Flourocarbon Advice

[Biz-R-OWorld]

I am thinking about getting into Flourocarbon. I have never fished with anything but mono on my lines. I currently use 6lb. mono on all my lines, and was thinking of tying on a leader of Flouro onto the mono for 2 of my poles.  I think this could help me up when I fish directly below my boat with sawbellies/shiners, they say Flouro is invisible right? Will this help me get more bites?? so my question is how does this setup work? Do I tie mono and flouro directly together giving me 1 knot and 1 knot for hook, 2 total? or should I use a swivel, but then there is 2 knots being tied plus the knot for the hook, so 3 total? also how long of a flouro leader should I use? 3ft, 6ft? etc...Lastly, what lb flouro should I use? 6lb mono + 6lb flouro?

Thanks........

[KenH]

I stopped using mono a few years ago and now use fluro on my baitcasting reels and
a co-polymer (mono/fluro hybrid) on my spinning reels as a mainline, no need for seperate leader.
The main reasons I moved away from mono are that mono stretches and you feel less than fluro/copolymers. This makes a big difference if you're fishing deep as I sometimes jig in 100+ FOW. Most jiggers use braid or fluro for this reason. Also I found mono to be more prone to abrasion/wear and tear. I use to change all my mono lines at least twice a season. In contrast straight fluro can last a few seasons. Mono floats whereas Fluro/copolys sink which makes a difference if you're casting. As a leader many braid users use fluro. The big drawback to Fluro is that it's alot ore expensive than mono. I haven't run accross anyone that uses a fluro leader on a mono mainline but I guess there's no reason you can't. I prefer the same lb test for mainline and leader. Others prefer one to be either stringer or weaker than the other. All personal preference. Connection can be directly tied or using a swivel, again personal preference. If using a swivel I recommend SPRO swivels as size 10 and 8 are tiny. Size 10 will go through the eye of a level wind reel with no problems. Leader length is again a personal preference I've seen people use anywhere from 18" to 6ft or more depending on application. On my leadcore line I use a 50-70ft leader.

Biz- are you using spinning or baitcasting gear? Baitfishing? What type of rig are you using?


 

[Biz-R-OWorld]

Thanks, all makes sense....except that I cast also andhave heard its tough with flouro as it gets kinks in it, etc?

Anyways all my setups are exactly the same.  When I go out with my girlfriend we have 4 setups.  They are all spinning and have 6lb mono.  Since getting a boat on a reservoir, I have begun to fish live bait directly under my boat.  So 2 setups (1 for me, 1 for my g/f) are sent down below with with hook tied directly onto the end of the line, with split shots above 24" above the hook...these have either live sawbellies or live shiners on them. We have had success, as you've seen, though no Trout YET.  Then the other 2 poles I have setup for casting/jigging...if I am close enough to shore, I'll throw strike-kings, rapalas, crankbaits, etc.....if i am in very deep water, ill use a kastmaster or sweedish pimple for jigging/casting.

So being that I read flouro can be tough on the casting setups, I was thinking that the 2 poles I use for fishing directly below me (easier now with fishfinder) should have flouro leaders to help be invisible to fish and help me get more strikes and possibly trout?? I have measured each setup I have from reel to the 1st eye on the rod, and have a quick reference chart so I know exactly how many "pulls" I need to get to the desired depth (where I see fish on finder).

I am knew to boat fishing, but so far my techniques have produced...now with the fishfinder when i see schools, and get my bait to the level, i catch fish...before the fish finder i just looked for what i thought looked like "good spots" and sometimes I caught fish, sometimes I didn't......
but now with the FFinder, and I can locate fish without a problem, Im thinking there is a way to improve on the amount of strikes I get?


Either Im heading fairly in the right direction or I have no clue hahaha

thoughts?

[ChrisM]

If you're going to invest in new line (and if you don't want to use braid) I'd suggest trying P-Line Floroclear so you can avoid using a knot to connect to mono. It's not expensive and I think it actually casts better than mono, it's really smooth and doesn't kink up at all. I filled a spool and use the extra line for leaders. I find it's way more expensive to buy just the fluoro leaders and it seems like the exact same line to me.

Check it out:
http://www.basspro.com/PLine-Fluoroclear-Fishing-Line-260300-Yards/product/30721/-1556738

[Biz-R-OWorld]

heard this stuff is legit? http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_89311_100017002_100000000_100017000?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL

[ChrisM]

That's a great brand, a lot of people swear by it.

[Biz-R-OWorld]

so instead of using it for an entire spool, can't I just use it for the last 3-6 feet or something? isnt it basically the same concept?

or maybe i will use it for an entire spool on 2 of my pools, and leave the other 2 i cast with, with straight mono.

[ChrisM]

Sure, you could just use it for a leader. That's what I do. But it's always good to avoid using connecting knots when you can avoid it, that would be the advantage of using a whole spool. Good fluoro should cast just as well and it won't fray or stretch like mono does. Maybe try it out first on one setup, see how you like it.

[KenH]

Biz-

If those were my setups, I would have the bait rods spooled with mono with a 1/2 oz
egg sinker and barrel swivel. Then I'd have a 3-3/1/2ft Flurocarbon leader from the swivel
to the hook. For the two casting setups I would spool them completely with a coplymer.
I use P-Line CX. If find that hybrids aren't as stiff as pure fluro and work well on spinning reels.
That's where you get the "fluro can be tough on casting setups" observation. Straight fluros
especially the earlier generation were so stiff they'd "spring" off the spool. However in the last
couple of years there may now be softer fluros designed to be spinning reel mainlines that
would be equally good if not better. Leaving aside the inviisibilty aspect of fluro, both fluro and
coplymers are much much more senstive than mono because they have no stretch.
You literally feel everything. First timer uses of these lines often mistake bottom bumps for
fish strikes because they're just not use to feeling everything like that

[johnjav]

hey biz,

I wouldn't use a swivel to attach the mono and fluorocarbon line.  Just attach them using a blood knot.  The swivel will get caught up if you plan on casting.   That line you linked here is great.  I use it and never get any kinks, i use the 6 pound test as a leader for my trout poles attached to 8 pound mono.  For bass, i use 10 pound mono attached to 8 pound fluorocarbon leader.    Make sure the fluoro line is wet when you tie knots, or else you will compromise the lines integrity. 

-john

[Biz-R-OWorld]

Thanks Chris, John, and Ken...

John- I am gonna buy a spool of this and give it a shot...you said you use 8 mono to 6 flouro....i have 6 mono only that I use for everything, so should i get 6lb flouro and go 6-6? I dont want to use heavier mono.

[johnjav]

hey biz,

You can use a 6 pound mono to a 6 pound fluoro without a problem.  Here is a cool animated knot link to see how the blood knot is tied.  Its a great knot that holds up well. 

http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/files/index.html

-john

[Biz-R-OWorld]

Sounds good....how long a leader? 3 feet ok? or better off doing like 6 feet? Thanks......I'll either do a knot or try these, I ordered one pack of 36 for 4 bucks > http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=701910&categoryId=0&parentCategoryId=0&subCategoryId=0&indexId=0&productVariantId=1222014&quantity=1&itemGUID=d1c8be22ac10705653cef03a32fc4117

[johnjav]

i have some of those but stopped using them.  They really interfere with casting but would work if you are just dropping a line.  Def. go with the blood knot, you will like it. Its an awesome knot. 

I put on 6 feet the night before i plan to fish.  I try and have all my gear ready so im not wasting time on the water. 

-john

[Biz-R-OWorld]

yea thats exactly what I do....every Friday night after work I set everything up for the weekend. Thanks for the help..hopefully I have the flouro by next weekend and will try 6 feet worth.