Should I put fluorocarbon on my spinning reel?
Talk about a difficult question to answer.
No doubt you have probably heard a story from one of your friends who put on flouro on their spinning reel and had all kinds of line twists etc.
On the other hand, you really like the unique properties that this line has to offer. The fact that it is extremely abrasion resistant, it is nearly invisibility and it is great at detecting the slightest bite.
With those two reasonings in mind, what should you do?
In this post, we are going to talk an ever so popular question: Can You Put Fluorocarbon Fishing Line On A Spinning Reel?
Let’s dive right in…
Can You Put Fluorocarbon Fishing Line On A Spinning Reel?
The answer is, yes you can. While many anglers may tell you that this fishing line is too difficult to fish with and not worth the headaches, I am telling you that yes you can fish with fluorocarbon on your spinning reel. In fact, I know for certain that I am not the only person who feels that way, there are many other anglers that I know of who fish with straight fluoro.
Why Do So Many Fishermen Avoid Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Bounces off the line. The first concern that many fishermen have when fishing with straight fluorocarbon is that it tends to bounce off the spinning reel resulting in line twists. However, by following the tips below, I believe you can greatly reduce the number of twists and yet still reap the benefits of fishing with this line and its unique attributes.
Expensive. The next concern that many have is the price. Let’s face it, a good fluorocarbon fishing line is expensive and if you don’t want like the idea of spending a bunch of money just for fishing line then that might be just enough to convince you not to use it.
Before You Go Be Sure To Read: The Best Fishing Line For Spinning Reels
Tips To Make Fluorocarbon More Manageable
Choose a thinner diameter. As we mentioned earlier, fluorocarbon tends to want to bounce off the reel. A great way to combat this problem is to choose a thinner line.
One such brand that I really like and would recommend is Seaguar Invizx. This line is much thinner than other fishing lines on the market and thus makes it more manageable when using on spinning gear.
(Another good fishing line worth checking out is the Sunline Super FC Sniper, thin diameter, soft and pliable)
To give you an idea of how much thinner this line is compared with others on the market, let’s do a quick comparison of some of the top fluorocarbon fishing lines on the market.
In each example below, we are going to look at the diameter of an 8-pound test line.
To begin with let’s look at Berkley popular Vanish fishing line. Their 8-pound test is available in a .010 diameter.
Another popular option made by Berkley is the Trilene XL. This fishing line comes is a diameter of .11.
Next up, is the Sunline Super FC Sniper, that comes in at .0093.
Lastly, We have the Seaguar Invizx which offers an 8-pound test line with a diameter of .009.
At this point, you might be saying to yourself “yes, but that is only a .001 to .002 difference, does it really even matter? I say yes, you will definitely notice a difference fishing with a thinner line.
Line Conditioner. If you are thinking about putting straight fluorocarbon on your spinning reel, it is essential that you use what is called a line conditioner. (Side note, line conditioner also works great in preventing backlashes on baitcasters as well)
What is a line conditioner and why is it so important?
Basically, a line conditioner is a lubricant for your fishing line. It helps to reduce the line memory and make it more pliable and easier to use.
While there are a number of different brands on the market, I would recommend KVD’s line conditioner.
There are a few different ways to apply it to your fishing line. The first way is to apply it when you first spool your spinning reel. This is a great way to help reduce the memory and give it a fresh clean.
To do so, simply soak a rag in the line conditioner and pass the line through the rag as you are spooling the reel.
Another way to apply is to do so periodically as you find the need for it. I typically like to spray my fishing line the night before I know I am going to go fishing. I know other guys like to cast out their line and then spray the spool as they reel in.
The truth is, it really doesn’t matter so much how you apply it, what matters most is to make sure to use it.
Don’t overfill. Now you might have just went out and bought yourself some Invizx and you put on some line conditioner the day before you go fishing, but it still seems like the line still wants to bounce off the spool. What could be the problem?
The problem, might not be the line at all. It might be the way you spooled the line or how much fishing line you put on your spinning reel.
(If you really like fluorocarbon, you might enjoy this previous post: A Look At The Best Fluorocarbon Fishing Lines.)
Alternatives To Fishing With Fluorocarbon On Spinning Gear
Braid and fluoro leader. One of the most common alternatives to using straight fluorocarbon is to use a braid fishing line with a fluoro leader.
Braid is much easier to use on spinning reels, so you won’t have to deal with the problems of the line falling off the spool.
And the fluorocarbon leader gives your those invisible qualities when the fish are a little picky about your presentation.
For this approach, I like to spool the reel with Suffix 832 and then tie on a Fluoro leader with an FG knot. You can use just about any type of fluoro for the leader, but I really like Seaguar’s Tatsu for its near invisible properties.
The one drawback to this approach is the addition knot. Think about it, you have a knot from the leader to the lure, and then an additional knot from the braid to the leader.
I am not knocking the FG knot. It is a great knot, but just the fact that you have an addition knot to rely on when you have a big fish on the other end, just makes me a little nervous.
Throw a hybrid. Another great alternative is to use a hybrid line. A hybrid is basically taking two different lines and merging them into one. This way you get the properties of two in one line.
One such alternative that I really like, especially for spinning gear is Yo-Zuri. It is the perfect combination of a fluorocarbon and nylon. The best part, it performs great on spinning reels.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Straight Fluorocarbon?
At this point, you may still be debating whether or not to use straight fluorocarbon.
To help you narrow down the choice, even more, let’s briefly talk about two benefits that using straight fluorocarbon has over the above-mentioned alternatives.
Invisible. One of the best properties of a good fluoro is that it is nearly invisible. That makes it great when using finesse lures such as drop shot, shaky head etc.
However, you aren’t going to get those qualities in a line if you use some sort of hybrid. Sure, you might be close, but in my opinion, the best way is to go straight fluorocarbon.
Detect more bites. I see many anglers who choose to use a braid setup with a fluoro leader and there is nothing wrong with that approach. You will definitely get bites and you will definitely catch fish.
With that being said, there is something about using straight fluorocarbon that makes it easier to detect more bites.
(Does Fishing Line Go Bad? Read More Here.)
Final Thoughts…
So for all those guys on the fence about using fluorocarbon on their spinning tackle, I say just do it! The least you can do is give it a try, see if you like it and if you don’t, you can always try one of the alternatives mentioned above.
Have you tried fishing with fluorocarbon on your spinning reel? If so, please share with us your experience in the comments below.
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