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]

Originally Posted by AndyS

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]

Originally Posted by JDTuna

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.

Originally Posted by Castaway

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.


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]

Originally Posted by ScowardNJ

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