FC friend or foe?

[WRB]

It's been over 20 years since flourocarbon fishing line hit the market with claims of invisible to fish, low strecth line.

I bought into the hype becuase where I fish the water is clear and anything that could give me an advantage catching fish was welcomed. My 1st experience was salt water tuna fishing for albacore using mono with FC leader and it seemed to work better than straight mono on that trip with 1 exception; occasional knot failure.

Aaron Martens introduced me to Sunline Shooter FC line for bass fishing, he was convinced it helped him. Shooter in the early 90's was $30 for 300 meter spool, expensive compared to $8 for 600 yard spool of Big Game mono I was using back then. If FC gives you an advantage $30 was cheap. Shooter is still $30 a spool but the spool is 100 meters now.

After over 20 years of trying to believe FC gave me an advantage I am now convinced it's a disadvantage because of continued problems with random knot failures and difficult casting into dry winds without constant line management and lubrication. I want to believe I can feel my bottom contact lures better using FC, the truth is I can't. My success rate based on catch per man hour fishing hasn't improved and haven't caught any giant bass over 15 lbs using FC line. All my giant bass were caught on mono line, everyone of them. 

FC line performance is inferior to premium mono for bass fishing because it has lower abrasion, knot strength and doesn't cast as easily.

This summer I removed my FC line and replaced it with premium monofilament line; I am now using Sunline Shooter Armilo Defier Nylon and Maxima Ultragreen copolymer and Big Game monofilament lines.

Tom

[kickerfish1]

I use both mono and fluorocarbon lines. I use very little braid or braid plus leader. By todays standards and everything being heavily driven by braided lines I am in the minority. For weightless plastics, jigs, and texas rigs I prefer fluorocarbon. For all purpose combos, topwaters, spinnerbaits, or chatterbaits I prefer mono.  

[CroakHunter]

@WRB What presentations make you choose big game over sunline or maxima and vice versa? I have recently switched to copolymer/mono in situations where most would use fc and couldn't be happier. 

[WRB]

11 minutes ago, CroakHunter said:

@WRB What presentations make you choose big game over sunline or maxima and vice versa? I have recently switched to copolymer/mono in situations where most would use fc and couldn't be happier. 

I switch from Sunline Super Sniper 7 lb to Max Ultragreen 5 lb for spinning finesse.

Sunline Sniper 10, 12 lb to Armilo 11 lb. for jigs and worms. 

Berkley 12 lb mono to Armilo 11 lb for crank baits, top water, spoons etc.

Sunline Sniper 16 lb to Berkley Big Game 15 lb for night fishing.

Stayed with Armilo 25 lb for swimbaits, rats or wake baits and Fins 60 lb braid for heavy cover.

Tom.

 

 

 

[smalljaw67]

I tried fluorocarbon for a bit, I only made 2 seasons using 4 different brands and 3 different diameters. I use mono for everything except heavy flipping and frog fishing, those are the only 2 deals in which I use braid. I keep hearing about low stretch with fluorocarbon but in reality it stretches more than most premium mono, the difference is the density of fluorocarbon doesn't seem to stretch and it also doesn't rebound back like mono. The only advantage I found with fluorocarbon was the fact it sinks, when we fish cold water here, the smallmouth will be in wintering holes and it requires a slow presentation but sometimes a slight difference in size will have a big impact. That was the only time I saw fluorocarbon as an advantage, it allowed my buddy to use a 1/8oz jig and keep it on the bottom and the slight current would push my 1/8oz jig off the bottom so I had to move up to 3/16oz and it made a difference, I caught half the fish my partner did. That was one of the few times when fluorocarbon was better than the mono I was using, and personally if it is only 1 or 2 times a season then to me it isn't worth the price if it isn't a constant advantage over the mono I use.

[Team9nine]

 

...but hey, whatever works for you - I'm almost 100% fluoro on my baitcasters and have been for almost a decade. I don't see that changing any time soon.

[NYWayfarer]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

 

FC line performance is inferior to premium mono for bass fishing because it has lower abrasion, knot strength and doesn't cast as easily.

 

 

This sums it up nicely. Trading one advantage, visibility, for three disadvantages doesn't seem like a good deal.

 

I like Fluoro for Trout fishing but even in that respect if I went down to 4lb or 2lb mono I would probably be better off.

[NHBull]

With the exception of some leader material, I have given up on FC, but am still in the braid camp.

Perhaps this will change at some point, but I just don't like the feel of mono.  If I was convinced my percentage would increase, it would revisit.

[J Francho]

More and more, fluorocarbon is replacing what I use to use.  I still use braid for a couple things, but I really don't like the stuff at all.

[Catt]

I've fished braided Cotton, Dacron, Micron, Suture Material (Silk), Micro Dyneema®, Kevlar, & Spectra.

 

I've fished all kinds of copolymers, fluorocarbons, & monofilaments.

 

Fluorocarbon; has as much stretch as mono with far less abrasion resistance & shock absorption.

 

I did like Maxima but the Chameleon, what I didn't like was it was too hard to find.

 

 I prefer Berkley Big Game because of its ability to adsorb the shock & fatigue associated with fighting big fish of all species. I also believe it's the most abrasion resistant monofilament bar none.

[riverbasser]

Very surprised at this topic and the post in it. I consider myself at the bottom end of knowledge compared to those above me so I can't argue anything. 

 

I personally use all 3 lines. Fluro being something I just made the switch too. Before it was mono for cranks and top water and braid for everything else. I was convinced to try fluro since an older very experienced guy I know uses it, it is now what I use for jigs/Texas rigs when not in heavy vegetation. I can see its issues with line management and have switched knots also by his reccomendation and have not had any failures.    

 

I do not claim that fluro has no stretch but coming from fishing jigs with braid I don't notice a huge difference in sensitivity. While with big game mono I definitely notice a difference in feeling the bottom and strikes.  Maybe this is my lack of experience but as much as I'd love to spool all my reels with big game and be done with the cost and the line conditioner and backing. I cannot change the way it feels in my hands and to me that's what's most important

[Turtle135]

I fish with Trilene XT monofilament pretty much 100% of the time (12, 14 and 17 pound test). I think the real reason I like this line so much is that their 14 pound test actually tests out closer to 20 pounds. It handles shock pretty well too. Two things that really bother me are breaking off a bass or gut hooking a bass (both are likely death sentences). When you fish water that looks like this then line visibility is not really a concern.

[Dwight Hottle]

12 hours ago, WRB said:

It's been over 20 years since flourocarbon fishing line hit the market with claims of invisible to fish, low strecth line.

I bought into the hype becuase where I fish the water is clear and anything that could give me an advantage catching fish was welcomed. My 1st experience was salt water tuna fishing for albacore using mono with FC leader and it seemed to work better than straight mono on that trip with 1 exception; occasional knot failure.

Aaron Martens introduced me to Sunline Shooter FC line for bass fishing, he was convinced it helped him. Shooter in the early 90's was $30 for 300 meter spool, expensive compared to $8 for 600 yard spool of Big Game mono I was using back then. If FC gives you an advantage $30 was cheap. Shooter is still $30 a spool but the spool is 100 meters now.

After over 20 years of trying to believe FC gave me an advantage I am now convinced it's a disadvantage because of continued problems with random knot failures and difficult casting into dry winds without constant line management and lubrication. I want to believe I can feel my bottom contact lures better using FC, the truth is I can't. My success rate based on catch per man hour fishing hasn't improved and haven't caught any giant bass over 15 lbs using FC line. All my giant bass were caught on mono line, everyone of them. 

FC line performance is inferior to premium mono for bass fishing because it has lower abrasion, knot strength and doesn't cast as easily.

This summer I removed my FC line and replaced it with premium monofilament line; I am now using Sunline Shooter Armilo Defier Nylon and Maxima Ultragreen copolymer and Big Game monofilament lines.

Tom

 

I could not agree with you more. 

[LxVE Bassin]

I only use mono as a backing and as a leader for topwaters. My main lines are either braid or flouro. Flouro definitely stretches but no where close to mono. I have not had any knot failures with flouro. I guess we all have different experiences which is the beauty of bass fishing.

[flatcreek]

I'm in the Berkely Big Game camp.Have had too many break offs with fc in tournaments to suit me and have overall better success with BG.I still like that 10 pound Sufix braid with a leader on spinning tackle.I fish plenty of clear water as well and I spend more time fishing with the BG instead of bickering with the fc.Whatever floats the boat I guess.

[WRB]

What I liked about FC line and the reason it has taken me so long to give up on it is it's lower coeffient of drag going through water then Nylon line and it weight allows it to sink faster then Nylon line. The combination of less drag and higher weight creates less belly in the line between the rod tip and the lure when using bottom contact lures. This can translate into improved lure contact or feedback.

The reduced knot strength, regardless how good you think you are with knot tying, is the rattlesnake in the wood pile. FC creeps under time and pressure like all polymers do, including Nylon. The difference is FC isn't hygroscopic and Nylon is, meaning FC sheds water and easily overheats with friction. Nylon strengthens with moisture, Easly lubricates with water and doesn't take a permanent set when deformed as easily as FC. When you tie a knot the line is under pressure for as long as the knot is tight, deforming the line. FC tends to flatten under the force of knots and the reason so many different knots have been developed to cushion the force of the knot. You never know when FC line will fail and that is why I will no longer use it!

Tom

[sully420]

Wow i think this is a great topic and i really appreciate Tom's insight on fc vs mono. I was super into fc for a while and still like it for certain applications like deep cranking and trolling for walleye but its expensive and lack of versatility as led me to only use it on one set up and as leader material. When i have more rod and reel combos i may use it more maby a flipping set up. I will also give big game a try when i get a top water combo for trebble hook baits and for shallow cranks and spinners. I definitely dont think beginners should be out there buying fc for everything because it is not forgiving and quality fc is expensive and needs extra attention to get positive results. At the end of the day we all just need to understand what are fishing needs are and what equipment we like to use and pick the line that best serves our needs and helps us get the most out of our equipment.

[npl_texas]

3 hours ago, Catt said:

Fluorocarbon; has as much stretch as mono with far less abrasion resistance & shock absorption.

 

In my limited experience this is what I've found.  I'm having to constantly retie and I'm not throwing in/around cover.  I'm in the habit of making a pretty hard hook set and I've had the line snap more times than I care to mention.

 

I switched over to copoly and those issues are gone.

 

I'm thinking about going braid to fc leader on a couple of my trig setups to see how that goes.

[Catt]

3 hours ago, riverbasser said:

I cannot change the way it feels in my hands and to me that's what's most important

 

Truest statement in this entire thread!

 

I didn't like any aspect fluorocarbon & it's weaknesses in my mind outweighed it's strengths.

 

I know Big Game's strengths, it's weaknesses, & how to use both to my advantage. 

[J Francho]

Much to your point, @Catt, you've developed a preference based on your experience, the water you fish, and your ability.  I wish I could get there.  I still run four specific types of line, depending on the purpose.

[Team9nine]

Whatever works for you is great, and that's your choice. Personally, I won't be switching back to mono as my primary line anytime soon. For some, obviously, the reverse scenario applies. Good for us both. My only other comment is, do your own due diligence on the specifics of line types and their properties, and test a lot of this stuff out, both on the water and off. Don't just believe everything you read on the Internet, including these forums.

[Lil fat guy]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

What I liked about FC line and the reason it has taken me so long to give up on it is it's lower coeffient of drag going through water then Nylon line and it weight allows it to sink faster then Nylon line. The combination of less drag and higher weight creates less belly in the line between the rod tip and the lure when using bottom contact lures. This can translate into improved lure contact or feedback.

From someone who has never used mono.  Putting aside the visibility argument, if less belly is the main benefit, could you run flouro with a mono leader? This would of course assume the knot failures are at the lure and not at the leader connection.  But it seems you could still get the increased sensitivity and perhaps not have as many knot failures this way.  Just curious if you've tried it? 

[J Francho]

Just run one or the other, and practice your knots.

[Darren.]

I've not been fishing FC for nearly as long as many of you

guys, but the price point keeps me from experimenting with

various types; however, I did settle with Gamma Edge for

leader line on the FC side of the fence....

 

As for whether or not it makes a difference, I really don't 

know. I have done no recording of conditions and so forth

when I've used FC and not. That said, I do tend to use

Yo-Zuri Hybrid more these days.

 

6 and 1/2 dozen the other to me. I've got enough 600 yard

spools of YZH and 3 spools of Gamma Edge to last me for

many years of leader line! I just hope the bait monkey doesn't

disrupt my satisfaction with what I already have. 

[fishwizzard]

I use a mix of all three lines, but braid is my least favorite.  I have also used the Armilo Defier mono and really like it.  I have used the 11lb and the 25lb.  They both cast well, obviously the 25lb has some memory, but it is manageable even with a 1/2oz frog tired on.   My only complaints with it are the lack of bulk spools and the lack of anything lighter than 11lb.  

 

Can anyone recommend a good mono for finesse plastics in the 7-10lb range?  The 11lb Armilo Defier is .0108" and YZ Hybrid 6lb is .010~", so I am looking for something thinner than either.  I am currently using 7lb Sniper (.0086") and 8.4lb Seaguar Finesse (.0085"), so something around that would be great.  I like both of these lines but give Sniper the nod for coming in bulk spools, but I would love to try some monos before I make a bulk buy.