Fluorocarbon Price, is it worth it?

[CatKong]

I want to know peoples opinions on fluorocarbon being used as leaders. I have always used big game stren mono as leader because it only cost $8 (or maybe less) for 400 or 500 yards of line. I want to use fluorocarbon but I have only seen it for sale for $20 for 40lb line and you only get 50 yards. It just doesn't seem worth it to me. Anyone think its worth the price or have a different leader material or brand that's better and more cheap?

I fish rocky rivers for flatheads 30-40 lbs and the big game stren seems to get frayed easily.

[navigator]

I think of using fluoro for clear water for line shy fish.
I don't think most places I fish they can see the line if the water is over a couple feet deep.
I also understand that while catfish have a phenomenal sense of smell they have relatively poor eyesight.

If you are fishing a clear lake it might be worth it but I don't fish anywhere I need it.

I do sometimes use it as a leader when I am saltwater fishing for redfish because sometimes whey are in shallow/clear water and they are rough on light weight mono.

[plainsman]

Some say flourocarbon is more abrasion resistant. I dont' know for sure, but I know that it does also get abraded. If you are fishing on a sunny day with mono, light will enter it and the mono will be more visible under water. That can be fixed by adding a leader. Flourocarbon is supposedly more invisible under water, and some brands more than others, and thinner flouro harder to see. I don't know for sure but I use it salt water fishing for line shy fish. A knot or swivel will stop light transfer and ya only have to deal with seeing the line if its not deep enough or dirty enough water. I don't think it matters iwth catfish I have never bothered to do either.

[catfisherman369]

I have never used it or had the want to (yet) . Mono has been catching fish for me of all species for many years .

If I was a bass tournament fisherman I may have to give it a shot , but I gave up the bass fishing thing 12 years ago .

If I am worried about abrassion I use a heavier mono or Invicta 80 pound braid .

Have also never really looked at the prices of fluorocarbon . However if it was something I really liked the price wouldn't stop me from putting it on the reels .

At our Bass Pro in St.Charles Mo. if you buy a reel they will spool it for free with the choice or line you want . I bet bass fisherman are taking advantage of that deal .

I have used what seems like every mono and braid made over the years and was not impressed with any of them till last year .

I am interested in the answers this will get , but I hope it dont cause me to start wanting to try fluorocarbon , because I will end up trying them all ...... lol

[cantstopgrandma]

Clear water and/or line shy fish would probably be my only reason to use it for a leader. Catfish have never been known to be line shy, but if you fish clear water it might be worth a try.

[brinley45cal]

i really dont see where its that much better then mono for the price,especally if your just going to use it as a leader. several good mono lines that would work just as good for half the price. jmo.

[poisonpits]

clear water waleyes and bass maybe but if i need a more abraision resistant leader material id just go to 40 or 50 lb braided nylon like ya use on trot lines.i use it a lot on cat bobber leaders and see no differance myself.

[psychomekanik]

I tried it once. I'll never use anything else !

[steffenmatt]

I use floro leaders where I fish. It's not about the visibility for me. It is more resistant to fraying. I fish a reservoir riddled with woody cover that is covered in zebra mussels. Zebra mussels are very sharp and just brushing mono across it will easily cut it. Floro will cut too, but not as easily. I even use floro when fishing for big pike that are line shy. I've only had 1 cut-off this way. Depending on how often you lose fish on the rocks, it might be worth checking out.

[8fishermen]

It has less stretch and is stiffer. I like it for those reasons when the situations call for it. Great between the swivel and a three way or as a heavy abrasion resistant leader like stripe fishing where it takes a beating. I use it on my crappie rods for a better feel and less visible. I really like it in salt water for the toothy critters that are not full line cutters like trout.

I don't think I would want it on any of my casting rods as the main line as it is stiff, cat rods included.