Fishing Forum

I generally lurk on this site since I don't have much to contribute. I'm living in the Philippines now and haven't figured out where to fish. I've never really done the ocean thing but hopefully I can figure it out and post a report and some pics sometime.

I got my Field and Stream yesterday and there was what seemed to be a decent article on Flourocarbon line. I've never used it because I had no idea what to do with it. Seems like it would be a good line for leaders due to strength, abrasion resistance, sensitivity, and invisibility. The article suggested using a Seguar (sp) knot to attach the leader to mono. Has anyone used that knot? Any other recommendations?

I'll be in Utah for Christmas and plan to do a fair amount of ice fishing. I can't wait; it's way too hot here in Manila. Seems like Flourocarbon might be a good line choice for ice fishing. What are the pro's and con's of using it for ice fishing?

Thanks to everyone that posts. This really is a great site. Keeps my fishing addiction alive and well.
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The only time i have used it is tying dropper flies while fly fishing and running a fly behind a bubble in the uinta's. It seems to make a difference in how many fish hit your offering. As far as toughness, i haven't used it enough to make an educated comment. My friend uses it for almost all of his "add ons" and he was in love with it till last week at East canyon. It kept snapping off, tangling up, and the knots kept coming undone. I am sure there are others here that use it all the time and hopefully they will chime in. I watched a fishing show(The hunt for big fish) on OLN and they were on a river in the Phil.... catching a fish that was huge and devil looking. One was over 100#. Not sure what or where, but you should look into it.
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[cool][#0000ff]Mabuhay![/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Lots of good ocean fishing over there, but a lot of it is costly charter stuff. You can fish from shore in a lot of spots, with light to medium tackle and catch lots of fish of lots of species. There are enough American interests over there that you should be able to get the info you need if you start looking seriously.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Fluorocarbon line? Like most things fishing, that is a subjective thing. Everybody seems to have their own opinions, positive or negative. Me? I have tried them and find them to be more expense and trouble than the higher price can justify. In honest side by side comparisons with my favorite copolymer lines I could not detect greater fish catching (invisibility) qualities. It is not also appreciably any more abrasion-resistant than my Silver Thread Excalibur...and costs twice as much. The knot issue is a big negative with me. Harder to tie a good knot in fluorocarbon that will hold up under heavy action. If you tie a poor knot with the FC, it is unforgiving. And, if you do not retie after every large fish, you will likely lose the next one.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Just my opinion. I know a lot of anglers, especially fly flingers, swear by the fluorocarbon. It can be critical to have super clear leaders when floating flies over finicky fish in ultraclear water.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, for ice fishing, there are at least a dozen good abrasion resistant copolymer lines that are clear enough and flexible enough in the cold to make better lines for ice fishing.[/#0000ff]
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I knew you were hiding somewhere.[]
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Hey,
I respectfully respect the opinions of others, and I will also admit that some days luck just seems to go one way or another, but I will tell you my story:

One day at Strawberry, while jigging in optimal conditions (flat water, no wind, excellent boat control, etc.) my cousin and I were each catching fish and we couldn't help but notice that I was catching a LOT more than he was. And it wasn't because I was a better jigger(?), as I was actually getting more hits than he was. We compared rigs and the ONLY difference was that I was using a 3 foot piece of 6 lb. fluorocarbon leader, and he wasn't. So we switched poles. HE then started getting most of the hits! We switched back...I started getting the hits again! We added some flouorcarbon leader to his rig and we both started getting equal hits! Since then, we have tried the experiment a few more times, and in EVERY case where we could perform a good experiment (conditions must be optimal) the fluorocarbon leadered line gets more bites than regular line.

I admit it could be 100% conincidence, as I have seen first hand freakier coincidences. I respectfully respect EVERYONES opinion on this subject, but I now have a spool of 100% pure fluorocarbon (not just fluorocarbon coated) line that I use for leader, and I use it for purely invisibility purposes. I use a regular loop to attach it to a swivel, and a typical fishermans knot when tying it to tackle, but you do have to lubricate it, before tying.
Whenever I fish at the Berry, or anywhere else where the fish will have a chance to check out my lure before deciding to bite it or not, I use the fluorocarbon!

I do not recommend that it is used as a whole spooled line on your reel...I tried that and it is the suckiest, most memory line twisting knot undoing line that I have ever used...but it works GREAT as leader!

Randy
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You said it best,, "[size 1]strength, abrasion resistance, sensitivity, and invisibility."[/size]
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I use 100% flourocarbon (P-line), top to bottom, while Mack fishing (Summer or winter) and have yet to have a problem with it. I use a 7 turn Uni-knot and have never had a knot go bad.... Yes its true, P-Line is a bit pricy compared to other fishing line. But as I see it, my fishing line is the leakest link between the fish and me. So I will spend a little more because I want the strongest weakest link I can get when playing tug-a-war with a large fish....

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P-line is junk,8lb test anyway,I spooled three reels with that stuff in the spring,and have never had more break offs,I would set the hook and it would break,I use berkley vanish and have for years with no problem like I experienced with that stuff.I tried it and wont waste my money again on it.
just my opion.
fnf[cool]
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I use 6# Berkley Vanish exclusively. Too many times up at Scofield where I catch fish, and my family doesn't. I've also watched ocean bass in Oregon smack the jig with the vanish repeatedly, and not even look at regular mono. It does help, without a doubt.
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I spent the money for a spool of 8lb P-line and a spool of 6lb P-line. I love the smooth casting with P-line, But just when I thought I had a knot that would hold I broke off another fish at the knot. Untill some one shows me a knot that works, I will just use good old Regular clear Stren. I am sick and tired of spending money trying all of these so called super lines that just turn out to cost way too much money and too much grief!
Just my two cents!
James
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Janish???? Now we're talking about pure junk..
I set a real up with 6lb vanish the first of ice season last year and had hook set break offs with the first 3 fish.. The reel was pealed and line replaced with what I trust.
Your certainly welcome to stick with what you feel good in using. I'll stick with my opinion thank you...
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Flourocarbon is the only way to go. I've been using both Vanish and P-Line for years. I go as low as 6lb to a high of 20lb.

Flourocarbon needs to be changed out consistantly. No matter what brand you use; the sun, heat, and moisture will take its toll on F/C. Knots will break and line will fray. If you fish more than once a week, three weeks is too long. Keep your line indoors and out of the sun, and it will last a little longer.

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any of the Flourocarbon lines will work good for ya as long as you take care of it and replace it as needed..

on a side note:
you said your in the Philippines.. one of the things i found to be great fun when i was there was to go out with the loco fishermen and hand line for some tuna! i know it dont sound all that fun but when in Rome do as they do!
all the fishermen i talked to when i was there were more than happy to take me out and show me how is done.. we cought some nice doodoo's as well..
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][red][size 4] Ok, guys I know everyone is entitled to their opinions on things like this. I also know that we all have our preferences as well, so here are mine.[/size][/red][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#ff0000][size 4] For all of my leader needs I use Berkley Vanish. I have used it for several years and it has never failed me. I have caught many large fish using Vanish as a leader material, also i use the Uni-to-Uni knot on most of my lines. Just be sure to wet the knot before you cinch it up. This is just my two cents worth.[/size][/#ff0000][/font]
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The thing about Flourocarbons line that I have learned is that you must wet your knots before you tighten them,and slid them slowly to your terminal tackle.I have not found it a very good casting line,so I use a 3-6' leader.For me it is a must for ice fishing,have proved it over and over again ice fishing with folks that don't use it.It really does vanish in the water.
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What brand do you use?
I always wet my line when tying a knot!
James
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I guess I'll chime in too. My opinion is that the value of flourocarbon really depends on the kind of fishing you are doing. For finesse fishing (with chunks of cut bait, for example) where it is just sitting there and fish have a chance to "check it out" I think that the low visibility properties of flourocarbon can be really useful. On the other hand, when reaction fishing or using any kind of action lure the value of flourocarbon diminishes somewhat. I also use P-Line and have always had good luck, having said that, I have also had plenty of luck with plain ole' trilene XL in low vis green and you're looking at a $25+ difference in price. I pretty well always use flourocarbon leader or top to bottom when bait fishing in clear water (i.e. Lake Powell). Anyway, just some thoughts...
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I've been using the P-Line Floroclear 12 & 15 lb for jigging macks the last 2 years and have had no problems of any kind, including knots. Haven't broken off any fish.

I hate Vanish, though. I have had problems with it in the past and won't ever buy any again.
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2][#002850]Fluorocarbon or not … this is one topic I am quite passionate about. In the last two years, probably the most important things I have learned about fishing is in regards to the type and strength of leaders and the knots to use with them.

First, I prefer to ALWAYS use a fluorocarbon leader on ALL fishing that I do. And I NEVER use it for main line (spool). That includes fishing for those toothy tiger muskys. I would be quite hard pressed to fish without fluorocarbon leaders. As for which brand … I use mostly Berkly Vanish but that is because that is what I have most of. Recently, I have been using Bass Pro Shops® XPS™ Signature Series Fluorocarbon Fishing Line and am quite pleased with it. When I have used up all my Berkly Vanish, I will re-stock with the Bass Pro XPS. The cost of using fluoro over mono for leader is so minimal it is not worthy of discussion.

Now, one BIG thing I have learned about what leader strength to use might be described by asking this question … "If your leader is invisible to fish, why use a light strength leader?" I use to fish for wipers with 8 lb leader … due to breaks, I lost many fish and lures. Changed to 10 lb leader … lost fewer lures and fish. Went to 12 lb leader and lost very few lures of fish. Went to 14 lb leader … have never lost a lure or fish due to breaks since. My logic was that if it is invisible to the fish, might as well go bigger. Same concept with big fish. I now use 20 lb test leader for mackinaw and musky fishing where I used to use 14 and 17 lb.

As for what knots to use with fluoro, when joining super braided main lines (Fireline, SpiderWire, etc.) to fluorocarbon leader, the Double-Uni knot (also known as the Uni-to-Uni or Back-to-Back Uni knot) works well:
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1. Lay the two lines side by side with twelve inches overlapping. Form a Uni knot type of circle on the first line

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2. Wrap the first line around the second four times, through the loop of course.


3. Pull the tag to engage enough tension to close and hold the wraps in place, not too tight.


4. Create another Uni knot on the second line, just like before.


5. Pull the main lines apart to butt the knots against one another. To tighten harder, pull the tag ends firmly. Clip as you like.

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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2][#002850][font "Comic Sans MS"][#002850]Recently I have been using the San Deigo Jam Knot to connect fluorocarbon leader to hooks and swivels. It is a knot that BearLakeMack turned me onto. I like it because, when tied right, it doesn't cut into itself :[/#002850][/font][/#002850][/size][/font]
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Thanks for all the replies. It's been very informative. Lots of diverse opinions and tips. The knot suggestions are great too. Now I'll just have to see if I can learn to tie them.

Hoosier
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I used a lot of different kinds, current one is P-LINE.I use a 9' leader of it using your paddletail worms in a drop-shot rig that works great.I found that if I get a nick in it or a burn it, it it loses strength.I had some trouble with it when I first started to use it,its a lot different than mono.I didn't mean to sound like a smart a** about wetting the knot,just something I don't do every time useing mono.

MIKE
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