Line Stretch Test - 18 Types/brands

[Jeff H]

Exacly!

I'll stick with Big Game

And I'll stick with XT

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

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

 

 

I feel the same about YZHB

 

stretching is for rubber bands and my waistline Ill stick with braid

[Big Bait Fishing]

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.

Try Toray Super Hard Strong, very low stretch and very strong ...

[Tim Kelly]

It's an interesting test, but I don't think it is as relevant for actual fishing simulations. What you're testing is the elastic limit (breaking point) pretty much. Fluoro seems to stretch until it fractures and when it gets near to it's fracturing point the line is very degraded. Mono tends to be able to stretch and bounce back much better. If you are pulling for a break you are aware of this, but when you're fishing the properties of FC and mono are very different. Fluoro feels much more direct. I would guess it resists stretching for longer than mono and when it starts to stretch it starts to get damaged. Mono doesn't resist stretching at all so you get a linear amount of stretching at all loads, which is why mono feels less connected.

[K_Mac]

I also think the test is interesting, but it will not influence my use of fluorocarbon. I have done my own testing on the water and prefer the way fluorocarbon transfers vibration. I resisted the rush to fluoro and don't really care much about having the latest and greatest gear. I have tried most of the other lines; I will continue to use fluorocarbon.

[thehooligan]

Pretty cool test. Surprised sufix did that well, i like there monos but it always seems like there line stretch alot.

 

Only fluoro i mess around with is sniper, and its a love/hate thing for me.

 

I like cxx, hybrid, maxima and floroclear so much that i rarely use anything else anymore.

[smalljaw67]

When I tried fluorocarbon, I tried it on a spinning reel and I hated it and had so many tangles that I didn't give it an honest try, it just was too unruly for me. So I tried it on my casting set up, well when I said that it seemed to stretch as much, if not more than my mono did, I was told it was old line or perhaps it wasn't stretching but just felt that way ,etc. etc. The line was Seaguar Carbon Pro and it was the last fluorocarbon I used, my buddy had me try his Tatsu on his rod and I told him after pulling on a snag that it stretched too, it just felt slightly different, he said it was my imagination and now I see it isn't just me. I fish heavy flipping and frogs with braid, I know when a line is stretching and when it isn't and fluoro doesn't feel the same as mono but it does stretch. Here is one thing I tell young anglers, try things and don't knock something until you tried it, for me fluorocarbons don't work, I don't feel I get any advantage using them and I don't feel disadvantage not using it.  Some anglers like fluorocarbon, the sinking line may be better for them with wacky rigs or drop shots, you have to try it to see if the pros outweigh the cons.

[Preytorien]

I use flouro for finesse soft plastics application....sometimes....otherwise it's straight braid for me all the time. 

[tomustang]

I knew a guy once that I showed this type of data to and he laughed at it and continued to believe what the product box said.

The initial stretch in the hands when first handling the line should show you enough elasticity compared to other lines you handled.

[Turtle135]

     Thanks for conducting those tests and posting that information. I always like to hear the results from an individual who is not involved in promoting a particular product.

     For what it is worth, on my baitcasting gear, I use 14 and 17 pound test Trilene XT for pitching and casting jigs. I know the 14 pound test breaks at around 20 pounds so to some degree I combat the stretch issue with mono by using heavier line. I find that line to be very abrasion resistant and very strong. Frequently I find myself straightening out a hook (instead of breaking off on a snag). I do most of my jig work at close range fishing from my kayak. I change my line frequently, usually at least once a month.

[BrianinMD]

Interesting test but will it sway me at all away from straight flouro for almost everything I fish, not at all. These test may be interesting but the test I will follow every single time is results on the water. I switched to almost all flouro before last tourney season, Stratos20SS will attest to how well that went. I won 5 out of 8 tourneys, losing the last one by one ounce. Had big fish at a couple tourneys along with lunker of the year. These results mean way more to me than any of these tests.

 

The setups I do not have flouro on are top water and frog rods.

[WIGuide]

Interesting study to say the least. I'd love to see a shock test though. One where the lines are not maxed out on what they're rated to handle, but rather with a smaller weight similar to the weight exerted by a hooksetr. It'd be interesting to see that data compared to overall stretch.

[FrankW]

I read lots of forum members talking about slack line sensitivity with Fluro.  I don't fish a lot of Fluro but I have never noticed that Fluro has any better slack line sensitivity than other lines.  If I am not in contact with my bait then Fluro doesn't tell me anything more than what braid does.  Has there ever been a slack line sensitivity test?  I think that is a myth like the one that Fluro doesn't stretch as much as mono.  A good deal of what some of us know comes from reading other peoples comments rather than personal experience or testing.

 

Frank

[Master Bait'r]

See that's a cool test but an incomplete picture to say the least. You're measuring one specific parameter, and not even in the context of it's use. Nobody is using 8lb FC with the drag locked on a broomstick. The "results" you show, while being interesting, do not give us an accurate portrayal of when the line actually begins to break down. I'd love to see it redone with respect to the percentage of test rating applied and at what point does it stretch beyond rebound- not just "it stretched two feet & broke"

Cool test but it made me wonder even more tbh.

[0119]

So then why dont you all conduct your own tests on the matter since you feel so strongly about it?  With your own "parameters" and other hoy floy academic thinkin'.  That way you can convince yourself that you opinion/preference is correct.  (This is not directed towards any particular individual)  As anglers, we truly make Chev. vs. Ford seem like an appetizer when you compare that ancient of arguments to even the slightest of differing opinions on tackle.

[HookdUP]

Thank you for taking the time to do this and then allow us the privy of the fruits of your efforts

[Master Bait'r]

So then why dont you all conduct your own tests on the matter since you feel so strongly about it? With your own "parameters" and other hoy floy academic thinkin'. That way you can convince yourself that you opinion/preference is correct. (This is not directed towards any particular individual) As anglers, we truly make Chev. vs. Ford seem like an appetizer when you compare that ancient of arguments to even the slightest of differing opinions on tackle.

No.

But if you're going to do it... Go all the way. Just saying- it certainly had an outcome, but what percentage of that outcome would be relevant in real world usage? Bringing a product to absolute limit begs the question why use that as a benchmark? I think OP is definitely onto something, but there are a lot of questions that taking the first step can create- such is scientific pursuit.

[BrianinMD]

0119, my "test" are how it performs for me on the water. During these test flouro out performs everything else I have tried

[Choporoz]

Thanks, Frydog.  Greatly appreciate you taking the time to post your results here.  Not often enough that we get to talk comparisons around here with actual data.

[Turtle135]

I read lots of forum members talking about slack line sensitivity with Fluro.  I don't fish a lot of Fluro but I have never noticed that Fluro has any better slack line sensitivity than other lines.  If I am not in contact with my bait then Fluro doesn't tell me anything more than what braid does.  Has there ever been a slack line sensitivity test?  I think that is a myth like the one that Fluro doesn't stretch as much as mono.  A good deal of what some of us know comes from reading other peoples comments rather than personal experience or testing.

 

Frank

 

I believe what they are talking about is that you can detect a bass popping a jig or a plastic worm without having a tight line with flouro (or with mono). You can feel that vibration transmitted up the line. With braid if you line is "slack" much of that vibration can be absorbed and you may miss that "tick" traveling up your line.

[RoLo]

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

 

Thanks for saving me the trouble of finding those websites ;-))

 

Although this info is going on 8 years old, I still hear anglers touting fluoro for its reduced elasticity.

The reason that you cited for using fluorocarbon is probably the best reason (though line-watching achieves pretty much the same)

 

Roger

[TommyV]

Well, anyone like to buy my CX?

[Logan S]

I read lots of forum members talking about slack line sensitivity with Fluro.  I don't fish a lot of Fluro but I have never noticed that Fluro has any better slack line sensitivity than other lines.  If I am not in contact with my bait then Fluro doesn't tell me anything more than what braid does.  Has there ever been a slack line sensitivity test?  I think that is a myth like the one that Fluro doesn't stretch as much as mono.  A good deal of what some of us know comes from reading other peoples comments rather than personal experience or testing.

 

Frank

 

I believe what they are talking about is that you can detect a bass popping a jig or a plastic worm without having a tight line with flouro (or with mono). You can feel that vibration transmitted up the line. With braid if you line is "slack" much of that vibration can be absorbed and you may miss that "tick" traveling up your line.

If there's a loop/coil of line on the ground/deck/water at your feet, you're not going to feel anything no matter what line you use.  There has to be some tension in the line no matter what in order to feel anything.  The amount of tension you need to feel varies with the line type...With flouro requiring the least. 

 

Flouro transmits vibrations better than both mono and braid.  I've read that it's because it is much more dense than both.  The fact that it sinks also means that the surface bow in the line will be less, meaning less distance between you and the fish....So the advantage is two-fold (better at transmitting the movement and less distance that transmission needs to cover before reaching you).  I'm sure someone can get into all the scientific reasons why, but it's logical to me and my experience confirms it...So I've not put too much more thought into it.  

 

You don't need it to catch bass, as other have pointed out.  However I believe it maximizes your potential for many techniques.  FWIW, I use all 3 line types, each when it is most advantageous to me.   

 

Back to the test, it's a good starting point but not the ultimate answer...The OP did a great job with his testing parameters, maybe he would string it up again with different weights?  Also, I'm not defending the 'stretchyness' of flouro since I've already known that it does in fact stretch, but I do believe it is generally less than mono at lower stress levels.  

[smalljaw67]

The line is still dense and it still sinks, and even though I always knew it stretched, I didn't realize how much it did. Not only the OP's test but if you google it there have been a number of test done showing how much stretch is in fluorocarbon. If it works for you then great, I tried it and I didn't like it but it doesn't mean because it stretches it isn't any good, but a lot of anglers claimed that the near zero stretch is what made it better and that is just POS or power of suggestion.

[0119]

No.

Thus my point is made. Someone's results or opinions are different than 'yours' so defensiveness takes over to the point of nausea.