Straight FC on spinning reel?

[jdr99a]

I’d like to give straight fc on a spinning reel a shot, but the times I’ve tried have been...interesting. The line gets out of control when the bail is opened. Anyone have success with straight fc?

 

Any tips are appreciated. 

[Choporoz]

A few things I do to keep it 'in line'

-I use KVD L&L every time

-close bail by hand

-pay attention when reeling in to keep loops off your spool

-when twists START to be a problem, cut off your lure, let a bunch of line out and trail it in the water, while trolling (or paddling) to get the twists out

 

 

[J Francho]

6 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

A few things I do to keep it 'in line'

-I use KVD L&L every time

-close bail by hand

-pay attention when reeling in to keep loops off your spool

-when twists START to be a problem, cut off your lure, let a bunch of line out and trail it in the water, while trolling (or paddling) to get the twists out

 

 

All this, plus start by spooling up with Invisx or Tatsu.  I like 6#, but you can go up to 8# on a 2500/3000 size reel.  

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

A few things I do to keep it 'in line'....

This works for YZH as well, and I've spooled 12# YZH on spinners. Long as you 'take care of it', it hasn't been a problem.

 

I'll be running straight FC on two of my spinners this year - 6# on the Light, 10# on the Medium.

[Junk Fisherman]

I have run straight 7 lb Gamma Touch on a spinning reel for small swimbaits for 3 years now.  No issues at all.  Follow the advice already given.  Also, don't overfill your spool.  I would rather underfill it just a little.  Trust me, I understand wanting to maximize your casting distance but getting that overflow mess from an overfilled spinning reel is a pain.  

[fishwizzard]

I run straight fluoro on some of my spinning reels with mixed levels of fuss.  I have 7lb Sniper on a Shimano 2500 with no complaints other then the line twist from ds fishing.  I run the same line on a smaller 1000 sized Shimano and it's noticeably harder to handle.  I use KVD L&L and will walk out and re-load my line every 2-4 trips, which helps a ton.  

 

For anything lighter then the 7lb Sniper I just use mono, I have found that the thinner the line, the less the positive features of fluro (slackline sensitivity, helping small plastics sink/stay down) don't really seem as noticable and the bad features (handling, knot strength, resistance to kinking damage) seem to be amplified. 

[APK62]

Watch the videos Glenn did on handling FC Twist. FC works fine on spinning reels (6-8LB) just needs a little care.

[Chris at Tech]

Braid and diameter are important in this instance.  Some brands/versions are just more manageable than others. 

 

For example -- Invisx 8 lb will play nice on a spinning reel, but I've never had success taming 8 lb Berkley Trilene 100% on that same spinning rod.  In the same lb test, the Berkley is thicker, and also not as supple.

[MickD]

Fact:  I gave up a long time ago.  I have many partially used spools of FC in the garage.  Opinion:   If you really think you need to make FC work, go with the expensive stuff mentioned in the posts above and don't bother with the others.  And do all the other things required to make it work well.

 

I use braid, which casts like a dream, seldom has any problems, no appreciable stretch, so bites are easy to feel, hook sets are better, lasts for years, and is much stronger.  All the braids about 15 pound test and under cast better than any 8 pound test mono or FC.  21 pound Hitena is only .006 inch diameter, casts like a dream, is basically fool proof.  It's a little pricey, but lasts a long time.

 

Using braid does have the braid to leader knot issue if one thinks they need to use a leader and to use small guides, like I do.  But the Alberto knot with the added two half hitches after setting it is very small, easy to tie, and is reliable.  The FG is great if you can learn to tie it reliably, but not all fishermen can.  With guides above about 4.5 mm ring size the double uni knot works fine, very easy to tie, very reliable.

 

For me FC is limited to fly tippets and leaders on my spin and cast.  I use leader grade FC-for leaders a little more stiffness is an asset.

[A-Jay]

34 minutes ago, MickD said:

Fact:  I gave up a long time ago. 

 

I use braid, which casts like a dream, seldom has any problems, no appreciable stretch, so bites are easy to feel, hook sets are better, lasts for years, and is much stronger.  All the braids about 15 pound test and under cast better than any 8 pound test mono or FC. 

 

Using braid does have the braid to leader knot issue if one thinks they need to use a leader and to use small guides, like I do. 

 the double uni knot works fine, very easy to tie, very reliable.

 

^^^^ This is me as well.

Exception being that while I do use some FC leader, most of the time I'm using a mono leader.

A-Jay

[Jig Man]

I use 6, 8, and 10# on reel size 1000, 2000, and 2500 respectively.

[WRB]

FC has higher memory then Nylon mono. 

Bass size spinning reels between 1000 - 3000 have diameter spools affecting the memory to become coils.

To reduce memory use FC .010 diameter or less and line conditioner. If you want to use larger diameter line go up in reel size to 4000-5000.

All spinning reels twist line by the bail wrapping the back onto the spool with every revolution. You need to manage  the line twist by un twisting it.

Tom

[kayaking_kev]

I tried to spool a spinning reel once with 20# Fluorocarbon on a size 2500 reel my 1st year of fishing, back when I was a complete noob. I made the mistake of doing so in front of my wife and she just cracked up as I opened the bail and it all came unraveling back off as fast as I put it on. 

 

Now, I'm personally not a big fan of FC as main line on spinning or baitcasting gear, mainly to due to lack of enough experience with it. I mostly use it as a leader only, but I still to do try it from time to time to get better at it with the use a line conditioner. I've had the most success with InvisX as a mainline on a BC and actually liked that, but have never tried Tatsu.

 

 

[optimator]

I've gone to braid on all my spinning reels. I still use mono leaders but am thinking about trying flouro for that. 

[Deplorable Fisherman]

Can't do it myself personally. Just not worth the hassle. I catch plenty of fish using braid on my spinning reels and generally go with about a 12-15 foot leader of FC. I've got the FG knot down...but if the weather's nasty it can still be a pain so I might use an alberto knot. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On 2/12/2021 at 1:37 PM, jdr99a said:

I’d like to give straight fc on a spinning reel a shot, but the times I’ve tried have been...interesting. The line gets out of control when the bail is opened. Anyone have success with straight fc?

 

Any tips are appreciated. 

If your going to use straight FC it worth spending a few more dollars to get FC that handles really well, like Invizx.  Lower lb test handles better then heavier lb test so the lowest lb test your comfortable with.  1 and 2k size reels have become really popular, but 3 and 4k size spools are wider which can equate to less memory.

[MickD]

4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

most of the time I'm using a mono leader.

I think the visibility advantage of FC is over-rated.  Some fishing sources I've read only use mono.

 

7 minutes ago, Deplorable Fisherman said:

go with about a 12-15 foot leader of FC.

I really don't think it has to be that long.  You get significant stretch/forgiveness with only about 4-5 feet.  Keeps it off the reel.  I don't think the fish look very far in front of the lure.  I think with some of the new braids, like Hitena, .006 diameter for 21 pound test, with a little magic marker camo on it, the fish will never see it even without a leader.  I will always  use a leader so that when I cut off to change lures I'm not cutting off braid.

[APK62]

Something that seems never to get mention is how the line, FC,Mono, braid effect the presentation on the bait. 

[Whatever]

Another thing that never gets mentioned are the conditions you are fishing in---I suspect that 3' of visibility in many southern waters is as good as it gets, while 10 -12' of water clarity in Montana is the norm. How well fish see, and how they interpret that, are mostly unknown quantities, with lighting levels being a key factor.

[gim]

2 hours ago, APK62 said:

Something that seems never to get mention is how the line, FC,Mono, braid effect the presentation on the bait. 

Absolutely. Some line sinks, some line floats. Some are also more abrasive resistant than others too. While water clarity plays a role, these other factors also equate into my decision making.

 

I like fluorocarbon leaders and main line braid on my spinning setups.

[Deplorable Fisherman]

5 hours ago, MickD said:

I think the visibility advantage of FC is over-rated.  Some fishing sources I've read only use mono.

 

I really don't think it has to be that long.  You get significant stretch/forgiveness with only about 4-5 feet.  Keeps it off the reel.  I don't think the fish look very far in front of the lure.  I think with some of the new braids, like Hitena, .006 diameter for 21 pound test, with a little magic marker camo on it, the fish will never see it even without a leader.  I will always  use a leader so that when I cut off to change lures I'm not cutting off braid.

It's more for not wanting to re-tie on the leader during the day. After re-tying the lure through the day you lose several feet. Using FC isn't going to add much stretch any way. 

[Michigander]

1 hour ago, Deplorable Fisherman said:

Using FC isn't going to add much stretch any way. 

It adds enough for me. I noticed a real decrease in broken lines when pike were involved between straight braid and a couple feet of FC leader. So it's at least acting like a shock absorber for me.

[newapti5]

23 hours ago, WRB said:

If you want to use larger diameter line go up in reel size to 4000-5000.

 

 

That's right. Try a Tatula LT 4000. It's only a little over 7oz, but the spool diameter is large enough for 10# Seaguar FC IMO. 

[MickD]

16 hours ago, Deplorable Fisherman said:

Using FC isn't going to add much stretch any way. 

The difference between FC and braid for stretch is dramatic.  I can feel significant stretch in just 3 feet of FC, zero in braid.  Get 75 feet of FC out there and it feels like a rubber band (only a little exaggeration).  Stretch testing indicates that FC isn't significantly better than mono, in some cases more stretch.

 

Retying the leader to line knot during a day of fishing is rare.

 

[Michigander]

6 minutes ago, MickD said:

Retying the leader to line knot during a day of fishing is rare.

 

I generally don't have to retie the leader on the water unless I neglected to do it before launch. And each leader (6ish feet) usually lasts me a trip or two.