When shopping for fishing line types, your three basic options are braided line, monofilament, and fluorocarbon line. You’re thinking of buying a fluorocarbon line, but you’ve only dabbled with it in the past. What situations call for fluorocarbon?
Fluorocarbon fishing line is more elastic and invisible, so use it when you don’t want fish to see your line. The stretch of fluorocarbon makes it a good candidate when fishing with swimbaits, jigs, chatterbaits, jerkbaits, and/or crankbaits.
Ahead, we’ll elaborate further on what comprises fluorocarbon fishing lines and their properties so you can determine which situations it’s most appropriate to reach for this type of fishing line. Make sure you keep reading, as we have lots of exceptional information to share ahead!
What Is Fluorocarbon Fishing Line?
First, we want to begin with some information on fluorocarbon fishing lines so you can understand fully the type of fishing line you’ll be working with.
Fluorocarbon leaders are made from a chemical polymer. It’s that polymer where most of this fishing line’s traits are derived from. Let’s take a closer look at those traits now.
Higher Energy Transmittance
The polymers contain a group of molecules that are packed very tightly together. When fishing with a fluorocarbon line, this lends you the ability to increase your rate of energy transmittance, especially over a monofilament line.
What does energy transmittance have to do with fishing, you ask? Quite a lot, actually! The higher the rate of energy transmittance your fishing leader is capable of, the greater the quantity of information sent from one end of your fishing line to another.
This then clues you in about whether your artificial lure or live bait has hit the bottom of the water. You can also usually detect line activity such as bites, even subtle ones, more so than when fishing with other types of line.
Deterioration-Resistant
Most fishing line isn’t cheap, so when you spend your hard-earned money, you want to ensure that your line is going to go longer. When it comes to fluorocarbon fishing lines, there’s less risk of the line falling apart on you after a few days of fishing.
The polymers in fluorocarbon prevent deterioration and damage of all kinds. Battery acid, gasoline, and sunlight won’t degrade it, and insects aren’t likely to want to snack on your line either.
Stretch + Sensitivity
One of the primary traits of a fluorocarbon fishing line is its stretch. Fluorocarbon is not as stretchy as a monofilament line, but it does have a good amount of elasticity. That in turn increases the sensitivity of the line.
Won’t Absorb Water
If you’re fishing with artificial lures and you’re trying out a technique with a jig or a spinnerbait to get the fish biting, nothing is worse than when your fishing line feels like a thick, heavy rope. This happens because your line absorbs water and gets progressively heavier as the day goes on.
Not with fluorocarbon fishing line! The polymers prevent water absorption in large quantities. The line will retain its weight all day long so you can wait until you’re wrapping up your trip to pull out that big fishing technique.
Invisible
Many materials have a refractive index, which refers to the degree of light bending as it passes through water or another substance. The refractive index of the fluorocarbon fishing line is practically the same as water.
What does this mean for you, the angler? When you fish with a fluorocarbon fishing line, it looks nearly invisible once it’s in the water. It’s not only you who can barely see the line, but the fish as well.
When Should You Use Fluorocarbon Fishing Line?
In any fishing situation, there are instances when you want a specific type of fishing line. This section will outline, per the info in the intro, which scenarios you should use fluorocarbon fishing line specifically.
When You Want Your Line to Look Invisible
Has it been a rough day of fishing so far because nothing is biting? It might be time to switch to a fluorocarbon fishing line. The clarity of the line creates a nearly invisible effect in the water. Fish won’t be able to see your line, so they’ll be less reluctant to bite on an artificial lure or live bait.
When Fishing in Clear Freshwaters or Saltwaters
The clarity of the water matters a lot in determining the invisibility of a fluorocarbon fishing line. In murky waters, even a fluorocarbon fishing line is going to be noticeable.
However, in clear freshwaters and saltwaters, using a fluorocarbon fishing line can help you reel in more trout, catfish, carp, and similar species. You could end up with a cooler full of sizable fish so you’ll have dinner options for a long time to come!
When Hooking Powerful Fish
The stretchiness of fluorocarbon fishing line increases power absorption, especially when casting and retrieving fish in open water. If you’ve used other types of fishing line for heavyweight fish species and had the line snap on you, fluorocarbon should fare better.
When Freshwater Fishing with Artificial Lures
The stretch of fluorocarbon fishing line also benefits anglers in that you can mimic the action of live bait using artificial lures quite effectively. From swimbaits to jigs, chatterbaits, jerkbaits, and crankbaits, these lures will become your new best friend for catching bass and more!
Our Favorite Fluorocarbon Fishing Lines
To wrap up, we want to share some of our top fluorocarbon fishing line recommendations so you can get started fishing with fluorocarbon today.
Seaguar Blue Label Fluorocarbon Fishing Line Leader
Seaguar is a renowned fishing line brand, and their Blue Label pure fluorocarbon fishing line is an excellent choice.
With less stretch than regular fluorocarbon but just enough to still reap the benefits of this fishing line material, the tensile strength of the Blue Label fishing line is exceptional.
Made of double-structure fluorocarbon, you won’t have to second-guess the durability and quality of this clear leader line.
You can shop for Seaguar Blue Label fluorocarbon fishing line in spool sizes as follows:
- 15 yards (rated for 2 pounds)
- 25 yards (rated for 4 pounds)
- 25 yards (rated for 6 pounds)
- 25 yards (rated for 8 pounds)
- 25 yards (rated for 10 pounds)
- 25 yards (rated for 15 pounds)
- 25 yards (rated for 20 pounds)
- 50 yards (rated for 10 pounds)
- 50 yards (rated for 12 pounds)
- 50 yards (rated for 15 pounds)
- 50 yards (rated for 20 pounds)
KastKing FluoroKote Fishing Line
Another stellar name in fishing line is KastKing, and the brand’s FluoroKote fishing line is one you should strongly consider adding to your favorite fishing reel.
The pure fluorocarbon line on a premium-quality spool promises all the best traits of fluorocarbon, including near invisibility in the water and excellent abrasion resistance.
FluoroKote is another type of less stretchy fluorocarbon. It also sinks better than other fluorocarbon fishing lines but does not absorb water.
No worries about durability here, as the FluoroKote copolymer core and durable coating increase castability and reduce the line’s memory so it doesn’t become misshapen.
RUNCL PowerFluoro Fishing Line
The RUNCL PowerFluoro fishing line is a top preference among anglers due to the fishing line’s increased sensitivity. Small and subtle bites will no longer fly past your radar with this fluorocarbon line!
You’ll land more solid hooksets with the PowerFluoro line, and even aggressive and fast strikes won’t tear this line. That’s due to its construction, as the PowerFluoro fishing line is coated in pure fluorocarbon for better knot strength and resistance to damage.
The PowerFluoro line goes invisible once it’s in the water as any good fluorocarbon line does. The non-reflective finish also keeps this line harder to detect.
The RUNCL PowerFluoro fishing line is available in spool sizes like:
- 300 yards (rated for 5 pounds)
- 300 yards (rated for 6 pounds)
- 300 yards (rated for 7 pounds)
- 300 yards (rated for 8 pounds)
- 300 yards (rated for 12 pounds)
- 300 yards (rated for 14 pounds)
- 300 yards (rated for 16 pounds)
- 500 yards (rated for 5 pounds)
- 500 yards (rated for 6 pounds)
- 500 yards (rated for 8 pounds)
- 500 yards (rated for 12 pounds)
- 500 yards (rated for 20 pounds)
- 500 yards (rated for 32 pounds)
- 1,000 yards (rated for 5 pounds)
- 1,000 yards (rated for 8 pounds)
- 1,000 yards (rated for 10 pounds)
- 1,000 yards (rated for 12 pounds)
- 1,000 yards (rated for 14 pounds)
- 1,000 yards (rated for 16 pounds)
- 1,000 yards (rated for 20 pounds)
- 1,000 yards (rated for 32 pounds)
Seaguar Red Label
Here’s another Seaguar recommendation, this time their Red Label fluorocarbon mainline.
Built from pure fluorocarbon, the tensile strength of the Red Label line is sure to impress. The line goes invisible as well for catching even toothy, large, powerful fish species that have until now evaded you.
Abrasion-resistant and with low memory, you can spool the Red Label fishing line on your rod and it won’t get curled up when you’re done. The impact strength of this line is another quality you’ll want.
Buy Seaguar Red Label in these spool sizes:
- 200 yards (rated for 4 pounds)
- 200 yards (rated for 6 pounds)
- 200 yards (rated for 8 pounds)
- 200 yards (rated for 10 pounds)
- 200 yards (rated for 12 pounds)
- 1,000 yards (rated for 6 pounds)
- 1,000 yards (rated for 8 pounds)
- 1,000 yards (rated for 10 pounds)
Sunline Super FC Sniper Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Fishing in freshwaters and saltwaters alike will be easier and more efficient with the Sunline Super FC Sniper fluorocarbon fishing line on your spool.
The Super FC Sniper line has triple-coated resin so handling is soft and easy. The line diameter is the same throughout, and the abrasion resistance is top-notch. Sunline recommends using its Super FC Sniper line for heavy-cover fishing.
Shop the Sunline Super FC Sniper fluorocarbon fishing line in the following spool sizes:
- 200 yards (rated for 5 pounds)
- 200 yards (rated for 6 pounds)
- 200 yards (rated for 7 pounds)
- 200 yards (rated for 8 pounds)
- 200 yards (rated for 12 pounds)
- 660 yards (rated for 7 pounds)
- 660 yards (rated for 8 pounds)
- 660 yards (rated for 10 pounds)
- 1,200 yards (rated for 7 pounds)
- 1,200 yards (rated for 8 pounds)
- 1,200 yards (rated for 10 pounds)
KastKing Kovert Fluorocarbon Fishing Line and Leader
A second KastKing fluorocarbon line to have on your radar is the Kovert line and leader.
The sensitivity of the Kovert fluorocarbon line increases the strength of your hooksets and raises your strike detection as well. This line also sinks fast, as KastKing says the Kovert line weighs 80 percent more than water.
The pure, German-engineered fluorocarbon becomes invisible once it’s in the water so fish will be caught unaware. KastKing recommends the Kovert fluorocarbon line for kayak fishing, boat fishing, freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, and surf fishing.
Buy KastKing Kovert fluorocarbon fishing leader in 25-yard or 50-yard spool sizes.
Berkley Trilene 100 Percent Fluorocarbon Fishing Line/Leader
A low-cost fluorocarbon fishing line from Berkley Trilene, this fluorocarbon fishing leader could be just what you’ve been looking for.
The line is regarded for its great abrasion resistance and invisibility. The sensitivity of the pure fluorocarbon fishing line makes it a wise choice for fishing jerkbaits and dropshot rigs. Berkley keeps the fluorocarbon line’s memory lower so you can cast with it again and again.
The strength per diameter is attributed to the unbeatable impact strength.
You can shop for the Berkley Trilene fluorocarbon fishing line with a breaking strength of 4 pounds, 6 pounds, 8 pounds, 10 pounds, 12 pounds, 15 pounds, 17 pounds, 20 pounds, or 25 pounds.
Stren FluoroCast Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
The last fluorocarbon fishing line recommendation on our list but certainly not the least is the Stren FluoroCast line.
Denser than an average fluorocarbon fishing line, you can run your artificial lures deeper with confidence. The invisibility of this line should have more fish biting. You’ll appreciate the shock and knot strength as well.
Handling like nylon, the Stren FluoroCast line is available with a breaking strength of 4 pounds, 6 pounds, 8 pounds, 10 pounds, 12 pounds, 15 pounds, or 17 pounds.
Final Thoughts
Fluorocarbon fishing line is moderately stretchable, highly sensitive, and strong. Its best quality is that it turns invisible when in clear water, yet the fluorocarbon line won’t fill with water so it drags around in the lake or sea.
Now that you know which situations call for fluorocarbon, you could taste more fishing successes. Good luck!