Fluorocarbons

[drag4striper]

My spool of 20# Seaguar Red lable is getting low. And I have been happy with it all but line memory. Can anyone that has used Yo Zuri Pink tell me how well it compares to the Seaguar Red? And does anyone local carry the Yo Zuri Pink. Thanks for any help.

[mwardncsu]

I use the YoZuri pink and like it - I feel its a little thinner and "softer" than some others. I've also used the Red Label and really liked it as well. The "benefit" of the YoZuri is that with the small spools you are less likely to have "old" leader laying around. The downside is the cost....

[mwardncsu]

I don't recall seeing it in CQs, but Gander Mtn usually has it... at least the ones in NC do.

[drag4striper]

Thanks Mike. If I can find some I'll give it a try. The thinner, softer line should help with memory.

[Brian]

I don't think there is a wrong answer here, but my thoughts are a little different from what has been posted.

The things I want out of a leader:
1) Low visibility. I think most 100% flourocarbons meet this.
2) Abrasion resistance. This is a where you have to make a decision. The tradeoff is how "soft" and how much memory the leader has.

I use a leader short enough that it never goes onto the spool. If I want something longer than that, I use a mono top-shot. Because the leader does not go onto the reel, I place little value on softness and lack of memory. The leader I like actually springs out straight when you take it off the spool because it has so much memory

Given these priorities, I use Seaguar Blue (usually the Cabelas branded Seaguar Blue).

I rig it various ways. Nobody asked, but I'm killing time this afternoon, so here are my setups:

Live bait for Stripers: Spool the reel with mono, then a weight slider clip, bead, swivel and a ~3' leader. The mono doesn't tangle as badly as braid and for land-locked stripers you don't need the line capacity that braid offers. With the weight clip and bead, I can quickly switch from planers to live lines to deep lines or whatever.

Spinning reel for casting artificial lures: Spool with braid then a long (~6') flouro leader tied with a knot that will flow smoothly through the rod eyes. Braid casts further than mono but is very visible and susceptible to abrasion so I want a leader as long as possible without getting into the reel.

Saltwater trolling/drifting: Spool the reel with braid and then ~50 yard mono top-shot followed by swivel then flouro or steel leader depending on target species. You get the line capacity of braid deep in the reel but the abrasion and tangle resistance of mono in the line that will usually be exposed and then even more abrasion resistance in the leader.

[johnr]

Why bother with leaders anymore? With YAM pulling that camera around 3' in front of his baits and using all that jewelry in baits, I don't think the stripers care.

I used reels spooled with flouro and braid this spring while fishing artificials and noticed no difference.

[Brian]

Jun 5, 2015 13:40:29 GMT -5 johnr said:

With YAM pulling that camera around 3' in front of his baits and using all that jewelry in baits, I don't think the stripers care.

I agree but the extra abrasion resistance of a hard leader may still bring some value.

[Deleted]

Jun 5, 2015 13:40:29 GMT -5 johnr said:

Why bother with leaders anymore? With YAM pulling that camera around 3' in front of his baits and using all that jewelry in baits, I don't think the stripers care.

I used reels spooled with flouro and braid this spring while fishing artificials and noticed no difference.

Actually it is only a foot. Agreed...The stripers could care the less.

I use yozuri pink myself as I have found the knots "might" hold better. I buy mine from Amazon in the 100 yard spools.

But frankly, I really don't need it.

[fatdaddy]

From Y,ams post I think stingers & Cameras is the way to go !! Stingers for the Studs & Cameras instead of weight ? Keep Emmmmmm Coming Yam !!! Get Out & Make Videos !!!

[striperjohn]

Jun 5, 2015 13:40:29 GMT -5 johnr said:

Why bother with leaders anymore? With YAM pulling that camera around 3' in front of his baits and using all that jewelry in baits, I don't think the stripers care.

I used reels spooled with flouro and braid this spring while fishing artificials and noticed no difference.

I actually shifted away from leader material Fluor..or otherwise this year. I use nothing but Stren Original works great. If I get hung up in the trees--well even with fluor..I'd get broke off about 60% of the time. I don't think it matters, save your money and use a good line as your leader.

[Happy Camper]

I've used Berkley 100 percent fluorocarbon for leader materal with great results.Just a few dollars more than a spool of quality line,i think it's 250 yard spools.Downrods in the trees I use no leader,a pinch on sinker below the weight.when you get hung steady pressure will slide weight to the hook and usally jiggle it loose and get it back.Reset and rebait.

[drag4striper]

Thanks for sharing the wealth of knowledge and ideas. They will surely help me and others be better fishermen.

[Gator]

arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1202/1202.5260.pdf

I think Brian is on to something(see link) and like John says I have fully loaded flouro on some of my reels and have noticed no difference other than my wallet is lighter.

[formula180]

Boy ....do muskies like camera baits..   One bite and the camera is toast.

There is the Hybrid fluorocarbons which contains nylon.

[Brian]

Jun 8, 2015 7:43:12 GMT -5 Gator said:

arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1202/1202.5260.pdf

I think Brian is on to something(see link) and like John says I have fully loaded flouro on some of my reels and have noticed no difference other than my wallet is lighter.

While I am usually right , I'm not sure how much weight I'd place on that experiment.

Too many uncontrolled factors, the biggest of which is the knot. He doesn't detail how he tied the knot. I know for a fact that you can dramatically weaken fluorocarbon based on how you lube and tighten the knot. If he didn't know to control this, his knotted results are meaningless, and unknotted results have no practical value IMO.