Flourocarbon or Maxima

[fishon]

Which is better for leader/tippet material? I have used maxima for most of my time on the fly rod, but a buddy of mine says the 100% flourocarbon is the only way to go. I am not so sure, but a the difference in price, I would like some opinions before switching.

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Tension on the line relieves tension on the mind.

[Jim Sentell]

fishon:

Last summer I was looking for leaders at a local Dick's SG and they didn't have what I wanted, so, I decided to purchase several spools of Berkley Vanish (flourocarbon) and tie my own. You can get nutsy with all the formulas, or just use the standard 60-20-20 and never buy another leader again.

Turnover is fantastic; better that any of the factory leaders I'vs used.

[D. Micus]

i use the berkely vanish exclusively...and it's about three times less expensive than the 'fly shop' fluros

[dleo6446]

Flouro...all the way! It's much cheaper to tie your own and the flourocarbon is more stealthy

(STEALTHY - is that even a word?...hehehehe)

[This message has been edited by dleo6446 (edited 05 February 2006).]

[nsonthefly]

Is there any difference between the 27 yard spools of flourocarbon that the fly shops sell vs. a 200 yard spoil of flourcarbon for bait casting reels?

[jking]

Fluorocarbon seems to sink faster than Maxima so it is a good choice for wets and nymphs.
I have used both types with good success. For a given strength rating Maxima is stiffer and seems more resistant to abrasion with better knot strength in my opinion.

Last year I started using Stroft leader material and I like it better than both of the above. You need to choose it based on diameter rather than breaking strength.
[url=http://www.uniproducts.com/english/fcs-prod.asp?no=38:722d8]http://www.uniproducts.com/english/fcs-prod.asp?no=38[/url:722d8]

[Night Angler]

fishon..

There is nothing wrong with the Maxima..

I use it myself.. and for over 6 years...

Ive used tippets, flourocarbon, and many other different leaders and lines... BUT I keep going back to the Maxima..

[lee sieckmann]

Last summer I used Berkley for the first time. At first, I had problems with breakoffs. I discontined using the Berkley, but wanted the advantages fluorcarbon is said to offer. So from time to time I continued to try it out. Eventually, I found that by changing the knots I was using, I reduced the breakoffs to something comparable to Maxima.

Basically, this meant that I discontinued using the Perfection Loop with the Berkley. The Perfection loop is one of my favorites and I had used it for a tippet loop and even to tie on my flies. The surgeons loop worked better with fluorcarabon. For tying on the fly I settled on the Pritzen knot. It worked fine with the more limber fluorcarbon, and maybe fluorcarbon is better under selective conditions. I guess that is still open to debate, but I am under the impression it might be. To say the least, I'm convinced it isn't more noticable to the fish. I'm am going to continue to use it.

[billknepp]

Just wondering has anyone tried the Figure 8 knot with the Berkley???

Remember that Flourocarbon floats, so it's not very good for dry fly fishing.

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Ken

"The memory of a fisherman is more like fiction than journalism, that is, it doesn't ignore the facts, but it is not entirely bound by them, either."

John Gierach