I've Had It With Flourocarbon Line! 2024

papajoe222 reply :

I know the majority of my problems with FC are a result of the way I set the hook and the knots that I use, but I'm tired of having to think about what line I'm using when tying a knot let alone before I set the hook. I can count the number of fish I missed last week as a result of the line breaking, but it would take both hands and an extra digit. It even happened when I was casting a 3/4oz jig. I'll admit I did miss a couple of fish on long casts I'd made with mono, but at the very least, I got my lure back.

My solution is to cut up the remainder of the two spools of FC that I have into little itty bitty pieces (therapy) before recycling and spool the majority of my reels with braid and a copolymer leader. I trust the extra knot more than I trust flourocarbon.

Thanks for letting me vent. Like if you feel the same.

Alonerankin2 reply :

Yep... And have for a long time!

A-Jay reply :

Eventually anglers are going to have to face the reality that Fluorocarbon line is just a PIA.

The problems associated with it seriously out weight any benefits realized.

The shear number of threads where post after post document all the same problems by so many anglers tell the story. Manageability and weak knot strength are routinely detailed as challenging characteristic of the line.

Believing that Monofilament line is inferior to fluorocarbon is a matter of opinion; but it's not mine.

Have there been many threads recounting where anglers are having problems with mono line leaders parting at the knot ? A quick search will answer that. The low numbers in the search results would indicate that it's not a problem.

To the anglers who use fluorocarbon leaders successfully, congratulations, you've managed to slay the dragon.

We rarely hear from the mono leader uses. except to post up pictures of nice bass.

A-Jay

Preytorien reply :

I use flouro for 2 things alone....

1. Ultralight flouro for my crappie spinning rig

2. Flouro leader for my rod with braid

I've used and considered the benefits of flouro, and like others have mentioned, I found myself worrying too much about my line. I pretty much have zero worries when I use braid. Oddly I find myself still worrying about my leader though....but I will continue to use it.

QUAKEnSHAKE reply :

Ha I just walked in from outside put 12# Sniper FC back on my Core50. Wasnt anamored, as others seem to be, with FC towards end of last year but willing to have at it again. I didnt have break-offs though my gripe is the stretch(lots) and extra effort involved working bottom presentations through weeds.

Brian Needham reply :

HMMMM,

I suppose I differ here. in 3 years of fishing FC I have had one knot failure, that I can recall.

granted, I make the knot drip with spit while tightening it down and will not use a imperfectly tied knot.... I am the same on my mono setups too.

each his own, if you are not confident in using FC then I wouldn't use it either.

for sake of conversation, how are you setting the hook and what knot are you using? I ask because those are two points you mentioned.

iabass8 reply :

I differ as well...

Sorry you guys have such poor results /w fluoro. I for one love the stuff and don't have any of these mysterious break offs or knot failures that people seem to have. I do pay for the good stuff though...

I should say I didn't have any issues /w cheaper Fluoro like XPS and sunline sniper either.

I hate leaders and never saw the point.I very much prefer using one line. Then again, i don't use braid unless I'm slop fishing.

Tywithay reply :

If you're thinking about which line needs which knot, you're thinking way too hard. I use one knot, regardless of whether it's braid, mono, fluoro. I don't even remember the last time I lost a fish due to knot failure with any line. The big key for me was getting away from the crap line and using good stuff like Shooter, Tatsu, and Sniper. I hated fluoro at one time, but now it doesn't bother me at all.

Smallmouth Hunter reply :

15 lb berkley big game is what I have been using for a long time now and it is far superior than any other fluoro I have used due to price and strength too.

Oh, and did I mention it is $30 for 3000 yards..

Jrob78 reply :

On 5/10/2014 at 7:13 AM, iabass8 said:

I differ as well...

Sorry you guys have such poor results /w fluoro. I for one love the stuff and don't have any of these mysterious break offs or knot failures that people seem to have. I do pay for the good stuff though...

I should say I didn't have any issues /w cheaper Fluoro like XPS and sunline sniper either.

I hate leaders and never saw the point.I very much prefer using one line. Then again, i don't use braid unless I'm slop fishing.

This describes me as well. I've never had trouble with fluoro breaking at the knot, you just have to be vigilant in how you tie your knots. That said, I certainly wouldn't use fluoro if it didn't work for me and I had the problems the OP is having, can't blame you for not using it.

Todd2 reply :

Welcome to the club. I joined last year, lol.

Tywithay reply :

On 5/10/2014 at 8:38 AM, aprw1 said:

15 lb berkley big game is what I have been using for a long time now and it is far superior than any other fluoro I have used due to price and strength too.

Oh, and did I mention it is $30 for 3000 yards..

It's nice because you can also spool it up on your weed whacker, in a pinch.

jtharris3 reply :

Call me old fashioned but my reels spooled with Trilene XT in green have always and continue to put fish in the boat for me! I tried the FC but didn't like the way it felt and performed at all. I do use braid on some reels and have no problem with that either. Keep the FC and I'm going to drive on with my XT.

Darren. reply :

Interesting, if not common, topic.

I have XPS fluoro, and I'm a guy who only uses it as leader material.

Mostly I use P-Line Floroclear (fluoro-coated line) and love the stuff.

I find pure fluoro a little finicky. I have confidence and then I don't. Glad I spool with braid and use leaders. Easy to change a leader out than it is to respool a reel.

ww2farmer reply :

On 5/10/2014 at 6:57 AM, A-Jay said:

To the anglers who use fluorocarbon leaders successfully, congratulations, you've managed to slay the dragon.

Wow....I'm a dragon slayer??? I'll go with it. It's a little more manly than my previous title of Turgid illusionist.

A-Jay reply :

On 5/10/2014 at 10:37 AM, ww2farmer said:
Wow....I'm a dragon slayer??? I'll go with it. It's a little more manly than my previous title of Turgid illusionist.

OK - perhaps I was a little over dramatic on that one.

It's been a while since I've even used FC line and I think I've finally gotten over how PO'ed I was when it kept parting.

I am enjoying being on the other side of the fence though.

A-Jay

papajoe222 reply :

So I was a bit misleading in my original post; I still have flouro on my cranking reels. I use the same knot, but my hook set with cranks is more of a reel and sweep where with my single hook presentations it's more like I'm swinging for the fences, trying to cross their eyes and see how far out of the water I can make 'em fly at the same time. That's just the way I learned with the short, broom stick rods and stretchy mono that was available to us back in the stone ages. Seems like all I do is swing and miss with FC. I'm hitting around .850 with braid and mono and I still swing for the fences. Besides that, I'm a hard headed, card carrying old fart. We don't like change. Now where is my Little Green Box?

AQUA VELVA reply :

Berkley Trilene, every reel, every year, fish in the boat, no problems afloat.

ColdSVT reply :

Wow...im a flouro lover lol

Have it spooled on 7 of 8 rods...the only exception is my topwater rod. Never had any breakoffs that i didnt deserve, no knot failures, no separation...nothing but pure joy save for the occasional backlash

I use invisx and tatsu from 12# up to 20#...love it!

JGBassinAL reply :

I am with the majority here. Just like Tywithay, I only use one knot and I have never had knot failure. I use mono for topwater, square bills, and one deep cranking setup. Everything else is fluoro. If there is a kink above my knot when I make it, I cut it off and retie. I also check my line often for fraying and retie multiple times throughout the day. Fraying could be why you are breaking off. If I'm throwing crank baits off rocks or bottom contact baits I check my line every ten minutes or so and after every hang up. I use braid with a fluoro leader on my spinning setups (I use the alberto knot) with either 6 or 8 lb fluoro, and my connection knot has never one time broken. Not even when I set the hook on a log or rock and pull as hard as I can to break off when I can't get it loose. It has also never broken at the knot of my fluoro at my lure. Personally, I have never had trouble with fluoro or mono, so I use fluoro on my setups that I see fit. I will say that I use Sunline FC Sniper, and when I used Seaguar Red Label I didn't enjoy fluoro as much. Totally worth it for the more expensive fluoro as it is was more manageable than the cheaper stuff. Also, KVD Line & Lure conditioner makes it even better!

nowicki2005 reply :

I've always strictly used invisx and I have only had one bass break off because of knot failure and that happened to be when I had just caught a bass and the line was a little frayed but I was only about 30 yards from the boat ramp going back in. I had that one more cast thing going on not expecting to get anything and hooked into a solid 4 pounder that broke off but toally y fault.

Ive only been using bait casters for the last year and have never thrown anything under 40 pound braid on them. Spooled up a *** just a few days ago with 12 lb invisx and some kvd and had no problems whatsoever as far as manageability.

Also, to say I always wet my line when tying my knots would be a lie. I still never break off.

RoLo reply :

My dislike of fluorocarbon line is not related to knot strength or line breakage, I've never encountered those problems.

My dislike for fluoro is the result of being spoiled by limp, manageable braided line then trying to cope with a stiffer,

less manageable line. I just want fishing to be fun and don't want to cope with any tackle that causes me to settle

or to tolerate, on the contrary, I want my tackle to tolerate me...LOL

I once spooled fluorocarbon on a spinning outfit to give it a shot, and that was a fiasco.

I was already spoiled by limp, well-behaved braid, so I wasn't impressed by rat-nests from hell.

In fact, some fluorocarbon is just about as stiff as the titanium wire I use for my pike leaders.

On my last go-round with fluorocarbon, I spooled Seaguar Tatsu on a casting reel. Once again,

I was already spoiled by non-stretch braided line, so could not adapt to the wimpy bungee-cord sensation.

During the hookset, I actually found myself taking a step backward to reduce the line stretch (that stuff had to go).

Fluorocarbon is touted as having a refractive index similar to water, but I wonder how many fish

know or care about that. We all know that bass are NOT frightened by long bristle-guards, double rattleboxes

and big treble hooks, so why are we expected to believe that the sight of a fine filament should cause alarm?

Ironically, line-watchers commonly complain that they have trouble seeing thin braided line. On the other hand,

I've seen fluorocarbon line in sunlight that looked like an incandescent icicle.

Because fluorocarbon sinks and polyethylene floats, many anglers believe that fluoro line

produces less line belly than braided line. If you're casting at anchor, the belly in the line will depend

on the buoyancy of the lure (floating lure - neutrally buoyant lure - slow sinking lure - fast sinking lure).

However, if you're drifting or trolling it's an open-and-shut case, braided line will create less line-belly

than fluorocarbon line. The fatter the line diameter, the greater the cumulative water resistance,

and the greater the water resistance, the greater the bow in the line. If your drifting, this will mean

you'll need more weight to hold bottom; if you're trolling, this will mean the lure will be riding shallower

than the same lure trolled on braided line.

Roger

SirSnookalot reply :

I've never used f/c line but have used f/c leaders, leader line is not the same. I tried it for the stealth attributes for some salt water species, despite accolades from both pro and amateur I found it to be nothing but hype. I did find that more attention was needed to secure a good knot, once tied right they held just fine and lines were not more prone to break. I must be on a drag kick as many of my recent posts mention setting the drag to the line. I don't care what kind of lines, leaders or knots being used, if the drag is right that chain should not break, providing none of the components have any damage. Getting broke off from a bass is something I just can't comprehend or even enters my mind.

I see no advantage to f/c.

ww2farmer reply :

On 5/10/2014 at 10:40 AM, A-Jay said:

OK - perhaps I was a little over dramatic on that one.

It's been a while since I've even used FC line and I think I've finally gotten over how PO'ed I was when it kept parting.

I am enjoying being on the other side of the fence though.

A-Jay

I will say....I ONLY like it as leader material. I hate it as main line.

Chris at Tech reply :

For me I'll say that FC takes a little more "ongoing maintenance" in the form of regular applications of line conditioner but that's a very minor inconvenience. I've used it to fish jigs, plastics, cranks and jerk baits, but going forward will use it only for jigs and plastics not for any performance reasons but just because I saw no improvement over mono or copolymer for moving baits and see no reason to spend more

8lb Invisx on my 2500-sized spinning reels, and 10/12/15/17/20 Berkley 100% Fluoro on my baitcasters have served me well. And palomar only for me.

BuckMaxx reply :

Mono for me as well... went thru the FC craze. Cost me a lot of money and even more fish.

You can call me crazy but I have the best luck with the Zebco omniflex mono from walmart.

Raider Nation Fisher reply :

I use it for Stripe fishing with no problems. The rocks below the dam that I fish, will shread braided line and mono. Flouro is the only thing that seems to hold up down there. I use it for bass fishing too sometimes. I've never missed a hook set or had a fish break it off. Thats just me though.

Blues19 reply :

I used Flouro a while ago when I was living near Table Rock, thought it would be good for the clear lake. Bought some Sunline Sniper to see how that preforms in an upcoming tournament just to see how I feel about it again. DIdnt have a million problems with it, but I did go back to mono. What knot do you all use with Flouro?

Dave P reply :

It's not my favorite, I'm not gonna lie. It can be very finicky about knots especially with the the lower pound test. I've had some P-Line 15 that I've had good luck with so far, but I'm not afraid to put XT on anything and throw it.

QUAKEnSHAKE reply :

On 5/10/2014 at 8:56 PM, ataris41 said:
I used Flouro a while ago when I was living near Table Rock, thought it would be good for the clear lake. Bought some Sunline Sniper to see how that preforms in an upcoming tournament just to see how I feel about it again. DIdnt have a million problems with it, but I did go back to mono. What knot do you all use with Flouro?

I use through the eye twice 6-7 turn uni knot.

thehooligan reply :

Last few years all my rods had 10-30lb braid, flouroclear leaders for the finesse spinning rod and thats it. This year ive spooled up both my crankin reels, one with 12lb sufix seige, and the other with 10lb flouroclear. Ive liked it so much that ill never buy another flouro product again.

I dont know if its just me and darren, but braid with flouroclear leaders fishes amazing.

Montanaro reply :

Tie your knots slow n wet.

I've never had an issue outside some backlash due to me not being careful.

Tywithay reply :

On 5/10/2014 at 8:56 PM, ataris41 said:
I used Flouro a while ago when I was living near Table Rock, thought it would be good for the clear lake. Bought some Sunline Sniper to see how that preforms in an upcoming tournament just to see how I feel about it again. DIdnt have a million problems with it, but I did go back to mono. What knot do you all use with Flouro?

I use an improved clinch for everything.

Smokinal reply :

I've tried about 6 of the major brands from Sunline to Trilene. All I can say is I will never have to buy leader material for my braid again...

TrippyJai reply :

Take the time to tie a San Diego Jam. The issue I have with fluoro is the price. I find it really expensive when comparing to braid which you can reuse the other end or copolymer.

Mike L reply :

From an old guy who only used mono on 2 rigs for a very long time, I learned that a change in line thinking was due at about the same time a change in my rod and reel thinking was due.

We've all used what was available at the time when we started fishing..

That's what we learned on, that's what we know, that's our comfort level.

For me all there was was mono line, Shakespeare rods and Zebco reels. Then I learned by trying new things, finding this site and others, that some things really DO make a difference.

Since there is a trade off in almost all things we change, a give and take if you will, we need to decide if that change is worth it.

For me the sensitivity of floro line gives me an certain advantage at times that mono doesn't....

BUT...I better be prepared to buy a top of the line product..

I better take the time to use a conditioner..

And I darn well better take my time tying a knot..

If you dont have a problem with any of that, then IMHO you'll more than likely be of the opinion that floro is for you for certain technique's, if not then it really doesn't matter.

Mike

Grantman83 reply :

The only fluoro I have ever hated was viscous. It was junk. Seriously, I never even had a problem with vanish fluoro either.

I have never had a break off on a hookset with any fluoro I have used. I guess I just don't set the hook crazy hard and take extra time to tie knots carefully as well as re tie often. Most of my issues with fluoro are about castability and springiness.

I've had more bad breakoffs with braid than anything else either from digging in on a cast or poor abrasion resistance. I love fluoro and guess I should consider myself lucky when I read all the negatives

LuckyHandsINC. reply :

I can't believe all the hate for flouro. For me it is absolutely the best type of line and always my default. The only time I use something different is: braid for frogs, mono for top water and braid to flouro leader for casting and dragging football heads. Every other combo has flouro.

Never had any problems with knots or line management. Bought some conditioner never use it anymore, don't feel it's needed.

The real cheap stuff is garbage and I think we all know that. However it doesn't take much to get a good flouro. I really liked trilene 100% and a few other brands in the $20 range. Just spooled all my flouro rigs with tatsu because I got a few spools for $21 from TW during clearance. Got 3 reels spooled with each 200yd spool so it's not too costly. So far I absolutely love it and will pay full price for it when my clearance spools run out.

SudburyBasser reply :

I have no hate for flouro -- I fished it near exclusively today for several hours -- but I have no great love for it either. If at all possible I'll use braid but if the application calls for it I do use flouro.

I do love it for the abrasion resistance though. Braid is cotton candy compared to flouro.

jhoffman reply :

I hate the way its manages on the spool, its copoly, braid or mono for me. Ive tried many many brands, it doesnt matter. You wanna try a good line, get yourself some mccoy mean green.

Southernjig reply :

On 5/11/2014 at 12:42 AM, Grantman83 said:

I agree totally, I love the vicious regular flouro, never have any issues and don't use any conditioner! I like my flouro a little stiffer, better slack line bite detection and hook sets ! IMO you can't beat the vicious flouro for the money!

The only fluoro I have ever hated was viscous. It was junk. Seriously, I never even had a problem with vanish fluoro either.

I have never had a break off on a hookset with any fluoro I have used. I guess I just don't set the hook crazy hard and take extra time to tie knots carefully as well as re tie often. Most of my issues with fluoro are about castability and springiness.

I've had more bad breakoffs with braid than anything else either from digging in on a cast or poor abrasion resistance. I love fluoro and guess I should consider myself lucky when I read all the negatives

Montanaro reply :

My 12 pound cxx copolymer is easily my worst line on my setups....more unmanageable than my 15 pound invizx fluoro and is less abrasion resistant!

Arv reply :

I don't hate it. I just prefer the manageability of braid. I'll use an fc leader if need be with no problems. As far as spooking fish, I don't think it makes much of a difference. If caught fish in clear water with braid before.

sparky241 reply :

Great, I read this the day after I buy some fire line

sparky241 reply :

Great, I read this the day after I buy some fire line

Clickster reply :

Fireline isn't a FC. It was my "go-to" line before I got hooked on Spiderwire's lineup.

On 5/11/2014 at 11:36 AM, sparky241 said:
Great, I read this the day after I buy some fire line

RoLo reply :

This topic started as a fluoro-bashing thread, but became more of a clearing house for the pros and cons

of fluoro line. For example, in March, 2014, Chris Lane won the Bassmaster Elite on the St Johns River in Florida.

Chris weighed in a 37-lb, 9-oz stringer which set the new one-day Elite record and he attributed his win to

65-lb braided line tied 'direct' to a jig. If the all-time Elite record can be broken with 65-lb braid tied direct,

it makes you wonder about the benefits derived from switching to 12-lb fluorocarbon (why take a knife to a gun fight?).

Roger

SirSnookalot reply :

On 5/11/2014 at 1:49 PM, RoLo said:

what possible benefit can be derived by switching from 65-lb braid

to 12-lb fluorocarbon (why take a knife to a gun fight?).

Roger

The logic makes sense if one is a tournament fisherman, as a recreational fisherman it makes no sense to me. 65# braid isn't going to work for me on spinning gear and I don't plan on yanking fish in at warp speed. I'm there to have fun and too heavy a line gives me what I consider to be an unfair advantage over a fish. I'll go with knife over a gun when I'm fishing, bit more challenging for me.

Tywithay reply :

On 5/11/2014 at 11:36 AM, sparky241 said:
Great, I read this the day after I buy some fire line

What's wrong with fireline?

jhoffman reply :

i think fireline was expanded as a line to include a fluorocarbon?

Tywithay reply :

On 5/11/2014 at 8:21 PM, jhoffman said:
i think fireline was expanded as a line to include a fluorocarbon?

Nope.

Chris at Tech reply :

On 5/11/2014 at 1:49 PM, RoLo said:

This topic may have started as a fluoro-bashing thread, but it became a clearing house

for the pros and cons of fluorocarbon line. We've all heard the expression: 'Action speaks louder than words',

well Chris Lane provided the action. Two months ago in March, 2014, Chris Lane won the Bassmaster Elite

on the St Johns River in Florida. Chris boated a 37-lb, 9-oz stringer setting the new one-day Elite record

and attributed his win to 65-lb braided line tied 'direct' to a jig. If the all-time Elite record was broken

with 65-lb braid tied direct to the lure, what possible benefit can be derived by switching from 65-lb braid

to 12-lb fluorocarbon (why take a knife to a gun fight?).

Roger

The point is understood but I don't think that's totally a fair comparison.

When you're fishing in and around heavy vegetation then I think you'll get a lot of folks to admit that heavy braid is the way to go - I'm guessing that even the pro-FC guys would admit to that. I know I would.

But just because it was the right choice for Lane on St Johns doesn't mean it's the best line choice in EVERY situation

Bankbeater reply :

I used P-line fluoro last year and never had any problems with it. Except for being more stiff, I didn't really notice a difference from using mono.

Alonerankin2 reply :

St. John's river is a exceptional fishery, I fished it

For years and years, not at all surprised by that wieght. Using braid in a high level tournament, not anything special..

Brian Needham reply :

My stance is this when they all start direct tying with 65# braid at table rock, then I'll take notice.

Montanaro reply :

Lane was flipping thick lillypads all tournament. Braid isn't as visible in all that cover.

RoLo reply :

On 5/11/2014 at 3:16 PM, Tywithay said:
What's wrong with fireline?

Berkley recently changed the name of their pro-grade braided line from 'Fireline braid ' to 'Trilene braid'.

That was probably a good marketing move because for years, anglers confused Fireline braided line

with the original Fireline fused line. Berkley's Trilene Braid is an 8-member braid like Sufix 832.

Roger

Tywithay reply :

On 5/12/2014 at 10:04 AM, RoLo said:

Berkley recently changed the name of their pro-grade braided line from 'Fireline braid ' to 'Trilene braid'.

That was probably a good marketing move because for years, anglers confused Fireline braided line

with the original Fireline fused line. Berkley's Trilene Braid is an 8-member braid like Sufix 832.

Roger

What does that have to do with fluorocarbon though?

RoLo reply :

On 5/12/2014 at 10:09 AM, Tywithay said:
What does that have to do with fluorocarbon though?

Your question was: "What's wrong with Fireline?"

Berkley Fireline is fused polyethylene, it is not fluorocarbon

Roger

FlipnLimits reply :

F/C is a tool just like rods, reels, and baits. It's us, as fishermen, who must find where it's most beneficial. I use FC for one application only and it's perfect for it. It's a light bait with a slow action rod, and the line has no chance to break. And I use FC for this light bait because it casts easily on a longer rod with a full sized reel.

So again, a tool for a certain job, just like braided line. Everything else works well with XT or XL for me. And the 3K yd spools last a long time, even with very frequent line changes.

Tywithay reply :

On 5/12/2014 at 10:24 AM, RoLo said:

Your question was: "What's wrong with Fireline?"

Berkley Fireline is fused polyethylene, it is not fluorocarbon

Roger

If you read the post that I quoted when I asked that question, the guy stated "great, i read this the day after I buy some fireline." I asked him what was wrong with it in response to his quote. I am well aware that fireline is not a fluorocarbon.

Jeff H reply :

On 5/10/2014 at 9:53 AM, jtharris3 said:
Call me old fashioned but my reels spooled with Trilene XT in green have always and continue to put fish in the boat for me! I tried the FC but didn't like the way it felt and performed at all. I do use braid on some reels and have no problem with that either. Keep the FC and I'm going to drive on with my XT.

Same for me, except I use XT Clear.

2277

I've Had It With Flourocarbon Line! 2024

related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic