Best budget fluorocarbon

[Efishin]

10 minutes ago, J Francho said:

It was a condescending, sarcastic response, to which I debunked.  I'm no "great fisherman."  I take what's there.  All those fish pull harder than any bass, including double digits.  I take my time tying knots, give 'em a quick pull test, and the rest is up to the rod, drag, and my own luck in landing the fish.  I think the whole knot thing is over played, in regards to fluorocarbon.  Heck, I just use an improved cinch knot on some baits.  I've even NOT wetted the line to see what happens.  Works fine.  I'll repeat, take your time, and tie a quality knot.  Doesn't matter which on, just use a knot you can tie well.  

 

1 minute ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Do you think average bass anglers really spend that much time tying and checking knot? Do you think average bass anglers know how to use a proper drag according to line size and rod? And you are right about LUCK, every time I hooked on a big fish with my small line 6lb test, all I can do is pray to whoever up above and use all my rod action/bend and smooth drag. Do you think average bass anglers using rod action/power to fight bass? I watched a lot of youtubers and at least 50% just winch the bass in with their drag lock tight reel.

I 100% agree with J Francho. I never have knot failures. Yes, tournament anglers almost always check there knots as they know money and success is on the line. Most people overthink things. It's not rocket science. Setting drag to 1/3 of the line weight. Where is there scientific proof from a legitimate lab showing that's the case? Drag pressure depends on many factors.

[J Francho]

7 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Do you think average bass anglers really spend that much time tying and checking knot?

They should.

7 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Do you think average bass anglers know how to use a proper drag according to line size and rod?

Yes.  If not, we're all here to help.

7 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

And you are right about LUCK, every time I hooked on a big fish with my small line 6lb test, all I can do is pray to whoever up above and use all my rod action/bend and smooth drag.

I'm pretty confident in my gear.  No praying is necessary, being agnostic.

7 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Do you think average bass anglers using rod action/power to fight bass?

They should.

7 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

I watched a lot of youtubers and at least 50% just winch the bass in with their drag lock tight reel.

They're doing it wrong.  Watch different youtubers.

 

BassResource.com is a one stop and shop.  All the info you get up here is pretty solid.  That's why they ask up here, you me, the OP, and others.  Perpetuating some myth based anecdotes.  We're here to teach average bass anglers how to be successful.

 

4 hours ago, WRB said:

Let me know when you put a bass in the boat that weighs more then the pound test of your FC line how your knot tieing skill worked out.

Tom

@Bass_Fishing_Socal : Do you think this helped the OP get better?  Did it answer the question?

3 minutes ago, Efishin said:

Setting drag to 1/3 of the line weight. Where is there scientific proof from a legitimate lab showing that's the case? Drag pressure depends on many factors.

To be fair, I recommend this a lot.  I don't have any lab confirmed testing, just my experience that this gives you quite a bit of wiggle room, even on a long cast.  Think of it as a conservative recommendation. 

 

************************

Separate thought

Last bit: I have break offs occasionally.  I like to blame them on pickerel or northerns.  There have been a few times when I know I pushed the limit with something - to tight a drag, too long before retying, etc. 

[JustJames]

Just now, J Francho said:

 

@Bass_Fishing_Socal : Do you think this helped the OP get better?  Did it answer the question?

No that not helping OP, in fact OP already settle on copolymer line. That answer is for someone that question is his knot tying skill. You answer doesn’t seem to help OP either. 

On the other hand my posted, that said FC is a wasted especially moving lure should count.

I’m with TOM and Paul regarding FC line and a myth of invisible under water. I use FC line but for other purposes like sinking rate, less drag, and better sensitivity when long line casting. Have you ever seen those baby fish attack FC line? tell me about invisibility, eh?

[J Francho]

I don't fish fluorocarbon for invisibility, claimed lack of stretch, or the typical rhetoric pros spew.  I fish it because it's superior in many regards to other lines.  I find is much more reliable, more durable, consistent stretch wet or dry, takes a knot easy, more sensitive, and it sinks.  I've never seen a baby fish attack line.  I've seen them go after the dimple the line makes when entering the water.  I bet it resembles a bug on the surface.  That the line low viz could be a plus and a minus.

6 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

No that not helping OP, in fact OP already settle on copolymer line.

Did it help anyone?  Or was it just a joke?  Hard to tell.  Sounded like what I called it.

[JustJames]

9 minutes ago, J Francho said:

 

I'm pretty confident in my gear.  No praying is necessary, being agnostic.

I’m pretty confident in my gear and my skill, but a lot of time I got break off due to my lazyness to retie my knot, I hardly check my knot after catching fish unless I know it has been or struck with rock. And also my poor choice of using trilene knot with stiffer FC. 

[RichF]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

Thanks, man.  Not my biggest.  I'd say that one went around 15 or so.  Colors on spawn run males are incredible.  Here's another nice brownie.  That year, you couldn't not catch.  I pinning 10-20 in an afternoon.

 

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-xQN4kCp/0/X2/i-xQN4kCp-X2.jpg

 

 

I had to chase that dang thing up and down that ditch to get him.

Man those are nice fish. I used to pull a few out of Dexter every December. Ugh, I miss upstate NY!

[JediAmoeba]

On 10/15/2019 at 12:23 PM, J Francho said:

They're doing it wrong.  Watch different youtubers.

What?  Most tournament fisherman reel their bass to the boat at high speed.   I usually try and get the bass on as quick as possible to avoid jumps and such unless I am finesse fishing.  

[JustJames]

7 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Did it help anyone?  Or was it just a joke?  Hard to tell.  Sounded like what I called it.

And you show of your great catch with 6lb FC line should help anyone or it just a show off, hard to tell man hard to tell.

[Efishin]

There is no right way. Different people and different scenraios require different drag pressure. It's a good guideline not a rule.

[king fisher]

I have personally or had clients land thousnands of King salmon from 30 to 60 pounds on line as light as 15 pound test with both floro and mono.  I have become proficient at most popular knots, done many knot tests on all types of lines.  Results of tests have made me switch from one favorite knot to another.  Years ago I  landed many big fish with light line using an improved clinch, but that doesn't mean a San Diego Jam is not a better knot, because it is.  I used a palamar for years before I learned I was tying it wrong.  Landed many large fish with it but now tie it correctly, may save me a fish some day.  It doesn't hurt to learn and use a knot that tests higher than an old favorite.  Likewise a person doesn't have to set a drag with a scale to catch a big fish, but it sure doesn't hurt.  Using a scale for setting drags is standard practice in salt water.

     I readily admit, that I have lost many big fish over the years to knot failure.  The knot is the weakest link, and will fail if to much force is applied.  I have yet to have a knot I have tested be 100 percent.  Even Bimmini twists will break before the main line does.  Most knots will break just above the knot, making people believe it wasn't the knot that broke.  In reality when enough force is applied the knot slips a fraction of an inch, causing the line to break where it slipped.  I will say I have had more knot failures with floro, than mono, but do use floro  when I determine I need to which is way less often than just a few years ago.    I have a friend that told me he never had a knot break, I told him it was just like the time he claimed he never missed a big game animal.  Not lying, just a short memory.  Any one who has fished long enough, has had knot, line, and other equipment failure.  Keeping these failures to a minimum has always bee my goal.  Landing a large salmon, trout, or saltwater fish with light line is easy most of the time.  I have had clients that were poor beginners land salmon more than twice the line strength, even in strong current.  The right drag setting and patience is all that is needed.  The same angler would never have pulled a double digit bass away from the typical cover a bass lives in.  Landing a large bass on light line is another story.  I have never landed a double digit bass let alone one on light line.  Trying to pull a bass that large out of the middle of a tree would have to stress the line, knot and angler skill to the very maximum.   It would be nice to know exactly how much pressure could be applied, and that the very best knot and line are being used.  Of course a  little luck doesn't hurt.  

[J Francho]

I think they do it for dramatic effect.  You would do this if the bass was bigger than your line rating? If it's a really big fish, and I'm fishing 10# or less, I'm careful.  This pretty much what I do with dinks:

 

[JustJames]

And here is my 6lb line, and a rod that land 8.5lb bass this year, should I recommend OP to use the same? 

 

If one wanna help other at least you should tell him the advantages and disadvantages, or educated him to the degree, not show that you can catch big fish with 6lb line and he should be able to do it too. 

[NYWayfarer]

9 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

And you show of your great catch with 6lb FC line should help anyone or it just a show off, hard to tell man hard to tell.

It's a little of both. That's how we roll here in NY.

 

 

[billmac]

I'm late to the topic, but how exactly do you check your knot?  I often check the last foot or so of line for knicks.  Are you just pulling?

[J Francho]

3 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

And here is my 6lb line, and a rod that land 8.5lb bass this year, should I recommend OP to use the same?

If the conditions dictated it, yes.  I caught my second largest LMB (7-1) on a similar setup.  Fish were prespawn, up really shallow, super clear water.  Long cast, flick shakes.

Check out how these guys use the rod to move the fish.  They ain't dinks, either.

 

 

8 minutes ago, billmac said:

Are you just pulling?

Pretty much.  I've done actual knot tests at shows, where my speaking partner and I tie knots, and see where they break using a scale.  He can't tie a good Palomar, but has a modded Eugene that comes close to my Palomar.  I don't even know how tie his knot.  Proves my theory on tying good knots.

[JustJames]

7 minutes ago, J Francho said:

If the conditions dictated it, yes.  I caught my second largest LMB (7-1) on a similar setup.  Fish were prespawn, up really shallow, super clear water.  Long cast, flick shakes.

In which way would you recommend? Just say hey go get light rod and light line and you would catch big fish? 

You used light rod on prespawn bass, you are either my hero or one crazy dude. For prespawn I would use  the most reliable and the most powerful rod/reel I have. Bass would either bite or ignore the lures all together doesn’t matter line size or size of lure.

[J Francho]

1 minute ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Bass would either bite or ignore the lures all together doesn’t matter line size or size of lure.

That wasn't what I found.  Long casts, small baits on light wacky jigs was what was working.  Power fishing did not yield results.  It's called finesse.  Pretty popular mindset to put fish in the boat, and not just small ones.

[fishwizzard]

Any of the line/knot enthusiasts want to explain this failure?   12lb Invizx, newly spooled, the knot was a Trilene that was tied 5-10 casts before it broke.  The lure was an old swimjig that had a dozen or more bass on it.  The line broke opposite of the knot where it was doubled around the lure-eye.  

 

I was trying out a new rod at a pond that puts out mostly 2lb class bass.  Got a hit, set the hook, and tried to get the bass up and out of the hydrilla but it was not working.  Assuming the new rod was less powerful then rated I pulled harder.  I got the bass on top at last and it was easily high-3lb or low-4lb.  Got her to the bank and foolishly decided the knees of my work pants were important and tried to lift her with the line.  By by bass.  

 

I have never seen a knot failure like this before.  Obviously 4lb of bass and 1-2lb of weeds are asking too much of 12lb fluoro on a deadlift, but I cannot explain how the knot broke where it did. 

 

 

 

[JustJames]

41 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Check out how these guys use the rod to move the fish.  They ain't dinks, either.

 

 

First off I’m not gonna say if that bass is a ten or not ( I think you know) and who are they PROS, right? I think we talk about average bass anglers.

Here is crazy ave joe using rod to move fish.

 

 

[RichF]

What are we arguing about again? 

[Luke Barnes]

8 minutes ago, RichF said:

What are we arguing about again? 

No freaking clue. This post went way off the rails. I never got a clear answer so I said screw it and used my own judgement from my own research. If the copoly I got sucks, I well, I'm only out $5. But if hated the $20-30 FC some said was the only good choice then I would not be happy. I'm new ish to fishing. Only been fishing 2 years and only ever used mono and braid. I wanted to try something new to see if I like it then eventually upgrade to higher dollar line. I may hate FC in general, let alone a $30 spool of Sniper or whatever. 

 

So far I really like the copoly I got over any mono I've used yet. Next combo may get FC or may not. 

[Hammer 4]

7 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

No freaking clue. This post went way off the rails. I never got a clear answer so I said screw it and used my own judgement from my own research. If the copoly I got sucks, I well, I'm only out $5. But if hated the $20-30 FC some said was the only good choice then I would not be happy. I'm new ish to fishing. Only been fishing 2 years and only ever used mono and braid. I wanted to try something new to see if I like it then eventually upgrade to higher dollar line. I may hate FC in general, let alone a $30 spool of Sniper or whatever. 

 

So far I really like the copoly I got over any mono I've used yet. Next combo may get FC or may not. 

Luke, I wouldn't sweat the fc deal..I used yo zuri copoly for years, and caught fish, while others didn't using fc..More important than the line, is the knowledge you attain while fishing. 

[JediAmoeba]

14 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

No freaking clue. This post went way off the rails. I never got a clear answer so I said screw it and used my own judgement from my own research. If the copoly I got sucks, I well, I'm only out $5. But if hated the $20-30 FC some said was the only good choice then I would not be happy. I'm new ish to fishing. Only been fishing 2 years and only ever used mono and braid. I wanted to try something new to see if I like it then eventually upgrade to higher dollar line. I may hate FC in general, let alone a $30 spool of Sniper or whatever. 

 

So far I really like the copoly I got over any mono I've used yet. Next combo may get FC or may not. 

I have never liked a single fluoro as a main line.  To me its benefits as a leader are mainly being able to sink and its durability against pickerel teeth compared to mono.  Any 40 dollar line people are telling me is the end all but I need to go out and get 10 dollar line conditioner just isn't worth it.  

[jbsoonerfan]

My wife is so lazy she says she hasn't tied her tennis shoes in 4 years, she just slips them off and on while tied. I don't know if she's ever won any competitions, but that's a long time for a knot to hold.

 

Is that what we are talking about?

[fishwizzard]

1 hour ago, jbsoonerfan said:

My wife is so lazy she says she hasn't tied her tennis shoes in 4 years, she just slips them off and on while tied. I don't know if she's ever won any competitions, but that's a long time for a knot to hold.

 

Is that what we are talking about?

I used to tie knots for a living and I cannot get the laces on my slip on boat shoes to stay tied for more then a day or two, next summer I am going to use fine braid to sew them knotted.