Value Fluoro

[KYBassin']

I'm pretty much a straight braid guy.  This year I am planning on adding a fluoro leader to the mix for some presentations.  Is there a good "middle of the road" fluoro on price and quality?  And how much does this matter if I will be using it as leader only, not whole rig?  I already spend enough on braid.  Thanks.

[BassThumb]

Seaguar Red Label is the 'value' fluorocarbon.

It's on the low end, price-wise, but it's a solid, middle-of-the-road line.

[RichF]

If you're only going to use it for leaders, you could try the new Sunline Model Flouro.  A hundred yd spool for $10 doesn't seem bad.  Sunline has a good rep too.

[roadwarrior]

33 minutes ago, BassThumb said:

Seaguar Red Label is the 'value' fluorocarbon.

It's on the low end, price-wise, but it's a solid, middle-of-the-road line.

I don't care for Red Label as a mainline, but it's fine as leader.

 

[thebillsman]

53 minutes ago, BassThumb said:

Seaguar Red Label is the 'value' fluorocarbon.

It's on the low end, price-wise, but it's a solid, middle-of-the-road line.

I haven't had great experiences with Red Label. I really like SeaGuar's InvizX and use it exclusively now.

[KYBassin']

Thanks for the thoughts guys.  What's the deal with Vanish?  Seems like some people are fine with it while others totally bad mouth it.  Is it really that bad?  For a leader?

[Airman4754]

Stren Fluorocast is pretty decent. 

[SDoolittle]

1 hour ago, KYBassin' said:

What's the deal with Vanish?  Seems like some people are fine with it while others totally bad mouth it.  Is it really that bad?  For a leader?

I tried it years ago, and it was pretty brittle. That was almost 10 years ago. It may be better now. 

[blckshirt98]

The Vanish got a really bad rep when it first came out for being brittle and breaking.  Berkley reformulated it and the new stuff seems fine.  I use 2# Vanish as leader for trout fishing and that stuff has been beastly - I landed a 5 pound trout on 2# mono with 2# Vanish for a leader.  I have a stockpile of InvisX that I got at Sports Authority clearance sales that I'm working through but I would have no problem using Vanish as a leader after seeing how it's performed with my trout rigs.

[Steveo-1969]

1 hour ago, blckshirt98 said:

The Vanish got a really bad rep when it first came out for being brittle and breaking.  Berkley reformulated it and the new stuff seems fine.  I use 2# Vanish as leader for trout fishing and that stuff has been beastly - I landed a 5 pound trout on 2# mono with 2# Vanish for a leader.  I have a stockpile of InvisX that I got at Sports Authority clearance sales that I'm working through but I would have no problem using Vanish as a leader after seeing how it's performed with my trout rigs.

Good to know that Vanish has been reformulated. My only experience with Vanish was 4 years ago when I was using 15# as a leader tied to 30# braid on a baitcaster.  After having several good fish "vanish" from break-offs I stopped using it for leaders.  Last year I switched to using fluorocarbon as a mainline and have used Invizx, Abrazx, Sniper and Gander Mountain fluorocarbon. Gander fluoro doesn't get a lot of attention or love, but I like it a lot. It's thicker than Seaguar or Sunline equivalent pound test, but it handles well.  And at $20/400 yards it won't break the bank.

I use 10# braid and 8# fluoro leader on my spinning set up.  I've used lots of different fluoros and haven't found a bad one yet.  You certainly can't go wrong with Seaguar Red Label.

[webertime]

Fluorocast and Vanish are so close to the price of Red Label (OR Sunline Super FC OR the Gander Mtn Sunline) that I wouldn't risk going with either.  I have seen Vanish and Fluorocast both fail for no reason with fresh spools last fall.  Personally  the 400yards for $25 (often only $20 or less) Gander Mtn/Sunline Flouro has been awesome in the 12 and 15lb, it's pretty hard and would be a great leader.

[lakeannaangler]

I like stren fluorocast and seaguar red label 

[illinifan4152]

Another vote for Seaguar Red Label 

[SMITTY0045]

5 hours ago, KYBassin' said:

Thanks for the thoughts guys.  What's the deal with Vanish?  Seems like some people are fine with it while others totally bad mouth it.  Is it really that bad?  For a leader?

I got a couple spools of it last year to try. I found it to not be very castable and it seemed to break fairly easily, not so much with the upper test but the 12# like broke very easily when I was fishing crankbaits. I would get Red Label, it works great for leaders

[BassThumb]

I'd be scared to try Vanish again after all the lures that inexplicably 'vanished' back into the lake with my lure in it's mouth.

It was the first fluorocarbon line I tried, and I had in on about 4 rods with some different weights. For the life of me, I don't know how that stuff made it through the testing process and onto the market, but it did.

[WRB]

Why use a Fluoro leader? I know the herd preaches FC leaders and they are just following along without thinking what Fluoro offers; poor knot strength and you need to have 2 kbots!

Use a premium mono leader, bass are not line shy fish!

FC has only 2 characteristics that I am interested in; low coeffient of drag and heavier than water for fishing bottom bumping lures like jigs and worms. The low refraction of light is BS when it comes to bass, tuna maybe.

Tom

[anthonyfip]

22 hours ago, Mosster47 said:

Stren Fluorocast is pretty decent. 

2nd!! ^

[Bluebasser86]

Seaguar Red Label is the best bargain fluoro out there. 

[Choporoz]

All my leaders are Yo-Zuri...I know you asked for fluoro specifically, but I prefer YZ Hybrid to any fluoro that I've tried as leader material.

[S Hovanec]

I've tried Vanish 3 times since it was released.  The original and twice after it was supposedly reformulated.  They all got one trip, then the trash can.  My time on the water is too valuable to use crappy line. 

 

After I ran out of my 2000 yard spool of Halo, I tried Inviz-X.  I now use Inviz-X as my leader.