Line Stretch Test - 18 Types/brands

[FryDog62]

I bought into the fluorocarbon thing about 5 years ago in many respects because it is marketed as being "low stretch." I have a couple rods with no stretch braid, but also wanted to string up a few rods with straight fluorocarbon as a main line. I took a trip to Rainy Lake to target smallmouth. Lots of long casts, clear water, finesse plastics and spinnerbaits. Two of us in the boat, lots of fish and I had several long casts and hits. Whiff, whiff, whiff...

I usually don't miss that many fish. My fishing partner wasn't missing and he was having a good time letting me hear about it. So I switched back to braid on one pole and mono on the other...and started getting solid hook sets again. Made me wonder about how much stretch was in fluorocarbon.

Part of the reason I bought fluorocarbon was for its low stretch properties. Its no fun setting the hook with a rubber band. And yet that's what was happening to me. So, I decided to conduct my own independent test of 9 fluorocarbon lines versus 9 other mono or co-polymer lines. Many Fluorocarbon lines are specifically marketed as "low stretch." But compared to what? So, I decided to test them head-to-head in an effort to find out which lines truly were less stretch than the others.

My results are below. I used only 8 pound test lines in this experiment. You could do a number of different tests but the one I chose was to max the lines out and see how they stretched when pushed to their outer limits. I used a 12 foot length of line and hung an 8 pound weight from it. Lowered it slowly. Most lines would reach close to their maximum stretch after about 20-25 seconds, so at 30 seconds I took the measurement in inches. Results are listed from least stretch (in inches) to most stretch. I don't have a horse in this race and am not sponsored by anyone...just an amateur in pursuit of a good low stretch line:

All Lines Tested

• Trilene XT (Mono) 21-1/4 inches of stretch
• Yo-Zuri Hybrid (Co-polymer) 22-1/8
• Sufix Seige (Mono) 22-5/8
• P-Line CX Premium (Co-polymer) 23-1/2
• Maxima Treazure (Co-polymer) 24-1/2
• Trilene XL (Mono) 24-3/4
• Tectan Superior (Mono) 25-7/8
• Berkley Sensation (Mono) 26-1/8
• Sunline Sniper (Fluorocarbon) 26-1/2
• Gamma Touch (Fluorocarbon) 29-1/4
• Original Blue Stren (Mono) 29-3/4
• Gamma Edge (Fluorocarbon) 31-0**
• Bass Pro XPS (Fluorocarbon) 31-3/4*
• Stren 100% (Fluorocast) 31-3/4*
• Seaguar Tatsu (Fluorocarbon) 32-3/4
• P-Line 100% (Fluorocarbon) 33-0*
• Seaguar Invizx (Fluorocarbon) 36-0**
• Berkley 100% (Fluorocarbon) 38-3/8

*Line snapped once and was re-tested

** Line snapped twice - length estimated

Broken Down By Line Type

• 3 Co-polymer lines average stretch: 23.4 inches
• 6 Monofilament lines average stretch: 25.1 inches
• 9 fluorocarbon lines average stretch: 32.2 inches

Line Diameter

Line diameter can have an effect on stretch, but 9 of these lines all had the same diameter (.009 inches). Those lines are broken out below. The overall results are similar for the 3 different line types.

• P-Line CX Premium (Co-polymer) 23-1/2
• Maxima Treazure (Co-polymer) 24-1/2
• Tectan Superior (Mono) 25-7/8
• Berkley Sensation (Mono) 26-1/8
• Sunline Sniper (Fluorocarbon) 26-1/2
• Gamma Touch (Fluorocarbon) 29-1/4
• Bass Pro XPS (Fluorocarbon) 31-3/4*
• Seaguar Tatsu (Fluorocarbon) 32-3/4
• Seaguar Invizx (Fluorocarbon) 36-0**

Overall observations

• I had heard for years that Fluorocarbon line had less stretch than other lines, boy was I surprised with these results.
• Newer Co-polymer lines being marketed specifically as “low stretch” for the most part seem to be accurate.
• Monofilament tends to be somewhere in the middle, although those with a thicker diameter (i.e. Trilene XT .011 and Sufix Seige .010) did stretch less.
• Line diameter may have an effect on the stretch of certain lines, but overall, lines of the same diameter seem to reflect that Co-polymer and Monofilament lines still stretch less than Fluorocarbon.
• Fluorocarbon lines tend to break easier when stretched to their maximum breaking strength.

Curious to hear other people's feedback and if they have had similar experiences. -Fry

[ABW]

Looks like cabin fever has taken its toll on you...

[OHBASSIN]

Good write up, very interesting. I've always been a FC user and have been thinking of changing, also curious what others will say.

[jbrew73]

nice work.

this should get interesting

[rippin-lips]

I didn't read more than a few sentences. Fluoro stretches and a lot of it more than mono. TT did this type of testing in 2007. Slack line sensitivity is the only real advantage I use FC for.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbontest.html

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbon2pg4.html

[Montanaro]

I've heard similar results (rip beat me too it). There is more to flouro and lines in general than its stretch. But it's still something to consider.

Makes me think of using 20 pound copoly for pitching rather than FC. Wonder how sunline reaction and shooter stack up.

[Scott F]

Did you happen to look at the lines after they'd been stretched? Fluoro supposedly does dot return to it's original shape after it's been stretched. I'm curious as to your observations.

[Penguino]

Nice review. I guess it is time for me to get some copolymer line

[War Eagle 44]

I didn't read more than a few sentences. Fluoro stretches and a lot of it more than mono. TT did this type of testing in 2007. Slack line sensitivity is the only real advantage I use FC for.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbontest.html

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbon2pg4.html

 

 

I did the read the entire article, I was also pretty surprised at the results back then. I agree though that the sensitivity of fluorocarbon is superior enough to mono/copoly that I will continue to use it.

[curtis9]

Interesting test.

[Thornback]

Now I understand why I changed from flouro to braided

[David P]

Interesting review. Still some positives to fluorocarbon though. As mentioned, slack line sensitivity, as is the sinking quality, gets baits down deeper, and line visibility.

 

 There's a time and a place for all lines, but certainly interesting to see that the marketed "low stretch" is not quite the case. 

[Smokinal]

I, too, just had to try the whole fluoro thing but also feel like I'm setting the hook with taffy. I've never missed/lost so many jig fish in my life. Went back to my braid = started sticking more fish. I may use fluoro on a treble hook bait but nothing that requires a hookset.

[FryDog62]

"Did you happen to look at the lines after they'd been stretched? Fluoro supposedly does dot return to it's original shape after it's been stretched. I'm curious as to your observations."

 

Yes I did check the lines over.  5 of the 9 fluorocarbon lines snapped and coiled up like slinkys.  Even the lines that didn't break were coily.  The mono/co-poly lines were a little stressed but pretty much back to their original shape.  

[FryDog62]

I saw the Tackle Tour tests too - but wanted to conduct my own test with the type of lines I would use.  

 

I honestly went into this hoping to find a low stretch fluorocarbon line, thinking there had to be some out there.  I agree sometimes sink rate is preferred and flouro would win out there if I could find one that stretches less.  

[FryDog62]

The one line I have used pretty extensively in this test is Yo-Zuri Hybrid.  Very tough and abrasion resistant.  If sink rate isn't a huge deal it is a great low stretch and very strong line.  

 

If there was one line that stood out to me in this entire test though it was the P-Line CX Premium Co-Polymer.  Not only was it low stretch, but it was much less in diameter than Yozuri Hybrid and Trilene XT (they are about .011) and CX is .009 (feels even thinner).  I am looking forward to trying it out this year because I think it may offer at least some of the sensitivity of fluorocarbon.  

 

There is no perfect line and various lines are good in different situations.  I'm trying to experiment as much as I can and try some new things out.  But honestly unless I do find a truly low-stretch fluorocarbon I'll probably stick with a co-poly of some kind.  

[Scott F]

The one line I have used pretty extensively in this test is Yo-Zuri Hybrid.  Very tough and abrasion resistant.  If sink rate isn't a huge deal it is a great low stretch and very strong line.  

 

If there was one line that stood out to me in this entire test though it was the P-Line CX Premium Co-Polymer.  Not only was it low stretch, but it was much less in diameter than Yozuri Hybrid and Trilene XT (they are about .011) and CX is .009 (feels even thinner).  I am looking forward to trying it out this year because I think it may offer at least some of the sensitivity of fluorocarbon.  

 

There is no perfect line and various lines are good in different situations.  I'm trying to experiment as much as I can and try some new things out.  But honestly unless I do find a truly low-stretch fluorocarbon I'll probably stick with a co-poly of some kind.  

 

The P-Line you call 'Low Stretch"? Compared to the other lines you tested it may have been low stretch, but that's like saying a Ferrari is cheap ......compared to a Lamborghini.

[Montanaro]

Shooter tested as low stretch by TT. That and abrasion resistance makes it good for pitching.

I may have to revisit copoly though, just doubt it can top shooter for what I use it for.

[F14A-B]

Well I'm not surprised, I use FC on wacky rigs in 6 to 8#, open hook of course.. My long time standard lines are Yozuri & CXX and a bit of CX. I do not use braid. Interesting read, thanks for posting...

[Grantman83]

Slack line sensitivity and abrasion resistance are why I love Fluoro. I love sniper and invizx but it's obvious how much they give.

Shooter is the strongest and toughest I've used.

[FryDog62]

I think there are 3 versions of Shooter now - is it the "Marrionette" that stretches least?

[0119]

Thanks for your hard work and confirming to me that there is nothing new under the sun except the gimmicks they try to fool anglers with!

[Logan S]

Very cool post, thanks!

 

Does anyone else think that the rate of stretch may be different for each?  I think that if you made a graph of stress vs stretch, mono would be linear and flouro would be exponential.  I've always sort of felt this way based on my own personal experiences, but I've never put in the effort to test it like the OP has.  Maybe a test with a 1 or 2 pound weight would show this?

 

To give one example of why I feel that way...Ripping traps through grass is much more efficient for me with flouro instead of mono, it feels as if the line stretches less - making it easier to rip or pop the bait through.  However if you only look at the #'s in the OP's test it would seem to be the opposite.  That's why I think that flouro stretches less at lower (more 'normal' for fishing) stresses.  It 'catches-up' to mono in the amount of stretch as it gets closer to the breaking limit.  

 

I could be wrong, it's really just guesses on my part...and it won't change my choices, but it is a cool winter topic .  

[Catt]

Thanks for your hard work and confirming to me that there is nothing new under the sun except the gimmicks they try to fool anglers with!

Exacly!

I'll stick with Big Game

[Angry John]

Exacly!

I'll stick with Big Game

I feel the same about YZHB