11-14-2005, 12:09 AM
Here's something I ran across before and found it again.
"On another front, significant technological breakthroughs in leaders, line and tippet material have given anglers product options that are super strong, yet supple, more durable and even invisible when seen underwater by fish an all other creatures for that matter. The latest introduction into the terminal tackle arena is Fluorocarbon leaders, line and tippets. Advocates of these new products profess that its invisible properties and toughness give it tremendous advantages over monofilament lines. Although these products enable anglers to be more successful, which at this juncture is debatable, fluorocarbons long-term environmental implications are worth considering before tying any on.
Both the invisible nature and durability of fluorocarbon material pose concerns that the fly fishing community need be aware of. Of the two, the indestructible nature of this product has the most significant implications. Unlike monofilament, fluorocarbon lines are virtually inert; meaning little if anything will alter this products state. What the angling community uses and loses does not break down under exposure to ultra violet rays or water since fluorocarbon lines do not absorb water. Although there is no known biodegradable timetable for these products when intentionally or accidentally discarded within a natural environment, researchers have stated that it far surpasses monofilaments longevity by 100's to 1000's of years. On the flip side, monofilament lines degrade by 40% when exposed to just 100 hrs. of ultra violet rays and even more rapidly when exposed to water since monofilaments do absorb water.
Every piece of fluorocarbon line, leader or tippet clipped, deposited in a landfill, discarded along or in any body of water or accidentally broken off while fishing will remain for our children, there children and their children's children to confront. Fly fishers have bitched for years about the volumes of abandoned monofilament line left streamside and along the Worlds fisheries. Given the shelf life of fluorocarbon products, the problem will only escalate. "
[url "http://www.utahonthefly.com/articles/fluoro.html"]http://www.utahonthefly.com/articles/fluoro.html[/url]
Maybe a few of you will recogonize the author's name.
Ash
[signature]
"On another front, significant technological breakthroughs in leaders, line and tippet material have given anglers product options that are super strong, yet supple, more durable and even invisible when seen underwater by fish an all other creatures for that matter. The latest introduction into the terminal tackle arena is Fluorocarbon leaders, line and tippets. Advocates of these new products profess that its invisible properties and toughness give it tremendous advantages over monofilament lines. Although these products enable anglers to be more successful, which at this juncture is debatable, fluorocarbons long-term environmental implications are worth considering before tying any on.
Both the invisible nature and durability of fluorocarbon material pose concerns that the fly fishing community need be aware of. Of the two, the indestructible nature of this product has the most significant implications. Unlike monofilament, fluorocarbon lines are virtually inert; meaning little if anything will alter this products state. What the angling community uses and loses does not break down under exposure to ultra violet rays or water since fluorocarbon lines do not absorb water. Although there is no known biodegradable timetable for these products when intentionally or accidentally discarded within a natural environment, researchers have stated that it far surpasses monofilaments longevity by 100's to 1000's of years. On the flip side, monofilament lines degrade by 40% when exposed to just 100 hrs. of ultra violet rays and even more rapidly when exposed to water since monofilaments do absorb water.
Every piece of fluorocarbon line, leader or tippet clipped, deposited in a landfill, discarded along or in any body of water or accidentally broken off while fishing will remain for our children, there children and their children's children to confront. Fly fishers have bitched for years about the volumes of abandoned monofilament line left streamside and along the Worlds fisheries. Given the shelf life of fluorocarbon products, the problem will only escalate. "
[url "http://www.utahonthefly.com/articles/fluoro.html"]http://www.utahonthefly.com/articles/fluoro.html[/url]
Maybe a few of you will recogonize the author's name.
Ash
[signature]