Fluorocarbon

[Fishmael]

I am probably going to change the fluorocarbon that I use this year.  Previously, I have used Vanish Transition, but it seems to break pretty easily.  Has anyone had luck with other brands being stronger?  I was thinking of trying the Maxima, as I have found their products pretty successful while on the river steelheading.  Any insight on other products or the Maxima product would be greatly appreciated.

[TCook]

Fish,
    Last year I experimented with many dif flouro lines, and only liked two brands, gamma edge and seaguar invisx. The gamma was $23 for 100 yards and the seaguar was $12 for 200 yards at D@R (the cheapest I could find). The gamma was much more expensive and I still got the occasional birdsnest because it was not as supple as the seaguar. So I stuck with the seaguar and never looked back. I almost never get line jumping off my spinning reel spools because its very supple, not to mention hauling in 30 pound flatheads on 8lb test without it breaking, and can handle 5 pound smallies taking those lightning fast runs next to the boat no problem. I also found with the seaguar that you can feel those light bites on slack line better than other lines, but I think your rod plays a part in that as well. Do yourself a favor and try it out this spring, you wont be disapointed.

Tim

[MBell]

The bass pro brand flouro is the best I've used for 100% flouro lines.  I haven't tried the new berkley 100% flouro but considering my experience with vanish I probobly won't.  I've heard good things about gamma but haven't tried it because of the price, and I'm happy with the bps line.  I hate spending the money on it but it's worth it.
-Matt

[Skip Johnson]

I tried two different flouro lines both berkley, I think it was transition and vanish 8 lb I used palomar knots just like I have for 30 years and half the time after tieing the knot Id check it and it would break in my hand then Id retie and break it again then Id finaly get a knot that seemed good only to break off a smallie, the stuff is junk and Ive gone back to 6 and 8 lb mono trilene xt and have not been breaking off any fish dunno why I even tried flouro

lets just say my flourocarbon experiement failed horribley

If trilene ever stops making xt mono I might have to quit fishing its the only thing I have confidence in.

hey willie hows that p line working for ya buddy

[TCook]

I tied thousands of palomar knots last year with seaguar invisx and dont remember one knot failing. Only fish that would ever break off was due to zebra mussles nicking the line. i wouldnt give up on flouro just because you tried one brand and didnt like it, which I found berkley vanish to be a poor line as well. But then again if it aint broke dont fix it, so maybe it is best to just stick to what you have confidence in.


T

[Hooksetter]

The P-Line is working just fine Skip. Thanks for reminding me about that nightmare! I think I just got a bad spool. When I got home from that tourny I threw that spool away and have had no problems since. 

I tried the P-Line Halo last year and I like it. It is the only flourocarbon I will be using next year. I use palomar knots and have not had a failure yet.

Willie

[Skip Johnson]

The P-Line is working just fine Skip. Thanks for reminding me about that nightmare! I think I just got a bad spool. When I got home from that tourny I threw that spool away and have had no problems since. 

I tried the P-Line Halo last year and I like it. It is the only flourocarbon I will be using next year. I use palomar knots and have not had a failure yet.

Willie

glad to hear your having better luck with line that was bad brutha sorry I jinxed ya that day but the fun part is its a day youl remember for many many years

maybe I will try the gamma and halo next year I just hate the price for the stuff.

[dashaver63]

I used the P-Line floroclear last year, it's the florocarbon coated co-polimer and loved it. Great knot strength and abrasion resistance. Used it for both my flipping rods and my spinning gear for smallies and finesse fishing. I tried the Cabela's brand of florocarbon but man is that stuff stiff, wouldn't recomend it except for just leader material.

[Dan]

I have been on the Bass Fan Army site and if you join, at no cost, you can buy Vicious Florocarbon at 25% off. Cost before the discount $11.99 for 250 yards. Never used it, but for the price I'd like to try it. I have seen it on a number of sites and forums and haven't heard anything bad about it yet. Here's the link to the site where you can buy it, but you have to enter BassFanArmy in the checkout to get the discount. You join the Bass Fan Army at their site. http://www.wulfoutdoorsports.com/viciousfluorocarbon.php

[Waterfoul]

Over the last couple years I've tried a couple different brands.  Heres my take:

*Vanish.  Junk.  Breaks very easily.  Poor knot strength.
*Transition.  See Vanish above.
*Gamma Edge.  A great line for abrasion resistance and strength.  Terrible for keeping it on the spool and out of the birds nest!  Makes a great leader line (I had a bunch left over!)
*P-Line Halo.  Great line.  Worth the money.  Supple and strong.
*Seagaur.  Another great line with great strength.  Possibly the best out there that I've tried.

I run a lot of braided lines now... and use either P-line or Seaguar for all my leaders. 

[dashaver63]

USACproshop.net has the Vicious florocarbon for 9.99 for 250yds.
I'm thinking I might get a spool to check it out.

[Dan]

Go to the BassFanarmy website and look to the left and you'll see the ad for Vicious. Join the Bass Fan Army and you get 25% off to boot. I'm going to try some too. I have read some good things about it. Cheap enough.

[blakstr1]

I like Seaguar, had a bad spool of P-Line once kind of turned me off to it..i think it was due to shelf life but not sure.

[Cy]

I use a ton of Fluoro and have tried many of them.  I can tell you that too many of them are not worth even trying.  We all know that the Berkley Vanish brands are junk for the most part.  However the New 100% Fluoro from Berkley is REALLY GOOD.  I started fishing it last year and I think it is worth trying.

I also like both the XPS and Cabela's brand Fluoro.

I haven't tried the Gama, mainly based on price.

You can find out more about many of them here.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbontest.html

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbon2.html

Cy

[Fishmael]

Sounds like I have a couple options to try and it also sounds like everyone else has had the same experience with the Vanish Transition.  I lost some really nice fish this year because of that line.  I think for the most part I will use braid and mono, but might get some seaguar for a couple light spinning rods.  Thanks for the info.

[Waterfoul]

If you don't now how to tie a uni to uni knot learn it!!  This knot will allow you to fish braid with all the advantages of florocarbon.  You simply tie on a 6' leader section.  Never had a Power Pro to Seagaur or P-Line knot let loose or break.  I fish either 10 lb (for finesse) or 12 lb (for jigging and such) leader on most of my rods.

[Jighead]

No one mentioned Silver Thread, and it doesn't really surprise me.  The stuff is almost impossible to find at any retail outlets.  And that's too bad because it really is good stuff.

I was always a Berkley guy before I stared using it three seasons ago and I can honestly say I'm not looking back.  It lays real nice on spinning gear and casts great.  I've even used it on a couple of baitcasters on worm rods - pitches great and holds up real well.

The only time it has ever broken on me is when I've neglected it for too long.  I'll push my luck and not re-tie after too many fish, or after it gets frayed a bit from the rocks and mussels - but that's my fault, not the line's.  And we're all guilty of that from time to time regardless of what line we're using.

The only place I know for sure you can buy it is on the Pradco website at www.lurenet.com

[bigjc]

I would have to cast my vote for BPS flouro, and not to bad on the price tag.

JC

[yukonjack2]

Ditto to the comments below.  I switched to P-Line Halo 8 and 10 lb on my spinning gear, and had no issues othr tan the occasional twisted up mess after Drop shotting all day.  Ran 12 lb on my curados for cranks, and was great all season - no knot issues or breakoffs that were not my fault.

Also switched my mono to p-line evolution - what a great copolymer line with a reasonable price.  I'd highly suggest checking it out.

[fowlmouth]

All I use is Seaguar (leader only) tied to power pro. I spend alot on leader but save a lot  of money on the main line-I'll reverse my line reel to reel half way through the season. I get all the advantage of braid and the clarity of fluorocarbon. In my opinion, save yourself a lot of time and learn a good knot for tying leaders( I use the strait line knot). Just my $.02