Fluro? Really that much better?

[kickbasskid]

I know that everyone says that Flurocarbon is the superior line to mono due to its strength but is that it? I have mono to spare and would prefer not to pay alot more for line im not sure I need. Is there any other advantages other than strength? All replys greatly accepted!

[robertb]

I believe there is a lot of hype over fluro. Read thishttp://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbontest.html and this  http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbon2.html 

In my opinion the only advantage some fluros have are they don't stretch as much and they sink.

[kickbasskid]

your links dont appear to be working.

[Stasher1]

your links dont appear to be working.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbontest.html

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbon2.html

I use it, but only as leader material with braid.

[jdw174]

I've been setting on the fence over the claims for FC line for some time now.  The worst factors to consider were cost and problems with knot strength.  I got rather tired of the pros telling me that I just couldn't fish without FC.  That's well and good for those who have line sponsors and get it by the truckload for nothing (or next to it). 

That said, last week I decided I'd give one spool a try.  I chose 20lb InvisX because I'd run out of my 25lb SilverThread copoly that I'd used for years for pitching and heavy cover use.  I'll give it a fair shake this year and if I don't see any difference in performance from my old friend ST, I'll go back to it in a heartbeat.

[Bassohol]

I fell into using FC largely because of what jdw said. The pros told me, "you just can't fish without it!" I had it spooled up in various weights on all my setups. I went through every different kind I could get my hands on and came to the same conclusion on all of them. I HATED it! The biggest problem I had with it was the stiffness compared to the co-poly I had grown so fond of. It was so much stiffer, it just felt like it casted like crap and, in my opinion, it did. Second, I found it to be a bit stronger on a dead straight pull, but it nicks up SO much easier than other types of line. I found myself having to retie much more often with the FC, so I decided to take some pieces and run them around the corners of things representing dock posts and such. Just as I thought, the FC nicked much worse. The third thing I hate is obviously the cost, but that wasn't that big of a factor. I do believe the FC is supposed to be a little clearer and harder to see in water, but I don't put much stock in that. All in all, I personally found a negligible difference in strength, so with the higher cost, higher stiffness, and decreased knot strength, I had an easy decision to stop using it for good.

[BASSclary]

IMO it all depends on what line your using.

There will be a noticeable difference between say Sunline Sniper and Tatsu vs Trilene Vanish

[WanderLust]

IMO it all depends on what line your using.

There will be a noticeable difference between say Sunline Sniper and Tatsu vs Trilene Vanish

LOL @ Vanish.

I'm trying Tatsu this season to see what the fuss is about. I used InvisX (6#, 10# and 12#) last year and came away unimpressed.

The last line that really impressed me was Samurai.

[Bassohol]

Vanish ;D

That really is some horrible line. I'm not a fan of fluorocarbon at all, as I've said. I tried the higher priced stuff as well including Sunline and Seaguar Tatsu. Didn't like any of it, but I would use it if I had to. However, if it came down to fishing with Vanish or not fishing, I may just have to choose not fishing!

I watched my buddy throw two crankbaits, a buzzbait, and a spinnerbait into Beech Lake because the knot wouldn't stay tied with that junk.

[J Francho]

My buddy Noel laughs back....Vanish....clinch knots......giant smallies.

For me, its Vanish - what happens to your fish when you use it! 

In different hands, lines somehow behave differently.

[Alpster]

If I had to throw away a single spool of line to keep my boat from sinking, it would be the florocarbon. I have used Vanish for leader material, but I'm getting away from leaders all together (except on the fly rods). Floro lines are more trouble than they're worth. There are just too many superior mono and co-polymer lines out there to bother with floro. JMHO

Ronnie

[J Francho]

That's a good choice, since the fluorocarbon is more dense than water. 

[Alpster]

That's a good choice, since the fluorocarbon is more dense than water.

Another good reason to toss it.....

[SeanW]

My buddy Noel laughs back....Vanish....clinch knots......giant smallies.

For me, its Vanish - what happens to your fish when you use it!

In different hands, lines somehow behave differently.

Ahhhh hah, someone is aware. Vanish is great line if you use it for the right purpose. I will say, it is not real shock resistant. However it is great line for drop shotting and flick shake's, dart heads, any thing that a reel set is all you need. Its not my favorite line, but it is not a bad line at all.

   To the other poster, if your buddy's knots are not holding its because he is not tying it properly. Ive used it on shakey heads and drop shots for years with no problem at all. It can certainly be used on cranks and rip baits, but its not my choice.

[Josh Bassman]

I like Fluro for light jigs/shakeyheads because it sinks and it allows me to have better contact with the bait and bottom.

I fish deep ultra clear lakes and I believe the clear line is a benefit as well. I had problems with the stiffness of the line at first, but you just need to get the feel for it and the problems go away.

Go in the back yard and practice casting it.

[.ghoti.]

If I had to throw away a single spool of line to keep my boat from sinking, it would be the florocarbon. I have used Vanish for leader material, but I'm getting away from leaders all together (except on the fly rods). Floro lines are more trouble than they're worth. There are just too many superior mono and co-polymer lines out there to bother with floro. JMHO

Ronnie

couldn't have said it better.

[Bassohol]

My buddy Noel laughs back....Vanish....clinch knots......giant smallies.

For me, its Vanish - what happens to your fish when you use it!

In different hands, lines somehow behave differently.

Ahhhh hah, someone is aware. Vanish is great line if you use it for the right purpose. I will say, it is not real shock resistant. However it is great line for drop shotting and flick shake's, dart heads, any thing that a reel set is all you need. Its not my favorite line, but it is not a bad line at all.

To the other poster, if your buddy's knots are not holding its because he is not tying it properly. Ive used it on shakey heads and drop shots for years with no problem at all. It can certainly be used on cranks and rip baits, but its not my choice.

I can assure you that all the problems were not the fault of his knot tying abilities. The knot did untie a number of times, but we both had a go at it with different types of knots and kept getting the same result. We all well know that FC is notorious for sub-par knot strength, and I believe we were witnessing just how bad a lower end FC can be in that department. Aside from the knot problems with the cranks, spinners, and buzzbaits, the line just broke on a hookset a few times as well. I'm not talking about a breakage down by the lure signifying a need to retie, these breaks happened about halfway down the rod on a new spool. Parts of the line that hadn't even seen water yet. Maybe he just had a couple of bad spools, but neither of us have messed with Vanish since then. I gave up FC for good, but he stuck with it and uses BPS XPS and Seaguar InvizX now. No problems like that have happened again.

[SoFl-native]

I have FC on all my casting reels except my flipping and topwater. Braid for flipping, mono for topwaters.

I use berkley 100% FC. No problems.

[jdw174]

Very interesting article in the latest BASSMaster about so-called "Bargain" lines. 

[Chaz Hickcox]

IMO it all depends on what line your using.

There will be a noticeable difference between say Sunline Sniper and Tatsu vs Trilene Vanish

To second the comments about vanish, that has to be the worst line ever.  It became very brittle and retarded weak in a very short time, maybe less than a month.  However the Berkely 100% Flouro and both Stren Flouro Cast and 100% have been good for me.  I like the minimum stretch compared to mono for flipping and pitching.  A good line conditioner will cover the memory issues.  In my experience it holds up better than mono to abbrasions.  I think that has a lot to do with brand though.

[robertb]

IMO it all depends on what line your using.

There will be a noticeable difference between say Sunline Sniper and Tatsu vs Trilene Vanish

To second the comments about vanish, that has to be the worst line ever. It became very brittle and retarded weak in a very short time, maybe less than a month. However the Berkely 100% Flouro and both Stren Flouro Cast and 100% have been good for me. I like the minimum stretch compared to mono for flipping and pitching. A good line conditioner will cover the memory issues. In my experience it holds up better than mono to abbrasions. I think that has a lot to do with brand though.

I've looked at tests and when it comes to stretch most fluros have as much or more stretch than monos. I think most people have it pounded in their mind by ads that fluros don't have much stretch and they mentaly think its true when they use it. According to tests done by tackle tour Berkley 100% fluro has more stretch than thei own xl mono has. I believe the only thing that would add to the sensitivity of fluro would be that is sinks so you probably don't have as much slack in the line while it sinks

[BASSclary]

Fluoro is also denser, which equates to a straight line from your rod to the lure, instead of part of it sinking slowly and half down low, causing more of a slack bend in the line, decreasing sensitivity.

Also denser will transmit vibrations well. Just like sound, vibrations will travel trough denser objects better. Try it by tapping a table. You hear it. Cool. Now put your ear right on the table and tap. You hear it more, and louder.

And iirc, fluoro stretches like mono, maybe more, but doesn't it require more strength to go them to stretch the same distances? I may be wrong, please correct me if so.

[Chaz Hickcox]

IMO it all depends on what line your using.

There will be a noticeable difference between say Sunline Sniper and Tatsu vs Trilene Vanish

To second the comments about vanish, that has to be the worst line ever. It became very brittle and retarded weak in a very short time, maybe less than a month. However the Berkely 100% Flouro and both Stren Flouro Cast and 100% have been good for me. I like the minimum stretch compared to mono for flipping and pitching. A good line conditioner will cover the memory issues. In my experience it holds up better than mono to abbrasions. I think that has a lot to do with brand though.

I've looked at tests and when it comes to stretch most fluros have as much or more stretch than monos. I think most people have it pounded in their mind by ads that fluros don't have much stretch and they mentaly think its true when they use it. According to tests done by tackle tour Berkley 100% fluro has more stretch than thei own xl mono has. I believe the only thing that would add to the sensitivity of fluro would be that is sinks so you probably don't have as much slack in the line while it sinks

That makes sense.  I've never done a stretch test, but the concept of density vs. lack of slack means a lot.  So, with that being said, I have clearly drank from the flouro coolaid bowl.  I do like the sinking factor vs. mono.

[APK62]

Line debates are great. There really are no wrong answers. That being said the majority of professional bass fisherman use Fluro. So there must be something to it. They make there pay on there catch.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Lots of them are sponsored by companies that sell fluoro.  That doesn't necessarily mean that they're always using it.  They make money by helping to push a product.  I've found fluoro to be very good in some situations, not so much in others.  I've tried plenty of straight fluoros.  Just wasn't for me.  I still catch plenty of fish not using it.