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Fluorocarbon, the mysterious 'must have' item for
fisherman. We have all heard about the benefits
of fluorocarbon leaders, tippets and shocks, but
how do we know if fish can really see the difference?
When and where are good times to use fluorocarbon
over monofilament?
These are my opinions on the subject. I reached these
conclusions during fishing outings where fluorocarbon
may have saved me from losing fish.
I headed out early in the morning, planning on walking
the beach for snook, tarpon and jacks. On the way down
to the beach I noticed the amazing water clarity as I
looked for snook in the gently rising and falling waves.
Every minnow, rock, grassy patch and of coarse snook
were completely visible with my polarized glasses.
When would be a better time for an invisible leader
material?
As I reached the inlet I noticed many snook laying under
the rocks so I made a cast. Of course as soon as I begin
to false cast the snook spooked. "That's OK," I said
"there are plenty of fish past that drop off." I was
right, a nice snook eats my fly and takes off for the
rocks. I clear the line, get him on my reel and the
battle begins.
After a series of short runs and jumps into the rocks
I could feel the fish slowing down and began to gain
some line. "Zzzzzzzzzzzz," the drag screams and the
fish is back in the rocks. It went on like this for
about five minutes and I was glad to have a 40lb
fluorocarbon shock (I would have had to use 30lb mono).
The fish eventually gave in and I eased him up on a
smooth rock. As I did, the leader popped, but the
fish was still on the rock. I lipped him, took a
photo and released the nice ten pound snook.
If I would have used a 30lb monofilament leader (you
can't go too much bigger with mono because in clear
water the fish won't eat the fly if they see the
leader) I would have lost the fish long before I
landed him. The 40lb fluorocarbon is the same diameter
as the 30lb mono!
I was amazed, after five minutes of barnacles, gill
plates, rocks, coral and a notoriously abrasive
mouth the leader held long enough (just long enough)
to land a fine fish. I am, needless to say, a
'Lucent Fluorocarbon' fan for life and use nothing
but fluorocarbon when conditions are appropriate.
~ John Brazelton, Redington Customer Service.
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