Fluorocarbon Vs Monofilament - Tippets / Leaders ?

[Brian K. Shaffer]

What are your opinions on fluorocarbon as tippet material... ?

Standard regular old fishing line as tippet, or a little more expensive name brand stuff or maybe you use other stuff I didn't even know about ?!?

Or that latest fanciest of fluorocarbon is the only way to go to the fly ?What about leaders ? fluoro or

mono ? Is it the cost ? or..................... ??

[moguy1973]

I wouldn't use fluoro for dry flies since it sinks. I'm pretty sure a lot of people use it though for streamers and nymphs if they need them to get a little deeper.

[Jeff Tief]

Used to use the Tectan mono as tippet material then started having trouble finding it and started using P-line.Tried it for several years and caught some monster fish on the 2# size.Haven't used it now for several seasons just doesn't seem as strong as the earlier versions.Have used the Rio Powerflex in 5 and 6x sizes and it seems to be doing a good job. Buy it the bigger tippet spools and get a full year out of it.Tried some G3 sightfree in the same sizes and it also seems to work well.

[Brian Wise]

Not a fan of Flouro....I have obsessive compulsive issues with knots and they have to seat perfectly for me to fish them and I hate the way flouro knots. I am a huge fan of Maxima for big stuff (streamer fishing) and Rio for nymphing. Maxima knots so well and so smoothly it's crazy and I will use it in the 4lb for nymphing on occasion too.

[Justin Spencer]

I like flouro for tippet, started using it it the clear water of Florida where everyone swears by it. I think you can get away with heavier tippet in the slower waters, probably doesn't matter as much in the fast water. You do have to watch your knots more so pull them tight. I don't bother with flouro leaders.

[rfd515]

I like flouro for tippet, started using it it the clear water of Florida where everyone swears by it. I think you can get away with heavier tippet in the slower waters, probably doesn't matter as much in the fast water. You do have to watch your knots more so pull them tight. I don't bother with flouro leaders.

I think you're more or less forced to use fluorocarbon in the tropics because mono breaks down pretty quickly in the high uv and heat.

Personally, I just use Maxima. I'm cheap and if it's good enough for hardcore steelheaders than it's more than fine for me.

[flyrodman]

I don't like using fluoro unless I have to. Always seems that the line tangles/kinks more when I use fluoro. Maybe thats just me...

[stlfisher]

I have recently gone back to all Mono. Fluoro seemed to break on me all the time...no matter how careful I was when seating the knot. I am not sure if I was doing something wrong, but I doubt I will try it again.

[rps]

Yozuri makes an inexpensive product I find superior to Maxima and any FC. Their Hybrid line is a copolymer extruded with a FC coating. The coating stops UV deterioration and waterlogging. The copolymer base means it ties great knots. It is neutral versus water -> does not sink, does not float. It is a bit stiffer than Maxima, but it does not stretch as much as Maxima. A good second choice made the same way is Lake Fork.

[brittsnbirds]

As far as the knots with Fluro, I have found if it isn't "fresh" it will break. And if you do not wet it prior to synching it down it will break.

As far as the brand, I'm a cheap skate. I use regular Vanish in the small spools in 2 and 4#. I checked the thickness and it is very close to Sea Gar and the others. I just re-spool it on my tippet spools.