Fried Lemons Posted July 7, 2019 Posted July 7, 2019 I typically use leftover main line as my leaders mainly for shock absorption and abrasion resistance. I recently finished a spool of copolymer so I started using up some fluorocarbon. Where I fish snags are inevitable and I had 3 break offs the last trip. To my disappointment, every time I had to break off the leader would snap right at the knot (I use FG). I know the knots were not slipping because the bit of leader wrapped in the braid was still attached each time. I have used the same system with copolymer and have never had the line break at the knot. For now I'll go back to mono/copolymer leaders. Has anyone else experienced this issue? Additional background info: My leaders are typically 6-20ft. I have not had any problems casting the knot through the guides for multiple trips. I usually have to retie when the leader gets too short. 10lb braid to 8lb fluoro. Quote
JediAmoeba Posted July 7, 2019 Posted July 7, 2019 So many people disregard how brittle Fluoro is... myself included. The best way to tighten the knots is underwater or I spray it with Reel Magic. But still, any fluoro 10 pounds and below is going to break at knot. Quote
LionHeart Posted July 8, 2019 Posted July 8, 2019 The brittle nature of flouro is one of the reasons I no longer use it. Are you thoroughly wetting the knot with slobber before cinching it down? Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted July 8, 2019 Super User Posted July 8, 2019 12 hours ago, Fried Lemons said: Has anyone else experienced this issue? Breaking knots with fluoro? Nope, never heard of that... Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted July 8, 2019 Super User Posted July 8, 2019 4 hours ago, BassWhole! said: Breaking knots with fluoro? Nope, never heard of that... Right on. You you need to select a fluoro leader that is 2-4lbs heavier breaking strength than regular mono to get the same breaking strength as the mono because of the knot weakness & brittleness of fluorocarbon. If you use 8 lb mono leaders try 10 or 12lb fluoro. 2 Quote
Super User MickD Posted July 8, 2019 Super User Posted July 8, 2019 Come on guys, all FC is not the same. Putting all FC into the equation when the poster says he is using up old line for leaders is not helping. He stated that there was leader in the FG, so the failure was in the leader, which probably failed right at the knot due to some distress involved with the knot. It's a scenario that should be expected when using old line for leaders. Consider getting a 30 meter spool of premium LEADER GRADE FC. It's not that expensive, and most of us will use 5 or 6 feet of it at a time, and the spool will last probably the whole season. And I'll bet it will end the failure problems. Mono is fine, better choice than co-polymer. Try the hard mono designed for leader use. 6-20 feet may be changed to 6 feet with no detection problems. For 10 pound braid I would try 10 pound or 12 pound leader and use a knot like the improved clinch at the lure. The goal is to stop the fragile braid failures at the FG and move it to the lure knot. Which the improved clinch should accomplish. 3 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted July 8, 2019 Super User Posted July 8, 2019 I was one of the Biggest FC Haters around - and for a long time. Initial runs of the stuff I used were KILLING ME with knot failures. Gave up on it for 3 or 4 years. After reading that some brands had improved and was being used successfully by a few experienced bassheads here, I gave it another shot. Started & ended with Seaguar - mainly InvisX & Tatsu - and the occasional AbrasX. (leader only) It's not the end all but it hasn't burned me yet. If fact after landing an absolute beast of a musky on 10 lb InvisX this spring - I have all the confidence in the line I need. YMMV A-Jay 7 1 Quote
Fishingmickey Posted July 8, 2019 Posted July 8, 2019 9 minutes ago, A-Jay said: I was one of the Biggest FC Haters around - and for a long time. Initial runs of the stuff I used was KILLING ME with knot failures. Gave up on it for 3 or 4 years. After reading that some brands had improved and was being used successfully by a few experienced bassheads here, I gave it another shot. Started & ended with Seaguar - mainly InvisX & Tatsu - and the occasional AbrasX. (leader only) It's not the end all but it hasn't burned me yet. If fact after landing an absolute beast of a musky on 10 lb InvisX this spring - I have all the confidence in the line I need. YMMV A-Jay I'm in the same camp as A-Jay. Fluorocarbon is a different beast. Learning the do's and don'ts of using Fluorocarbon has been a lengthy learning curve for me. Invisx, Tatsu, Sunline Sniper and Shooter are about the best I have found out there. I also agree with MickD if you going to use it as leader material get leader "grade" fluorocarbon. MickD pretty much nailed it! FM 2 Quote
Super User MickD Posted July 9, 2019 Super User Posted July 9, 2019 22 hours ago, A-Jay said: I was one of the Biggest FC Haters around - and for a long time. Initial runs of the stuff I used was KILLING ME with knot failures. Gave up on it for 3 or 4 years. After reading that some brands had improved and was being used successfully by a few experienced bassheads here, I gave it another shot. Started & ended with Seaguar - mainly InvisX & Tatsu - and the occasional AbrasX. (leader only) It's not the end all but it hasn't burned me yet. If fact after landing an absolute beast of a musky on 10 lb InvisX this spring - I have all the confidence in the line I need. YMMV A-Jay Weight? Hellova fish for sure! 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted July 9, 2019 Super User Posted July 9, 2019 2 minutes ago, MickD said: Weight? Hellova fish for sure! Thanks ~ Couldn't really weigh her safely but she had a totally beautiful & full frame that went 48 inches. There's a video of the insanity in this link . . . A-Jay Quote
Steveo-1969 Posted July 12, 2019 Posted July 12, 2019 On 7/8/2019 at 10:15 AM, Dwight Hottle said: Right on. You you need to select a fluoro leader that is 2-4lbs heavier breaking strength than regular mono to get the same breaking strength as the mono because of the knot weakness & brittleness of fluorocarbon. If you use 8 lb mono leaders try 10 or 12lb fluoro. I have 10# braid on a spinning rod and use to attach an 8# FC leader (I tie a double uni knot). When I got snagged and had to break off it would almost always break right at the double uni and I would have to tie a new leader on. I switched from 8# FC to 12# FC and now when I snag and break off the FC breaks at the terminal knot. 1 Quote
boostr Posted July 12, 2019 Posted July 12, 2019 I use Stren Flouro for leader and use an Alberto knot or a albright knot, and havent had issues. Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 12, 2019 Super User Posted July 12, 2019 Fluorocarbon started out as leader material when initially introduced by Seagaur on 25 yard leader spools. The 2019 ICAST showcased several 100% Fluocarbon leader spools being offered, it's gone full circle. If you believe FC gives you an advantage use it! Confidence is very important in fishing because without confidence you give it up and try something else. The FG knot is basically a Chinese finger gripper displacing pressure on the knot over a longer surface area. When you clinch down a knot the line cold flows* under pressure reducing diameter deforming it creating a weak spot and that is where the line fails if there isn't any other damaged areas. Tom * cold flow occurs with time under pressure to all plastic materials. 2 Quote
Super User NHBull Posted July 12, 2019 Super User Posted July 12, 2019 I think the above nails it. That said, for my braid to leader setups, I use the PR for FC under 12 lbs and have yet to have one break. Most of my leader line is Blue label or abrasex (sp) Quote
Super User Boomstick Posted July 13, 2019 Super User Posted July 13, 2019 Seaguar Blue Label is my leader line of choice. That said, I have some spools of Berkley Trilene Flurocarbon which is my normal goto flurocarbon that no longer have enough line for a full spool, but have enough to use as a leader and that works just as well. I have no issues with break offs personally. Quote
Super User ChrisD46 Posted July 13, 2019 Super User Posted July 13, 2019 A click or two looser on the drag setting may help as well along with Trokar hooks ... Quote
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