Venturing Out Of Monofilament

[Texas Hawg Hunter]

I've always fished with mono but today purchased a spool of flourocarbon, mainly for the increased sensitivity.  I hardly ever throw topwaters so not too concerned with it sinking.

[Green Trout]

Flurocarbon is a great choice for clear water. However, for even more sensitivity, try braid with a Fluro leader. Braid is more sensitive than flurocarbon. I use 30lb Seaguar Smackdown braid and I love it. It's an extremely smooth braid. On the leader, I use about 7ft of 17 lb flurocarbon. That way, I get the sensitivity of the braid and the invisible nature from the Fluro. Hope this helps!

[iabass8]

Flurocarbon is a great choice for clear water. However, for even more sensitivity, try braid with a Fluro leader. Braid is more sensitive than flurocarbon. I use 30lb Seaguar Smackdown braid and I love it. It's an extremely smooth braid. On the leader, I use about 7ft of 17 lb flurocarbon. That way, I get the sensitivity of the braid and the invisible nature from the Fluro. Hope this helps!

braid's sensitivity shines on a tight line.

it has zero slack line sensitivity. that's where fluorocarbon shines. 

adding a leader to braid doesn't give you the slack line sensitivity straight fluorocarbon offers.

[Green Trout]

I usually always try to kep a tight line

[einscodek]

Get ready to lose lures.. done that w/ fluoro

[deep]

I usually always try to kep a tight line

 

My guess is you don't fish a lot of bottom contact baits in water deeper that 15 feet on long casts. Is that correct?

[Texas Hawg Hunter]

Get ready to lose lures.. done that w/ fluoro

 

Why would flouro make you lose more lures?

[Green Trout]

How do I add a quote to what I'm saying? Sorry new to this site

[Logan S]

Why would flouro make you lose more lures?

It won't.  

 

It doesn't handle quite as well as mono, but it's pretty easy to get over/get used to.  All 3 line types have their time/place, most guys have a mix of everything on their setups depending on each rod's usage.

[K_Mac]

It won't.

It doesn't handle quite as well as mono, but it's pretty easy to get over/get used to. All 3 line types have their time/place, most guys have a mix of everything on their setups depending on each rod's usage.

Stratos that is a great answer. Yes, there are many that only use braid, braid and leader, FC, copoly, or mono. Most of us use all of the above.

[new2BC4bass]

My experience with Fluorocarbon lines is pretty meager.  First one I ever used was 10# Spiderwire Ultracast 100% Fluorocarbon.  Still spooled on the only reel I have ever used it on.  Earlier this year I bought a reel that came spooled with Seaguar InvizX (12# I think).  The Spiderwire handles better than the InvizX which is suppose to be better handling than the AbrazX.  A few days ago I used the Spiderwire for the first time since sometime last year.  No problem with it coiling.  The InvizX has always had some coiling.  I realize InvizX is a favorite of some on here while the Spiderwire never gets mentioned.  Although I have a bottle of KVD Line & Lure Conditioner, it seldom gets used.  Matter of fact I gave a second bottle I had to a brand new fisherman and his 3 kids this summer.

 

I have not had to break the InvizX yet, but have the Spiderwire.  According to TT tests no fluorocarbon line reaches 90% of its listed strength before breaking.  All I know is there is no way I would be putting enough pressure on a rod to break the 10# Spiderwire.

 

Kind of a long convoluted way of saying that I think you will be satisfied with fluorocarbon as long as you use a brand that handles up to your expectations.  From what I have read I gather that the more abrasive resistant the line, the harder it is and the more memory it will have.

 

What line did you elect to try?  I spooled some McCoy 12# Fluoro100 a couple weeks ago, but only used it for a little one afternoon.  I'd like to try a few other brands to find out which one suits me best.  My experience with InvizX leads me to believe that what is top dog for you may not float my boat.

[Texas Hawg Hunter]

My experience with Fluorocarbon lines is pretty meager.  First one I ever used was 10# Spiderwire Ultracast 100% Fluorocarbon.  Still spooled on the only reel I have ever used it on.  Earlier this year I bought a reel that came spooled with Seaguar InvizX (12# I think).  The Spiderwire handles better than the InvizX which is suppose to be better handling than the AbrazX.  A few days ago I used the Spiderwire for the first time since sometime last year.  No problem with it coiling.  The InvizX has always had some coiling.  I realize InvizX is a favorite of some on here while the Spiderwire never gets mentioned.  Although I have a bottle of KVD Line & Lure Conditioner, it seldom gets used.  Matter of fact I gave a second bottle I had to a brand new fisherman and his 3 kids this summer.

 

I have not had to break the InvizX yet, but have the Spiderwire.  According to TT tests no fluorocarbon line reaches 90% of its listed strength before breaking.  All I know is there is no way I would be putting enough pressure on a rod to break the 10# Spiderwire.

 

Kind of a long convoluted way of saying that I think you will be satisfied with fluorocarbon as long as you use a brand that handles up to your expectations.  From what I have read I gather that the more abrasive resistant the line, the harder it is and the more memory it will have.

 

What line did you elect to try?  I spooled some McCoy 12# Fl;uoro100 a couple weeks ago, but only used it for a little one afternoon.  I'd like to try a few other brands to find out which one suits me best.  My experience with InvizX leads me to believe that what is top dog for you may not float my boat.

Interesting.  I went with Stren Flourocast 17#

[new2BC4bass]

I still use mono on the vast majority of my reels.  As a kid through young adulthood (actually even further...into 40s) I was a Trilene user, while a friend I got into fishing was a Stren user.  I never noticed either of us losing any fish due to line choice.

 

How about posting back on your experience with the Stren?  You won't find any posts here about Stren.  At least I don't remember any since joining in 2009.  A review of it would be great.

 

I have no idea what you will be using 17# for, but I tend to go lighter than a lot of people.  I have 17# mono on 2 Heavy rods.

[Texas Hawg Hunter]

I still use mono on the vast majority of my reels.  As a kid through young adulthood (actually even further...into 40s) I was a Trilene user, while a friend I got into fishing was a Stren user.  I never noticed either of us losing any fish due to line choice.

 

How about posting back on your experience with the Stren?  You won't find any posts here about Stren.  At least I don't remember any since joining in 2009.  A review of it would be great.

 

I have no idea what you will be using 17# for, but I tend to go lighter than a lot of people.  I have 17# mono on 2 Heavy rods.

 

I usually fish with 12# Stren mono.  Went with the 17# Stren flourocast because I throw into wood and other cover so wanted a heavier line and interested to see how the sensitivity changes with flouro.  I trust Stren and Berkley the most as they are the original brands.  Spooled it up today, went outside in the yard and made some casts with no issues.  If it is at least in the 50s tomorrow I'll go out to the water.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

My guess is you don't fish a lot of bottom contact baits in water deeper that 15 feet on long casts. Is that correct?

 

I do all the time practically 90% of my fishing is done with senko, ika, hydra, tube style baits. Im dragging across hopping across the bottom of a 22-25' deep lake and making 120+' casts.  At this length braid is much better with hook-ups do to lack of stretch. Still have very good feedback of lure when actually dragging lure much better sensitivity with braid. Dont need to have line tight but some tautness even on fall you will feel the take. Slack line has its minuses as well giving too much slack with FC and by the time slack gets reeled in fish has discharged the bait.  Even with FC Sniper, hooking into a fish at 70+ feet on the bottom of a weedy 20' lake was hindered due to its stretch. Sensitivity isnt going to help much if the stretch is so that the hook doesnt get set well.Also the sensitivity of braid make the fight more enjoyable being able to feel what the fish is doing shaking twisting up/down movements all this feedback enhanced with braid dulled with fluoro.

[Darren.]

Just make sure to tie good knots, and be careful in how you tie them. Make sure you use plenty of spit to moisten when you tighten down the knot. If you don't, you can weaken the line at the knot.

 

I'm another one who goes braid mainline with a leader, sometimes fluorocarbon, most times fluoro-coated or bonded copoly line.

[Inflatable Raft Bum]

I switched to floro for a while, then braid a few years.

Back to mono, and i mean cheap crap you buy at WM or better BPS Excel, i don't catch any fewer fish. (Definitely don't have fish coming in with a jaw ripped 1/2 off their face anymore like i did w/ braid)

Didn't like the price of floro, didn't like price or the delamination of braid.

[roadwarrior]

I have been experimenting with braid/ leader and think this is probably

the best all-around combination. However, I still use monofilament for

treble hook lures.

 

 

 

[Texas Hawg Hunter]

I have been experimenting with braid/ leader and think this is probably

the best all-around combination. However, I still use monofilament for

treble hook lures.

 

 

 

Ive heard some guys say they use mono for crankbaits to "give the fish a chance" of getting the bait.  Is that what you're getting at?

[roadwarrior]

No.  I think when you get hooked-up the stretch works to you advantage and makes it more difficult for the fish

to get leverage. Mono combined with a Moderate Action rod is very forgiving. I don't lose too many fish and I

NEVER make any attempt to keep them from jumping. A big brown fish in flight is probably my favorite part of

fishing!