Question on a personal observation...

[afishinado]

Why are people so hesitant to get a mask and snorkel, get their a$$ wet, and see for themselves? a lake or stream is not a glass of water. Looking at a piece of line through the surface glare and reflections while it is in the water is not accurate either. I've never witnessed a fish jump out of the water to have a look at a leader from a fisherman's point of view. Taking into account the INFINITE number of variables involved with the visibility of something underwater, fluorocarbon is not any more or less visually detectable than many, or any, of the kinds of nylon mono to which I've compared it underwater from the fishes' point of view. We can almost universally accept that if I can see it, so can the fish.

The "abrasion resistance" of flouro vs nylon is also largely BS, and certainly is not an accurate blanket-statement.

The different characteristics of flouro compared to nylon may make it the right material for you, but the "refractive index" marketing crap is quite literally, smoke and mirrors.

From personal observation:

Visibility of fluoro hard to determine. some claim it is virtually invisible under water. I really can't judge, agree with above.

Fluoro seems sink a little easier than mono but can be used for dry fly fishing except with the smallest of flies. I prefer mono for dries because it does float a little better which allows for easier/better mending.

Fluoro is generally stiffer for the same diameter than mono. Again, mono is probably better for getting a good drift than fluoro since it tends to be more supple.

For nymphing fluoro is a lot more abrasion resistant. Not long ago I ran out of fluoro tippet and used mono instead that day. I found myself tying and retying flies on all day because the tippets were getting roughed up on the rocks.

Try it for yourself.

[cycler68]

I'm wondering if a little experiment might shed some light on the mono vs fluorocarbon debate. Devise a test which tests a fishes (preferably some fish a person might actually want to catch) ability to avoid fishing line. I thought of putting a fish in a rectangular tank, then making a curtain of fishing line suspended across the width of the tank and see how good the fish is at avoiding the line.
I think I have heard of somebody trying this but repeating it wouldn't hurt especially because fish eyes vary in structure and ability to see in various conditions.

[Gigmaster]

Without making any specific judgement...it has been my experience that most fishing equipment is made to catch anglers, rather than fish.
I catch plenty of fish of all species on normal tippets and leaders. I see no reason to change.

[jszymczyk]

From personal observation:

Visibility of fluoro hard to determine. some claim it is virtually invisible under water. I really can't judge, agree with above.

Fluoro seems sink a little easier than mono but can be used for dry fly fishing except with the smallest of flies. I prefer mono for dries because it does float a little better which allows for easier/better mending.

Fluoro is generally stiffer for the same diameter than mono. Again, mono is probably better for getting a good drift than fluoro since it tends to be more supple.

For nymphing fluoro is a lot more abrasion resistant. Not long ago I ran out of fluoro tippet and used mono instead that day. I found myself tying and retying flies on all day because the tippets were getting roughed up on the rocks.

Try it for yourself.

as I said, it is not accurate as a blanket-statement. Perhaps YOUR particular spool of mono was a brand which is very soft, or which had been weakenend due to environmental factors (UV, heat, whatever). Yes, on that day, for you, it seemed that you were tying more knots than usual.

[DaleW]

I'm wondering if a little experiment might shed some light on the mono vs fluorocarbon debate. Devise a test which tests a fishes (preferably some fish a person might actually want to catch) ability to avoid fishing line. I thought of putting a fish in a rectangular tank, then making a curtain of fishing line suspended across the width of the tank and see how good the fish is at avoiding the line.
I think I have heard of somebody trying this but repeating it wouldn't hurt especially because fish eyes vary in structure and ability to see in various conditions.

cyc ~ your suggestion about an experiment brought some humor memories to mind. I've tried I don't know how many little tests and experiments, ranging from color to technique to depth to I can't remember what all. Then have some good success with something and announce (if no more then to myself!) that's it, that's the answer! Only to go to the same place a little later, similar conditions conditions, same rig as before and next to zero results - only to find (for example) a different color worked instead of the previous.

Enough to drive a fly fisherman to drink!