Dockhead Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 I was just reading about last week's FLW tournament on Toho. I noticed most of the top ten used fluorocarbon with their soft plastic presentations. I was surprised by this, and not only because I use braid for those same techniques. Seems the vast majority of people that I fish with or talk to that fish Florida waters on a regular basis, generally use braid as well for their soft plastic offerings. So am I missing something? Or do these guys fish these lines (or say they do) because it's their sponsors biggest money-making product so they need to push it? I'm feeling a little insecure about using so much Power Pro all of a sudden. Thoughts? Quote
Super User BassinLou Posted March 12, 2015 Super User Posted March 12, 2015 I was just reading about last week's FLW tournament on Toho. I noticed most of the top ten used fluorocarbon with their soft plastic presentations. I was surprised by this, and not only because I use braid for those same techniques. Seems the vast majority of people that I fish with or talk to that fish Florida waters on a regular basis, generally use braid as well for their soft plastic offerings. So am I missing something? Or do these guys fish these lines (or say they do) because it's their sponsors biggest money-making product so they need to push it? I'm feeling a little insecure about using so much Power Pro all of a sudden. Thoughts? If braid has been working for you lately, then why change? I use braid for several applications and catch nice fish. However, do I keep an open mind and switch to other lines when the situation calls for it? Absolutely!! Quote
junyer357 Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 I used braid some on worms before moving to floro. With braid i kept having my line cut when fishing riprap n such. The floro holds up better to that as well as its close to as sensitive when the line is tight. I can also feel some as well with slack line on floro but not braid, but you have to have a close eye and sensitive finger to detect it. Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted March 12, 2015 Super User Posted March 12, 2015 I was wondering the exact same thing on one of the many other line threads recently. Nearly every interview with a pro cites fouro.....I don't get it either.... Quote
Super User FryDog62 Posted March 12, 2015 Super User Posted March 12, 2015 "Or do these guys fish these lines (or say they do) because it's their sponsors biggest money-making product so they need to push it?" I think you might have at least part of your answer here... Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted March 12, 2015 Super User Posted March 12, 2015 I like the skeptic in you, but I doubt it. No way these guys are going to compromise anything at that level -- If they wanted to fish braid, they'd get a braid sponsor. There just seems to be a heavy and overwhelming predominance of flouro use at the top levels. I don't know why....I quit flouro over a year ago and am not at all considering going back Quote
Rich in Co Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 I think they like floro better I would think what ever line copany they are using makes a braid also and they could use that if they felt it was better for them unless the sponser wants them to use & push floro. I dont think a pro would risk using a line from a non sponser thats a fast way to be out of the sponser buisness Quote
The Next KVD Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 Fluorocarbon is better sensitivity wise when there is some slack in the line over braid which really is only sensitive when there is very little to no slack in the line. I'm sure most of those guys were deadsticking their baits in areas that they believed a bed was and that is why they chose to go to fluorocarbon. Quote
Dockhead Posted March 12, 2015 Author Posted March 12, 2015 I agree it seems like if they really "needed" braid in these conditions they would use it one way or another. So what about fluoro vs. mono/hybrid lines? Fluoro is more expensive and there could be more profit involved for the sponsor, would make sense for them to be trying to advertise that more, right? I don't use a lot of fluorocarbon, but doesn't it need to be changed out more often than mono/hybrids? Pros obviously can change it as much as need be, so that is not a factor for them. But is fluoro that much better than mono or the hybrid lines? I recently talked to a saltwater guide who did not think the "invisibility" of fluoro was a real thing, but of course people also like the low stretch and abrasion resistance. Quote
The Next KVD Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 Its been my experience Fluorocarbon lasts ALOT longer than mono and hybrid lines. They don't absorb water and not affected by sunlight. I have some 15lb P-line 100% Fluorocarbon that have been on some of my rods for 2 years already and that's with fishing 5-6 days a week on average. They also are more abrasion resistant. Tackle Tour did a lengthy test with a bunch of fluoros a few years ago and found that as mono's absorb water they get weaker. The main drawback from fluorocarbon is that when they stretch they don't return back to the same length/shape (deform) 100% like mono does. Smaller lb test fluorocarbon I tend to change more often but its usually at the same rate as I change out my mono setups. Quote
DTack Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 I watched an interview with Mark Daniels Jr. who finished in I believe 9th or something around there, somewhere in the top 10. He mentioned he mainly fished on Kissimmee. He used braid on one of his main rods, and fluoro on the remainder. I don't see too many guys lying blatantly about line or what they're using. Really braid is more expensive anyway even though it tends to last a bit longer if you don't retie much or go through much cover. I know a lot of things for me come down to confidence, I think that is what a lot of it comes down to as well. I didn't hear much talk of the water clarity if that may have played a factor. I also know some of the fishermen on the tour/elite level refer to braid making more "sound" when going through grass. Not sure if I agree with that yet, but some have spoken about it in the past, including changes from braid to fluoro from one day to another during the tournament. Quote
JGBassinAL Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 I was just reading about last week's FLW tournament on Toho. I noticed most of the top ten used fluorocarbon with their soft plastic presentations. I was surprised by this, and not only because I use braid for those same techniques. Seems the vast majority of people that I fish with or talk to that fish Florida waters on a regular basis, generally use braid as well for their soft plastic offerings. So am I missing something? Or do these guys fish these lines (or say they do) because it's their sponsors biggest money-making product so they need to push it? I'm feeling a little insecure about using so much Power Pro all of a sudden. Thoughts? Right now, as you know, the grass is sparse, no mats etc. So IMO there is no need for braid. The only time I use braid is if I am froggin or punchin mats. A lot of people in Florida probably use braid year round because I am sure there are a lot of people who don't fish tournaments and they don't care which line they are using. I would (and do) use fluoro if at all possible over braid. I know, I know, people say fish seeing braid isn't a factor. Im not on that train nor will I ever be. You are on to something by noticing that all the top 10 pros were using fluoro, cause fish are a lot more finicky than most people think and visibility does matter. 2 Quote
Super User WRB Posted March 13, 2015 Super User Posted March 13, 2015 The only time I use braid is in heavy aquatic vegetation because it cuts through it. The only time I use FC is light line finesse presentations and jigs & T-rigs during the day time. I use Sunline Amrilo Nylon mono and Big Game mono for everything else. 1 knot is better than 2 or more knots between your reel and the fish. Tom 1 Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted March 13, 2015 Super User Posted March 13, 2015 I have used fluorocarbon for the last couple of years for all contact baits. I do not like braid and will use it only rarely. Line selection is very subjective like most tackle and equipment choices in bass fishing. I and many others am more confident using fluorocarbon for these techniques; others prefer braid or braid with a leader; still others use copolymer or mono. I am not sure what the financial incentives are for the pros to use any particular product. I will admit that if most are using something I may give it a try just for grins, but it is only on the water that preference can be determined. Quote
Super User Montanaro Posted March 13, 2015 Super User Posted March 13, 2015 Fluoro really isn't that bad and it does have its benefits. When punching I see a lot of pros on tv and youtube who use braid...Hell Hackney...you know him, the BASS angler of the year...says he uses braid all the time regardless of water clarity. There really is a difference in slack line sensitivity and if you are hopping a plastic on a bed you may not even feel the bass pick it up with braid and they certainly won't be swimming off with it so line watching isn't as effective. Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted March 13, 2015 Super User Posted March 13, 2015 I don't use braid either, never needed to, not ever. I mean the art of line watching seems to be lost to all but a few. You hear about braid and it's sensitive feel, power,etc. but FC is pretty stout, has good feel, I use Yozuri or Cxx a bit of fc, I'm not missing anything by not using braid. If it works for you & your pleased with the results, that's all that matters. Not, what the pro's use. Quote
corn-on-the-rob Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 I don't use braid either, never needed to, not ever. I mean the art of line watching seems to be lost to all but a few. You hear about braid and it's sensitive feel, power,etc. but FC is pretty stout, has good feel, I use Yozuri or Cxx a bit of fc, I'm not missing anything by not using braid. If it works for you & your pleased with the results, that's all that matters. Not, what the pro's use. That is the biggest quality I love about braid, I was raised a line watcher and boy can I actually see my hi-vis yellow braid clearly in all conditions. Quote
Super User Jrob78 Posted March 13, 2015 Super User Posted March 13, 2015 Right now, as you know, the grass is sparse, no mats etc. So IMO there is no need for braid. The only time I use braid is if I am froggin or punchin mats. A lot of people in Florida probably use braid year round because I am sure there are a lot of people who don't fish tournaments and they don't care which line they are using. I would (and do) use fluoro if at all possible over braid. I know, I know, people say fish seeing braid isn't a factor. Im not on that train nor will I ever be. You are on to something by noticing that all the top 10 pros were using fluoro, cause fish are a lot more finicky than most people think and visibility does matter. This is the answer. If they had been fishing really thick mats they would have been using braid. Fluorocarbon was a better choice in the sparse grass. Quote
JGBassinAL Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 Fluoro really isn't that bad and it does have its benefits. When punching I see a lot of pros on tv and youtube who use braid...Hell Hackney...you know him, the BASS angler of the year...says he uses braid all the time regardless of water clarity. There really is a difference in slack line sensitivity and if you are hopping a plastic on a bed you may not even feel the bass pick it up with braid and they certainly won't be swimming off with it so line watching isn't as effective. Are you saying Greg Hackney exclusively uses braid? Because that is false. Quote
frogflogger Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 Just fished okeechobee - flipped with braid but switched to flouro for swimbaits and senkos - my partner stayed with braid on everything - the fluoro was getting bit about 5 to 1 with swimbaits and senkos. flipping we saw no difference Quote
Super User smalljaw67 Posted March 13, 2015 Super User Posted March 13, 2015 Don't base your fishing off what the pros are doing, do what works for you. If you watch tournaments enough you'll notice it is a copy cat game and you often see tournaments where the one guy who if flipping wins the event and everyone else was fishing deep water, and vice-versa. I only use braid for heavy flipping and I don't use fluorocarbon at all and everyone uses fluorocarbon but I don't and I feel my fishing doesn't suffer because of it, if braid works for you then don't worry about what those guys are doing, I'll bet they see what the leader is doing and they copy cat as well, follow your instincts. Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 Tournament fishermen are just people like all the rest of us. And have varying opinions on stuff as well. Keeping an open mind is good but don't go off the rails second guessing all your own decisions and preferences every time some interview or tv coverage pops up. Quote
Logan S Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 Notice the weights they were using with their plastics? Lots of 1/16 and 1/8, some up to 1/4 or 3/8....So that tells me they weren't flipping/punching heavy cover, but probably casting or pitching to beds or other cover A lot of the guys were fishing in areas with current, wind, or both so they probably wanted the benefits that flouro can provide in that situation. This is paraphrased from a post I made yesterday, but it fits here too. In order to feel anything with any line you need to have at least some tension on it. Fluoro remains 'sensitive' at lower tensions than braid..This is why you will hear the misleading term of 'slack-line sensitivity'. Meaning that where you would lose feeling with braid, you could potentially still have it with flouro... Personlly, I like flouro for most things for those reasons....I will use other lines where advantageous to do so, it's all about using the best tool for the job to me. (Most of the time that's flouro IMO) Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted March 13, 2015 Super User Posted March 13, 2015 Tournament fishermen are just people like all the rest of us. And have varying opinions on stuff as well. I see no reason to commit to one line for everything. If you just want all-around, high quality, inexpensive line it is hard to beat Yo-Zuri Hybrid. Try fluoro on a couple of rigs, maybe Seaguar InvizX for spinning tackle and AbrazX for baitcasting. Braid? Tie a rig up with TUF-Line Tournament 8 or Seaguar Countdown and fish it direct tie. On another rig or at another time add a fluorocarbon leader. Experiment and have some fun! The leader can be one of the fluorcarbons mentioned or try Red Label. One more suggestion is monofilament for treble hook lures. I have been fishing the Sunline Super Natural, but will be swiching to Sunline Deifer Armilo based on recommendations from several highly regarded Forum members. Quote
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