fluorocarbon

[Rusty]

I had trouble today with the 7X and 6X busting at the knot to leader and at the fly, and in between. The lines were purchased two years ago. Can this stuff go bad? It was the same brand by the way.

[Micheal Kyle]

Yes over time it will break down. Especially if you get it wet and dry, let it get hot and cold and let the sun light get access to it. There are a few companies that will post a expiration date on it, the date is usually about 2-3 years.

[Snow Fly]

Rusty:

I was reading an article about fluoro not to long ago and it stated fluoro will not go bad on you a/c of age or sun. It sounds like you might have been generating to much heat when you were making the knot, really make sure you dip the knot in the water before you tighten.

Michael:

I guess I should have waited for your post!!! I wish I could remember what fly fishing magazine the article was in.

[Guest flyfishBDS]

Go bad _ I don't think so. Flouro achieved some early notoriety for its refusal to break down in sunlight, unlike mono. A good reason to not discard your clippings.

It is possible you have a batch which was a little substandard, its possible, at one time or other Ive thought the same thing, and we recently had a customer dump a whole bunch of his flouro on our tying desk and buy all new Rio flouro, after experiencing similar problems.

But if I was being honest most of the problems I experience with flourocarbon, and Rio is all I use anymore for trout, its usually operator error that accounts for breakoffs.

I get too lazy to unpick windknots when Im fishing (I do enouygh of that guiding), or something equally silly like put too much pressure on a fish or simply not having the soft hands needed to fish 6x and 7x.

Even with the practice I get at tying knots I still screw up knots I can almost tie in my sleep. Thankfully the fly knot I use the Eugene Bend, lets me know when its tied properly

In my rig I use a Triple surgeons leader to tippet _ which I know is the weakest link in my chain. If Im busting there Im just pulling too darn hard LOl. Middle of the tippet I usually blame myself for not checking it for knots or nicks.

But it is possible you got a weak batch of tippet. This stuff is pretty skinny so the margins for error in manufacturing, as well as fishing, are pretty small.

I definately change over mono I carry on my vest/lanyard etc every year. But some of the stuff I keep buried in darkness remains for a couple.

Cheers

Steve

Took me so long to get this finished off I missed Michael's post too.

Everything I'd read heard was of the same view too. Especially the wet dry. Can you give some more details Michael?

How you been?

[Rusty]

I have read the same thing Snowfly, that is what is so confusing. Companies say it won't, at least they did in the beginning. I haven't read anything about the change from the manufactures of the line. I think I am going to send an email off, and see what their reply will be.

Saliva is used on all my knots.

[gonefishin]

I have used flouro for a long time and have never had problems with it breaking down like Mono does. I did notice some knot breakage when using clinch knots; switched to palomar (sp) and had no more problems.

[Rusty]

Steve, The lines were breaking, snapping not only at the knots, but in areas in between. No wind knots, because I was pulling lightly after tying the knots. The lines worked just fine last year.

[Micheal Kyle]

Why should I have waited to write my post.

I have seen it happen time and time again, I'm not sure what article you are referring to but it can happen and does happen. And as one that uses only fluorocarbon that is my opinion. Maybe we should perform a test and see if it will happen leave a spool out to the elements it will break down how long will it take thats the question. It will not occur as fast as mono does but over a period of time lets say 2-3 years I assure you that it will break down and be weaker.

I for one am a huge Rio fan I have put everything to the test and and truly believe that Rio is the best. One must consider too that when you tie a knot with mono and flour you do create heat and that can break it down as well just as snow fly said. So if the heat that is generated over a knot will break it down, why would the elements over a period of time not break the line down.

There are also times that bad batches are produced and get out of the factory unfortunately that is bad for everyone that is involved.

I will say this that there is only one plant in Japan that is making fluorocarbon, How many people knew that.

Michael

[Guest flyfishBDS]

Michael I can say this after your post _ If you have a spool of flouro in your bag for 3 years.

You need to fish more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Currently Im doing 4 110y spools of 6x a year

It lasts as long as a bucket of icecream in our house with 3 kids

Gee its fun playing with the new smilies _ did you notice I just discovered them LOL

I thought there were 2-3 more factories producing flouro _ but Ive been known to be wrong before..

If its only 1 they must do different things, ingredient mix, for stiffness etc etc.

Cheers

Steve

Oh there was an article in Fly Fisherman on the environmental impact of discarded flouro, probably 2-3y ago. I'll have a hunt and see if I can find it

[Guest flyfishBDS]

Excerpt from an article by Steve Schmidt Western River angler

"""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. """

On the other hand just found a pro bass fisher writing that he had found flouro lasts only 4 times as long as mono. You might have something.