Former Fluorocarbon Hater And Basher Has Become A Believer....

[primetime]

I have bad mouthed fluorocarbon as much as anyone, and I always felt the Invisible, low stretch claims were bogus, and some may be, but for some reason I never gave up on it 100% and always carried some Seaguar Fluoro leader with me and I am glad I did....

 

I had a day when my fishing partner was working water behind me while we were both throwing weightless wacky worms, same color (GP/Orange) same hook (Gamakatsu Inline Circle #1/0) and both using spinning gear, only difference was I was using Yo-zuri #6 coplymer in Green (12.8lb test to be exact)

and my buddy was using clear 12lb test fluorocarbon-Stren Fluorocast, and the difference in strikes was almost 4/1, and once I switched to my heavier spinning rod with 20lb braid, I tied on FLUOROCARBON LEADER not casting FLuro in #15 and began to do much better.....

 

I have experimented with FLuoro as both a main line and leader for months now, and I am convinced that for slow presentations, weightless worms, any presentation where you are fishing slower and fish get a good look at your bait or lure, FLuoro is better for more strikes than either straight braid, Copolymers, or Nylon Mono......All the issues I used to have with knots, Lures flying off during casts etc....Was from my poor knot tying and that means rushing and not pulling the tag ends, or tying knot slowly and perfecty...Also, I think fluoro has gotten better and much better in the last 6 months, as I have used Stren, berkley, and Spider Wire Fluoro Main Lines and not copoymers, and have not had issues....For Leader, I use Leader Material and I find SEAGUAR to be the best, and it is only line I will tie to braid unless throwing topwaters, which I then stick to my Trilene Big Game, Or Braid to Hybrid.....

 

Some Keys I think have helped...Fluoro casts like a dream on casting gear once you break it in and it is much softer than it used to be.....I don't cross eyes on hook sets, you don't have to if using good quality shar hooks, and I tie my knots slowly even if fish are breaking water all over, as a poorly tied knot is when the biggest fish always strikes...

 

For dropshot fishing, I was convinced nothing could beat 8lb Triple Fish Camo Nylon as I would use that line whenever in open water, but 10lb Seaguar or even 17lb (Red box Seaguar I believe) seems to catch more fish and I am liking circle hooks lately when weeds are not an issue. I also use the sharpest hooks possible and do more of a Sweep set on most fish, and that has helped alot, so spend the money on the right hooks, watch some videos on tying knots properly (I have 30 plus years of fishing experience) and going back to basics really helps......

 

I resisted Fluoro and was a true hater....Now, I just realized that 4 of my 12 rods I fish with on long trips have all fluoro, and 3 have fluoro leaader material....For Flipping I am not a believer, however, I am convinced that Braid is too loud and fish can hear it when Punching heavy canopy's or weeds, and I still go with Yo-zuri #20 which is 31 lb test, or I go with 20lb Trilene XT, I am still not ready for FLuoro with those Hooksets and tough odd's, but have seen other guys flipping jigs with #20 fluoro and not having any problems....They simply do not rush, and are always checking for frays.....And lastly, Nylon, Copolymers and braid may fray more than Fluoro, so for "Haters" like I was, alot of it was simply adjusting to the new equimpment we have today....More sensitive rods, line with 0 stretch, Sharper Hooks, and I never gave up on fluoro for one reason..........

 

When I worked part time at a tackle shop, almost all the Angler's who I respected spent money on Fluoro leader every time we had a sale and would buy a ton of it, from #6-#30, and for casting line, they were very particular to the date on the back of the box.....So be careful on the clearance racks, some of the best guys I know believe that any line that is old, is bad, and if it is fluoro, make sure it is the newest version as it is getting better and I can't disagree....Stren Fluoro I used 2 years ago and Vanish was a joke....Stren I use now, is soft and handles great.....Plus, You get more abradion resistance with fluoro, so the entire bit i would tell people about having to re-tie way too much is false, you need to re-tie alot regardless if using braid, Nylon, or any line.....

 

I hope that helps someone try Flurocarbon again even if just on the business end....It can make a huge difference and I have now seen it matter more than I hvae seen color matter.....

[roadwarrior]

Well then, your next challenge is to give Tatsu a shot...it sets the bar for fluorocarbon line.

[F14A-B]

Amen and Amen!!! Nice write up, too, I mean along with the confession!! I still think red label isn't the choice around rocks though, but soft cover it's been pretty good! It is getting better to, but Tatsu? I can't buy it, I just can't my brain won't let me! If I had a sample, it may ruin me...

[Jrob78]

Thanks for coming back and reporting.  Not everyone can admit when they were wrong.   

[jtesch]

I was a hater for a long time until I spooled up some Sunline treated with KVD LandL conditiner and that's when the light went on. I'll still blow up a spool now and again but that's on me not the line. Only thing I don't like is one little kink and it's done.

[FishTank]

I have been using Trilene 100% since it came out.  Awesome line.  I have also tried Seagar Invisix with great results.  I have tried Gama and it was too stretchy for my taste.  

[FishTank]

Well then, your next challenge is to give Tatsu a shot...it sets the bar for fluorocarbon line.

 

I have seen you mention this line before.  It looks like it's $40 a spool at Tackle Warehouse.  Is there a cheaper place to find it?  The reviews say it is pretty much the greatest line ever. 

[ColdSVT]

I was a hater for a long time until I spooled up some Sunline treated with KVD LandL conditiner and that's when the light went on. I'll still blow up a spool now and again but that's on me not the line. Only thing I don't like is one little kink and it's done.

Am i the only one who has kinked flouro on the occasional back lash and never had an issue with breakage?

[wnybassman]

Am i the only one who has kinked flouro on the occasional back lash and never had an issue with breakage?

 

You are not alone, and I use crap flouro.   lol

[roadwarrior]

I have seen you mention this line before.  It looks like it's $40 a spool at Tackle Warehouse.  Is there a cheaper place to find it?  The reviews say it is pretty much the greatest line ever. 

 

200 yards runs from $37 - $50 depending on size. Occasionally it come on sale for $28.

[Capt.Bob]

Was there at one time with the early runs of Fluorocarbon and swore it off too. Stren, Berkley, Seagaur Red Label, just didn't like em. Now I use it anytime gin clear water is present, I have had great success with filler spools of Invisx, and Abrazx and am quite happy with it, I use 10' to 12' leaders when I do use it, and attach to 832 Sufix, so for me cost is low, and with all the praise roadwarrior gives Tatsu, I am going to check it out next. If it is as durable and soft as Invisx or Abrazx it will be a good investment, and if it is better it will be as sweet as 832 when I tried it over other braids. I hesitated to try 832 because of price, and wasted a ton on other braids. I hope Tatsu is to Fluoro what 832 is to Braid,,,I will find out.

[Felix77]

nice write-up.  Welcome to the "Dark Side"

[Darren.]

Agree with Felix, good write up.

 

Jury is still out for me with pure FC line - and for me it is leader only.

 

I remain unconvinced it is *truly* a difference-maker. Although there have been times it felt like it was. There have also been times where I felt that P-Line Floroclear or Yo-Zuri Hybrid were the difference-makers, too.

[ColdSVT]

Was there at one time with the early runs of Fluorocarbon and swore it off too. Stren, Berkley, Seagaur Red Label, just didn't like em. Now I use it anytime gin clear water is present, I have had great success with filler spools of Invisx, and Abrazx and am quite happy with it, I use 10' to 12' leaders when I do use it, and attach to 832 Sufix, so for me cost is low, and with all the praise roadwarrior gives Tatsu, I am going to check it out next. If it is as durable and soft as Invisx or Abrazx it will be a good investment, and if it is better it will be as sweet as 832 when I tried it over other braids. I hesitated to try 832 because of price, and wasted a ton on other braids. I hope Tatsu is to Fluoro what 832 is to Braid,,,I will find out.

Tatsu is amazing...i used invisx and pline before...love the tatsu. I still use invisx on a few rods though. I do wanna give sunline a shot soon too