Is there any difference in FC leader and FC line? I may want to try some for leaders,but Cabela's wants $7 for 25yds of leader. They sell 200yds of FC line for $11. Is it the same stuff?

I was told at a salmon u. class not to use the f/c "line" as a leader. Never asked why. Used some line on a spinning reel. Big mistake! Even though it was only 10lb. test, it kept jumping off the reel (can you say memory). Unbelievably tough though. Finally beat me into submission and it ended up in the can.

I do not believe there is any difference between the f/c line and the f/cleader material, kinda like the way the Maxima line and leaders are spooled. This material is very different though and is best used with a specific purpose in mind. Not only is it expensive but it has some unique properties. More "invisible" than many lines, it sinks and it is hard to tie a strong knot with. Only thing I use it for is fly leaders when chironomid fishing where the fish are line shy and I want my bug to get down quick. Otherwise I wouldn't bother with it. It might be alot more expensive as leader material because most people want to buy it that way and very few people use it as mainline or in bulk.

The only flourocarbon line I've ever used was stren.

IT SUCKED! Knot breakin' hunk of sh#%!
leader or mainline??? It gets a thumbs down from me!

All of the flo tends to be stiff and brittle. And it will sink A dry fly. i have had no personal experience with it but I have heard on this site and others that the best stuff is Seegar and you can get it from Cabelas.Isaw it in a tackle shop on Widby Isl. last weekend and i think they wanted about $8.00 A spool

I filled my reel up with the vanish floro line fished with it for three days last year on the opener. When I got home it vanished off my reel to the dump. I lost way to many fish. I didnt like the way it felt when a fish was biting. I troll most of the time and the fish would hit it. It felt like the line was solid no stretch nothing. So one good dink on the line and fish gone. I switched back to izorline and its mutch better stuff no florocarbon for me. I have heard that the more expensive stuff like seaguar is better but I aint wasting anymore money to find out.

I read an article not to long ago about this stuff and the author used p-line and loved it. He did say not to use the main line for leader or vise a versa. I have no experience myself with it.

The main difference between FC line and FC leader is the stiffness. The FC leader is stiffer and slightly more abrasion resistant. FC leader in 50# or 60# is a good choice for leaders on hootchies because it transfers most of the motion off the flasher to the hootchy creating a lot of action. The best for the money is Seguar (sp?). However, if you can find it, standard Mason leader beats FC anyday- much cheaper too. If you do find Mason, please let me know.

Downriggin'

Mason leader? Don't believe I've heard of that brand (type) care to elaborate?

Thanx,
Roger

Mason leader is mainly a fly fishing leader material- very stiff and very abrasion resistant. Mainly used for leader butts, but in larger sizes can be used as a running line. It is just darn hard to find in 50# or 60#. Most fly shops won't special order it unless you buy in bulk.

Can you say Island tonight?

Downriggin'

The vanish fluorocarbon is garbage. I used it (17#) on mainline fishing for blackmouth and kings. Two hook ups, two broken lines, took flashers, leaders, and spoons. It broke at the knot on the flasher both times. I was told after that the Vanish is the worst. Knot strength was weak when f/c first came out. Don't know if it still is. My Seaguar 50# and 20# leader just came today from cabelas. I am sure the 50# will do the trick. Will let you know if I ever get time to go out again.

I've used and abused Seguar for leaders on Steelies and lake trout for about three years now. This stuff is a great leader material. It's admittedly a little more difficult to deal with than regular leaders like Maxima.

The best knot I've used on Seguar is the uni-knot. Four turns and call it good. Studies have also been done relevant to FC on lubricating the knot to allow for the best knot strength. If you use water or saliva it's recommended to use it VERY liberally. Sometimes I use oily attractant scents for this purpose and seems to work well. The egg loop knot holds just as good as regular mono. When pulling the line through the egg loop knot, make certain you lube it or you will abrade the line.

I've used at least five other brands of FC to include Vanish (the worst IMHO), Stren, Orvis, Umpqua, and Climax. None of these even holds a close second to Seguar. I've also used 2,4 6,8,10 and 12 pound lines. Seguar is the most consistent from my experience. As you can probably tell from the line weights, I have used this for fly fishing and also drift fishing.

I've also used Mason for Salmon fishing. Seems to me they carry it at Holiday Sports in Burlington (Just off I-5 at the Hwy 20 exit).

Tight Lines!

I've been using yozuri hybrid as main and leader and really like it. My buddy and i both put it to the trest on nisqually chums and never had a breakoff, just have to pay attention to knots, it is very slippery line and will come undone if you mess up a knot.

I use Fluorocarbon leader in clear to semi-clear water situations when fishing for salmon, steelhead, trout, bass, walleye, perch, crappie, you name it. It works great as leader but horrible as main line. Stren and seaguar both make high impact fluorocarbon leaders that work great. You only need this line if you want to present your bait or lure to a fish without the line that is attached being visible. If you don't care about the fish seeing the line attached then don't waste your money.

Just my 2 cents

Titanium n Seaguar -- thanx fer the info! Anythang that is invisible in H2O is good in my book! Apprecite ya pointin us 2 da good stuff -- Yozurri, they market a FC line?

Sincerely,
Arr Cubed

I fish Lake Ontario and it's Tribs (I believe some of the clearest water you will find) and flurocarbon leader material is key) I agree with the other posters that Stren and Vanish are garbage. Seaguar is all I use and it is super durable, great for leaders. One word of caution: flurocarbon does not hold up in cold temperatures (sub freezing). It becomes very brittle.

I tried Vanish as my mainline and couldn't caste it. The stuff look ok in the water, but I couldn't deliver the goods to the fish! I spent more time pulling line off by hand that day. One day on the river with Vanish was enough.

I was just curious about your guys comments on stren. There are 2 different types of FC made by stren, one is reagular FC filler line and the other is called High Impact FC Leader. I used the high impact stuff up in barkely sound last year on fish up to 40 lbs and never had a problem with line breaking or the knots not holding. Just curious as to what you guys have used. In my experience, most of the filler spool FC have been very brittle with the exception of seaguar. If you haven't used the high impact leader yet, give it a try, it's alittle expensive but I have yet to loose a fish because of it.