing!

And if you wish to learn more about ice fishing, read this article writen by me ...

What is the Best Knot for Copolymer Fishing Line?

Fishing knots are a complicated subject. Not every knot has the same strength when used on different line types. Also, there are some general differences among knot strength between line types.

When it comes to copolymer lines, I would advise you to use Palomar knot. That knot works on mono very well, and because these line types are similar, it works well on copolymer too.

It is one of the most popular knots and also suitable for beginners. It is among the strongest knots for copolymer, very versatile, and quick to tie.

There are numerous videos and guides online so you can practice a bit before going out to the water with your new copolymer line!

What is the Best Copolymer Fishing Line?

Same as any other line type, copolymer lines come in various price ranges made by various manufacturers.

The best copolymer fishing line needs to have all the properties I mentioned in the previous chapters.

Among copolymer fishing line brands, I would like to point out Kastking and Gamma.

Here are my top choices:

Kastking Copolymer Fishing Line

Kastking is among the most popular manufacturers of fishing gear, including lines. This brand also has a selection of great copolymer lines, and I would like to point out this one - Fluoro Kote (#ad):

This is a copolymer line with fluoro coating. It is available in various pound tests, and it is a perfect combo of given materials. Fluoro coating lowers the line visibility while copolymer inner part gives it very low memory and excellent casting abilities. This line is also fast sinking when compared with regular copolymer.

Gamma Copolymer Fishing Line

Gamma has a wide selection of different copolymer lines. They go from ultra-clear, to fluorescent, and even highly visible. All these colours and visibility properties are there so that you can have a perfect line for any situation.

And when it comes to line quality, they are excellent. These lines are dependable and durable, their memory is very low, and the stretch is extremely low for this type of line.

The only downside is the price, however, in my opinion it is worth every penny!

Conclusion

Copolymer fishing line is relatively new on the market, but it is gaining a lot of popularity as it can almost completely replace mono lines.

Features of copolymer are excellent, and higher abrasion resistance with lower diameter make it great for almost any application.

This versatile line can be used for various species, and with lures that are meant to be used under the surface.

I would advise you try it out and see for yourself!