Tried Fluoro For The First Time Today......meh... Updated 6/5

[Fireguyfrank58]

  Well, after many days searching and reading articles I decided that I would try some fluorocarbon on an old bait caster reel I have that was just sitting around.  I have been using spiderwire braid stealth on a Texas rig and have been having really good results.  I wanted to see how it compares to braid since there are alot of pros to using it.  I have to say It casts great, really strong, and ultra invisible, but man this line is stiff and has a lot of memory!  I had a lot of back lashing on my reel, now it was 100% my doing along with some wind issues but I also think the memory and the stiffness make it to where you really have to be careful and feather.  I tried Berkley Vanish in 17lb test on an old Diawa reel with my new Abu Veritas.  I also tried a tungsten weight 1/4 oz. with my baby hogs and culprit 7.5" worms and I have to say the sensitivity was out of this world.  I think I am gonna stick a Revo S on this rod so hopefully I can get it adjusted to where the back lash issues go away.  On a side note, caught 3-2-3 lb. Largemouths and my wife finally got the wacky worm Senko down I was trying to teach her and caught 6 2-3 lb. Large mouth.

[MrSwimJig]

Vanish has really bad memory issues and is pretty stiff line.  You might try spraying it with some KVD L&L before each use as well. Should really help with the memory and help soften it up a bit.

[JeziHogg]

Get yourself some Seaguar Invisx, really supple and doesn't have memory. Also +1 on the KVD L&L when using floro.

[Jrob78]

Also, 17# is pretty heavy for light t-rigs. The heavier the line, the harder it will be to cast and the more memory it will have. Next time you buy fluoro, (if there is a next time) get a better brand and get it in 12# test. With KVD L&L you should have no problems.

[The Next KVD]

Don't skimp out on fluorocarbon.  The cheaper stuff (Original Vicious, Vanish, Stren, Spiderwire EZ fluoro) will cause you to HATE flouro for the rest of your life. 

 

Upgrade to something more in that midrange price of $17 to 25 for a 200 yard spool. I currently am using Sunline FC Sniper and it is AWESOME! (16lb test is my favorite!)  Handles just as good as mono yet has little stretch and awesome abrasion resistance and sensitivity.  A lot of guys like Seaguar Invisx but I find that it has a little too much stretch for my taste.  My previous favorite is P-Line 100% and it is priced the same as Sunline but comes in 250 yard spools so its a little cheaper/yard.  Also don't forget the KVD Line and Lure!  It sounds like a gimmick but its not.

[kickerfish1]

Vanish ranks up there as one of the worst floro lines I have used. I am sorry your first experience with floro was bad but like others have eluded to you get what you pay for. The only cheaper floro I have heard good things about is Red Label. You really have to drop $20 a spool to get anything good in my opinion.

[Fireguyfrank58]

Thanks for all the advice once again guys. I may strip it off and call it a loss on that brand.  I'll probably try 12 lb. in another brand, I do see why Fluoro is so good.  

[kickerfish1]

I would say opt for 12# invisix, abrisix, or sunline sniper. With line and lure applied to it before you are ready to fish (typically I will spray the line the night before or the morning of and reapply throughout the day as needed).

I personally like sniper first followed by invisix. The sensitivity to me was more noticeable with sniper but the casting distance and line manageability seems a bit better with invisix.

Occasionally the sniper will go on sale. I picked up some this past winter during a buy one get one free special. Depending upon size of reel used you should be able to get 2-3 reels spooled with backing which helps justify the cost.

[lmbfisherman]

Like others stated, Vanish I tried when I didn't know as you did.  I also bought a spool of stren, as I progressed I changed my tune obviously.  Worse lines ever!  Don't even bother using it as a leader either, I learned twice now the knot strength is horrid too as a leader.  I've had no issues using Seaguar Red Label, P line and even Big Game mono as a leader and never had a knot strength issue to braid so it's not my knot tying.  I lost probably would've been my biggest pike ever, it was about 10-15ft away from me and poof my knot broke. 

[BigMoneyGrip]

TW has Tatsu on close out.

[Fireguyfrank58]

Well, I have been fishing the same line for a 3-4 days of fishing and a dozen or so fish. I wanted to give the line a full try before I stripped it clean.  As far as memory I think it has gotten better, seems like its gotten better just from use. I could be wrong though.  One thing that helped me out the most was a kink believe it or not. After my first trip, and all its back lashes, apparently I had an unknown kink in the line fairly deep in.  So on the second day I made a 30-40 yard of so cast and got hung up on a rock.  I pulled a bit on the line and SNAP.  Lost a good bit of what I had on the spool.  I still had at least 3/4 of the reel with line.  So I used it for the rest of the day with no problem and not a single backlash.  Even on the longest casts I still have at least 1/4of the reel with line so I think Im good.  Used it a few times since and casts a lot better like this, with zero problems.  The big thing is that the Lake I am fishing is pretty mercy.  I had one day that I think Fluoro was a big advantage, because the lake was super clear.  I had my polarized glasses on and I could see rocks in the water 40-50 Ft out from shore I had never seen before.  Most of the day just like today the water you can only see 2-3 Ft in murky water.  For me I think the best choice in a braid.  With the murky water 70-80 % of the time and Texas rigging rocks, sticks and grass, something in like Power Pro 50 would best suite my rigs.  Im gonna pick up a Revo S and I may spool some Power Pro and give that a whirl.  On a side note my Abu Veritas has been outstanding! Very sensitive and powerful.  Next rod is gonna be an *** but it my be in Medium action for my Brush hogs and 1/4 oz. weight.

[Felix77]

Wow ... two threads going on about how bad Berkley Vanish is ... As I commented in the other one I switched from Vanish to InvizX and never looked back!

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/119646-berkley-vanishsmh/

[Arv]

love sunline sniper

[Siebert Outdoors]

If you have never used a flouro before and are just now switching there is a learning curve to how the line works.  Inviz X is by far my favorite to date.  When I made the switch it took me several outing to get to understand how the line works over Mono.

[rippin-lips]

Berkley 100% isn't bad at all and can be purchased at Walmart. I love my sniper FC though. It's hard to best especially when they do buy 1 get 1 deals.

[sarcazmo]

I just spooled up a bunch of sunline sniper on my t-rig and jig rig.  14lb test.  Hoping to give it a test on monday.

 

As far as less stretch as mono... TT did a test evaluating fluroros and found that many had just as much if not MORE than mono.  I'm actually kind of skeptical about the whole debate after reading their findings.

[nocluefisher]

I just tried flouro for the first time, spiderwire on my new chronarch/cumara combo. Do not like it. I will try a better brand, i like the yozuri hybrid better than the spiderwire.i did get what I paid for.

[new2BC4bass]

As far as less stretch as mono... TT did a test evaluating fluroros and found that many had just as much if not MORE than mono.  I'm actually kind of skeptical about the whole debate after reading their findings.

 

I constantly read posts stating how little stretch fluorocarbon has compared to mono.  I can't think of any reason why TT would distort their findings.  Loaded my first spool of fluorocarbon line last year.  I can tell you with 100% surety that the brand I am using has more stretch than mono.  Not only that, but when I was forced to break it, I had to cut off another section of line because of the way it frayed lengthwise.  Uuuugly!

 

I do want to try Sunline Sniper this year.  Mono is on the majority of my reels.  I can't see it being as bad as some folks claim.

[sarcazmo]

I constantly read posts stating how little stretch fluorocarbon has compared to mono.  I can't think of any reason why TT would distort their findings.  Loaded my first spool of fluorocarbon line last year.  I can tell you with 100% surety that the brand I am using has more stretch than mono.  Not only that, but when I was forced to break it, I had to cut off another section of line because of the way it frayed lengthwise.  Uuuugly!

 

I do want to try Sunline Sniper this year.  Mono is on the majority of my reels.  I can't see it being as bad as some folks claim.

Part of me wonders if its one of those gimmicks myself.  I love when I see pros tout the less stretch thing.  Kudos to them for being dutiful to their sponsors but I dont think TT would lie about it either.

 

I'd like to see a more current comparison though.  Who knows, it could have changed.

[hooah212002]

My first spool of fluoro has been Sufix Invisiline. It is great so far. I have one baitcast reel loaded with 12# and use the same as leader material on my spinning gear, but have yet to fish with that. However, coming off the spool while tying my leader on and having it sit in my trunk for a month, it was still as supple as when i pulled it from its first warm water bath. Its really tough, too. I have a surprisingly difficult time biting off my tag ends. My one complaint is that, while inexpensive, it is only 100 yards.