Co Poly Lines

[Mobasser]

For my entire fishing life, I've used monofilament line. I've tried most of the standard brands out there. For the last four years, I've branched out and tried some co polymer lines, mainly because of folks recommending them here on BR.                                       These lines work, but after I've used them extensively I can't see much difference between co poly lines and mono lines.                    Some of the co poly lines handle worse than mono, and have a larger diameter than comparable mono lines, making them stiff and they don't work great, especially on spinning gear.                             At least for me, the sensitivity claims of co poly lines seem   over rated.I feel I can still detect a light hit on mono equally well.                          For the co poly fisherman here, what is it that makes you choose them over monofilament lines? Do you feel that co poly lines really help your fishing, or, like me, do you think you can do just as well with monofilament lines?                       I'm still undecided on co poly lines.

[garroyo130]

I use yo zuri hybrid a lot. Use it because I believe its the best line at its price point and it was far better than anything I had used at the time (although to be fair I never used any premium mono line). 

[Dan N]

I thought it was mono with a different name. I don’t notice much of a difference myself. 

[Fishingmickey]

Hello Mobasser,

     My take on the co-poly lines is it is a compromise between Fluorocarbon and Mono.  I think that the Yozuri Hybrid, P-line CXX and McCoy Mean Green are pretty decent lines. I've tried them and they work. I don't use them now.  My feeling are that if a line has a thicker diameter and it breaking point or test is much higher then it is rated. That doesn't make it a "good" line.  It gets the reputation for being a strong line that doesn't break as easily.  It is false advertising IMHO.

    Regarding their use on spinning tackle a stiff line doesn't work well on spinning tackle especially when you start getting into the high tests like 10# or above.  The stiffer line likes to fly off the spool especially after re-spooling with fresh line and it doesn't have the spool memory. Then after it has been on the spool for awhile it coils badly and that's where the line conditioners come into play to keep the line supple.  I have noticed when I tried using them I'd get line slap against the rod from the bigger loops coming off of the spool and hitting the rod between the reel and first guide.

   Fluorocarbon lines are stiffer and have a tendency to have more memory on the spool then monofilament does.  In the cheaper fluorocarbon lines this is way more evident.

   So summarizing, be aware that if your wanting say 6# line on your spinning reel get 4# Yozuri or P-line CXX/CX.

     Berkley Big game and XT in the mono lines are the same in the  diameter to test. Berkley XL does the same but it is a limper line and a touch thinner in diameter then the Berkley BG or XT.

Hope that helps some.

Fishingmickey

[FishTank]

I have used CXX in the past and it started out OK but after awhile it became a nightmare.  In the Mono realm, I like two discontinued lines, Sunline Machine Gun Cast and Deifer Amarillo. Both lines feel a little like co-poly but have none of bad characteristics. Both cast well, hold up well, and are somewhat sensitive compared to regular mono.

[Bass Rutten]

I use yozuri hybrid over mono because it's lower stretch and a little more sensitive than mono due to it's fluorocrabon content. It also has better water absorption resistance, better uv resistance, and it just flat out lasts longer. It has the reputation of being hard to handle because they greatly underrate the lines strength. If you select based on actual beak strength and/or diameter it handles as good or better than most monos ime.

[Team9nine]

At this point, couldn’t it be argued that all nylon based fishing lines available (not including the “hybrids”) are actually copolymers whether specifically labeled as such or not? Is there any manufacturer that only uses a single nylon polymer in their formulation? I would think about all lines are now a mix of various other nylon components (polymers) depending on properties desired. I’m not certain any companies actually list their “ingredients,” so it might be hard to know for certain. Just a thought after reading the question.

[WRB]

Monofilament doesn’t mean Nylon it means single filament. Fluorocarbon, mono and copolymer lines are all single filament lines. Yo-Zuri Hybrid is co extruded monofilament line made up of at least 3 polymers..

Is a blend of 2 or more nylon types with UV inhibitors a copolymer line? No it’s blend of polyimide polymer. Copolymer is a blend of 2 different polymers; polyimide, Polyurethane or polyester with UV inhibitors.

At this point in time mono means Nylon to  fishermen, copolymer means anything you it be.

Tom

PS, Nylon was a joint venture between New York and London during WW2 resulting in a new polymer polyimde NyLon. 

 

[HawkeyeSmallie]

Crazy how everything has changed so much.

 

Back in the day I used ONLY mono and thought I did pretty well with it.

 

Always Stren.

 

First time I tried braid was when I started to target Largemouth. No complaints with braid.

 

Now I've been trying out fluoro and so far I freaking HATE it. LOL

 

Bought some good stuff that just came in the mail. It better work. 

[new2BC4bass]

I bought co-polymer lines (and some mono lines) simply because I wanted to try different lines.  I really can't tell much (if any) difference.  As already stated most lines are under-rated.  I think I one time saw that 12# Yo-Zuri broke at 19#.  If I wanted 19# line, I would buy 19# line.  That's why it is important to check line diameter before buying.

[Rockhopper]

I've been using P-line fluoroclear for quite awhile and I absolutely love it.  Very low memory makes it work incredibly well on spinning set ups.  I like that it has a little give to it, but not nearly as much as mono.

[new2BC4bass]

29 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

I've been using P-line fluoroclear for quite awhile and I absolutely love it.  Very low memory makes it work incredibly well on spinning set ups.  I like that it has a little give to it, but not nearly as much as mono.

I must have gotten a bad spool.  First time out it was breaking easy (10#, I think).  For those looking for a limp line, I can suggest Sufix Elite and Sunline Super Natural from personal experience.  I'm sure there are others.  I've had good luck with AN40, but have only used it on baitcast reels.

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

I must have gotten a bad spool.  First time out it was breaking easy (10#, I think). 

Nope - that’s par for that line 😛 You can do a quick search for similar stories.

[Rockhopper]

7 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Nope - that’s par for that line 😛 You can do a quick search for similar stories.

I must be lucky then.  I respool twice every year with the fluoroclear on about 60-70% of my setups, and have never had an issue with that line what so ever.  I use 10, 12, 15, and 20lb.  It holds up great, never breaks anymore than any other plastic line (which is usually just me breaking it off on a snagged lure), has very low memory, and casts like a dream.  And it is pretty inexpensive to boot.

 

I have tried the true fluoro lines that cost 3 to 4x as much, and have no real world results to justify spending the extra coin, and I genuinely do not like that they do not stretch much at all.  My swimbait, salmon, and stealhead gear all get maxima green mono (great line too), and the one rod I have that I use braid on is power pro super slick v2 which is also great.

 

You absolutely cannot go wrong with using P-line floroclear.  It is a great, inexpensive line.  But there are also other options that will be just as good.

[fin]

3 hours ago, WRB said:

PS, Nylon was a joint venture between New York and London during WW2 resulting in a new polymer polyimde NyLon.

 

Sounds good, but not true: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/stocking-the-true-origin/

[WRB]

1 hour ago, fin said:

 

Sounds good, but not true: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/stocking-the-true-origin/

I learned the New York / London name from a college professor, looks like he was wrong and never followed it up  further.

Thanks for setting the record straight👍

[BigAngus752]

I'm surprised at some of the answers because I find a HUGE difference between mono and Yo-Zuri hybrid.  Just like all lines, it has it's place.  My BCs have either 12lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid or 50-65lb Sufix 832 or the 9 strand Berkley.  On BCs I have found Yo-Zuri Hybrid to have less stretch than mono, more than flouro, it's MUCH tougher than mono, is more sensitive and holds stronger knots, it's easier to manage than flouro.  I'll never change from it.  It allows me to use my preferred style of rod for moving baits.  A fast action with more parabolic bend to cast further and keep a fish pinned on trebles better.  It just works perfectly for me.  Mono is still a great line.  I've got 6lb and 8lb on some spinning reels.  For me, the hybrid is perfect for moving baits on a baitcaster, but that's all I use it for.  

[new2BC4bass]

3 hours ago, Rockhopper said:

I have tried the true fluoro lines that cost 3 to 4x as much, and have no real world results to justify spending the extra coin, and I genuinely do not like that they do not stretch much at all. 

 

 

This is a fallacy according to TT tests.  Some fluorocarbons stretch more than some monos.  I don't remember the brand of fluorocarbon that I first tried.  It stretched like a rubber brand.  Had to cut a fair amount off before retying.  Looked just like the picture in the link below.

 

See here.  There are several links to fluorocarbon articles.

https://activeanglingnz.com/2016/01/04/the-fluorocarbon-myth/

 

EDIT:  I do know it was one of the cheaper fluorocarbon lines.

[NoFroFishing]

Biggest factor is honestly price. Paying $25 for some flouro line just isnt something I like doing. Unless its jerkbaits.. I am specific on what I use there which is Daiwa Samurai. 

 

I use Yo Zuri Hybrid, KK flourokote, and P-line Floroclear. All haver worked great. Yo Zuri prices are insanely cheap and I can get a 600 yard spool for 8 bucks. Only downside is the diameter is bigger. So a 10lb is actually 12lb and so on. Os just have to look out for that. 

 

To me the KK Florote and P-line Floroclear cast better than the Yo Zuri. 

[Shadow1]

I have used McCoy's Mean Green for well over 10 years.  It is manageable and very strong.  Story . . . I was fishing in Canada last June (2023).  I was drop shotting in 8-10 feet of water off of a rock bluff.  I had caught 2 really nice Smallies, but I also was fighting the rocks with snags etc.  I broke off a set-up, retied, and thought I had another snag.  Anyway, my drag starts buzzing.  My line goes down to my backing!  Anyway, after a long long fight, I reel in a 42" Pike!  15 lb Sufix 832 braid, but most importantly, 8lb McCoy's Mean Green leader.  The line was all scuffed up, but didn't break.  I won't use anything else.     

[Bigbox99]

All plastic non braids are mono filaments.  I choose the one I use based on the properties of the line.  If I want a high hardness sinking line at the cost of easy line management I get what people call "fluoro".  When I want a highly elastic floating line I get what people call "mono".  I usually stick to those 2 since they cover both extremes while also having a ton of overlap.  I would probably buy a clear plastic mono filament fishing line called "co polly" if it was in the middle of Sunline  Sniper and Berkley Big Game in properties.  I probably have and just didn't notice.  I think is was Suffix Seige.  I don't really over think fishing line.

[Bankc]

I feel that co-poly exists solely for marketing reasons.  Manufacturers realized that some people couldn't decide between mono or fluoro, so they invented something to bridge the gap between the two.  Not that co-poly is a bad choice.  I've used several different brands, and I thought they were alright.  But I also can't think of a single situation where co-poly would be the best choice.  And really, in most situations, the kind of fishing line you use doesn't actually matter.  There's only a handful of instances where one kind of fishing line has a real-world advantage over any of the others.   And even in those rare instances, you can usually make do with any of the other fishing lines. 

 

So yeah.  Don't sweat it.  Ultimately, what makes the biggest difference between all of the fishing lines isn't the properties of those fishing line, but how you feel about using them.  In other words, it's all personal preference. 

[Reel]

If I remember correctly, co-polys were invented before fluoro.  And yes, you can use anything you want but braid gives you a formidable advantage when you are fishing with a floating frog.

[zell_pop1]

All mono lines are pretty much copoly these days, even classic ones like Stren or XT/XL probably are.

[PourMyOwn]

On 8/15/2024 at 3:42 PM, new2BC4bass said:

I must have gotten a bad spool.  First time out it was breaking easy (10#, I think).  For those looking for a limp line, I can suggest Sufix Elite and Sunline Super Natural from personal experience.  I'm sure there are others.  I've had good luck with AN40, but have only used it on baitcast reels.

AN40 is my favorite line. Gamma is also really good.