Does Flourocarbon Matter As Much As Companies Say It Does

[dam0007]

It sinks! Therefore for me, any bottom contact, sinking, diving, etc etc application it plays an advantage for me. Certain fluoros are more abrasion resistant and others more limp and Castable. It's a trade off. Either way it works for me and I have it spooled on 80% of my reels. Don't let cost scare you, there's good stuff to be had and there's always places other than big box stores to buy from. Good luck!

[Smokinal]

It stinks!

fixed that for ya

[Tywithay]

fixed that for ya

It only stinks if you're using the wrong line. The cheap stuff is unmanageable.

[rippin-lips]

I use it for bottom contact baits. It shines on slack line bites and abrasion resistance compared to other lines such as braid and mono. I only have 2 reels spooled with all fluoro but they are my two for plastics and jigs. Knot strength has been a known issue for some people but I really haven't had problems with that. I tie a uni knot and saw no issues with break offs. It's not for everyone. I say give it a try and make you own judgement call. One word of advice is to buy a quality fluoro. Cheaper ones such as red label aren't very good. One that's reasonable and does a good job is the Berkely 100% fluoro. Sunline sniper is another very good one but costs a bit more.

[Smokinal]

It only stinks if you're using the wrong line. The cheap stuff is unmanageable.

Oh I know; just havin fun. Hey, if you like it, you like it. I have tried Sunline, Invis-x and 2 or 3 other quality lines and they all did the same thing, which is to just spring off the reel like a slinky that's been wound up real tight, then let go. It would just spring off the reel into larger coils. Idk, they all did the same thing and when I put my 4 year old braid back on, it's smooth as silk again. I'd love to be able to figure it out but I just don't see the point in going through all the rituals that people do just to be able to use this stuff; bring all your rods inside the night before you go out so it doesn't get cold, spray the line as you spool and then every night before you go out, talk soothingly to it before you cast....and the list goes on. Geeze, I've dated women who were less maintenance than this stuff....

[rippin-lips]

I use sunline sniper in #16 and don't do anything to it at all. It might get a few sprays of kvd l&l once every few months if I remember to do it but generally I just fish it as is.

[Tywithay]

Oh I know; just havin fun. Hey, if you like it, you like it. I have tried Sunline, Invis-x and 2 or 3 other quality lines and they all did the same thing, which is to just spring off the reel like a slinky that's been wound up real tight, then let go. It would just spring off the reel into larger coils. Idk, they all did the same thing and when I put my 4 year old braid back on, it's smooth as silk again. I'd love to be able to figure it out but I just don't see the point in going through all the rituals that people do just to be able to use this stuff; bring all your rods inside the night before you go out so it doesn't get cold, spray the line as you spool and then every night before you go out, talk soothingly to it before you cast....and the list goes on. Geeze, I've dated women who were less maintenance than this stuff....

Were you using it on a spinning reel?

[Smokinal]

^^^No, baitcasters. And I have tried it on 3 different reels with same results.

[dam0007]

^^^No, baitcasters. And I have tried it on 3 different reels with same results.

I use InvizX on spinning 6# and baitcasting 10#, AbrazX on Baitcasting 10# 12# 15# 17# and as leader on braid 12# & 15# also as backing for 30ft braid leader on flipping reel. Red Label on Spinning in 6# and Baitcasting 10#. As you can see I like Seaguar lol Ive only had 1 issue and it wasnt line management (3 bad spools with nicks from factory of 10# InvizX). Not to talk smack in anyway but it could have been spooled wrong or you purchased bad spools. Or your reels have a problem. If the line "stinks" then there wouldn't be a enormous market place for it.

[Smokinal]

All were spooled like an old school cassette tape...over the outside tops of the spools. One question I will raise though is, when I cast, I usually lightly thumb the spool a couple of times. I have wondered if this may cause the line to spring off the spool. Are you not allowed to do this either with fluoro?

[BrianinMD]

What do you mean by "over the outside tops of the spools"?

 

thumbing the spool shouldn't be an issue, I do it all the time myself and never had an issue.

[Smokinal]

Like this guy does. And there was another vid shared by someone from Icast that showed the same method.

http://video.fishingclub.com/video/How-To-Spool-Your-Baitcaster-Ji

[dam0007]

Might have too much breaking and tension on tension knob???

[senile1]

Like this guy does. And there was another vid shared by someone from Icast that showed the same method.

http://video.fishingclub.com/video/How-To-Spool-Your-Baitcaster-Ji

 

That is a typical way to load line on a baitcaster.  I can't imagine how the line would just leap off of a baitcasting reel for you.  I have never had any issues with fluorocarbon on a baitcaster.  Spinning reels are another matter, though I still use light fluorocarbon on my dropshot rod. 

 

Are you referring to getting bird's nests with it?  I'm not trying to be flippant, but you might read this thread to make sure you have it set up properly.  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/92295-how-to-set-up-a-baitcaster/

[senile1]

Oh, as for the original question, I like fluorocarbon in some situations that require abrasion resistance and deep diving crankbaits.  I am also a bit hesitant to discount the use of it in clear water.  I visit Table Rock lake a few times a year and there are places near the dam where I have been able to see the bottom in 30 feet of water.  There isn't a guide on that lake that doesn't recommend fluorocarbon or at least fluorocarbon leaders due to line visibility.  I have had instances where it seemed to help the bite, but the jury is still out on that for me.  I need to gather more evidence.  

[Smokinal]

 I'm not trying to be flippant, but you might read this thread to make sure you have it set up properly.  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/92295-how-to-set-up-a-baitcaster/

It's ok and thanks for the tip; I'll always take a lesson! It's like the lines have always wanted to be straight and will not stay in the small coil of the reel spool; they want to return to the larger coil size of the filler spool. Idk, I have half a spool of Sunline Sniper in 16#, I'm 1/2 tempted to try it one more time on my jig rod.

 

And I need to apologize to OP for the hijack! Not intended.

[Trek]

  IMO for flipping and shaky heads it's the only line to use. I can feel so much better with it and no stretch when you set the hook. This time of year we take long casts and fish 12 to 20 feet deep. I know I would be missing fish on mono. Also when my buddy and I go to Canada and fish walleyes with a jig and minnow. I have proved to him that FC will get you more fish. A lot of times that bite is so light you have to put your finger on the line to feel it. You never will with mono. I will say FC does have more memory but learn how to deal with it. Because what you gain from it is worth the pain. I spray KVD line conditioner on it and it does seem to help.

[hoosierbass07]

So all of you love FL. Now my question - how did fisherman catch big bass in super clear lakes before bass fisherman started using FL?

[Tywithay]

So all of you love FL. Now my question - how did fisherman catch big bass in super clear lakes before bass fisherman started using FL?

That's an absurdist reach. Same way they did with a cane pole and can of worms. Technology is about making things easier and improving on past innovations. If you want to use a fiberglass rod with an old Ryobi, be my guest. I'm going to continue to change with the times and try new things. I still catch fish on mono too, but I can't, and won't, dismiss the advantages of fluorocarbon.

[*Hootie]

Were you using it on a spinning reel?

The women, or the line?...lol.

Hootie

[TorqueConverter]

The claim that fluorocarbon lines are less visible than other translucent mono filament type lines is unsubstantiated.  This claim is based on refractive index of the fluorocarbon and that its reactive index is similar to that of water, making the fishing line less visible to fish, is marketing hype.  The biggest problem with this myth is that it plays on people's ignorance of what refraction is and how is affects transparent objects.  If you really want to talk about the optical effects of refractive index, then you must talk about lenses and viewing an object through that lens

 

Criteria for observing the visual effects of refraction when used as a lens:

 

1. It must be used as a lens.  It must be held up to the eye and viewed through.  If you don't treat it like a lens then any effects stemming from the refractive index cannot be observed.  Fish have to be aware of the line and attempting to look though it to even begin to observe the visual clarity of the line.  The fish must be aware of your line and keenly interested in looking though it.  This =/= invisibility. 

 

2. The lens mush be of high clarity.  There is no point in discussing the refractive index of a material unless the material is of a very high degree of clarity.  Refractive index is broken by lenses that are cloudy or are translucent.  Fishing lines are translucent.

 

3. The lens must be of a reasonable size to view an image through.  If your lens is microscopic and only viewable through a microscope then is no point is discussing the ability of a naked eye to detect the optical effects of that lens.  The diameters of fishing lines used in bass fishing are so small that even if they were clear as glass, they are so small that they require a magnifying glass and to even begin thinking about viewing an image through them.

 

4. Cylinders make terrible lenses.  There is so much optical distortion present in cylinder shaped lens that any discussion about the refractive index of the cylinders is made moot.  A 10% deference in refractive index in a cylinder is not discernible (unless the viewing image is a white/black checkerboard) to the naked eye due to the inherent distortion in the cylinder lense.  Fishing lines are cylinders.

 

At this point this invisibility myth is busted and when the difference in refractive index between a fluorocarbon line and a mono type line is going to be around 10% -15% at most, there was never anything to debunk in the 1st place. 

[hoosierbass07]

That's an absurdist reach. Same way they did with a cane pole and can of worms. Technology is about making things easier and improving on past innovations. 

 

 

  Is fluorocarbon line really an improvement and does it make fishing better?  From what I've read, the water refractive index is 1.33, fluorocarbon is 1.42, and nylon mono from 1.53 to 1.62.  Is that really such a great improvement?  Many say they like fluorocarbon because it is stiffer and transmit the bite better.  OK, I'll give you that.  But if you read fishing boards for a few months your are bound to see posts such as "I've had it with fluorocarbon" or " My knots keep breaking."  I don't see too many people bashing mono.  

 

 I've had experience with P-Line Floroclear and I don't care to go back to that stuff again.  Too many knot breaks.  Since I've been using mono - no knot breaks even when I grab the line near the hook (something I try not to do).

 

When I get my new spinning reel I'm thinking of putting eight pound pure fluorocarbon on it and trying it out.  But any knot breaks and it's coming off and Sufix mono is going on.  

[K_Mac]

TC I will admit I am ignorant of the science of refraction and how it is measured. I am also unsure how refractive index impacts a fishes ability to see fishing line. How does a 10% difference in the index effect a basses ability to see it? Does it matter if it can see it? Does it effect its willingness to bite? I don' know the answers to these questions. What I do know conclusively is that I feel bites when fishing FC that I do not on mono or copoly. I also know without question that I catch more fish using it. I believe the empirical evidence speaks for itself. How much of this is based on line density? How much is based on smaller line diameter? How much is based on it sinking? How much is based on its stretching ability? I don't know the answers to any of these questions. The only thing I do know is that it I catch more fish using it. I don't really care much about anything else.

[Catch and Grease]

This is getting goood

[hoosierbass07]

 I'll admit I hate to bash P-Line Floroclear although I do bash it.  I did catch a lot of nice sized bass on it.  I never lost a fish because the line broke, only knot breaks when I was trying to land the bass.  And, when I got snagged it took a lot of effort to break that line.  So for line strength, I think it's tough.  But those knot breaks ruined it for me.  That's why I'm very skeptical of fluorocarbon line.  My two biggest bass I caught this spring have bee on mono and I'm glad I had mono on because I had to grab the line by the hand to pull the bass up and out of the water.  Really, I miss fishing P-line Floroclear but I don't want any knot breaks.