Thoughts on Flourocarbon line

I would liek to hear thoughts on this topic......we all use it mostly, but how much is hype vs reality


how long does it last

is it really invisible and for how long

I have done some experimenting with lifespan on floro on level wind reels.......the results although not scientific are quite eye opening

looking forward to some input into this

8 lb or less invizX goes bad in 5-6 years, can break with bare hands and goes dull. 25lb can't tell, still clear and and holding, some are 7-8 yr old or maybe more:)

Never spooled a reel with the stuff but make virtually all my leaders out of it. Only exception is if targeting really toothy critters than i use steel leaders.

In theory Fluoro other than the memory issue should outperform mono. It is PVDF - think of PVC and instead of adding chlorine to the carbon chain you add Fluorine. Fluorine forms the strongest chemical bonds known to man and results in a very chemically stable product. This is why in theory Fluoro should last longer and should be largely immune to the affects of UV light damage. Another example of how stable reacted fluorine compounds are is all the "forever chemicals" that have been in the media spotlight in the last few years.

My guess is that if fluoro line is tested and found to perform poorly with respect to longevity it is because the line was made in China and is contaminated with other chemicals that compromise the integrity of the product. We use PVDF fittings with harsh chemicals and in sunlight and they last forever if actually pure PVDF.

I landed a 16lb pike through the ice on a 12 year old 6 lb Raven fluoro leader last April. Knots were 12 years old as well. Was not what i was fishing for but worked for me.

I have zero idea or proof how long it lasts. I do however have 100lb floro musky leader I have been using for 20 years. They are super strong but do discolour with time.

As for invisible absolutely they are not. The only claim florocarbon can truely make for that is it has the same reflectivity as water. This helps it blend into water but it’s not invisible. It just reflects light the same as water. Pretty simple to test. Drop some in a fish tank and look at it from different angles. It’s harder to see than tradition Mono but you can see it.

If we’re talking lake O I do tie flouro leads to play with different lengths etc, but not so sure it makes much of a difference. I fish it a lot in the summer and as you know some days they’re on and some days they’re not. When I run a spoon straight off the rigger I’m not using those leads just mono and still get hits. I’ve spooled it on reels before with mixed results same as other lines. As far as aging I retie all my leads every year anyway. I’m interested to hear other opinions as I’ve thought about this myself.

It is not lake O specific....I just started it here cause nothing was happening lol and it's a topic I

have been wanting to get input on foe some time now


I like the comments so far


maybe I should have put spinning rod reel combos in as well.

other things to consider are costs, shelf life and storage

"I have done some experimenting with lifespan on floro on level wind reels.......the results although not scientific are quite eye opening"

What were the results Longshank? Really curious

Ah ok I just assumed since you’re usually out there hammering fish haha. Well now that I think of it I did spool a couple of ice fishing reels with it this year just because it was on sale. We’re heading up in a couple of weeks, if I don’t get anything guess what I’ll blame it on….

I have floracarbon leaders on most all my lines for last few years and I love it!!! I did find the need to check it for ware, and change it out frequently. first few years I was breaking off more than a few times!!!

Are you guys going to share your results?

I will share soon enough, but am really interested in what others think or eperienced with it so far.


I will leave this one.........several reels have not been swapped for 9 years, except for maybe 1o feet or so at the rod tip.


20-40 pound leaders same thing

other combos are changed on an annual basis.....so far I see no difference in catch rate and or breakoffs


more later

I use 3 to 4 feet of leader material flouro on every rod.....I use anywhere from 4 to 40 depending what I am targeting....I run it through my fingers with every fish caught and only change it if I feel a nick....I don't change it very often and I catch a lot of toothy critters, so the stuff is really durable.

I use it on bass as well as I fish in the rocks.....and the bass are pretty much toothless but love to saw you off on the rocks.

Arnie

I know for sure it helps the sink rate with small tungsten jigs through the ice. I have 5lb fluoro on my stradic 1000 and it works mint!! I only noticed the change when I realised that I had forgotten to change my spool from spring mode to winter mode. haha (I have a spare spool)

But what a difference in the sink rate from 8lb mono to 5lb fluoro let me tell ya!!

Longshank I am with you. I am on the same Salmon leaders for four years now. All floro between 20-40 lb.

ya, it sinks for sure vs mono