2lb mono or 4lb fluorocarbon?

[Castaway]

I don't trust the breaking strength of the knot joining 2lb mono to a 2lb fluoro leader for fishing ultra clear water with micro jigs for winter trout. So what do you think would offer a more invisible presentation, just tying direct to 2lb mono? Or using 4lb mono main line and attaching a 4lb fluorocarbon leader via a surgeons knot?

[JDTuna]

Just fish straight 4lb fluoro. Keep it simple.

[AndyS]

Use fluorocarbon on tuna trips, like 60 lb. test.

Stick with strait 4 lb. Trilene XL in FW.

[Castaway]

Use fluorocarbon on tuna trips, like 60 lb. test.

Stick with strait 4 lb. Trilene XL in FW.

You don’t think 4lb fluorocarbon or 2lb mono would produce more hits this time of year than 4lb mono in very clear water?

[NJSquatch]

Why not 2# floro as the main line. I have using Berkeley vanish for years now and find it to be very strong

[Charlie B]

Anytime you eliminate a knot you eliminate a weak point...Charlie

[nsell]

Castaway,

I have found Maxima mono to be excellent for trout. The Maxima Chameleon 2lb. is a tough abrasive resistant line but stiffens slightly in real cold water. The Maxima Ultragreen is another great line, not as abrasive resistant but very soft in cold water. These lines can also be purchased in 3lb. test, as wells as 2 and 4 lb. Just my 2 cent opinion

[ScowardNJ]

I had issues with flouro jumping off my ice spinner last year. I'm trying straight flouro on a cheep inline ice reel i picked up at the end of the season last year. No possibility of fluoro jumping off the spool and it should eliminate line twist also.

[acabtp]

Just fish straight 4lb fluoro. Keep it simple.
^^^ this
i run 4# vanish. no difference that i can tell in amount of hits and so much less frustration than any 2# line.

I don't trust the breaking strength of the knot...
the knot you use matters even more than the line. here's a sample chart with terminal knots but you get the idea. with the wrong knot you can lose more than 50% line strength right off the bat.
https://internal.bdoutdoors.com/2015/07/1135553_60b2ef2a5e8a64fc1581b3b59ac9b5b4.png

with any knot though, the resulting strength is going to be less than the line strength. so tie as few knots as possible, i.e. just spool with 4# fluoro.

[NJSquatch]

I'm trying straight flouro on a cheep inline ice reel i picked up at the end of the season last year. No possibility of fluoro jumping off the spool and it should eliminate line twist also.

just tried one out yesterday...no complaints and the 1:1 gear ratio makes for a good fight with the pan fish

[Castaway]

Why not 2# floro as the main line. I have using Berkeley vanish for years now and find it to be very strong

I didn’t know they made a 2lb. I’m going to try it.
Lots of great advice. Thanks guys.

[Riz]

i agree with just use one line. flouro. knots are the week point but if you must tie one the line to line uni is my go to . moisten it first before ya cinch it down.

also , a nice co=polymer line I used for trout , and sold a ton of it too , was izorline . check it out

[Chrisper4694]

i use 5lbs braid to 4lbs fluoro leader or straight 4 lbs fluoro

[NJSquatch]

ialso , a nice co=polymer line I used for trout , and sold a ton of it too , was izorline . check it out

this is my goto copoly for bass....nice stuff

[Riz]

its nice stuff, we (LiveTarget) and wendy, the owner of izorline, shared a booth for the rockland show about 3-4 years back. she brought her knot testing machine. it tested breaking strentghs and stretch. pretty cool. she actually taught me some really cool "off the beaten path" knots. one was like the uni knot but its a little more aerodynamic with less "tag" . forgot the name though....:o

[blindalfred]

Anytime you eliminate a knot you eliminate a weak point...Charlie

Agree. The only reason to go heavier on the main line would be with braid (higher pound test, smaller diameter). Not a concern through the ice unless very deep (lakers in Great Lakes). Go 2 lb and kiss he occasional toothy critter goodbye.

[FASTEDDIE29]

I had 3lb Berkeley fluoro ice on one of
My Trout set ups for 4 years! The only reason I don’t have that same set up now is because that reel exploded before the line went bad. I’m a pirate through, I use some weird stuff! Landed Trout up to 24 inches with that 3 lb test.......

[FishOnKV]

I've experimented with different variations of 2-6# mono and fluro with and without leaders when targeting trout and my preferred set up is 4# Floroclear P-Line. I've found that 2# is harder to control and give me more tangles.

[NJ219bands]

I caught a 12 lb carp, 23" tiger muskie, 20" pickerel and 18" largemouth bass on 2 lb fluoro without a leader this year. I believe that I get more action on 2 lb line than 4 lb test. 2 lb fluoro line without a leader is the best setup for catching small fish.