Mono vs fluoro

[RDB]

27 minutes ago, SpinLight said:

If bass are not bothered by the visibility of all the metal lines hanging off the umbrella/Alabama rig, then they will not be bothered by a single strand of fluorescent green line. IMO, the "invisibility" qualities of fluorocarbon lines are mostly a product of the marketing/promotional departments of the major fishing line companies. 

The topic of mono v. fluoro is like politics…minds are made up and nothing is going to change them.

 

However, the whole umbrella rig proves fluoro is hype argument always makes me chuckle.  Those who discuss the visibility advantages of fluoro are generally speaking about close contact presentations where bass will often examine your lure.  Umbrella rigs are typically reaction lures and are most effective with some limitation in water visibility (to everyone, please don’t say every lure is a reaction lure…I think most people understand what is meant by that term).  I’m pretty sure if an umbrella rig were fished like a jig, your success might differ slightly.

[CrashVector]

38 minutes ago, SpinLight said:

What he said. Excellent summation of the relative qualities of the two line types. I have been fishing for about 60 years. Now I fish mostly light and ultralight soft plastics for spotted bass with only small diameter/high quality mono, although I do some inshore/saltwater and lily pad fishing with heavier line. Some monos perform better than others, also.

 

 I would also add that line color or visibility does not seem to have an effect on the size or numbers of fish of any kind that I catch . I want to be able to see the line/bite. Trout have good eyesight, yet many of the Japanese trout fishermen fish brightly colored lines. If bass are not bothered by the visibility of all the metal lines hanging off the umbrella/Alabama rig, then they will not be bothered by a single strand of fluorescent green line. IMO, the "invisibility" qualities of fluorocarbon lines are mostly a product of the marketing/promotional departments of the major fishing line companies. 

 

The whole "fluorocarbon is less visible than mono bc its refractive index is closer to water" garbage has absolutely been PROVEN to be complete bulls**t.

 

Why people still believe it I have no idea, but then again, some people (not smart ones) still think the earth is flat.

[Deleted account]

16 minutes ago, RDB said:

The topic of mono v. fluoro is like politics…minds are made up and nothing is going to change them.

 

However, the whole umbrella rig proves fluoro is hype argument always makes me chuckle.  Those who discuss the visibility advantages of fluoro are generally speaking about close contact presentations where bass will often examine your lure.  Umbrella rigs are typically reaction lures and are most effective with some limitation in water visibility (to everyone, please don’t say every lure is a reaction lure…I think most people understand what is meant by that term).  I’m pretty sure if an umbrella rig were fished like a jig, your success might differ slightly.

 

Sure, but start a thread on what's the best line for A-rigs, and you'll see fluoro there, when that is an absurd answer, and there is the Tokyo rig thing and the like, ignore all this wire and hardware, but beware the filament? I don't hate fluoro, and If I'm pitching for $, yeah, I'll go that route. Otherwise the drawbacks are just too much of a hassle.

[gim]

Just reading through this thread, its obvious that the individuals using mono instead of fluoro are all located in a certain part of the country where toothy predators do not exist.

 

Up here in the north, I HAVE to use fluorocarbon leaders.  Straight mono would get snipped off every time in the first 10 minutes of fishing.  I have used straight braid in the past up to 40 pound test and that can't stop the teeth either.  I thought it could, but I was wrong.

 

As far as fish getting spooked because they may or may not see the line, I think that in some situations where the water is ultra clear and the fish are highly pressured it certainly could make a difference.  In other situations, it may not.  Its a variable I can control though, so I am going to control it.

[RDB]

9 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

 

Sure, but start a thread on what's the best line for A-rigs, and you'll see fluoro there, when that is an absurd answer, and there is the Tokyo rig thing and the like, ignore all this wire and hardware, but beware the filament? I don't hate fluoro, and If I'm pitching for $, yeah, I'll go that route. Otherwise the drawbacks are just too much of a hassle.

I don’t disagree with you regarding the inconsistency in logic with some folks…your point is well taken by me.  All I will say is that I use all 3 line types and each has a place and application for me.  Now back to my popcorn.

 

Edit:  Some would argue that fluoro or braid should be used with umbrella rigs for stretch reasons but most people use heavy (20-25 lb) fluoro with an umbrella.  I can’t imagine there would be much, if any, difference in stretch between mono & fluoro at that diameter but I am no expert on mono and stretch so I easily could be wrong.

[gim]

1 minute ago, RDB said:

ll I will say is that I use all 3 line types and each has a place and application for me.

X2

[FrankN209]

13 hours ago, CrashVector said:

I personally use Berkley Trilene big game or Berkley Trilene sensation.

Is Sensation still good today? I used this all the time about 10yrs ago. 

[PressuredFishing]

21 hours ago, Brownbasser said:

I'm new to this forum stuff and was just wondering what's the big fuss about fluoro. I prefer mono, can you change my mind? Or at least justify spending so much more on fluoro?

Monos way more versatile and stronger+more supple, both get bad line twist  that can be annoying, if you want to splurge and get a little more sensitivity and higher strength to diameter ratio copolymer line is a great alternative, it's still a nylon line but is two monomer strands fused into one line. 

[padon]

i got some mcoy  crystal clear im gonna try this spring. if i like it im gonna shift to all that . except when i use braid

 

[king fisher]

I use floro for leaders with live bait in clear blue off shore Saltwater. ( Green inshore water it makes no difference).  I have seen it make a big difference.  Live baits on 100 pound floro, get hit and even dropping down to 60 pound mono they don't.  Same baits, same rods, same mainline.  Only difference was the leaders.  When comparing leaders in the 60 to 200 pound class the negatives like knot strength and stiffness, of floro are not much of a factor.  Price is a huge factor, but I'm am willing to spend the extra money for live bait leaders ( helps that I'm not actually the one paying the tackle bill).  I have also tested the visibility factor in swimming pools.  I am convinced floro is less visible than mono.  Trolling lures, or dead baits in Saltwater I use mono.  When trolling lures and baits I see no difference in bites between the two.

      I currently don't use floro for any bass fishing, and when I did visibility was not the reason I used it ( I'm a sucker for the low stretch, sensitivity marketing line). I wont say I will never use floro for bass fishing because I have said that too many times, then a month later am trying a new floro.   Floro has a way of making me a hypocrite.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

Just reading through this thread, its obvious that the individuals using mono instead of fluoro are all located in a certain part of the country where toothy predators do not exist.

 

Up here in the north, I HAVE to use fluorocarbon leaders.  Straight mono would get snipped off every time in the first 10 minutes of fishing.  I have used straight braid in the past up to 40 pound test and that can't stop the teeth either.  I thought it could, but I was wrong.

 

As far as fish getting spooked because they may or may not see the line, I think that in some situations where the water is ultra clear and the fish are highly pressured it certainly could make a difference.  In other situations, it may not.  Its a variable I can control though, so I am going to control it.

There are 150+ lb toothy predator fish in Texas 

[T-Billy]

I've never noticed a difference in any type of line with pike and musky in the # tests we bass anglers use. If they get it in their mouth they'll cut right through any of it.

[gim]

25 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

There are 150+ lb toothy predator fish in Texas 

Ya but do you run into 40 of them each trip? That happens here quite often. There’s days here where you can’t get a lure past a pike to catch a bass.

20 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

I've never noticed a difference in any type of line with pike and musky in the # tests we bass anglers use. If they get it in their mouth they'll cut right through any of it.

I’ve been experimenting with certain leader material for years. There is a substantial difference. The most teeth-resistant fluorocarbon I’ve found is Seaguar Blue Label. I used it in 20 pound test last season. And while I did still get bit off twice using it, it certainly cut down on the amount of times it occurred big time. It’s the difference in losing 7 lures as opposed to 2 in a season. I am going to try 30 pound test this season if it’s not too stiff to tie knots with.

[T-Billy]

3 hours ago, gimruis said:

I’ve been experimenting with certain leader material for years. There is a substantial difference. The most teeth-resistant fluorocarbon I’ve found is Seaguar Blue Label. I used it in 20 pound test last season. And while I did still get bit off twice using it, it certainly cut down on the amount of times it occurred big time. It’s the difference in losing 7 lures as opposed to 2 in a season. I am going to try 30 pound test this season if it’s not too stiff to tie knots with.

Let us know how the 30# blue label works out. I for one would be interested. 

 I think it's tough to draw any definitve conclusions without a large sample size. Musky won't leave my TRD Bug alone in the spring. Last spring I had 7 on one day and got bit off 5 times. The previous spring I had 9 on one day and landed 7. 6# Trilene XT both times. Simply a matter of whether they got the line in their mouth or not. I've had similar experience with heavier mono and several flouro's up to 25#, and braids 30 - 50#, but I've never tried the harder flouro leader materials.

[FrankN209]

5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

There are 150+ lb toothy predator fish in Texas 

Gar? Those are no joke

[gim]

6 minutes ago, FrankN209 said:

Gar? Those are no joke

I assumed alligator gar too.

[Skunkmaster-k]

19 minutes ago, FrankN209 said:

Gar? Those are no joke

Mama says alligator gar are so mean cause they got all them teef and no toofbrush. 

[Brownbasser]

Just now, Skunkmaster-k said:

Mama says alligator gar are so mean cause they got all them teef and no toofbrush. 

I appreciate all the help and advice on my thread, but this one takes it! Haha

[Brownbasser]

42 minutes ago, FrankN209 said:

Gar? Those are no joke

Walleye is one, tasty, toothy predator!

[gim]

1 minute ago, Brownbasser said:

Walleye is one, tasty, toothy predator!

They fight like a wet sock when you hook one though.

[Brownbasser]

A delicious wet sock!

[CrashVector]

9 hours ago, FrankN209 said:

Is Sensation still good today? I used this all the time about 10yrs ago. 

 

I use it frequently.  It's stiffer than XL, but waaay more sensitive.

10 hours ago, gimruis said:

 

Up here in the north, I HAVE to use fluorocarbon leaders.  Straight mono would get snipped off every time in the first 10 minutes of fishing.  I have used straight braid in the past up to 40 pound test and that can't stop the teeth either.  I thought it could, but I was wrong.

 

 

Fluorocarbon is not dramatically more resistant to being cut than a good tempered mono like XT or big game.

 

We catch alligator gars in the 50-70lb range every summer here...on 20lb berkley Trilene big game.  There's nothing that a pike can do that a garfish can't, and mono works perfectly.

[rangerjockey]

I don't own any mono anymore. Anything other than top water gets Flouro. 

I've never had any issues with knots and never have used any kind of spray or conditioner. 

I grew up on Table Rock using the old Salt water Trilene ,Stren and Maxima mono's. That stuff is far from the best handling line either. Certainly no better than Sniper, Invisx or ever Shooter.

I use 20 lb. Assassin on the A-Rig

 

 

[ironbjorn]

17 hours ago, RDB said:

The topic of mono v. fluoro is like politics…minds are made up and nothing is going to change them.

 

However, the whole umbrella rig proves fluoro is hype argument always makes me chuckle.  Those who discuss the visibility advantages of fluoro are generally speaking about close contact presentations where bass will often examine your lure.  Umbrella rigs are typically reaction lures and are most effective with some limitation in water visibility (to everyone, please don’t say every lure is a reaction lure…I think most people understand what is meant by that term).  I’m pretty sure if an umbrella rig were fished like a jig, your success might differ slightly.

They examine lures so carefully that they don't notice the shiny hooks, lead/tungsten, etc but that tiny hard to see strand is what they see.

[RDB]

45 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

They examine lures so carefully that they don't notice the shiny hooks, lead/tungsten, etc but that tiny hard to see strand is what they see.

Like I said, fishing line is like politics and I’m not looking to argue.  Choose someone else from the post and go nuts.  I just got a popcorn refill.