Fluorocarbon line vs Monofilament
An angler’s fishing line of choice depends on their inclination regarding desired feel and budget. All modern fishing lines have their pros and cons and the best way of knowing which one is better for you is experimenting and exploring different fishing lines by yourself.
However, we’re here to make it easy for you. Here are some pros and cons of the fluorocarbon fishing line:
Fluorocarbon fishing lines
If money and sensitivity weren’t an issue, most anglers would choose fluorocarbon fishing lines over monofilament lines in any situation. It was supposedly first used in the US in the late 20th century. It offers great resistance from abrasion in covers like rocks, wood and rock.
Also referred to as ‘fluoro’ by some anglers, it is much stiffer than monofilament lines which caused a few issues while spooling it on the reels in the earlier days. Nonetheless, fluorocarbon today is nearly as pliable and manageable as mono lines but still offers a better bait feel.
Fluorocarbon lines are the most favorite choice for jig and worm anglers since there is no match for its sensitivity and the line is almost invisible under water. They allow a more noteworthy measure of light to go through them while mono lines have a propensity to refract light, subsequently alerting the fish about their presence.
Pros:
- Exceptionally low visibility
- Low stretch
- Sinks well underwater
- Doesn’t deteriorate when exposed to UV lights
- Extraordinary abrasion resistance
- Suitable for a variety of fishing knots
- Incredible knot strength
Cons:
- More costly than most fishing lines
- Stiffer than mono lines
- Sinking quality not useful in all angling situations
Monofilament fishing lines
Monofilament lines are arguably the most famous fishing lines on earth. They were predominant lines in the fishing business for a long time due to their availability, effectiveness and affordability in most situations. Mono lines are lightweight and work perfectly in fishing baits that need the lines to neither sink nor float. It also functions perfectly in fishing topwater lures.
Additionally, the monofilament lines have been used for baking of fishing reels. This enables the anglers to use branded and fluoro lines and exploit their sensitivity and strength. In this way, anglers can save some bucks on spool lines that are never used. Monofilament line is an excellent choice for beginners for its user-friendliness and affordability.
Pros:
- Amazing knot strength
- Ideal for a variety of common and basic knots
- Easy to cast, smooth
- Good abrasion resistance
- Affordable price range
- Available in a wide variety of colors
Cons:
- Great stretch
- Weakens in the presence of UV light
- Retains memory
- Prone to water absorption
Fishing line – Buying Guide
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Strength
With regards to strength, there is no competitor of fluorocarbon lines. They are stronger and more resistant to abrasion than the mono lines. Plus, most fluorocarbon lines are thinner with equal or greater breaking strength compared to the monofilament lines.
Fluorocarbon lines don’t absorb water at all. This might not sound as appealing to you but an experienced angler knows how much of a difference water-resistance of the line can make in angling. Your fluorocarbon lines will remain good as new after numerous sessions while mono lines will keep getting weaker with each session because of water abrasion.
Monofilament lines are not weather resistant as well. Rain, humidity, severe temperatures and UV rays can cause mono lines to lose their strength. Meanwhile, fluorocarbon lines are much more impervious to such elements. If you buy fishing lines on the basis of strength, then fluorocarbon is the obvious choice.
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Density
Fluorocarbon lines are denser than water, which allows it to sink in water. While this feature is exceptionally essential for bottom-feeder anglers, it’s a real problem when skating flies, bobber or drifting fishing. Then again, mono lines are not as dense as the fluorocarbon lines which allows them to sink slowly. So, monofilaments are better at setting topwater baits.
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Visibility
Compared to the monofilament lines, fluorocarbon lines have a low visibility. This is most likely their selling point. The rate of light refraction in the fluorocarbon line is almost identical to that of water. This makes the fluorocarbon lines almost unidentifiable under water. With this feature being unavailable in the mono lines, fluorocarbon is clearly the line you should go for if line visibility is important for you.
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Knotability
Many anglers tend to overlook knotability while picking a leader or tippet material. You should remember that it’s very crucial. The knot probably is the most vulnerable thing in your fishing setup. That’s why it is essential to choose a material that has great knotting ability. With regards to knotability, monofilament is the better choice between the two fishing line types because it comes with a greater flexibility than fluorocarbon.
Due to the inflexible nature of fluorocarbon fishing lines, it’s harder to tie knots with them and they often come off. If you’re determined about using a fluorocarbon line, then take as much time as necessary and ensure that the knot is tied properly.
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Stretch
It’s a common fact to most anglers that the mono lines are fairly stretchy. You can examine it by pulling a monofilament line from both ends. A particular level of stretch helps fishing lines to absorb shock while fishing. A line with a lesser stretch level will break easily. Though monofilament lines are stretchier than most fluorocarbon lines, a number of manufacturers won’t agree with the fact.
You can visit FisherReel to check out the reviews of quality monofilament and fluorocarbon lines and other fishing tackle. Their seasoned anglers will guide you to becoming a better fisherman, no matter whether you take fishing as a profession or as a pastime activity.
