braid vs flouracarbon

Ive been fishing flouracarbon a lot this year after fishing braid exclusively. Was having problems getting bites in very clear water using braid switched to invisx by seguar getting more bites in very clear water. Curious as to what everyone thought what was too clear to fish braid want to say I heard anything above about 3 ft visibility shouldnt fish braid. Had a random breakoff sunday on flouracarbon on what I dont think was a very big fish may have been guilty not checking my line enough. Would like to fish braid often as possible but like to get bites too. Been very pleased with invisx line first issue with it. Any thoughts?

i have since the 1980s have always fished copolymer Silver Thread line in green color and feel it works great in any water conditions and have had nothing but great success using it on all my reels in all conditions.. i guess im just old fashion , and never saw the need to switch to anything else since i feel, if it aint broke dont fix.. my fishing partner has reels with braid and reels with mono, and i see him break off much more than i do.. its usually the braid he cusses more than the mono.. i keep telling him its probablly his knot tying .. i cant get him to go strictlly copolymer as i do.. i have never had one issue with silver thread in all the years and the green color does help even in the clear water... or at least it seems to .. no complaints here..

The braid I've been using had no issues it's suffix 832 usually 40 lb. Had issues with spiderwire braid breaking for no reason I stay away from it. Had issues at Athens NE getting bites know that lake full of fish. Far as knots always tie palomar knot been told that's best braid knot heard different opinions on knots for flouracarbon. Had hard time finding braid I liked but suffix 832 is excellent the invisx has been very good though. One tip I can pass along if you use flouracarbon use line conditioner. The KVD line conditioner is a great product been using this year know I've not had single backlash last 4 or 5 trips I mean not even little one been using on braid also haven't tried on mono

I, too use Suffix 832 - 50# or 65# on casting reels and 20# on spinning reels. I tie directly to the bait/hook when using hollow body frogs, T-rigs, and jigs, but I always use a leader with my wacky-rigs. I don't know if not using a leader has cost me any fish or not, but I've had good luck tying braid directly to my worm hooks and jigs at lakes like Ben Wheeler West Twin and Cody Ranch South Twin, both of which have pretty clear water. Same at Timber Lake and Yates Place. Normally, I use a mono leader instead of fluorocarbon because I feel mono has more forgiving knot strength. I use straight 8# fluoro on my ultralight worm rod with 4" wacky-rigged and T-rigged worms. For Rattletraps and topwater, I use straight mono, even though I don't like the way it stretches....but it floats, and I think that's important. Just my opinion, of course.

I've been using 6 pound invisx on my light spinning rig for drop shot and crappie fishing with no issues. Could have had drag too tight might of been big fish I lost Sunday. I've fished Yates before and fish triple j quite a bit and lakes pretty clear. Only other lake I've been to might be clear water issue is six o in cleburne. Planning on going to Yates in fall will be spooled with braid on rods I take for sure. I had read something about possible knot strength issues with flouracarbon can't say I've ever fished with leaders always tie directly to bait or hook. Have been using flouracarbon mainly for fishing flukes and crankbaits braid for topwaters and Texas rigs. Think at Yates will probably only take braid

I've been using T-Line by Mason since the early 90s. It's a co-polymer line, I use the brown color. The stuff is supple and limp for great casting and strong enough that it is almost impossible to break anything they make over 17 lb. test. I've pulled a Skeeter bass boat with 20 lb. test. You have to order the stuff direct from Mason, nobody here carries it now.

Power Pro super slick is the best braid I've found, and it's great, but I only use it for frogs, umbrella rigs and super heavy pads or slop where moving the fish quickly is a must. 65 lb. test, minimum.

I have never found a fluoro that was limp enough to cast really well. I just tried some Seaguar INVIZX because it's tauted as extremely castable and a big improvement over former fluorocarbon lines.  I found it to be dissappointing.  So, I'm not a fan of flouro at all, too stiff.

As far as color, back in the 70s and 80s everybody, and I mean everybody I knew fished Stren flourescent blue line. The pitch then was "it'll help you SEE strikes before you even feel the strike", which is true. I caught thousands of fish on flourescent Stren. Grand Slam is making a renewed run at that market. I've tried their product and it's quite good. I would stick with a green or brown on finesse lures like worms or jigs or weightless stick baits. With fast moving baits where you're trying to get reaction strikes - it really does not matter.

Hope this helps.

May have to try copolymer line. The invisx been pretty good to me but I've been using the KVD line conditioner with it unsure if that reason I've liked it been using on braid as we'll literally haven't had backlash mean not one in last four trips. Gonna be more careful checking line wetting my knots etc. If have more issues with flouracarbon may switch to copolymer.

Hey Jay,

The braid vs. fluoro is quite the dilemma and one that I go through as well.  Fluoro has the refractive index that's unparalleled by other lines being almost identical to water at about 1.4.  So in bright light situations with clear water, it's sure hard to beat.  I throw fluoro on my weightless finesse rigs like a weightless Senko or fluke or on a light Texas rig that won't be going to the deep with low light conditions.  As stated by others, fluorocarbon is hard line and can be tougher to manage but I feel like the Seagaur Invisx-X really balances that out with how supple it is.  You get the benefits of the sensitivity of a "harder" line with less stretch, the sinking qualities and the abrasion resistance of fluoro without having to deal with the waterlogging of mono and that stretch that makes a good hook set at the length of the cast tough to accomplish.  I'm constantly throwing in and around cover of some type (docks, brush, trees, etc.) so I prefer at least 15 pound Invis-X but usually 17 or 20.  Why risk it if line visibility isn't an issue?  Oh ya.....  The cost.  Ugh. 

Braid "exclusively" as you mentioned is the other side of the coin.  There's nothing more comforting fighting a real piggy knowing you have 65 pound braid on she's not going anywhere.  Suffix 832 with that Gore fiber down the center is my choice but there are so many good braided lines out on the market. 

Every couple of years I try to venture back to nylon monofilament or one of the new copolymer lines but my experience hasn't been positive.  Luckily there are so many great products out now that we can all have a different favorite.

Tight lines,

J

Thanks. Had a break off on my last trip that I don't believe was big fish. Possibly due knick in line or something. Heard different opinions on knots with flouracarbon. I have always tied palomar knot exclusive for years but have heard not good for flouracarbon others say ok. Have been expierementing with loop knots on crankbaits. Also with braid on zara spooks on braid on topwater definitely better action. Just don't wanna get line and heart broken on biggest fish of my life if I hang it. Believe flouracarbon to be plenty strong. Pulled up a log with 17 lb invisx when got hung up. I know always to wet knots. Definitely gonna be more cautious probably heading to Yates in next month or so

This turns into quite the discussion on TFF as well and for me, this is the bottom line.  One of the best anglers (if not THE BEST) in the history of the modern world ties the palomar knot on his fluorocarbon line.  His list of accolades dwarfs any angler still fishing competitively.  If the palomar knot on fluorocarbon is what KVD uses, it's good enough for me.  Now if someone is having breakoffs at the knot, there's something amiss.  You have to flip the knot over so the loops are lying on the main line before you sinch it.  As you stated Jay, you have to moisten the knot also.  Some people sinch with the main line.....  Not good.  I don't mind pulling the main line and the tag end until I get the slightest resistance but then exclusively the tag end and wet with saliva.  I've been the marshal for almost 10 Bassmaster elites now and the majority I have been with use the palomar on fluoro.  I think the main issue some anglers have is not using heavy enough line.  Good discussion.

I throw 15-20 lb fluoro on most of my reels, with 65 lb braid on usually two to three combos for jigs, heavy t-rigs, frogs, and c-rig. I like braid for a c-rig more for sensitivity than for the line strength, and I always use fluoro for the leader. I love fishing a c-rig, and I think braid as the main line makes a big difference for me feeling fish when I make those long c-rig casts.

As far as knots are concerned, I think knot tying is blown way out of proportion. There are several knots that work great, and I think you are better off sticking with a knot or two and tying it perfectly than you are looking for the perfect knot for each line type or lure. When you get the knot right, I believe any of the popular fishing knots will hold up just fine and your line will break before the knot fails.

Appreciate the inputs. Had real good results with the invisx been using 17# for crankbaits and flukes. Probably over thinking it. Probably had knick in my line or didn't spit on it. Had no issues till that break off. Pulled up a whole log with the 17# invisx before with palomar knot.

Y'all talking about Braid vs. Flouracarbon.  Here are some privatewater fishermen using rope. 

After watching this I decided rope is the way to go.  Never had a break off.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kdK5RVg7ZNM

Bob,

That is 7 minutes of my life I will never get back.

Steve