Stretch of Fluorocarbon

[j_k_bisson]

What is the stretch rate of Fluorocarbon line?

I am using Trilene Professional Fluorocarbon are a shock absorber leader after my braid. The Power Pro says to use a mono leader tied to the end of the braid as a shock absorber to give strech for hard biting fish. Also will have some give when the fish is fighting. I use Fluorocarbon instead of mono. I am wondering if the flurocarbon strech rate is close to the braid instead of the mono. I can switch over to mono, but wanted the benefits of the fluorocarbon (vanishing).

Last time out even without any drag, just my thumb, I kept loosing fish. Either the fluoro carbon is not streching, or this braid stuff is not my thing. I guessing that this new type of line I am trying has a hell of a learning curve when fighting fish.

Any and all coments are welcome on this one. Just trying to improve my game.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Stretch of Fluorocarbon

I don?t understand what a lack of stretch has to do with your ability to boat a fish. Are you setting the hook so hard your snapping the line? No need for a hard hook set with braid. A quick wrist snap is usally more than enough to set the hook.

To answer your question, mono's typically stretches between 3 - 10% of its length. That means your 18" piece of leader is going to stretch between 5/8" - 1-1/8" in length when FULLY loaded. I find it hard to believe that adding that little stretch is going to make a bit of difference in your success rate.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Stretch of Fluorocarbon

Mono stretches more than fluoro, but braid has almost NO stretch.

Agreed with dingbat, you need less swing on the hookset with braid. Maybe you are ripping some lips out down there.

 

[j_k_bisson]

Re: Stretch of Fluorocarbon

When trolling with in-line trolling boards, the boards set the hook. But the trick is reeling in the board to either unhook it from the line. Seeing you have the drag cranked up so the board does not "spool" reel while running, and slightly tighter to reel the board to the board, the mono line provides the "shock absorber for when the fish fights the reeling motion.

Now I realize that the boad act's like the shock absorber in a way, but this only for small fish. For larger, 10 lb+ walleye's, the board getts dragged under water. This dragging under water often rips the hook out of the fishes mouth if there is no stretch. Also if the fish decides to start jerking back and forth, this motion is normally offset by the strech in mono.

Up until now I have always run mono, due to a tournoment requirment of running this "Power Pro Red", I am having a hell of a time adjusting my game plan. Even with medium light rods and super light drags, the fish are ripping out hook sets. Actually had a piece of fish flesh still on a hook.

Just trying to figure things out. I know you Salt water Fishermen use this stuff, just looking for a couple of pointers on running Braid. Never done it before and not liking it. Last year had no problems reeling in 9-10lbr's and netting them myself with mono. I figure the mono made up for any drag/rod handling/reeling issues I was causing by doing this myself.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Stretch of Fluorocarbon

Why the rule? Is it hard and fast? Do you have to use all braid, or could you put a really long "leader" on there (so that you are following the rule, but really still fishing with mono)?

Sounds like lips are getting ripped. Maybe bring that up to the tourney organizers, surely they care about fish welfare?

I know about zilch regarding trolling boards, but could you use a smaller one with less drag? Is there some other solution, like a float instead of a board?

 

[Fed up]

Re: Stretch of Fluorocarbon

I have a rod and reel that i have set up just for running braid. I have my line set up like you do, but i have a rod with a fast tip and a medium heavy mid section.

When I first went to braid i was ripping lips off left and right with the heavy rod that i was using. So on some advice from a fellow angler I softened up the rod a bit and solved some of my problem. As it was stated before I did (and still do ) have to watch my hook sets. I have spent years bass fishing with mono and medium rods, so i was used to swinging like a madman to set the hook on long cast.

In all it is a learning curve to an extent, I love my braid but I also like mono in some situations. I carry 5 rods on board 2 spinning 1 with floro and one with braid, 2 bait casters one with mono and one with braid, and one ultra light for catching bream and bait.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Stretch of Fluorocarbon

Fed up makes good points. I use braid (though in in salt water) for two applications: 1) to cut through kelp when hogging out calico bass 2) for bottom fishing California halibut, because it sinks fast and because I can feel whether my bait's still alive it's so sensitive (you can feel an anchovy fart through braid!)

My calico rods are very light with fast tips, 8-17 and 10-20 lb, even though I have 30lb braid on them. And my halibut rods are also rather light and rather soft, 10-20lb and 15-25lb with 40lb braid; using circle hooks the halibut practically hook themselves.

 

[j_k_bisson]

Re: Stretch of Fluorocarbon

The rule for this tournoment is this:

Shimono is co sponsoring the event, If one of the top three people to place are to confirm that they are using this specific line, then they win four Shimono Tekoma rod and reels. If the top three don't place with use this specif line, then the next largest fish caught using this line will win 2 of the rod and reels. SO naturally I'm trying to learn how to use this new line.

Don't know how they are going to confirm that they used this line to catch this fish. I have a buddy that is going to protest any fish until it is confirmed that every rod in the winning boat has this line on it. Yes he is a jack*****. But hey rules are rules. Unless they can confirm with video then he does have a point.

Not a very good system I know, But I'm trying to maximze my chances. Its a either a 1000 or 500 dollars of prizes to be won.

My rods are already super light compared to what everyone else uses. So that should help with the rod aspect. They are medium lights Diawa's. They are made for braid line and trolling. So no drag and treat the fish like it is a virgin on her wedding night. If I reel it in just right, I'll be getting the prize! lol

Any other little tricks. I used the florocarbon as the shock absorber, I'll switch those over to mono. Right now they are 15' I'll increase that length to 20' I did call the organizer and talked to him about this. He did as that I coul just a mono leader. So and type of mono have the most stretch? I was going to tie my spinners with Fluorocarbon, maybe I'll use mono as well.

Oh yeah, this derby is next Saterday.

 

[beckoning]

Re: Stretch of Fluorocarbon

I use both on Lake Michigan trolling for salmon. I keep coming back to mono except when using dipsy divers, which I don't like to use. On paper, braid makes all the sense. In practice, it is too unforgiving, especially on downriggers. I find that fishing with braid is like fishing with wire....great feel but no forgiveness. And yes, in my experience, flourocarbon stretches less than mono and tends to untie itself over time.

 

[j_k_bisson]

Re: Stretch of Fluorocarbon

Good to see I'm not thinking this one too much. And some one else is have these same issues. Thanks for the reply.