Fluorocarbon.........Neutrally Bouyant

[papajoe222]

Yet another topic that will likely see some disagreement is whether or not, fluorocarbon line sinks.

Glen just did another video with Hank Parker about fishing jerk baits. I quote Hank: " People think fluorocarbon line sinks. I've heard that said so many times. Fluorocarbon line does not sink, it's neutrally buoyant. It doesn't sink or float." Hank gets his information about different lines, their compositions, characteristics, etc. from the good folks at Trilene, so he isn't just stating his opinion.

I hear it on forums, videos, and TV shows all the time about how you can get an extra foot or so from your cranks by using fluorocarbon when that extra depth should be attributed to the smaller line diameter.  That same extra bit of depth could be achieved just as easily using mono of the same diameter.

I proved this to both myself and a regular guest on my boat. My cranking reel is spooled with 12lb. fluoro and I have an extra spool filled with 10lb. mono. Both have the same diameter.

I pulled up on a bar that ran for 50yrds or so and is 7ft. deep. I had him cast a crank to a marker and retrieve it, making a mental not of how often and where the crank made contact with the bottom.  We switched to the other spool and he repeated the cast with the same results. The only difference, in his opinion, was a much more detectable feed-back when using the fluorocarbon. Using the fluoro didn't get the crank down faster, or give it extra running depth.

As much as I dislike fluoro, I use it for two reasons, (I don't deal with abrasion issues) visibility and extra sensitivity, not because it sinks.

 

[islandbass]

I like your scientific approach, lol. 

Personally, I don’t care one way of the other if fc line floats or sinks. Fortunately, we can look to science to dispel the heresay of angler A vs. angler B whether line in question floats or not. 

 

All we we need to do is find the density or better yet find the specific gravity of fc line. If I recall fc’s chemical name, it  is something like Polyvinylidene Difluoride or something close to this. I think it has a specific gravity of 1.73 gr/ml and I wonder how I can recall stupid bits of info on this on the fly but can’t remember where I left my keys. It’s so irritating.

 

Anyway, we know temperature affects water density so if we wanted to be anal about it we could but I won’t go that far. 

 

If the density of fc line is greater than 1 (this is the density of water at 4 C or 39.2 degrees F), then it should sink in water. But I’ll leave the finding of that equation to the rest of you and google. Once you have the equation, it’s simple algebra from that point. 

 

I need to spend some time finding my keys so I can buy pizza for dinner. 

[FishDewd]

It's not just about density, but specific gravity! This is the reason we breath over 70% nitrogen when nitrogen is lighter and less dense than oxygen! Personally I've never noticed a difference in diving depth between mono, co-polymer, or fllouro... if there is a difference it's a matter of inches.

[Deleted account]

4 hours ago, FishDewd said:

It's not just about density, but specific gravity! 

Specific gravity is the comparative ratio of densities, so it is about density. Specific gravity just quantifies it, greater than 1 sinks, less than 1 floats. All one needs to do is cut a small length, and drop it in some water, not a difficult experiment.

[Team9nine]

2 hours ago, reason said:

Specific gravity is the comparative ratio of densities, so it is about density. Specific gravity just quantifies it, greater than 1 sinks, less than 1 floats. All one needs to do is cut a small length, and drop it in some water, not a difficult experiment.

This ^^ 

 

It sinks - easy to test, or simply go to Seaguar's website to get specifics on just how fast it sinks (once you break surface tension). Now the crankbait running depth thing...believe that is more myth than reality. The Precision Trolling guys tested this out extensively and found basically no difference.

[fishwizzard]

Yea, I am super bad about writing down what line I have on what reel, so I do the float/sink test a few times a year.  Floro clearly sinks and most monos do a slow float off the bottom.  

[Choporoz]

I have little opinion on the topic going in....I rarely use either fluoro, nor mono...but since it's getting all scientific in here, wouldn't water absorption over time affect density, sink rates, etc.?

 

[Stephen B]

6 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I have little opinion on the topic going in....I rarely use either fluoro, nor mono...but since it's getting all scientific in here, wouldn't water absorption over time affect density, sink rates, etc.?

 

I believe so. I think water absorption would impact the sink rate of flouro.

[flyfisher]

Depth of crank bait running is more attributed to line diameter than anything as the buoyancy or lack thereof has negligible impact. 

[Junger]

6 hours ago, reason said:

Specific gravity is the comparative ratio of densities, so it is about density. Specific gravity just quantifies it, greater than 1 sinks, less than 1 floats. All one needs to do is cut a small length, and drop it in some water, not a difficult experiment.

But long enough to account for water surface tension.

[NHBull]

Heck, why not include braid?

There are many braids that get CB deeper due to diameter. 

Some braids like Hitena Pureline even have abrasion resistance

[Stephen B]

4 minutes ago, NHBull said:

Heck, why not include braid?

There are many braids that get CB deeper due to diameter. 

Some braids like Hitena Pureline even have abrasion resistance

Definitely valid. However, I am not at all familiar with Hitena Pureline. 

[flyfisher]

8 minutes ago, Stephen B said:

Definitely valid. However, I am not at all familiar with Hitena Pureline. 

Sounds like a dog food brand lol

[NHBull]

15 minutes ago, Stephen B said:

Definitely valid. However, I am not at all familiar with Hitena Pureline. 

While pureline is less know, the diameter on Fins and Gamma make them sink like a rock once surface tension is broken

[Stephen B]

2 minutes ago, NHBull said:

While pureline is less know, the diameter on fFons and Gamma make them sink like a rock once surface tension is broken

I just looked up Hitena Pureline and it is definitely not a cheap braid. Definitely a premium braid at $40 per 150 yds. Specs and description have me interested.

[NHBull]

4 minutes ago, Stephen B said:

I just looked up Hitena Pureline and it is definitely not a cheap braid.

 Very true!.....I am testing it before I make a public review, but I am testing pureline for worm/jig and silky for topwaters and so far they are incredible. Will start a separate thread soon

[Stephen B]

4 minutes ago, NHBull said:

 Or at all.....I am testing it before I make a public review, but I am testing pureline for worm/jig and silky for topwaters and so far they are incredible. Will start a separate thread soon

Definitely interested in how you like it. Looking forward to your review. I have tried only Powerpro, J Braid, and Daiwa Samurai braid. 

 

One thing I saw that has me interested is YGK G-Soul OHDRAGON WX4 F1 SS140 Sinking Braided Line.

 

YGK G-Soul OHDRAGON WX4 F1 SS140 Sinking Braided Line is engineered with a faster sink rate than other braids, making it easier to get small baits to the bottom and cast in windy conditions. Manufactured using four strands of PE braided line tightly wrapped around 100% (F1) Fluorocarbon, the YGK G-Soul OHDRAGON WX4 F1 SS140 Sinking Braided Line offers a specific gravity of 1.40, which translates to less slack in windy conditions and a quicker rate of fall.

 

[FishDewd]

6 hours ago, reason said:

Specific gravity is the comparative ratio of densities, so it is about density. Specific gravity just quantifies it, greater than 1 sinks, less than 1 floats. All one needs to do is cut a small length, and drop it in some water, not a difficult experiment.

Yeah I messed up on that. I was actually thinking more along the lines of buoyancy.... how the lure displaces water compared to what the line does. Since the lures displace more than the line the effects of the line density/buoyancy is probably fairly negligible in most cases. However with some topwaters, like poppers, I have noticed a bit of difference like when trying to walk a lure.

[Raul]

FC don't sink like friggin rock ! 

 

Nylon don't float like a friggin cork !

 

FC sinks and so does Nylon after a while, none is naturally buoyant.

 

FC STRETCHES ! depending on the brand even more than certain Nylon brands.

 

Nylon AIN'T no friggin rubberband !

 

So, what do I like ? I like nylon, yup, plain old *mono* as you fellas wrongly call it since FC is also monofilament line, why ? because ... I HATE FISHING WITH A FRIGGIN SLINKY ! which FC is no matter how much line conditioner you apply to the stuff. What do I like about FC ? man you can almost know what the fish are thinking before hitting the bait, but I like the more *tame* behavior of nylon.

[Glenn]

1 hour ago, Stephen B said:

I think water absorption would impact the sink rate of flouro.

Actually, flouro doesn't absorb water (much) due to it's density.  The sink rate, therefore, remains the same.

[WRB]

When I 1st started using Sunline Shooter back in the mid 90's had no idea what FC line was other then it was advertised as same light refraction of water and less stretch then mono line. Nothing about it's density was being marketed.

After fishing FC the first year it became very obviuos the FC sinks and doesn't absorb water as it stays dry on the reel spool on warm days and drags on the bottom when given slack. I soon learned not to use FC when split/slip shoot rigging because the line was constantly laying on the bottom getting snagged and mono doesn't.

Nylon monofilament line is closer to being neutral bouyant then FC line.

Tom

[Brad in Texas]

2 hours ago, Stephen B said:

I believe so. I think water absorption would impact the sink rate of flouro.

100% fluorocarbon lines don't absorb water. So, that isn't an issue. It certainly could be for most types of monofilaments that do absorb water.

 

Brad