Best Fluorocarbon for Spinning Reel

[MJack]

I’m new to fluorocarbon. I grew up with mono, and I haven’t switched over. But I’m thinking of trying 8lb fluorocarbon on a spinning reel this year for finesse bass fishing. I want a brand that is strong yet smooth when casting and not terribly expensive. Any recommendations? Also, is it ok to go all fluorocarbon? What are the advantages of braid with fluorocarbon leader? 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, MJack said:

I’m new to fluorocarbon. I grew up with mono, and I haven’t switched over. But I’m thinking of trying 8lb fluorocarbon on a spinning reel this year for finesse bass fishing. I want a brand that is strong yet smooth when casting and not terribly expensive. Any recommendations? Also, is it ok to go all fluorocarbon?

I run straight 8# InvizX on  President XT-30...other than Tatsu, it's the best I've tried

 

1 minute ago, MJack said:

What are the advantages of braid with fluorocarbon leader? 

Less line twist. I'm running 10# 832 braid to 6# InvizX on my finesse rig...President-25.

[LonnieP]

7 lb Sniper works great for me. Strong yet easy to manage.

[FishTank]

I like the following lines... Invizx 6lb or 8lb and Trilene XL 100% FC (has a lot of stretch though) but the best is Tatsu. 

[Hammer 4]

9 hours ago, LonnieP said:

7 lb Sniper works great for me. Strong yet easy to manage.

Agree on the Sniper fluro.

[JS8588]

Best is tatsu. I still haven't fished braid but I have to say flouro does give a sensitivity edge vs mono. Only downside of flouro is it rules out topwater presentations. 

[Bluebasser86]

I'd go braid to a fluoro leader, and I have a few spinning reels filled with straight flouro. The braid is much more forgiving than fluoro for someone learning it and you can still do almost all the same things you can with straight fluoro. 

[RDB]

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I'd go braid to a fluoro leader, and I have a few spinning reels filled with straight flouro. The braid is much more forgiving than fluoro for someone learning it and you can still do almost all the same things you can with straight fluoro. 

???

 

Also since you mentioned expense, remember braid to a fluoro leader means your expense will be stretched across many applications.  Tatsu is the top of the line but expensive.  Since you will only be using ~5’ to 20’ at a time (depending on your preference), the cost difference becomes negligible.

[WRB]

Shore angler? 

Spinning reel twist line as the bail wraps the line onto the spool unless the line can untwist on it’s own. All Fluorocarbon lines have high memory and the twisting creates major issues.

Mono lines have lower memory and also twist, just take a little longer to create issue.

Braid lines have very low memory, spinning reels also twist braided and it takes longer for the twist to affect casting.

The only advantages  FC line provides is it sinks and lower coefficient of drag when pulled through water.

The disadvantages are weaker knot strength and abrasion resistance per diameter compared to premium mono line. Cost per yard is about 3X compared to mono line.

Braid is also expensive per yard of line about equal to FC.

FC requires line treatments to wet and control memory causing coiling off the spool.

Sunline Sniper 7 lb is a good choice for straight FC or 60 yard top shot on mono filler.

Braid with leader you will get at least a dozen knots trying to reduce low knot strength. My Suggestion is go to 10 lb FC leader if you choose using braid. Bass are not line shy fish, low light refraction is meaningless. 

Tom

PS, boater you can untwist line by dragging it behind the boat at walking speed a few minutes with nothing tied onto the end. 

[CrashVector]

None.  Braid or mono.

[cyclops2]

Nothing has less stretch than Braided Line.  You WILL SEE and FEEL every swing of your lure at100 feet trolling a lipped lure. A nibble instantly changes that rhythm of the rod tip.  Braided & a clear leader are the best combo. 

[Skunkmaster-k]

Going all fluorocarbon is expensive on a spinning reel. The cheaper fluorocarbon has a lot of line memory and wants to jump off the spool. Lots of line twist wrapping around the end of your rod all day. You’re going to get that with expensive fluorocarbon too but not NEARLY as much. All that said , Sniper .

WRB already said that. Never mind 

[NorcalBassin]

Tatsu is great but really expensive. I've found the best combo of quality and price to be Sniper and I use it on most of my spinning reels in 4-7#. Accidentally caught some huge carp and catfish on it as well as bass up to 9# and (knock on wood) never had an issue with the line breaking. Just be sure to have your drag set accordingly to protect the line and light wire hooks.

[ChrisD46]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

Shore angler? 

Spinning reel twist line as the bail wraps the line onto the spool unless the line can untwist on it’s own. All Fluorocarbon lines have high memory and the twisting creates major issues.

Mono lines have lower memory and also twist, just take a little longer to create issue.

Braid lines have very low memory, spinning reels also twist braided and it takes longer for the twist to affect casting.

The only advantages  FC line provides is it sinks and lower coefficient of drag when pulled through water.

The disadvantages are weaker knot strength and abrasion resistance per diameter compared to premium mono line. Cost per yard is about 3X compared to mono line.

Braid is also expensive per yard of line about equal to FC.

FC requires line treatments to wet and control memory causing coiling off the spool.

Sunline Sniper 7 lb is a good choice for straight FC or 60 yard top shot on mono filler.

Braid with leader you will get at least a dozen knots trying to reduce low knot strength. My Suggestion is go to 10 lb FC leader if you choose using braid. Bass are not line shy fish, low light refraction is meaningless. 

Tom

PS, boater you can untwist line by dragging it behind the boat at walking speed a few minutes with nothing tied onto the end. 

*Also (per Tom) try to stay less than .010" / .25mm mono / co-poly / FC line diameter on a bass spinning reel . This is usually #8lb. to #10lb. line size but always check the line diameter first and again don't exceed .010" / .25mm line diameter on bass spinning reels. Lastly , a great all-around co-poly line is Maxima Ultra Green : #10 lb. for leader material and #5 lb. to #8 lb. as a bass spinning reel main line . 

[rangerjockey]

19 hours ago, JS8588 said:

Best is tatsu. I still haven't fished braid but I have to say flouro does give a sensitivity edge vs mono. Only downside of flouro is it rules out topwater presentations. 

I like Sniper or Invisx. The K9 isn't bad either and cheaper

. I never understood the flouro won't work on topwater deal. On a popper yeah I get it but for the Plopper/Choppo or a buzzbait or any bait you've got pulled tight it makes no difference.

 

[MJack]

Thanks for all the replies, very helpful and informative. God bless! 

[N.Y. Yankee]

21 hours ago, JS8588 said:

Best is tatsu. I still haven't fished braid but I have to say flouro does give a sensitivity edge vs mono. Only downside of flouro is it rules out topwater presentations. 

SO, either snip off the leader if you want to fish topwater or have a different rod set up with straight braid or braid to nylon mono for topwater. Honestly, fluorocarbon does not drag a lure down. 

[N.Y. Yankee]

I like a good braid with a leader unless I'm going to be fishing in heavy cover, then straight braid. Having a leader lets you use braid as your main line all the time and get the advantages of that, plus, you can change the leader any time you want and have either nylon or fluoro in any test you want for the lure you are fishing. Everything from inline spinners to heavy jigs, spinnerbaits and topwater plugs too. I have braid to leader on ALL my rods because it's so versatile and I can change whenever I want. I carry a ziploc bag with some fly fishing leader spools I load with different mono lines (fluorocarbon is a monofilament too) in my tackle box.

[Hulkster]

I love 8 or 10 pound Sufix Siege on spinning gear. I think Flouro will be too stiff on spinning gear no matter what. 

[roadwarrior]

#6 InvizX or Tatsu is not too stiff.

[Junk Fisherman]

7 lb Gamma Touch is great line and it has lasted me an entire season on a spinning reel.  I wouldn't hesitate to go up to 8 lb if I wanted something a little stronger.  Traditional P-Line Fluoro served me well for many years before primarily going to a braid/leader setup.  Based on all the recommendations, I tried straight 8 lb Tatsu on a spinning reel last year and was disappointed.  For the price, I expected a much more manageable line.  Maybe I got a bad spool.  

[J Francho]

6# Tatsu. 

[Oklahoma Mike]

I prefer to run braid to leader on most of my setups because I feel like it gives me the best of everything. I tie an improved alberto knot and never, ever have knot failures there so that is not a concern for me.

 

The few exceptions to the above for me are as follows:

• Topwater - straight mono
• Heavy swimbait setup - copoly (Defier Armilo)
• Any bait where I am making long casts and trying to keep it as deep as possible, like a spybait or deep crank - flourocarbon
• Frogging, jigs not fished around rocky areas, chatterbaits, buzzbaits - straight braid

On the few setups that I do use straight FC, it is Tatsu 100% of the time. Also, none of those are spinning setups.

[WRB]

The US Reel* 180XL can be found new in box on eBay occasionally for around $50. This reel has oversized diameter spool that reduces coil affect and ideal for FC line under .010D.

Tom

* out of business 

[roadwarrior]

Whoa!

 

I bought the original rod & reel package directly from Ray Scott when they were first introduced.

Without a doubt, the worst fishing gear I have ever purchased.