Tell me about Fluorocarbon line

[Bushman]

I bought a spool of the stuff a year or so back, but I never have used it as leader material. It was more expensive than mono as I remember. What is the big advantage over mono? It is clear I guess, but is it stronger or more abrasion resistant than mono or Fireline? Back when I was doing some scuba diving, I took a number of lines under water to see how they looked. To my eyes those clear ones showed up as light colored in the darker tannin stained water where I fish. The clear lines worked well in the clearer waters of Lake Michigan though.

[Bill Gunn]

I use it as a leader material for all my fishing rods that have wire, leaded line, or Fireline as the main line, which are all my rods except the one I use for casting for salmon at night, for which I use Trilene 12# XL.
I buy the regular "Seaguar INVIZX", NOT the super expensive leader material fluorocarbon they sell.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Pod/03/68/62/p036862vr01.jpg

On my daytime trolling rods I put on a 50' leader, and the night time rods have 25', in both instances I use 20# test .
My perch rigs I run a 4# main line, and a 6# leader. The reason I run the 6# leader, is that the fish flopping around in the boat is what will break the 4# test leader 99% of the time, not catching them. The 6# is just enough to stop that.

The Fluorocarbon is less absorbent than nylon monofilament, impervious to UV rays, high-density (sinks faster) and nearly invisible underwater.

It seems to work very well for me. In all cases except for leaded line I use a blood knot for tying the lines together.

[Bushman]

How do you think it would work for tying on stingers for my walleye fishing? Is it as soft as say XL or more stiff like XT? Do knots hold in it as well as mono and do you think it would be any more resistant to bite offs like I get with northerns? Thanks.

[Bill Gunn]

How do you think it would work for tying on stingers for my walleye fishing? Is it as soft as say XL or more stiff like XT? Do knots hold in it as well as mono and do you think it would be any more resistant to bite offs like I get with northerns? Thanks.

I used regular 12 to 20# Mono to tie stingers for walleye, but fluoro ties OK, more like XT. I now tie my worm harnesses with the stinger included...

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/22466146/374028259.jpg

On my stingers, I dip the loop end in rubber paint...

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/22466146/374028516.jpg

so they don't come off the hook, works great, but buy the smallest can you can find, it dries up fairly fast once opened (or coat a bunch of tool handles right away...)

NORTHERNS :p

I tie all my harnesses with this...

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/tackle_2067_321865931

But I use 30# test...

Never get bit off again.
I tie to the hook like this...

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/22466146/374029146.jpg

And use crimped sleeves on the loop end...

Neither mono or Fluoro will be Northern/Muskie proof. I've had 20# leaders shredded by them on the first hit!

[Bushman]

Bill, my fishing buddy put me on to that American Fishing Wire camo stainless leader material a couple of years ago. You run some heavier lines than we do, but tying that Surfstrand 10# test as a leader for walleyes, sure prevented the bite offs that we often got from the northerns. I used to use 15# test Tyger Leader which is Nylon coated because it ties just like mono line, but the Nylon covering was getting shredded plus it measured .0163 thick. Not that northerns are that particular, but by going to the AFW Surfstrand uncoated 10# test, the diameter went down to .0075" so a #0 sleeve worked well and the walleyes bit it better. Interesting tip on the rubber paint. Thanks.

[ADK Jakes]

Bill, I tie a small #12 single stinger hook to the end of my XRap for walleye fishing. It gives a little extra hooking power for those nipping walleyes. I also wrap my worm harness hooks with crystal flash to add a little extra flash. I also tie stinger hooks into my Erie Dearies I love the lure but never liked the hook set-up. I use 6lb Seaguar and usually play the fish lightly.