Techniques Where FC Main Line Is A Must ?

[Johnbt]

"I’m still using the same 4 spools of mono I bought when I was like 24 ft or a total of $12 (I’m 36 now). I doubt I’ve spent $100 on line in my entire life and I fish way more than 99% of the population"

 

I can spend $100 on line just surf fishing some years. It's the only thing between me and the big fish.

 

I have 3 new 1000-yard spools of XL in 12, 17, & 20 I got from Dick's for $11 each, a bunch of my favorite 10# Invisibraid, 832, and YZHB and some other odds and ends I've tried or will try. It's a hobby. I fish a lot of thick pads and dead wood in heavily stained water and don't mind changing line regularly and when it gets too low on the reel. 

 

I couldn't afford nice gear and new line when I was a kid in the '50s and '60s. I couldn't afford Stren when it came out in '59. My first fishing rod was used and rusty. It was steel. Yeah, I'm old. I still have one of my old reels. Here it is on the old blue, steel rod. The good old days - I don't miss them. 

 

If I don't spend it my wife will spend it on the grandkids. 

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I doubt I’ve spent $100 on line in my entire life and I fish way more than 99% of the population. 

Even with the cheapest line on the planet I don't know how you do that.

I'm trying leader to braid on most of my baitcasters, but I am not totally

sold. That saves some money,  but I'm still budgeting something north

of $50 a month.

[TnRiver46]

15 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Even with the cheapest line on the planet I don't know how you do that. I'm 

trying leader to braid on most of my baitcasters, but I am not totally sold. That

saves some money, but I'm still budgeting something north of $50 a month.

Eagle claw line , it’s a mile for $3. I only

have braid on one rod and don’t do leaders . I got a mile of 6,8,10, and 12 years and years ago. The spools seem to never end but if they do, it’s only $3 for another mile 

[mcipinkie]

I agree with all the "Nones".  I finally spit out the FC Kool - Aid.  Once I finish what I have, I'm done with it.  It's 90% advertising hype.  I use braid with a leader on every rod, every lure, every technique.  As far as I can tell, the benefits of FC, if any, and I don't think there, are pretty minimal when you only have 6 feet or so on your rod.  I've gone back to Berkley Big Game as I run out of FC.  I've still got a couple spools of 8 lb and 12 lb FC.  When they are gone, back to mono.  I might try some XT or XL just for hits and giggles. 

 

Now, I can't agree with Hawg and his 4 spools in 12 years, but I get at least a year out of a 1/4 lb. spool of Big Game.  I use lots of 15, 20, and 25 but in short pieces.  Flipping, pitching rods generally get about 6 ft.  I want the knot outside the tip when I pitch.  Pull bait rods generally get about 12'.  2 across the chest pulls.  

 

One non-scientific note of interest.  Every one, including me, touts the abrasion resistance of FC.  I got to looking, and I can't remember which brand of FC, but of one of good ones that I used was significantly larger in diameter than Big Game.  That's how you get abrasion resistance. 

 

Don't start me on Tungsten flavored Kool - Aid. 

[PhishLI]

13 hours ago, Johnbt said:

I'm sold, although I haven't tried it yet in freezing weather.

Well, you'll be in for a treat then. I'd recommend juicing up your spool tension a bit for the first few casts then backing it off gradually once the line has stretched a bit from a resistance bait. You'll probably be leaving it a little tighter than usual in the long run. Even if your thumb has multiple PHDs, it's a constant tension issue, it isn't a thumbing issue. If you're really fishing near or in freezing temps the line will try to jump off/fluff where it wouldn't at higher temps. It'll even happen after you've stopped the spool then released your thumb to let the bait sink. The coils closer to the arbor are sprung tighter and they want to release. If that happens it isn't a backlash and there aren't any locking loops, so back off your drag enough to pull the line out to tighten the coils down. If you try to simply pull line out with the spool disengaged using only thumb pressure the coils will continue to jump up. It can be maddening if you don't have a few tricks to deal with it, but its manageable if you do.

[papajoe222]

My love/hate relationship with fluoro has diminished the last few years. The only use I have for it is cranking. Seeing as I have four cranking outfits and a spare reel spooled with it, I do have some coin invested in it.

On all my other rods, I run straight mono, or braid.  I tried the braid to fluoro route, but didn't notice any difference in the number of bites and I fish some clear water.

[Mbirdsley]

I like it for its non stretch capabilities more than any thing and which, is why I use it for  leaders tying onto braid. With that said, some lakes I fish up north you need straight flouro spooled up or run a 12-14 foot flouro leader on any thing not moving.  In the 8-12 lbs range I’d rather use flouro than braid.  So I like it for more finnesse applications. Other than that it’s mono and braid. 

[Catt]

Pretty much come to the conclusion fluorocarbon isn't any better than monofilament & cost 3 or 4 times as much.

 

 Stretches as much as mono

 

Abrasion resistance, rotflmao 

 

Gotta walk around with a bottle of line juice in ya pocket

 

Was told ya gotta try Seaguar, so I bought Red Label, oh no that's the cheap stuff. Spent more on AbrazX, ain't any better, that cause ya gotta get InvizX. The only thing that changed was my wallet! 

 

Now y'all saying Tatsu, I'm saying no!

 

I get a spool of Sunline Super FC Sniper 16# for free, IDK!

 

Braid to leader! I simply don't get it!

 

There's so much vegetation in our water it is impossible for bass to pick out a strand of braid from a strand of hydrilla.

[NoShoes]

49 minutes ago, Catt said:

Pretty much come to the conclusion fluorocarbon isn't any better than monofilament & cost 3 or 4 times as much.

 

 Stretches as much as mono

 

Abrasion resistance, rotflmao 

 

Gotta walk around with a bottle of line juice in ya pocket

 

Was told ya gotta try Seaguar, so I bought Red Label, oh no that's the cheap stuff. Spent more on AbrazX, ain't any better, that cause ya gotta get InvizX. The only thing that changed was my wallet! 

 

Now y'all saying Tatsu, I'm saying no!

 

I get a spool of Sunline Super FC Sniper 16# for free, IDK!

 

Braid to leader! I simply don't get it!

 

There's so much vegetation in our water it is impossible for bass to pick out a strand of braid from a strand of hydrilla.

 

I know it’s probably 100% attributed to other stuff, but I switched to a fluoro leader from big game in June and my catch rate and size sky rocketed . 

 

Probably has nothing to do with the fluoro, and everything to do with better location selection, better presentation, right lure, etc. But if it ain’t broke....

 

Also, tatsu is cheap when you use it in 2 yd increments lol. 

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

There's so much vegetation in our water it is impossible for bass to pick out a strand of braid from a strand of hydrilla.

 

Yeah, but it's not like that everywhere.  Using fluorocarbon as a leader

reduces the cost dramatically and allows you to break off when

necessary.  I prefer fluoro mainline for bottom contact. 

 

Monofilament has been catching fish for more than fifty years and

horses have been used for transportation for hundreds of years. Still,

I prefer cars, trucks and fluorocarbon fishing line.

 

[Catt]

It's not that Fluorocarbon is bad, it simply doesn't preform as advertised.

 

I've have 17# InvizX on a jig rod, it's been on there since pre-spawn. I was given a spool of 16# Sniper which will be put on a worm rod.

 

After a year of use I'll decide who stays & goes ?

[J Francho]

Fluoro lasts at least 4x as long as any mono I've tried. I even left it on a reel and used it for five seasons. It was fine, but line was getting too low on the spool to keep using it, so I refilled it. 

[Fishin Dad]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

Fluoro lasts at least 4x as long as any mono I've tried. I even left it on a reel and used it for five seasons. It was fine, but line was getting too low on the spool to keep using it, so I refilled it. 

J Franco,

I am glad to hear you say that.  I have been changing mine at least once per year and I thought that was pushing it.  You hear pros changing every tournament and sometimes more.  I understand they get a lot of stuff for free, but man that sure seemed like overkill.  I do put a lot of time on the water and it seems like my Fluoro line gets beat up a little, but I might try to keep it on a little longer next season. 

[roadwarrior]

4 minutes ago, Fishin Dad said:

I do put a lot of time on the water and it seems like my Fluoro line gets beat up a little, but I might try to keep it on a little longer next season. 

Terrible idea that can cause a Huge Disappointment

 

[Fishin Dad]

2 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Terrible idea that can cause a Huge Disappointment

 

I agree RW, but on a few rods I don’t use as often, I may try to save some money.  Heck if J Franco can get 5 years, I might have to try for 1 1/2 or 2 years on a couple of those rods.  Darn it sponsorship would be nice.  I guess I would actually have to be good for that to happen.  Lol

[Team9nine]

Big difference between 'retie' (as in the link provided) and 'replace.' Ditto @J Francho as I commonly go 2-3 years or more with most fluoro spools on my baitcasters. As long as you've kept your outfits in good conditions, the line will last a long time. Yes, check for wear in the last several feet; retie as needed. And I will replace if I get a major backlash that I feel might have compromised the integrity of the line further into the spool (usually from trying to get the backlash out, not the backlash itself), but that is the exception. Was just out yesterday catching bass with some Tatsu that has been on a Curado for 3+ years. Will replace it this winter due to getting too low on the spool for my liking, but the line integrity is still perfectly fine. 

[J Francho]

Trim off any line that looks worn, and retie. 

[masterbaiter9117]

i just backlashed a spool of 17lb pline tactical its now leader material. gonna put something cheap on this time probably cxx

[roadwarrior]

Well, I fish about 80 yards at a time on top of backing. That gets changed out

before any "big" trip and usually after a week or two of morning fishing.  With

multiple rigs, last year I went through 1000 yard spools of Tatsu #6 and #12,

about 500 yards of #10 and #15, which does not account for mainline braid.

Then there is Sunline Armilo that I use for treble hooks.

 

I sure hope the COVID-19 hoarding doesn't get to fishing line!

 

[Team9nine]

Whatever works for you... I buy Tatsu and InvizX 200 yd spools and spool 100 yds at a time. I'm a classic overspooler, so I can go quite a long time before having to change. I use 8, 10, 12, 15 and a little 20/25, so a couple reels with each, and 200 yd spools last a while (usually keep an extra spool of each on the shelf as backup). Line would be sitting around for years if I bought the 1000 yd spools.

 

Don't fish for money any more. Don't take "big trips" where I'd worry about my lines integrity. Not around any double digit or record class fish, but have never lost any giant misc fish either because of my line habits. Landed a lot of big catfish and buffalo (20#-50#) on 8# fluoro over the years, along with many big hybrid stripers, so I know the line isn't going bad in any way.

[Mike L]

44 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Big difference between 'retie' (as in the link provided) and 'replace.' Ditto @J Francho as I commonly go 2-3 years or more with most fluoro spools on my baitcasters. As long as you've kept your outfits in good conditions, the line will last a long time. Yes, check for wear in the last several feet; retie as needed. And I will replace if I get a major backlash that I feel might have compromised the integrity of the line further into the spool (usually from trying to get the backlash out, not the backlash itself), but that is the exception. Was just out yesterday catching bass with some Tatsu that has been on a Curado for 3+ years. Will replace it this winter due to getting too low on the spool for my liking, but the line integrity is still perfectly fine. 

Excellent reply!

 

Every month or so we have the same discussion saying the same thing. 
In time a few will come on board and take this thread in the inevitable direction of complaining about how hard, if not impossible it is to tie a good knot with flouro...

I’ve had the same flouro mainline on 90% of my combo’s for almost 2 yrs with no reason to change.

Never had a knot fail. 
I use L&L only because I like it, not because it’s needed. 

Yes, it’s more expensive than mono, but so it braid. 
You either like it, hate it, put up with it or love it. 

 

Never gonna change. 

 

 

Mike

[J Francho]

I don't even spit on my knots anymore. 

[Big Hands]

46 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I don't even spit on my knots anymore. 

He's a witch, BURN HIM!!!

[dodgeguy]

On 11/19/2020 at 6:57 AM, ChrisD46 said:

All useful replies ... Makes me curious to perhaps try a touted low stretch mono / co-poly like Sufix Advance Mono or Spiderwire Ultimate Mono to test sensitivity . 

See my post where I did that.

[Fishin Dad]

Great discussion that reinforces I am going to try to keep my line on a little longer.   I do use backing and re-tie a lot.  These darn pike make sure of that.    Sometimes with small overuns, a little line twist, skipping under docks and overhangs, the line gets a little beat up over a lot of its length and I just don’t trust it anymore.   This usually happens with my main skipping and pitching rods.   I have had to change out mid year on those at times.   I might pick up one of those 660 yards spools of Sniper and give it a go this year.  Still haven’t landed on what I feel is the best fluoro line.   Tatsu would be great, but if I blew a spool on a crazy backlash, I would not be happy.