FC friend or foe?

[Mike L]

I use Flouro for everything except for punching and very heavy vegetation but starting to use it more for that also. I just don't see any advantage to useing mono for anything...Sure you can make an argument for useing the stuff for certain top water presentations but it certainly isn't the be all advantage it's made out to be. I fish more tournaments than most on here and I'm convinced it help's. 

 

Everyone's different and will use what they like and have confidence in as it should be.

I use either Shooter or Sniper depending on what, where and how I'm fishing, and have no intention of changing..If I did it certainly would not be to mono. For me there are better options.

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Russ E]

its good to get several different opinion on flourocarbon.

I went from trilene xt to flourocarbon on my baitcasters awhile back.

at first I had knot problems. then i started using Zona's shark knot.

since then I don't recall breaking off a the knot.

the only issue I have with flourocarbon is, any kinks or nicks in the line makes it very weak.

after landing a big fish I always retie. in all honesty, probably should have done this with mono also, but it is critical with flourocarbon.

with others saying there is a lot of stretch in flourocarbon, I have not noticed this.

Going back and forth between my bait casters with flourocarbon and spinning gear with mono. mono seems to have significantly more stretch.

tried it on spinning gear, but is too stiff in my opinion.

time will tell if I stay with flouro or move back to mono.

At the moment I am having success with flourocarbon.

 

 

[Jeff H]

I never bought into the fluorocarbon craze. Tried it but never got along with it and certainly didn't find any advantages with it. Count me among the dissenters.

[crypt]

have tried all of 7 different brands over the years of flouro. and still only use Big Game............just can't get with it......maybe it's just me, but after reading other posts, it's not.

[.ghoti.]

I use FC strictly for trout fishing. It truly makes a difference than. Otherwise, thennegatives far outweigh the positives for me. And, I hate braid. So, it's mono for me, all the time. Trilene XL was all I wanted for a long time. Until they came out with a new, "improved" formula. Improved right out of my life.

 

Been looking for a replacement for a while. Super Natural saw some use, and I was going to use it once all of my old stock of XL ran out. Then, Seaguar came out with Rippin mono. That will be my new go to line.

 

For my trout reels, I will be using Invizx, until I use up all of that I have on hand, and will switch to Finesse Fluoro.

 

Did I mention I HATE braid?

[riverbasser]

1 hour ago, Weedwhacker said:

then i started using Zona's shark knot.

This is the knot I use for fluro as well and have yet to have any issues. 

[WRB]

7 hours ago, Bunnielab said:

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.  

Maxima Ultragreen 5lb is .0080, 6lb is .0090, Sunline Sniper 7lb is .0089, Maxima 5lb is stronger line than 7lb Sniper! I have used 8lb (.010) Ultragreen for winter jig fishing on casting reels, it's stronger then 10lb Sniper but too much memory for spinning reels IMO.

TW has 5lb Maxima Ultragreen available, if interested.

Tom

 

[clh121787]

Friend

[dwh4784]

Foe. I had too many break offs at the knot for my liking. Flouro is also the only line I've ever had break at a uni-uni leader knot. I'll just use a good quality mono for my leaders. Currently using Maxima Ultragreen.

[XpressJeff]

I really like Power Pro and Suffix.

 

That's how I feel on the matter.

[fishwizzard]

11 hours ago, WRB said:

Maxima Ultragreen 5lb is .0080, 6lb is .0090, Sunline Sniper 7lb is .0089, Maxima 5lb is stronger line than 7lb Sniper! I have used 8lb (.010) Ultragreen for winter jig fishing on casting reels, it's stronger then 10lb Sniper but too much memory for spinning reels IMO.

TW has 5lb Maxima Ultragreen available, if interested.

Tom

 

 

Cool, thanks for the info.  

[Columbia Craw]

It's all about options.  Each line type has it's place and gives an angler options as to what they want for a specific application.  Great dialogue.

[JustinJ]

I have settled on trilene xl or Berkley bug game for everything I do except punching and frog fishing

[Bulletman20XD]

Lots of good insight---I too tried FC and HATED it. I could not tell you how many times I set the hook on a fish and the knot snapped. An Elite Pro told me to try a different knot. I said why I use the same knot you use! Another Elite Pro told me that the reason why my knot was breaking was because I cinched it down too tight and burned the line when I tied it. This is the same way I do with mono so why is it breaking, isn't FC is supposed to be more abrasion resistant!!!! Another person told me I need to use a better quality (higher priced) FC line, the cheap stuff is no good. So I did just that. I put that spool on my cranking reel and you know it did pretty good and lasted a good while. When it was time to swap I bought the same stuff and put on it. Could not wait to get it off either. Could not tell you how many fish (and crankbaits) I lost in the first outing with it. So, now what I have left from a couple spools I use as leader material only when I'm fishing gin clear water and for drop shots (the leader down to the weight) lol.

 

I have used Berkley Trilene Big Game exclusively for nearly 30 years. Folks this stuff is HARD to beat! Can I afford $30 for a small spool of FC, sure I can but why when I have confidence in a 600 yard spool of Big Game I paid $6.50 for. Does mono end up having more line memory--Yep! But for $30 I can change line on everyone of my reels several times and not worry about it. Does FC help you catch more fish---Didn't make a believer outta me!!

[Boomstick]

My take is I will only run a FC leader when fishing 6-8lb line and need the extra invisibility (which doesn't give me any issues with knots) or really need the extra sink of the FC. The rest of the time I throw on a mono leader to save some money, and perhaps time if it's a fatter line too. I don't use FC as a mainline and probably wouldn't bother.

I too am in the Big Game camp for mainline with the exception of 17lb line, which they don't seem to make in Big Game so I use Trilene XT. The Big Game is strong and cheap enough where I can keep fresh line on my spool. For leaders on braid, I will often use Trilene XL that I can keep in my tackle bag,

[long island basser]

I like flouro, but also like mono and braid.

Ived used sniper in 14, 16, 18, and 20lb never had any negative issues.

This year been using sunline shooter defier armilo nylon in 13 and 15 on two setups and it's an excellent line.

Also use braid on a few setups.

 

I did have some issues with cheap flouro in the old days but not with sniper.

I also tried yozuri hybrid and cxx in the past and did not like ether.

To me yozuri felt like a rubber band, while cxx had more memory issues than grandma.

[RichF]

I have no issues with fluoro.  I've tried a ton of brands and only came across one that was 100% crap.  I wanted to get into copoly just for the $$ savings but wasn't crazy about it.  I might try a few more brands before I give up though.  

[ChrisD46]

I'm in the undecided camp regarding FC lines (other than as a leader) . My confidence with FC is not so good as I doubt my knots (did I burn the line ?) and I doubt my hook sets (will the line fail or snap at the knot ?) ... *What I find interesting is the R&D going into new co-poly lines (nothing is really a "mono" any more ) . Companies such as P-Line , Sufix , Gamma , McCoy , Spiderwire , Izorline , etc. have made great strides in co-poly lines offered and I expect more to follow .

[fishwizzard]

Speaking of abrasion resistance, I just had my first break-off due to it.  I was dropshotting with 7lb Sniper as hooked into a plump 2.5lber that took a bit to get under control and landed.  The hook was well lodged in the upper lip and despite being de-barbed, I had to grab pliers to get it out.  Once I got the fish released I went to get my rod reset and discovered the hook was missing.  I found it laying on the dock at my feet.  I guess it must have broken off when I was unhooking the fish, but I have never had this happen before.  

Not a great pic, but the knot (a trilene) was very frayed looking where it when around the hook eye, I assume from rubbing on the bass's lip during the fight.  Not sure what could prevent this.  

[Russ E]

After giving fluorocarbon an honest try this year, I have moved back to Trilene XT and Maxima ultra green, on my nonbraid baitcaters. I tried sunline fc sniper, berkley 100% flouro, and berkley vanish. 

I did not see any noticeable improvement  in abrasion resistance. 

did not notice any improvement in sensitivity. if you compare it to a stretchy line like trilene XL, maybe there is a difference.

most of the waters I fish are stained or have a green tint, so the supposed invisibility seemed irrelevant in my case.

Quality fluorocarbon is ridiculously expensive.

 

The main reason I am going back to mono is, I broke off several fish this year. something I rarely do with mono.

some of them were at the knot, but there were also several breaks away from the knot.

If it works for some of you great. In my case , breaking off multiple fish is unacceptable.

 

[Mike L]

I just don't get why so many are having so many problems useing flouro..(well I kinda do)

As I stated in my post above...Use what you have confidence in obviously, but for me if I ever was gonna change lines it certainly wouldn't be to any mono.

 

 

 

Mike

 

[Russ E]

25 minutes ago, Mike L said:

I just don't get why so many are having so many problems useing flouro..(well I kinda do)

As I stated in my post above...Use what you have confidence in obviously, but for me if I ever was gonna change lines it certainly wouldn't be to any mono.

 

 

 

Mike

 

I broke off several nice fish in the last month for no apparent reason.

it was not at the knot. I got very frustrated. so I went back to mono for now. since then have not lost any fish to breakage.

[PAbasser927]

After my first season using straight fluoro, I am also going back to yozuri hybrid.  I never had an issue with knots breaking but line memory on slack line techniques was an issue.  Even storing the rod indoors and using generous amounts of KVD L&L the night before and during every outing.  I went with 12# Tatsu since it is praised as the best and I wanted to give FC a fair shot.  I just feel like at $40 for 150 yards, line memory should not be an issue.  Maybe I just got a bad spool, but it wasn't for me.

 

That being said, I am very happy using FC  for leaders on my rods that are spooled with braid.