Braid Vs. Fluorocarbons

[Catch and Grease]

I know this topic has probably been posted time and time again but I didn't see anything on the search that was very recent...

I keep wanting to like fluorocarbon but the memory, line twist, and just overall line management always make me switch back to braid with or without a leader...

Its just so much stronger and easy to cast and take care of and last a lot longer, how many of you guys use fluorocarbon as a main line? And why?

I've been trying fluorocarbon lately on my square bill set up lately because I ran out of braid and the fact it is a lot less sensitive and harder to maintain than braid just really makes me not even want to bother with it....

[iabass8]

I use straight fluorocarbon for everything except topwaters, punching and frogging. 

 

You get what you pay for /w fluorocarbon. Cheap fluoro will turn anybody away.  i have zero issues /w handling, memory, etc but I use higher fluorocarbons and treat my lines /w KVD line and lure and use. sunline shooter, fc sniper, seaguar tatsu.  Most of my usage is in the 15-20# range /w more in the 20# than anything. i use 6-7# on spinning set ups. I very much prefer the hard, dense fluorocarbons for abrasion resistance and sensitivity. I do not like InvizX. It handless great but it's like fishing /w a rubber band. 

 

Use line conditioner to combat memory issues. I can't remember the last time I've even seen line twist using fluoro except on a spinning set up. 

 

The main reason I use it is for its slack line sensitivity and abrasion resistance. I pitch and flip a lot so feeling/seeing bites on a slack line is paramount. Nothing beats braid in the sensitivity department on a tight line. Braid has zero sensitivity on a slack line.(that isn't an opinion, it's a fact) It also creates a bow in your line thus creating drag /w its floating properties on  top of the water on a long cast. Some people like this and feel they can see the line tick. I hate it. I much prefer the dense,sinking properties that allow me to feel more on a slack line. The waters I fish have an abundance of zerbra muscles everywhere. While nothing is that great /w zebra muscles, fluoro is the best I've found to combat it. The rocks and zebra muscles make fishing /w braid like fishing /w dental floss. They just tear it up. 

 

You don't have to use fluorocarbons. If braid is your thing, just keep using it unless you're ready to pay the higher prices for premium fluorocarbons. 

[Jrob78]

I am in the same boat as iabass.  I fish fluorocarbon for everything except frogs, punching and topwater.  I've also found that using a good fluoro  makes all the difference in the world.  I use Sunline Sniper and Seaguar Tatsu in 12 lb - 20 lb.  I don't have any trouble with memory or backlashing.  I spray my line with KVD L&L the night before a trip and don't have any issues.  I use braid for frogs and punching and it's fine for those techniques.  I've tried it with jigs and t-rigs but just don't like it.  

 

There isn't a right answer to your question.  We all have our preferences, use what works for you and don't try to force something if it doesn't.

[aavery2]

Can't add much to what has already been said, I use FC line in the same situations for much the same reasons. My line of choice is Tatsu, as already said, a good FC line will change your opinion.

[Brian Needham]

the fact it is a lot less sensitive and harder to maintain than braid just really makes me not even want to bother with it....

^^this is totally false.

you should fire that search engine back up and read EVERY thread you can find on the topic.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

 the fact it is a lot less sensitive and harder to maintain than braid just really makes me not even want to bother with it....

 

 

^^this is totally false.

you should fire that search engine back up and read EVERY thread you can find on the topic.

 

I dont find it to be false, I agree its less sensitive and it harder to maintain than braid. There might be a specific scenario but overall sensitivity goes to braid. Moving baits dragging baits fighting fish feeling it while doing so all goes to braid. Maintaining the line also goes to braid no L&L no worries with kinks in line longevity not replacing line as often overall less maintaining of the line. So not a totally false statement at all.

Oh you also took his statement out of context. He was mentioning use of square bill where he notices the less sensitivity. So yes I say he is 100% correct that braid with cranks is more sensitive gives more feedback of what the lure is doing..

[MemphisFF]

OP I just recently learned the alberto knot because I love braid.... that way I can use fluro as a leader for all my needs that calls for flouro. I have 2 rigged up with braid one with a fluro and 1 all 12lb fluro invisx and 1 12 mono. I find this fits my needs with these four set ups especially summertime applications..

Are you saying that flouro is not sensitive also when it comes to cranking?

[Catch and Grease]

OP I just recently learned the alberto knot because I love braid.... that way I can use fluro as a leader for all my needs that calls for flouro. I have 2 rigged up with braid one with a fluro and 1 all 12lb fluro invisx and 1 12 mono. I find this fits my needs with these four set ups especially summertime applications..

Are you saying that flouro is not sensitive also when it comes to cranking?

I use the Alberto and I've gotten to where I use leaders a lot with braid, and no. Fluoro is enough to get the job done, while it is not as sensitive as braid for cranking you can still feel bites and cover its just harder to feel.

Anybody that thinks fluoro is just as sensitive as braid when cranking is very mislead and hasn't tried braid when cranking for themselves

[Catch and Grease]

^^this is totally false.

you should fire that search engine back up and read EVERY thread you can find on the topic.

Also instead of just saying its false can you explain why? If you think braid is harder to maintain than fluoro I need whatever your using and when it comes to cranking braid is definitely more sensitive.

[iabass8]

If your cranking in a tightline then braid will give you more feel. If you are bumping into cover and letting the line go slack when killing it, fluoro will have more feel as braid has no feel on a slack line . Braid is also the last line i would personally use for cranking.

[ChrisD46]

Jrob78 & iabass8 : If you use braid for frogs & punching - what line do you use for top water - braid OR mono ?

[Catch and Grease]

If your cranking in a tightline then braid will give you more feel. If you are bumping into cover and letting the line go slack when killing it, fluoro will have more feel as braid has no feel on a slack line . Braid is also the last line i would personally use for cranking.

Why would you not use braid for cranking? Feeling the vibrations of your crank and when you hit cover is very important for cranking and braid let's you do just that.

The only problem with using braid with square bills is the fact that it gets tore to pieces, a lot of people think the 0% stretch will mess with their hooksets but that's really not the case. It just means you really need the right rod to compensate for the no stretch factor

[Brian Needham]

Also instead of just saying its false can you explain why? If you think braid is harder to maintain than fluoro I need whatever your using and when it comes to cranking braid is definitely more sensitive.

is all you do is crank?

IMO the ONLY time braid is superior to FC is topwater or heavy grass.

braid has reduced sensitivity on ALL slack line baits. Braid is NOT more sensitive.

braid can not be used around rock, well it can but you'll cry when a fish cuts you off.

braid, I am a firm believer reduces bites in many situations (I have seen it and people I REALLY trust have seen it)

the WORST backlashes I have ever had were with braid, it is instant scissor time, the stuff digs in and your done.

those are my opinions based on my experiences......... but if you want to use braid have at it, many people enjoy it, but I am not one of them. To each his own.

[Catch and Grease]

is all you do is crank?

IMO the ONLY time braid is superior to FC is topwater or heavy grass.

braid has reduced sensitivity on ALL slack line baits. Braid is NOT more sensitive.

braid can not be used around rock, well it can but you'll cry when a fish cuts you off.

braid, I am a firm believer reduces bites in many situations (I have seen it and people I REALLY trust have seen it)

the WORST backlashes I have ever had were with braid, it is instant scissor time, the stuff digs in and your done.

those are my opinions based on my experiences......... but if you want to use braid have at it, many people enjoy it, but I am not one of them. To each his own.

And with FC you get a backlash and your line kinks up so its trash anyways? And yes on a slack line FC is gonna be more sensitive but I'm just saying for cranking braid is going to be your best bet because 90% of the time its on a line with no slack except with a stop and go.

But yeah to each his own... This could go on forever, I just wanted to see other peoples opinions.

[Brian Needham]

t I'm just saying for cranking braid is going to be your best bet because 90% of the time its on a line with no slack except with a stop and go.

.

 

you are still trying to make blanket statements........ come on down to Pickwick and throw that braid, it aint gonna work.

 

you can read for a full week here on the boards about FC vs Braid. you said you used the search, do it again..... ANY FC thread the braid posse comes in and tries to extoll all the benifits to make themselves feel better..... simply put I would use mono before I used braid..... but thats how I fish.

 

if braid works for you, then it is awesome line...... just make sure it fits YOUR situtation, because it dont mine.

 

Good luck and tight lines no matter what line you use!!!

[Catch and Grease]

you are still trying to make blanket statements........ come on down to Pickwick and throw that braid, it aint gonna work.

you can read for a full week here on the boards about FC vs Braid. you said you used the search, do it again..... ANY FC thread the braid posse comes in and tries to extoll all the benifits to make themselves feel better..... simply put I would use mono before I used braid..... but thats how I fish.

if braid works for you, then it is awesome line...... just make sure it fits YOUR situtation, because it dont mine.

Good luck and tight lines no matter what line you use!!!

That's another thing you have to consider is location, you probably have lots of rocks you fish constantly and most likely the main reason you don't like braid, but where I fish there is almost never a rocky place I'm fishing so I don't have to worry about braids bad abrasion resistance.

and by the way there is a FC posse too and your in it! Lol, I posted something on another thread about how I think braid is better for beginners and you proceeded to try to shoot me down....

Yall FC guys just stay off our turf ya hear?

[Hogsticker]

As already stated numerous times in all this bickering.

Braid maintains better feedback on a tight line. Zero stretch, how could it not

Fluoro transmits better on a slack line. The better the fluoro the better it gets

 

I like to crank with braid so I can tell what is going on should I pick up any garbage, etc. It simply isn't a problem hooking up and staying hooked up when utilizing the proper drag and rod. If you're going to fish weightless plastics with braid you better be a line watcher. If not you're likely missing subtle takes you would have otherwise noticed with a quality fluoro. Every line type has a place and time. Use what works for you. If fluoro gives you a headache don't use it, or learn how to use it. I think a lot of people that have problems with fluoro management/backlashes are expecting to be able to cast it hard and fast as they would with braid. I only use it with plastics while making accurate casts, not long bombing it trying to make a record distance cast.

[Jrob78]

Jrob78 & iabass8 : If you use braid for frogs & punching - what line do you use for top water - braid OR mono ?

I've always used mono for topwater but I am playing with braid and a mono leader.  I just haven't used it enough to say if I like it or not yet.

[K_Mac]

is all you do is crank?

IMO the ONLY time braid is superior to FC is topwater or heavy grass.

braid has reduced sensitivity on ALL slack line baits. Braid is NOT more sensitive.

braid can not be used around rock, well it can but you'll cry when a fish cuts you off.

braid, I am a firm believer reduces bites in many situations (I have seen it and people I REALLY trust have seen it)

the WORST backlashes I have ever had were with braid, it is instant scissor time, the stuff digs in and your done.

those are my opinions based on my experiences......... but if you want to use braid have at it, many people enjoy it, but I am not one of them. To each his own.

 

This has been my experience as well. I am a recent fluorocarbon convert, and even using a more budget brand (Red Label) the advantages of fluoro over braid or copolymer lines is very apparent to me. On a semi-slack line there is no comparison in the amount of information transmitted by fluorocarbon. For me that makes any handling issues secondary.

 

Use what you like. For my fishing style fluorocarbon is my choice. 

[aavery2]

And with FC you get a backlash and your line kinks up so its trash anyways? And yes on a slack line FC is gonna be more sensitive but I'm just saying for cranking braid is going to be your best bet because 90% of the time its on a line with no slack except with a stop and go.

But yeah to each his own... This could go on forever, I just wanted to see other peoples opinions.

I have said this many times in response to this statement.  If braid is truly best or even moderately better than FC or  Mono, then why is it that the best fisherman in the world do not use it?  The Elite Series Pro  fishes as much or more than most normal working people, their paychecks are based on their ability to locate, catch and land bass, yet none of them that I can find use braid as their choice of line when it come to using crankbaits.  Think about that a minute.

 

I don't care what anyone uses, in fact I will tell you if it is what works for you then do it, but to make as statement like 90% of the time it is the best line to use for cranking is just not so.  I challenge you find me an article where any respected angler advocates the use of braid over FC or Mono in regards to crankbait fishing.   

 

Your statement should read, in my fishing I use braid 90% of the time.  Don't get me wrong, I like braid for some applications, I prefer it for frog fishing and as mainline with a leader on spinning reels, but other than that it gets almost no use in my fishing.

[Brian Needham]

I have said this many times in response to this statement.  If braid is truly best or even moderately better than FC or  Mono, then why is it that the best fisherman in the world do not use it?  The Elite Series Pro  fishes as much or more than most normal working people, their paychecks are based on their ability to locate, catch and land bass, yet none of them that I can find use braid as their choice of line when it come to using crankbaits.  Think about that a minute.

 

 

I have said that many times too, and many times I got flamed over it.

 

but it is 100% true.

 

so enter the "they get paid to use it posse"....... which is again false, they get paid to use BRAND not TYPE.

[Catch and Grease]

I have said this many times in response to this statement. If braid is truly best or even moderately better than FC or Mono, then why is it that the best fisherman in the world do not use it? The Elite Series Pro fishes as much or more than most normal working people, their paychecks are based on their ability to locate, catch and land bass, yet none of them that I can find use braid as their choice of line when it come to using crankbaits. Think about that a minute.

I don't care what anyone uses, in fact I will tell you if it is what works for you then do it, but to make as statement like 90% of the time it is the best line to use for cranking is just not so. I challenge you find me an article where any respected angler advocates the use of braid over FC or Mono in regards to crankbait fishing.

Your statement should read, in my fishing I use braid 90% of the time. Don't get me wrong, I like braid for some applications, I prefer it for frog fishing and as mainline with a leader on spinning reels, but other than that it gets almost no use in my fishing.

You know, I've never really thought of that. Lol

That's a very good point about the pros.

[iabass8]

Jrob78 & iabass8 : If you use braid for frogs & punching - what line do you use for top water - braid OR mono ?

Mono. Braid works just as well for top water baits. I just personally prefer using mono it works for me and it hasn't failed me yet. I've use bread for top water and it worked fine I just personally don't care for it

[mod479]

Yall FC guys just stay off our turf ya hear?

 

Sure, but dont start threads where you ask for direct comparison, why people use it in place of rope, then just disagree and bang the drum because you like it more. No reason to try and run people out of the thread for answering your question or disagreeing with your views. It's your preference afterall. If you want a braid thread, make a braid thread. You want to hear why braid sucks for some applications, well, you started it right here and there's guys out there who will tell you.

 

For the record I have rigs with braid, straight FC, and hybrid copolys. Each has its purpose. I'm not in anyones posse.  

[Catch and Grease]

Sure, but dont start threads where you ask for direct comparison, why people use it in place of rope, then just disagree and bang the drum because you like it more. No reason to try and run people out of the thread for answering your question or disagreeing with your views. It's your preference afterall. If you want a braid thread, make a braid thread. You want to hear why braid sucks for some applications, well, you started it right here and there's guys out there who will tell you.

For the record I have rigs with braid, straight FC, and hybrid copolys. Each has its purpose. I'm not in anyones posse.

That turf thing was a joke. It was after Brian claimed there was a "braid posse". I wasn't trying to run people out of the thread sorry if thats how you took It.