When it comes to ultra light fishing, one of the most important pieces of tackle is the fishing line. It can make the difference in catching your limit or going home empty handed. I think that Fluorocarbon Fishing Line has many great benefits but you need to consider the Pros and the Cons. Below I compare fluorocarbon line to the more popular nylon monofilament line.
The PROS of fluorocarbon fishing line:
1) Invisibility – The refractive index of fluorocarbon is close to that of water, making it just about invisible in the water. This, of course, is very important, especially in clear water. Nylon monofilament, on the other hand, is more visible underwater.
2) Abrasion resistance – Fluorocarbon line has superior abrasion resistance when compared to nylon mono. Abrasion resistance is the capacity of the line to withstand wear due to friction, rubbing, or scraping.
3) It sinks – Fluorocarbon is denser than water, making it sink (unlike nylon). This is great when fishing deep. It reduces (or eliminates) the bow/arch of the line which is caused by it floating.
4) Doesn’t absorb water – Fluorocarbon has a closed cell structure that does not absorb water. Nylon monofilament absorbs water which weakens it.
5) Low Stretch – Fluorocarbon is stiffer than nylon making it have lower stretch and higher sensitivity to fish bites. With low stretch line you can feel every little thing that is going on at the end of your line.
The CONS of fluorocarbon fishing line:
1) Manageability – Fluorocarbon line is a little harder to manage that nylon line due to the stiffness and higher memory. This makes it tougher to use on spinning reels. Since fluorocarbon manufacturers are constantly improving their lines, I don’t think this will be an issue for too long. There are already fluorocarbon lines that are softer and have lower memory.
2) Knot strength – Fluorocarbon is *supposedly* not as good with knot strength as nylon monofilaments. You have to take the extra care to tie your knots well (as with nylon). Some of the higher end fluorocarbons actually have a better knot strength than nylon monofilaments, so those lines do not belong in the “cons” section.
I personally think that the benefits of fluorocarbon fishing line outweighs the negatives. The higher quality premium fluorocarbon lines almost completely fixed the negative problems associated with it. I know that I will definitely consider fluorocarbon lines for ultralight fishing.