lets talk about fishing lines - mono vs flourocarbon
 

like the title says I want to talk about mono vs fluorocarbon fishing lines.

I have always been a hard headed tried and true die hard mono fisherman but I figure its time to move up to something better (if it is) and I have heard that the new fluorocarbon is.

years ago I tried fluorocarbon and while it had good points the lack of stretch in the line caused it to pop fairly easily and often (IMHO) at much less weight then the line was rated for.

seamed every time I snagged an oyster it cut off the line and I never got a chance to pull it free. I would catch a big red and "pop" its gone before the drag could release, so I threw the flouro in the trash and went back to my mono and never had any of those issues.

the only negative I ever had with mono was it dried out and needed replacing every year which was not a big deal for me. now catching specks would shread the line and need to cut off the last 18" of line after 3 or 5 fish or use a heavy leader which im too hard headed or lazy to do.

now all that's been said, what are todays fluorocarbon lines like? do they still break off rather then stretch or do they actually hold the strength they are rated for without breaking?

its not the lack of stretch I have a problem with, its the line popping off rather then holding up under sudden snap action like setting the hook on something solid.

please no braid comments, lets pretend braid does not exist in this conversation, I have used it often and I hate braid and have no more use for it then fishing with a solid wire line.

I use floro .... At the end of my braid :)


Spiral Out

Word

I use fluoro on almost everything except topwater. Several of your fluoro breakage issues comes from the knot. If you crease the line or cinch a knot down dry it will severely weaken the line. The pros for me on fluoro is that it transmitts vibration on a slack line like after you pop a jig and have slack and/or wind blowing your line you can still feel the hit. Fluoro also last for a very long time on your reel. I use the higher end sunline and toray fluoro. To me fluoro is a strong example of "you get what you pay for"

I go with mono for the majority of my line, then tie on the last 40' using fluro. Never had any issues with breaking or hanging up on my rods. I do this on my casting rods and trolling rods.

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X 3

However, I do plan on respooling this year with Trilene Mono on a few of my rods. I will continue to use Fluro leaders as I like the abrasion resistance and the low visibility in the water. I couldn't imagine spooling with Floro because of the lack of flexibility and memory.

I use mono on my topwater/crank bait rod. (Trilene armor coated)

Braid (10# power pro) on all my spinning outfits

Floro on my shrimp tail special combo

Braid for flipping for bass

They all have there purpose IMO


Spiral Out

If you try a quality fluoro you would change your mind. They handle great and have almost no memory.

so nothing much has changed in that flouro is still brittle at knots and kinks and snaps on a quick run in close quarters when you only have 10-15 ft of line out and then it sinks so for casting shallow oyster beds and cork fishing or top water it isn't a good choice.

I find the pricy stuff gives you the best performance in any line category but I don't buy the pricy stuff, I buy the popular stuff priced just above the cheap stuff so ...

sounds like there still isn't anything out there better then mono

yep, I saw all his videos plus several other utube videos comparing lines saying there are no negatives about fourocarbon which I know to be untrue and the negatives they say about mono, the stretch and the fact it doesn't sink, I find as positives not negatives so its all taken with a grain of salt.

unfortunately its impossible to find unbiased opinions and a lot of those videos are not very objective and say things that stretch the truth to put down lines they don't like.

I think there are styles and types of fishing best suited to each class of line and it seams mono is well suited for all of them while braids and flouro have there place and fit "most" but not all situations.

maybe im a simpleton but I want one line to fill my whole spool with and it needs to be one that does it all for under $10 for 200-300 yards

Well stick with mono.

For fishing everything except topwater Sunline sniper or Sunline shooter fluorocarbon will have you wondering why they even make mono anymore.

Sounds like your opinion is the most biased. Get a rod that isn't so stiff and use a different knot, you'd probably like fluoro

Sunline sniper is probably the best all around fluoro with all things considered price included. Its $20-25 for 200 yards but it will last a very long time on a reel if you dont backlash it. I use mono backing on all of my reels so i can just put a long cast length of fluoro plus about 20ft. This way you can spool several reels off of one spool of line.

I was only referring to the opinions expressed in the utube videos, not comments here.

I formed my "biased" opinion from actually fishing with flouro for quite a while trying several different brands and finding I needed 30 lb test in stead of the 15 lbs I usually use just for it not to pop several times on every trip I made.

granted maybe flouro is good "if" I learn special knots and tip them with superglue so they don't come loose and then replace all my rods with light and ultra light ones that have lots of give in them so the line never receives any sharp quick tension so it doesn't break but then how is that saying flouro is better?

by the way, I use 20 lbs test line on medium action spinning rods for reds and I use 14 lbs test line on medium action spinning rods for top water or popping cork fishing and 14 lbs test line on medium light action spinning rods for specks. to go to a softer tip pole i'll have to go to light and ultra light poles.

I am very interested in finding a good flouro to use on "spinning" reels if I don't end up constantly breaking off like in the past.

the manufacturers of flouro line say it sinks better then mono so when used by itself, it will not be best suited for top water and cork fishing. so when even the manufacturer says its not well suited for all uses, I think I will believe them.

even fishing pros say not to use straight flouro for top water and cork fishing because the sinking line pulls the baits in a more downward motion and doesn't give the best action? they say you need to use braid and just add a flouro leader on the end so the braid floats the line while the flouro line is invisible to fish. everything I read about it says flouro is great and there is nothing better "if used in the right way in the right situations" but not in all situations.

I found lots of info that said there was nothing better then fluorocarbon "when used as a leader for braid line" or "when used for deep water crank bait fishing". trouble is none of that is the way I fish.

if forming an opinion based on the facts as I have read them so far and listening to the video recommendations from fishing pros then it is what it is.

bayouchub has said "Sunline sniper is probably the best all around fluoro with all things considered price included" so I will drop a $20 and see how I like it on one pole and compare it for a while. im not biased against it and am always willing to try things again but my past experience has shown it to be lacking in many situations but if they ever solve those problems I will be happy to never use mono again.

for my fishing style it looks like I will still need to stay with the mono for casting swim baits over tidal reefs or shallow oyster flats or top water and popping corks but use about a 6ft flouro leader on the end and I can go straight flouro for deeper water swim baits or jigging structures.

what is this "flouro coated" lines I see out there? is that just mono with the flouro coating or is it something else that's coated with flouro?

Its a given not to use fluoro for topwater or a cork. You dont need to use any special knots just be sure to wet them good and tighten them slowly. I have been using fluoro for the past two years and have never had any of the issues of breakoffs. Fluoro will break if it gets kinked or folded no matter the lb test. Also if your using it on a spin rod go with the lightest lb test your comfortable with and do not over fill the spool. I also wouldnt use a fluoro leader on topwater bc u dont want the line sinking ahead of your bait.

ok, thanks, just goes to show how much bad info you can learn from u-tube "experts" lol. i had a lot of wrong assumptions about it.

i will be using 14-15 lbs test on the speck poles and 20 lbs test on the redfish poles, is that too big? i found i need that size to handle the oysters i come across

no folding or kinking, so i shouldn't store the poles with the bait hooked to an eyelet and folded over the tip then? or is that ok?

yep all I have is spinning gear, cant use them baitcasters for the life of me lol.

I was hoping flouro might be more durable option for cork fishing as a less abrasive short leader so the specks wouldn't see it or tear it up as much with those teeth vs the option of going with a heavier weight line leader.

I hope the guys here havent lost all patience with me for not agreeing to change where and how I fish and the gear I use because of what works great for them and the way they fish.

im just trying to find what will work for the way I fish is all. and unlike most here i live on fixed income so dumping $100 into fishing line is a very big deal for me.

If you are fishing reefs it's good practice to check your line for nicks periodically and re tie according. No matter brand or test.


Spiral Out

I'm curious. Why are you so opposed to braid? Seriously. A premium coated braid is a very good all around line. Especially when used in conjuction with a fluro leader. This is how most of my rods are spooled. I'm like you. All my rods/reels are spinning. I also can't cast a bait caster to save my life and don't see the need to switch from what works for me and that said, I do plan on spooling up my topwater rod with mono this year for specks but will continue to keep 20pound Spectra coated braid on the majority of my rods. I also spool up 20pound Trileen Big Game on my guest rods and my youngest sons rod because it is more forgiving. But for the majority of my use I like the sensitivity, casting ability, strength and logivity of braid for the majority of my needs. Have you ever tried braid?

I have no good answer to that, its not anything tangible but all mental I guess.

yes I tried braid a long time ago but it just felt like cheating to me, like canned hunting deer tied to a fence.

I just don't feel it sporting to use something advertised as such hard to break line and remove all the suspense of not knowing the outcome of the battle because the line may break on you.

I find the increased risk of mono adds to the suspense and sportiness of fishing so I don't feel like I have any "unfair" advantages over the fish and we are closer equal levels of winning and losing in the battle. that's why I like light tackle fishing rather then winching fish in with braid line and no concerns the line will ever break.

braid is great stuff and I don't want to imply I think there is anything wrong with it but I just don't like using them. that said my experience with it was years ago when spider wire was the next great thing and it was being advertised as the "unbreakable line"

admittedly I never gave it enough of a chance because im sure if I went down to 6 lb braid or something small that does break at something equal to the 14-15 lbs break strength of mono, then I might like it and not be bothered by that feeling like im cheating somehow.

I suppose I do need to stop being so hard headed about it and give braid another try.

with braid what is the "true" breaking strength because the last I knew anything about braid it was a lot stronger then the test ratings they advertised. if I get 12 lb braid will it pop with 13 lbs of weight on it?

Mono catches more fish period!!

Braid is good for topwater and big baits like corkys etc

But #S mono will out fish braid hands down no contest on plastics

So when someone catches a limit of fish on braid is a freak accident? :help:

Braid is awful for tops IMO


Spiral Out

Unless it's a really light super slick type.


Spiral Out

You fish plastic with braid, I will fish with mono..

If you out fish me you get a free trip, if you lose you pay for trip, you can fish front of boat and run trolling motor I'll fish in back

Yeah, I agree. I was surprised at ''W''s comment.

As far as being ''unfair''. It's fishing man! If you don't want to keep the fish turn it loose. I fish to catch fish. I use every single thing I can to help me put fish in the boat. I even use trot lines and Jug lines for catfish. Nothing frustrates me more than inferior equipment failing on me during use. I want the best quality I can get to help me be successful. If there is the next world record fish on the other end of that line I dang sure want to make sure I can get it to the boat. If your looking for a challenge pick up a fly rod with a light tippet. That will keep your heart in your throat with a big fish.

I fish a wacky worm a lot at Toledo and Rayburn when water temps are right. I fish with a guy that blames breaking off on mono but he uses old line that he has had for a while. I catch 5 to 1 most of the time on bass on a wacky worm. I finally got him to put a 3 ft fluorocarbon leader and his success rate has gotten a lot better.

So u dont fish braid because its not a challenge but u use 15-20lb mono for specks and reds. Thats hilarious.

Do I get to use a leader? If so let's do it.

x2....anything with treble hooks I use mono or floro.

Yep,

A little stretch helps them get the bait a bit deeper I will agree to that but it isn't that big of a disparity imo. I alternate between both on plastics and honestly prefer 10# braid. I dont use the heavy stuff maybe that's the difference. I can cast really far with it too and on a long cast the no stretch makes for better hook ups but on my shrimp tail special rod I use mono or floro. They all work just stick with what you like just don't ask me to scoot any closer b/c you can't reach em :)


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Yall each have to have a clicker. Here we go. Salty Gate 2014 :) :)


Spiral Out

Nah I just like to stir the pot sometimes...won't happen.

If you get 12lb mono, will it break at 12lb? Have you done tensile tests?

I tried 10 pound before and loved how it handled but got too many wind knots with it. Maybe I got a bad spool but now I use 20 pound stren sonic braid and spiderwire ultracast.

Did you use powe pro super slick ? Cuz I seriously can't remember the last time I got a wind knot. If you don't over fill the spool it's money.
I don't use the light stuff on bait casters though. Just the Stradics.


Spiral Out

Give 10# SS power pro a try on a spinning outfit and thank me lata.


Spiral Out

Nope have not tried the super slick yet. I'm the same way...lighter braid on spinners. Baitcaster the smallest I use is 30.

I would use lighter if not for the oysters.

in 12"-18" water around oyster clumps anything less and you would be cut off too easy

im not totally sport, I am a very stringent "put meat in the freezer" fisherman but I like the fish to have a fighting chance "up to a point"

Where do u fish?

PAC, mainly in the back and not in the lake or canals