Flouro vs. Flouro

[new2titicus]

Can someone explain the difference between flouro fishing line and Flouro leader material. Is the leader material really clearer than the other?  Its definitely more expensive.

I ordered a leadcore setup and it came with Berkley Vanish, this line is horrible.  I attached 20-30 yards to braid on my spinning reel, every time I open the bail, the line jumps off and gets tangled.

Ive tried Berkley trilene which was much more manageable.

Does anyone happen to re-use their leaders, lets say if they used it for one trip, then decide to change up rigs on the next trip?  I would assume if you use the leader material, at a dollar a yard, you wouldn't just throw it way?  If so, how do you store or repack your leaders?

Thanks,
n2k

[ChrisM]

Any quality line that is 100% flouro (not a mono blend) will work well as a leader, the brand is a matter of preference. The Seagar leaders are thought to best best, probably the toughest, and the priciest. I have tried Vanish too and I hated it. I really like the P-Line brand, I bought a full spool of Halo 8lb which I used as a main line for one setup and I kept the leftovers to use as leader material. It's been great, doesn't coil up and I haven't broken one yet with a fish on. I keep my rods rigged in my truck after trips and replace any leaders that have any nicks or have been used for more than a handful of sessions.

I bought an extra fly fishing leader wallet to store pre-tied leaders a while ago, but I have found over the years that it's faster to just tie new ones as I need them instead of messing around with untangling packed leaders.

[KenH]

When Fluro first came out it was marketed solely as a leader material because it was
so stiff. Soon afterwards manufacturers reformulated it to make it more "supple" so that
it ould be used as a main line. Although I haven't tried every brand out there, the fluro mainline
is still way too stiff for a spinning reel in my opinion and is still goes flying off the spool. However it
is ideal for baitcasting/flatline trolling reels and I use it for my baitfishing and jigging reels. For
jigging Lakers very deep it far outclasses mono because like braid, it has no stretch.
As for using fluro for leaders, I as well as everyone I know buy the mainline and use it for leader
material because of the performance and cost. I always use Seaguar InvizX, with CarbonX a close
second. The lower priced AbrazX appears much more vulnerable to abrasion than
the others so I don't but it anymore.

[arkpov56]

Totally agree with those who use "main line" fluro as a leader.  There is no proven reason, at least for me, to pay 10 times as much for dedicated leader material that provides no noticeable advantage for the money.

For my laker setups I keep my leaders on the leader holder just like this one.
http://www.amazon.com/TKLTMR-Tackle-Tamer-Snell-Holder/dp/B003CUBTLO
It holds 12 leaders of virtually any length, my 4' ? 5' leaders feet there perfectly.  I pre-tie them with the hook on one end and an ant-sized swivel on the other.  My main line is braid with a small snap-swivel at the end.   When I hook the laker and want to release it, or when it is gut-hooked, I'd just cut the leader and put on a new one without tying any knots.
I would salvage the hook and the swivel when I can and would loose only 5 feet of fluro.  A 100 yards of Seaguar InvizX lasts me for a season or two.  Since I never come out fishing without two full holders of spare leaders, I never ran out of them.

Longer leaders used with LC setup can also be stored there, but since I do not loose them that often, I'd rather keep the line on original spool and tie a new one if needed.

[KenH]

"Longer leaders used with LC setup can also be stored there, but since I do not loose them that often, I'd rather keep the line on original spool and tie a new one if needed."

Ark, are you saying this thing could hold a 50-75ft leader?
Unfortunately the photo doesn't tell me much about how the line is actually held.

[arkpov56]

Easy!  Here is a bigger photo:

You put the hook through the little plastic eye sticking out of the Velcro-like fabric, wind up your leader between the adjacent eyes or, for longer leader take up as much space as you need, and than secure the other end with a square piece of Velcro that is included.

[new2titicus]

Ark, This contraption looks useful, I see that it holds weights on the inside as well.  I like the idea of tying my rigs before I get on the water, but not onto my poles, and this might help me get organized.

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The reason I ask these questions is because there are three types of setups that I would like to use Flouro on. 

1. My leadcore, where I have 70 feet of leader.
(I do not change this often, but I would imagine using the more expensive flouro could get costly) 

2. When bait fishing, I use 5-8 ft. leader attached to braid.
(When Im done, or if I use this pole for casting lures, I would like to save the leader if at all possible)

3. When I troll my leadcore setup, I would like to troll my other rod as well (Until I get another leadcore setup).  For the other rod, I use an okuma bait feeder with 8pd braid on a 9ft m okuma pole.
(What I would like to do is attach 20-40 feet of flouro to an ant swivel and then to the braid, then use a deep diving lure to troll about ten feet down, while I play around with the depths on my leadcore.)

Anyway, I guess I'm just trying to get way with using the cheaper Flourocarbon lines so that I can use it for multiple purposes, and be able to change it out more often, instead of worrying about trying to re-use old line because of the cost. 

[KenH]

"3. When I troll my leadcore setup, I would like to troll my other rod as well (Until I get another leadcore setup).  For the other rod, I use an okuma bait feeder with 8pd braid on a 9ft m okuma pole.
(What I would like to do is attach 20-40 feet of flouro to an ant swivel and then to the braid, then use a deep diving lure to troll about ten feet down, while I play around with the depths on my leadcore.)

Paul;
In principle that's a very good idea for covering shallow and deeper depth.
One word of warning is that if you make a turn of 90 degrees or more with the braid line on the inside of the turn you won't have a problem. But if you turn with the braid on the outdside I believe it will cut the corner while the LC will not. This could cause a tangle as the two lines will not travel in parallel.
You could take this into account when deciding on your trolling path.
Ken

[Trout Stalker]

this is a much better leader holder. The one Ark posted is tough with flouro leader.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110618444488&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

[Pointer]

I use the leader wheel Ark posted with Seagar fluorocarbon leader material an haven't had any problems. I always use the Seagar leader material that is sold in the 25yd spools when I'm bait fishing. I've used the InvizX for leaders on my leadcore rods an it worked fine. I believe the leader material is stiffer than than the ones marketed as main line. I also dont like Berkley Vanish at all. When bait fishing I change the leader & hook at least after every trip & sometimes while I'm fishing if I catch a couple fish I'll put on a new hook & leader. On my trolling rods I change leaders on a as needed basis.

Chris

[new2titicus]

Is it possible that that the leader material is a bit more stiffer, where as the main line material is a little more flexible?  Is that the trade off, flexibility vs. visibility?

Ken, I am considering the Seaguar INVIZX Fluorocarbon.  What pound test do you use, what is the difference between 6-12pd, if any?

Thanks,
Paul

[KenH]

Paul;
As far as I am aware both the Fluro leader material and the main line have the same
degree of invisibility, ie; light refraction index close to that of water. The only difference
I've been able to detect has been, as you point out, the stiffness as opposed to suppleness.
Oh and the cost. lol
I use InvizX 12lb test for my LC leader. It has a diameter of 0.011" as opposed to my second
choice of Seaguar CarbonPro 12lb which is 0.012" diameter. I use to to use the InvizX 15lb
exclusively until I realized that the 12lb seemed to be adequate and there was a significant cost difference.
You mention "6-12lb" but for an LC leader I would not recommend anything below 10 lb test as a minimum.
I have lost large fish with an 8lb leader plus trolling LC can cause alot of abrasion.
 
 

[new2titicus]

Perfect! I think i'm decided, thanks Ken and all others!