used flurocarbon last winter for walleye fishing at air temps of 15 to 20 degrees while using 10 lb test seagar i noticed that the line became brittle and broke very easy, this stuff did not hold up well at all in the cold temps, it took no effort at all to break the line, i,m wondering if any body else has ever experenced this or maybe just a bad spool of line? any thoughts?


Tom

I do not like this line at all. The problems you encountered happen in warm weather as well. I got rid of the line I owned after loss of some great fish. :(

I now have come to a point where i ask if there is a good florocarbon line made. I use this stuff as my leader lines off of my dipsys. Ive tried berkley 17lb Vanish...and thats exactly what happens with it...the spool vanishes and so do the fish from the break off's.

I've had better results with the Seaguar, few to no break offs this season using the 15lb. I have tried to go with the heavier 20lb seaguar, but have noticed that it seems weaker than the 15lb.

This year i bought a few different makes, i have stren leader material in 17lb and i also purchased PLine Leader material, ill do some field tests on this stuff next season on erie and get back to u on it.

If any1 else has any input on a good leader material please let me know or post a reply.

CB

Do yourself a favor and get rid of all the high-tech lines. They are all junk. The best leader material I use is Stren Extra Strength Mono. This stuff has the best knot strength of all the lines out there today. Another good product I recommend is the Stren High Impact leader material. This stuff is excellent for making leads off your dipsies or flashers and dodgers. Ray

what i did when this stuff started breaking was to sit there in 20 degree temps with a snow sleet and sum hard rain mixed it type of storm and strip the stuff off and put back on the always reliable trilene xt, i have a few spools of the vanish and the seauar for sale i think its 12 lb test, very over rated and pricey, but i figured for those real spooky eyes that it may up the odds a little, but the fact i never ever got hit while the stuff was on i guess i was better off, it was like the line absorbed water and snapped like raw pasta noodles, what junk.




Tom

interesting comments guys. i have been using f/c line to tie my spinners for two years now. i have had no problems at all. have been using 3lb test for pan fishing for at least that long also. lines are; 3lb STREN leader line & 14lb STREN for the rigs. this is not the leader stuff tho. btw, two 6lb,one 8lb,&one 10lb eyes this year. i do pay strict attention to all my knots. gf2u bill

I agree with Bill. I have been using various F/C lines for the last three seasons for open water and last two for ice fishing. Your knot must be absolutely tied correctly without any heat build-up during the tightening process. I have had 0 issues with these lines - Seaguar mainly. I use them for dipsey's, hand-lining, crawler harnesses and general leader for jigging.

I have to respectifully disagree with your post, and agree with the first responses.

I have tried lots of different brands of florocarbon, been extremely carefully tying knots, mineral oil, under water etc. etc. etc.

However, I have still lost some nice fish.

I am through with it - I just don't want to lose any more fish due to broken lines and or knots.

In any event, on an a/b test - using the florocarbon, compared to various mono - I have found little to any difference in fish hits, and certainly no more lost fish due to broken lines.

I don't know if it is imperfections in the line, temperature problems, abrasion problems, failed knots - or ??

In any event, I am going to let someone else lose their fish on their time.

Enjoy the new year.

REW

Floro or mono, diameter, diameters..... Looks as though the line diameters to test ratio is pretty much the same. When I look for leader material below 20lb test, my eyes and wallet "see" mono. With the braid rigs below 20lb flour is just swivels in the wind.
The primary thought in diameters would be if a 300lb man blocks out or bends more light than a 200lb man. Their are clear monos out there that hold up a lot better, tend to be the same diameter and are comparable in "clearness". As for limpness below 10lb would not seem to matter much to me anyhow. I'll take the stretch and reliability of mono below 20lbs.

This is the worst line if ever used. Vanish 12lb fluro. Line seems to fall apart with various stands breaking in the line,causing weak spots. This was brand new from the box, i'll never use this stuff again.

i,ve talked to others who also said no problems with flouro, but i have had nothing but trouble with it, don,t figure cause i tried sea, and vanish because they were supposed to be the best, key words supposed to, and just for the record have never lost a fish because of a knot.


Tom

Tom,
I fully agree with you, but it seems with the seaguar that is the most common place for the breakage. The line in my book is pretty tough, but i also tie my own harnesses and i make sure that they are like 4-6ft long cause i just clip them directly to the dipsy. I use 30lb mono for this.

But like ive said seems as though the Seaguar 15lb is the best over all, ive been using it for leader off the dipsy for my 3rd year now and still have little problems with it. Also found using a snubber really reduces the breakoff's as well because its acting as a shock absorber.

Also when i buy the stuff i make sure im gettin leader material, u may have the seaguar filler spool for your rod/reel, and the vanish too is made for a filler not for leaders. The seaguar leader material comes in 25meter spools and is like 6 bucks on www.FishUSA.com

Over all id have to say the seaguar is better than the other brands, but still lacks quality. I just got my order from FishUsa, and the Pline material seems to be just as good as the Seaguar, but who knows. Its nice to have that extra edge over the fish, but its not worth losin the fish and the lure over.

CB

I've tries 4 different fluorocarbon lines for use as the main line off the spool. I gave up due to breakage. Tried Vanish, Stren fluorocarbon, Seaguar, and another whose name escapes me at this time.

However, I've had great success with Cabela's fluorobarbon leader material by Seaguar. I use this exclusively for spinner/crawler rigs. It's quite pricey, though. A 25 meter spool of 20 lb. was $9.99. But the stuff is worth it. I fished it over reefs full of zebra mussels and came up with very few nicks.

I wouldn't recommend any fluorocarbons for ice fishing. I prefer the Fireline Micro ICe or Spiderwire Ice for ice fishing.

Are you guys using the filler spools or the leader types? You can take those flourocarbon filler spools and throw them away. You need to spend the money and get the leader only spools. Seaguar leader material comes in 25m spools for $6 - $8. Pricey, but I have noticed a difference using flouro for some applications. I can't afford to use it for everything and don't need to. But, I guess my confidence factor goes up when I use it.

I've tried Berkley and Stren F/C line and had the same problem with the line coming apart and breaking easily. Try the Bass Pro brand of F/C line. It works great and is very abrasion resistant and has good knot strength. It's the only one I've that is worth the monery for filler spool application.

I also have had problems with f/c use during the winter. The best leader material for ice time that I've found is Stren Sensor. Very strong knots with little streching. I have had trouble getting some recently. Does anyone know if they still make this stuff?

As to the original question , I've had trouble with F/C in winter for the reasons already mentioned . As to F/C generally I think it makes a difference in clear water , just like clear mono makes a difference on some days over green or flourescent . I agree that the Bass Pro is descent for a filler spool variety , but usually I'll go with the leader material . Also tend to go with a little heavier line when using F/C . The debate contniues !!!

I have been using Seagar 8" leader for river steelheading and Seagar 10" leader for river salmon for the past two years. It is the best fishing line I ever used. It is very tough and the fish are not leader shy. I have never had a bad experience. Maybe the line getting brittle is a result of ot sitting on the store shelf for too long. Magnathin, now that is some crappy fishing line.

I must be missing something. I have 10 ft leaders of 12Lb Vanish on all my trolling rods (tied to 14 lb Fireline or 30 lb Power pro.
I also tie my spinner rigs w/ 17 lb Vanish. I fish Erie all the time and have caught lots of large 'eyes without any breakoffs. If you're having problems with the knots you may be getting heat build-up as the knot is cinched tight. I dont know about the other complaints of line breakage. Maybe there are some quality problems. As for the mono leaders, thre probably isn't enough light refraction difference to matter in all but the clearest of waters. The increased stretch of mono is probably an advantage with dipseys, and maybe even with superlines.

See Ya on the water,
Toolman