100% percent Flourocarbon help

[iamtheavalanche]

Today while I was fishing I had two bass break off on the hookset one with a spinnerbait and another with a buzzbait. I have been fishing the river by my house often though.Does anyone experience these problems with Flourocarbon. I used to use Berkley 100% flourocarbon and now lately switched to Seaguar. The berkely line had a lot of memory and would break on casts eventually from getting a kink somewhere in it. I noticed a lot of coils and memory in the line also. Just curious if anyone else uses straight flouro on reels and how they deal with it. Sometimes the finicky nature of it is not worth it. Also does anyone suggests KVD Line and Lure conditioner. I read it works wonders on line. If you have any suggestions I am thinking of trying out Sunline Shooter or Sniper or Seaguar InvizX or AbrazX.

[bulletbob]

I went right back to mono.. Constant broke fish off with hooksets.. HATED flouro!... bob

[AndrewT]

What lb test do you use? It may be too light for those heavier lures. You're talking about. I use seaguar 8lb test on my spinning combos and 12lb on my casting combos. With flouro it's super important to keep checking your line for abrasions. If your line has any, it gets very weak and very easy to break.

[gwl2oneida]

I use yozuri hybrid soft, a copolymer. Ties like mono, resists drying out from uv. If I use fluorocarbon it's just a leader material on my Berkley xl setups.

[UglyStick]

This year I used Seaguar Invizx - 8lb on my larger spinning set-up and 15lb on my casting gear. I also used KVD Line and Lure conditioner. Also, whether fishing mono or flourocarbon I stretch out my line every few trips or if my gear goes 2 weeks without being used. I use mono (traditional Berkley Trilene Red box) or braid on some of my other gear and different types of flouro for leaders but that's a different topic.

With all that, I get no coiling or memory problems (most critical concern on spinning gear) and no more break-offs with the Invizx than I do with mono. Although I did not try different brands of flouro (again leaders aside) when I went to using 100% mono on the whole spool, I did a lot of research before choosing the Invizx and feel that it does greatly help reduce the memory coiling.

Andrew is dead on with regard for checking for abrasion and nicks, especially if fishing in or around rocks and if your getting hits from pickerel or other toothy critters. Eyeball your line near the lure every cast looking for nicks or abrasion and run the last 2 feet of your line through your fingers every 10 - 20 casts (depending on conditions). If you see or feel anything, cut out that section and re-tie. The flouro does seem to damage much easier than mono under the same conditions.

The other thing so many people neglect with flouro is using the correct knot and not abrading or burning the line while tying it. Line failure at the knot is what I believe leads to most peoples break-offs when first using fluoro. Although there are several knots that will work, I always use a palomar knot and the key is keeping every bit of the line in the knot SUPER lubricated (i.e. you can't get it wet enough) while pulling it tight slowly and not nicking or burning it.

This all sounds like a PITA to do, but it's no problem once you make it habit. Does using all flouro catch me more fish than just using a flouro leader? I sincerely doubt it, but I tried it this year since it's much faster (for me) to cut out nicks and abrasion and change lures throughout the day than to re-tie on a section of flouro leader multiple times. Honestly, I think in many situations there is no need for a flouro leader at all (don't crucify me here guys... I know the many exceptions).

[iamtheavalanche]

What lb test do you use? It may be too light for those heavier lures. You're talking about. I use seaguar 8lb test on my spinning combos and 12lb on my casting combos. With flouro it's super important to keep checking your line for abrasions. If your line has any, it gets very weak and very easy to break.

I used 17 for flipping and pitching jigs/creature baits, 15lb for spinnerbaits,12lb for crankbaits, and 8lb and 6lb for spinning reels for drop shot and shakey head. Yea I've noticed if I fish rivers a lot for smallies it gets pretty beat up with the rocks and logs in there. Thats good advice because I my problem occurred in a pond for largemouth after fishing the river in the early part of the day for smallies.

[iamtheavalanche]

I use yozuri hybrid soft, a copolymer. Ties like mono, resists drying out from uv. If I use fluorocarbon it's just a leader material on my Berkley xl setups.

How are the copolymers with sensitivitity. I've noticed I definitely get better hooksets and feel softer hits from bass with it. Just wondered if it has that sensitivity.

[iamtheavalanche]

This year I used Seaguar Invizx - 8lb on my larger spinning set-up and 15lb on my casting gear. I also used KVD Line and Lure conditioner. Also, whether fishing mono or flourocarbon I stretch out my line every few trips or if my gear goes 2 weeks without being used. I use mono (traditional Berkley Trilene Red box) or braid on some of my other gear and different types of flouro for leaders but that's a different topic.

With all that, I get no coiling or memory problems (most critical concern on spinning gear) and no more break-offs with the Invizx than I do with mono. Although I did not try different brands of flouro (again leaders aside) when I went to using 100% mono on the whole spool, I did a lot of research before choosing the Invizx and feel that it does greatly help reduce the memory coiling.

Andrew is dead on with regard for checking for abrasion and nicks, especially if fishing in or around rocks and if your getting hits from pickerel or other toothy critters. Eyeball your line near the lure every cast looking for nicks or abrasion and run the last 2 feet of your line through your fingers every 10 - 20 casts (depending on conditions). If you see or feel anything, cut out that section and re-tie. The flouro does seem to damage much easier than mono under the same conditions.

The other thing so many people neglect with flouro is using the correct knot and not abrading or burning the line while tying it. Line failure at the knot is what I believe leads to most peoples break-offs when first using fluoro. Although there are several knots that will work, I always use a palomar knot and the key is keeping every bit of the line in the knot SUPER lubricated (i.e. you can't get it wet enough) while pulling it tight slowly and not nicking or burning it.

This all sounds like a PITA to do, but it's no problem once you make it habit. Does using all flouro catch me more fish than just using a flouro leader? I sincerely doubt it, but I tried it this year since it's much faster (for me) to cut out nicks and abrasion and change lures throughout the day than to re-tie on a section of flouro leader multiple times. Honestly, I think in many situations there is no need for a flouro leader at all (don't crucify me here guys... I know the many exceptions).

Good advice I appreciate it. Flouro has been costing me a lot this year. Though I have been fishing a few times a week between line and maintaining reels I just shake my head but its part of fishing. I think my problem yesterday was with a older line and having some abrasions in it from river fishing that the knots weren't holding up. I've read that problem on reviews of line and just thought to myself they didn't know what they were doing. As I saw yesterday on hooksets the line would pop most likely at the knot. I will try a palomar usually I tied a improved clinch. I think I might try InvizX next usually just used Red Label Seaguar and earlier in the year didnt have problems but lately its just straight headaches with line issues. Spinning reels I am usually good with but its the baitcasters. If I overspool in the slittest bit it just kinks and coils and then one simple backlash from a lure deflecting something during a cast or from skipping a lure a kink starts and then next cast the lure may go flying. How do you stretch out your line?

[jimmythegreek]

Use either braid or mono for your mainline, floro is a preferred line for finesse live bait like lindy rigs and the like. I use seaguar 15lb floro for my leaders backed with trilene XT 12lb on all my trolling/downline rods, havent had a breakoff yet this year and ive landed hundreds of wipers and some toothies too. The BIGGEST thing with floro is your knots, Ive learned this the hard way. U MUST WET YOUR KNOTS very well, otherwise they break. tie a knot and pull on it hard with no lube and it snaps easily. Mono is less forgiving, but still does it. I use chapstick now OR alot of spit, they never break. improved clinch knot holds best, if using braid tie a palomar knot, its best

[UglyStick]

How do you stretch out your line?

To stretch out your line, go outside somewhere where you have at least 100 to 150 feet of uninterrupted space. I live in the countryside so I have plenty of room but a quiet part of a park or even a large parking lot would work fine. At one end of the space, find something unmovable to hook your lure or tie your line onto. Start walking back from it letting out line under light tension until you have about 10 yards out and stop. Point your rod tip directly at your tie off point (you want to stretch your line here, not flex your rod) and slowly and gently pull back on the rod as you feel the line stretch. I like to pull back and get a good stretch in the line and then hold it there for a few seconds and then slowly let it back forward to relieve the stretch and go back just to light tension. Give it a good stretch but don’t overdo it, you’ll get a feel for it. Walk back again letting out another 10 yards of line and repeat until you have stretched out about 30 to 50 yards of line. When finished, tip up your rod tip and under light tension reel the line back in as you walk back to your tie off point.

There’s no exact science to this but the above is what I found works well for me. If you are using KVD Line Conditioner, soak the spool full of line with it the night before and let it penetrate until the next day when you stretch out the line.

This works really well for both mono and flouro but remember that mono stretches much more than flouro so keep that in mind when your pulling on it. I know a number of guys stretch out their fly line too.

I agree with Jimmy about how most people use an improved clinch with flouro, I personally just like palomars. Here’s a decent video on Palomar knots with flouro – the general points he makes apply to most any knot though. I do suggest lubricating much more and earlier than he does in the video though. I also agree with Jimmy 100% about lubrication.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4lGUK_12Uo#t=294

On a side note, it sounds like you may want to tighten up the cast control on your reel a bit to lessen the overspooling.

[AndrewT]

I used 17 for flipping and pitching jigs/creature baits, 15lb for spinnerbaits,12lb for crankbaits, and 8lb and 6lb for spinning reels for drop shot and shakey head. Yea I've noticed if I fish rivers a lot for smallies it gets pretty beat up with the rocks and logs in there. Thats good advice because I my problem occurred in a pond for largemouth after fishing the river in the early part of the day for smallies.

Those are safe line strengths. Just keep checking your line and always give a pull test. As the other guys stated, your knots are very important and a pull test will let u know if you tied correctly. Whenever I have a decent fish on, I always play it on the light side with the drag. You can use mono too for certain lures too without noticing much difference (spinnerbaits and buzzbaits etc) but for feel lures, flouro is so much more sensative.

[EJS]

To stretch out your line, go outside somewhere where you have at least 100 to 150 feet of uninterrupted space. I live in the countryside so I have plenty of room but a quiet part of a park or even a large parking lot would work fine. At one end of the space, find something unmovable to hook your lure or tie your line onto. Start walking back from it letting out line under light tension until you have about 10 yards out and stop. Point your rod tip directly at your tie off point (you want to stretch your line here, not flex your rod) and slowly and gently pull back on the rod as you feel the line stretch. I like to pull back and get a good stretch in the line and then hold it there for a few seconds and then slowly let it back forward to relieve the stretch and go back just to light tension. Give it a good stretch but don’t overdo it, you’ll get a feel for it. Walk back again letting out another 10 yards of line and repeat until you have stretched out about 30 to 50 yards of line. When finished, tip up your rod tip and under light tension reel the line back in as you walk back to your tie off point.

There’s no exact science to this but the above is what I found works well for me. If you are using KVD Line Conditioner, soak the spool full of line with it the night before and let it penetrate until the next day when you stretch out the line.

This works really well for both mono and flouro but remember that mono stretches much more than flouro so keep that in mind when your pulling on it. I know a number of guys stretch out their fly line too.

I agree with Jimmy about how most people use an improved clinch with flouro, I personally just like palomars. Here’s a decent video on Palomar knots with flouro – the general points he makes apply to most any knot though. I do suggest lubricating much more and earlier than he does in the video though. I also agree with Jimmy 100% about lubrication.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4lGUK_12Uo#t=294

On a side note, it sounds like you may want to tighten up the cast control on your reel a bit to lessen the overspooling.

UglyStick has it right, switch your knot. If thats not an option, I would say ensure the line is wet when tieing the knot. The friction burns the line and will result in break offs.

[Capt. Lou]

If u take ur light line fishing serious then u can buy the very best fluoro Blackwater, no issues with knots etc. I use their finesse line for all my troutin & landed numerous big girls over the past several seasons. Tie regular knots , no coils due to lack of memory better than many monos
its expensive so I simply purchase 300 m spools back it & use 100yds at a time. My use is primarily for trout in clear water ! Sometimes I walleye jig with it but regular run of the mill fluoros OK here, often straight mono fine as welll.
Usually lasts full season & I trout fish over 60 days per season ! Fluoro carbons R not all made the same the more refined products R Japanese who were the first to market this product! U get what u pay for. Heavier tests for salt & havy fishing many standard brands R suitable but Gamma is tops in my book in that catergory.

[briansnat]

I tried floro on my spinning reels and hate it. The tangles and wind knots were increased to the point where I spent half my time untangling knots like a newbie.

I still use floro leaders on braid with my bait casting and trolling gear however. Never again on spinning gear.

I know that doesn't answer your question but I've also heard that using the wrong knot with floro can cause line failure.

[baetis]

IMO there is a huge difference in flouro leaders and lines. I've never had a problem with it as a leader, but tried the line once and would never consider using it again. The Segauer web page says they use different resins and manufacturing procedures for each. Maybe the Japanese lines are better, never used them.

[UglyStick]

With flourocarbon lines, like most other things, you get what you pay for. They are not cheap to begin with and the better lines drastically go up in price. I suggested Seaguar InvizX as it gives me satisfactory performance at a somewhat affordable price. If price was no object, I would probably be using Seaguar Tatsu but at twice the price of InviszX, I don't see the return on investment.

As I mentioned earlier, I did a LOT of research on this before choosing a line as I didn't want to have to go through all the frustration that many have expressed here in addition to endless trial and error.

This was the first year I used 100% flouro for an entire season on 3 of my most used rod/reel combo's (2 spinning and 1 casting), not including my drop shot rod where I still just use a flouro leader, my muskie gear, trolling rods or salt gear.

I have to say I've learned a lot about where and when it makes sense to use, when it doesn't and when it doesn't really matter. I probably won't use it on my casting rod next year and will only use it in certain circumstances on my 2 go-to spinning rods. Since I have multiple spools for my spinning reels, I will just swap between either a spool of mono or a spool of flouro depending on the circumstances. In all honesty, except for a few super finesse situations, I'm of the opinion that just using a flouro leader is probably the cheapest and best solution for most all anglers and situations where flouro is even needed.