What's your honest opinion on this stuff? Is it good, worth having a few spools in your bag or is it an industry con to separate fools from their money?
This is a serious question, my own experience of this stuff is limited to one or two tries on a loch many, many years ago.
I have used Rio fluoro in the past for sea trout and think it helped increase catches.
I would rather not fish than use it for salmon fishing. There are lots of threads on salmon fora regarding this subject. There tends to be an even split between those who think it is wonderful and those who will never use it again due to the stuff breaking (all brands) for no apparent reason. Some ghillies will not let the anglers use it on their bets unless very high breaking strains are used.....the same ones tend to ban "double strength" leader material.
Seaguar is a favourite, but some experienced guys that use it use 19lb bs for grilse, and 24 lb bs if there is chance of a salmon. I appreciate that for trout much finer diameter lines are used, but the above should be a warning that fine diameter fluoro is not the way to go.
And a wind knot or kink in the line = new leader.
I am in the "never use it camp" now When it first appeared on the scene some years back I like many others tried it but soon found it failing. Having said that I used it for three fly casts with droppers on lochs & it was unreliable. Having said that it may well be OK on a single wet/dry but I will never give it a go now.
Likewise Double Strength something that should never have been offered for sale to anglers.
Bit like Airflo & me. I was shafted way back with their lines in the early days & despite some glowing reports now on some of their products & would never part with my hard earned cash.
Tight Lines
I use it for pulling Fred. Pulling wets, stripping lures and also straightening buzzers (there is occasions I'd use copolymer if I wanted to keep flies higher up in the water column). It is generally stiff enough that aids turnover and has good shock absorption if smash takes are expected. My boat box contains Airflo G3 sightfree in numerous diameters.
I have a small spool of 7x riverge that I carry when river fishing for those tail flats that just refuse to let my normal tippet pull under the last foot or so which is a pet hate of mine. I hate seeing skating tippet! Rare that I use it to be honest.
QuotePulling wets, stripping lures and also straightening buzzers
What is pulling wets & straightening buzzers. Pulling wets I have seen used in print but how do you "straighten a buzzer" This more terminology from the competition scene ?
:roll:
Tight Lines
Only ever use it in one set of circumstances, 6lb breaking strain on a loch in high very wind with a team of flies. It doesn't knot up or tangle the same as mono etc as its like fence wire but still pretty sightfree in the water. Apart from that I never use it, having never played a big fish with it I cant really comment on the breaking strain qualities.
Quote from: Highlander on July 10, 2017, 11:20:54 AM
What is pulling wets & straightening buzzers. Pulling wets I have seen used in print but how do you "straighten a buzzer" This more terminology from the competition scene ?
:roll:
Tight Lines
If you're willing to learn Alan I'm quite happy to share my experiences. But given your little emoji at the end of your post and the fact that from your previous posts, you do come across as being stuck in the past somewhat-I'm not wanting to waste my time to be honest.
PS. Not all competition anglers are the spawn of the devil. Some are, some aren't.
Quote from: alba on July 10, 2017, 11:44:53 AM
Only ever use it in one set of circumstances, 6lb breaking strain on a loch in high very wind with a team of flies. It doesn't knot up or tangle the same as mono etc as its like fence wire but still pretty sightfree in the water. Apart from that I never use it, having never played a big fish with it I cant really comment on the breaking strain qualities.
One nerdy type on SFF did experiments on true knot strength and breaking strain of various brands of mono and fluoro.
Summary........he could not have done a better advert for Maxima if he tried!
i gave riverge grand max a go for 7lb tippet material for barbel with small dries a few years ago; primarily because it seemed to be a significantly lower diameter than nylon. it's certainly not cheap!
have to say i've never had a problem with it. and i only use either a loop knot (for "dangly", streamer type flies) or a standard (?) tucked half blood knot. i do make sure i moisten the knot before tightening, tighten gently and ensure i snug it up fully.
i now use 12 and 18lb for carp
i think once you get down to 5lb or less the difference in diameter is much less and therefore irrelevant
Quote
If you're willing to learn Alan I'm quite happy to share my experiences.
No thanks I am quite happy with my lot. I asked a simple question "what is straightening buzzers" as I have not heard that terminology before sorry I asked now. I get the impression by your posts that there is nothing I can gain there anyway so best leave it at that. I may be to some an old dinosaur but I am quite happy living in that body. I have fished "in the past" for what 60odd years & have caught just about every fish that swims in UK waters by every legal & sometimes illegal method. Do not have to prove or justify myself to anyone. I do what I do now simply because I enjoy it
Tight Lines
The good tying about G3 is that's buy one get one free :8)
I used to use the G£ stuff a lot and never had a problem with it.
Suspect Andy may be right and many problem with Fluorocarbon may be caused by selecting tippet based on breaking strain rather than diameter.
I remember having a discussion with fellow angler about 4 years ago about fluro, he used it and proceeded to demonstrated its strength but pulling on the files at the end of his cast to show the pressure the line could accommodate. He also pointed out how shock resistant it was by sharply tugging the files as well.
Nothing came apart and he went on his merry way, smug and happy to have corrected me on my misunderstanding.
Roll forward to the next season, when I met him again on the moor, sorry I said, I am still not converted.
Fxxk that stuff he said, too many breakages.
My own experiences are poor to say the least with flouro with the line coming apart with next to no pressure, each to their own but count me out.
I forgot to say I have been using Yozzuri Hybrid (fluoro/nylon) this season and last and have found it to be very good.
Apart from the tendency of the line, in warmer weather, to curl up when tying on flies unless you are VERY careful. (#painintheass).
I realise from previous discussions I am in a minority here but I have been a regular Riverge or similar user in 5lb and 3.5lb strength for years. My normal waters are crystal clear and I THINK flouro improves my catch rate. My only evidence is that I usually outfish my regular partner with tackle identical except he uses Maxima. Last year I landed a 3lb 11oz brown on the smaller tippet and so far this year a 2lb plus fish. I cannot remember the last time I was broken.
In the smaller diameters a wind knot means a new tippet but I have had no problems with fly knots although now I take great care to moisten the line before carefully pulling the knot tight – and I use tucked blood knots.
I might be wasting my money but a few years ago I was getting a fish every other cast on one loch. Then because of catching the bank behind me I had to change from my usual tippet to a different make and I caught nothing until another problem meant I went back to my first tippet type and it was a fish every other cast again.
The only flaw in my logic is that I used to fish these same lochs with a #7/8 rod and probably 8-10lb nylon and caught just as many fish as I do now with my #3 rod and fine flouro! Mind, then I used to fish until pitch dark in any weather and stumble home across the hill hoping to avoid the peat bogs......
Like so much else in fishing I think it boils down to what makes you happy.
Great feedback there guys, keep it coming.
The reason I asked was that I only ever used it once or twice in the dim past and had a few unexplained knot breaks - that might have been my knots of course. I noticed today that Neil at Angus Angling has a 2 for 1 offer on G3 plus our guide mate in NZ, John, was using it last time we fished with him. He reckoned it made a difference.
Thought it might be worth another try.
Quote from: admin on July 10, 2017, 04:16:46 PM
Great feedback there guys, keep it coming.
The reason I asked was that I only ever used it once or twice in the dim past and had a few unexplained knot breaks - that might have been my knots of course. I noticed today that Neil at Angus Angling has a 2 for 1 offer on G3 plus our guide mate in NZ, John, was using it last time we fished with him. He reckoned it made a difference.
Thought it might be worth another try.
I was an avid user of fluoro until this year where maxima has been a constant on my cast due to the price. I think you can see my recent catch rate I'm struggling. Though it might have nothing to do with the line.
I find the sightfree fine no problem with break offs and it's so fine I stepped up to 8lb instead of 5lb maxima.
Some of my fishing colleagues had problems with break offs, but using 2 weighted eyed lures on the cast was probably the problem.😳
Quote from: SoldierPmr on July 10, 2017, 05:50:17 PM
Though it might have nothing to do with the line.
always difficult to tell, isn't it? i think it's very brand-specific, too. there's fluorocarbon & fluorocarbon. some soft, some stiff; some brittle, some not.
i would feel very uncomfortable NOT using riverge grand max for the barbel & carp, but that's very specific. i keep trying to persuade myself to try the soft version, as it appears to be be even stronger. but as others have said it's a confidence thing...
something i really didn't get on with was hardy co-polymer. terrible stuff. slippy, brittle & coiled up without the slightest provocation
i'll be checking out the Yo-Zuri hybrid. sounds interesting. is it quite soft, Gordon?
Quote from: corsican dave on July 10, 2017, 06:44:14 PM
always difficult to tell, isn't it? i think it's very brand-specific, too. there's fluorocarbon & fluorocarbon. some soft, some stiff; some brittle, some not.
i would feel very uncomfortable NOT using riverge grand max for the barbel & carp, but that's very specific. i keep trying to persuade myself to try the soft version, as it appears to be be even stronger. but as others have said it's a confidence thing...
something i really didn't get on with was hardy co-polymer. terrible stuff. slippy, brittle & coiled up without the slightest provocation
i'll be checking out the Yo-Zuri hybrid. sounds interesting. is it quite soft, Gordon?
I use to really like diawa wilderness fluoro but they stopped producing it I switched to fullingmils slightly stiffer and larger in diameter never had any issues which were not my own fault.
The "flouro problem" may well be that claimed extra strength has influenced anglers into using thinner flouro and the knots fail simply because any thin mono knot is going to fail more readily. If you were catching OK on 0.2 stay with 0.2 or whatever. The risk has come in from too small a diameter. Put a single overhand knot in a thin fluro and it will snap very easily despite its claimed straight pull rating. I have been trying a lot of hand tests recently !! I now use only Rio Powerflex because I have trust in it and I go from 2x through to 6x. In Ireland the locals on the likes of Lough Mask use 8lb Maxima simply because if its real toughness and pour scorn on other stuff.
I stopped using fluoro after too many unexplained breakages. I am now back to my old reliable Maxima Ultragreen and Rio Powerflex.
Maxima is my go to for loch fishing and never had any issues with it. I've been using power flex but have had a few knot breakages with it which is starting to put doubt in my mind. The knot joining my tapered leader to the powerflex snapped twice last week on decent (3-4lb) rainbows which makes me worry about it happening with a real fish which would be really heartbreaking!!
I would not use Powerflex or Stroft for pulling flies, not enough elasticity for my liking although I was using 4X (6.4lb) Powerlfex today on the South Esk pulling these small lures I tied up, but that was a single fly set up with no dropper knots. Fewer potential weak points to break.
Quote from: Highlander on July 10, 2017, 12:54:47 PM
No thanks I am quite happy with my lot. I asked a simple question "what is straightening buzzers" as I have not heard that terminology before sorry I asked now. I get the impression by your posts that there is nothing I can gain there anyway so best leave it at that. I may be to some an old dinosaur but I am quite happy living in that body. I have fished "in the past" for what 60odd years & have caught just about every fish that swims in UK waters by every legal & sometimes illegal method. Do not have to prove or justify myself to anyone. I do what I do now simply because I enjoy it
Tight Lines
Love it :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
For me its 3 or 4lb maxima, used to use flouro but thinking back it was just a big con, and still is,to sink my flies,line, i use my own made up sinkant mixture of fullers earth, fairy liquid and glycerine.
Quote from: admin on July 10, 2017, 11:02:07 PM
I would not use Powerflex or Stroft for pulling flies, not enough elasticity for my liking although I was using 4X (6.4lb) Powerlfex today on the South Esk pulling these small lures I tied up, but that was a single fly set up with no dropper knots. Fewer potential weak points to break.
I was fishing dries/emergers static Fred but ended up switching to mono and got some good fish. Used it with no problems on rivers with a single fly but wouldn't use it now with a dropper like you say. Was probably down to my knots and possibly bad luck but I lost faith so changed.
Fluro has been my "go to" leader material for a few seasons now, mainly for trout fishing but also salmon in low water conditions.
I tend to now use Fullingmill in 5lb for trout fishing and 10lb or 15lb for seatrout and salmon.
Came home to me a couple of weeks ago how important knots are when using any fluro, my boat partner had 4 breaks in a row, one after another, after the third I asked what leader he was using - 5lb fluro same as I was. We gave it a pull and appeared fine. To cut a long story short he was using a blood knot for his droppers and tucked blood for the flies.
A change to a three turn water knot for the dropper and Davy knot for the fly, both wetted and pulled tight slowly, problem solved.
Having said all that 15lb maxima is my go to for general salmon fishing.
Quote from: nacnud on July 11, 2017, 09:25:17 AM
To cut a long story short he was using a blood knot for his droppers and tucked blood for the flies.
Interesting. So was I when I had all the Flurocarbon breakages.
Back in the winter I decided to sort through the (embarrassingly) large box of tippet materials I had accumulated - both tapered and level. None of the material was more than 3-4 years old and most was much younger and all had been stored in a dark cupboard. I had used some of each type and they were satisfactory at the time. Strengths varied from about 2.5lb to 6lb.
All of the Orvis "Superstrong" – the previous version – was rotten and snapped with no effort at all. So did some spools of Frog Hair flouro which had been my favourite up until then – other spools were fine. A spool of Frog Hair copolymer had deteriorated and broke easily in some lengths. A spool of Hardy copolymer was fine in some parts but snapped easily in others. A spool of Rio Powerflex was completely rotten but the Rio tapered leaders were perfect.
Orvis Mirage tapered leaders and spools were absolutely fine, as were several spools of Riverge Grand Max and "ordinary" Riverge. Best of all, definitely cheapest, and probably the oldest in my stock – Maxima! No problems with any of the Maxima spools.
Not a controlled experiment but just my one-off experience and it warned me that what worked well one season might not last until the next.
Interesting re the Maxima, was it the clear or brown?
I was out with my son yesterday, he hasn't been fishing since last season and his brown maxima, which was bought last season was snapping like thread, 4 & 6lb. Been stored in his fishing bag in the house in the dark.
I think a lot has to do with how long it's been lying in the shop, and how it's stored again in the shop.
I've not had a problem with fluro but definitely have had with ordinary mono and copolymer.
QuoteTo cut a long story short he was using a blood knot for his droppers and tucked blood for the flies.
You are dicing with death using a blood knot with fluo. It is
not a suitable knot. Fine with nylon wetted & pulled in slowly it has very rarely let me down It will fail at some point in fluo. I am told a 3 turn water knot or grinner is best way to go. Having said that I little or no idea what is best as I have not used the stuff since it first appeared on the scene some years back. I am sure there are suitable knots out there though.
Tight Lines
Quote from: nacnud on July 11, 2017, 12:46:18 PM
Interesting re the Maxima, was it the clear or brown?
I was out with my son yesterday, he hasn't been fishing since last season and his brown maxima, which was bought last season was snapping like thread, 4 & 6lb. Been stored in his fishing bag in the house in the dark.
I think a lot has to do with how long it's been lying in the shop, and how it's stored again in the shop.
I've not had a problem with fluro but definitely have had with ordinary mono and copolymer.
It was the clear. 4 different spools and at least one must be four years old. Just checked them again and they are still fine.
I have never had issues with knotting fluorocarbon. I blood knot my flies and use a 3-4 turn water know depending on how thick the nylon is. The thicker it is the less turns I use. I can't say what fluorocarbon was like 'back in the day' as I am not that old but I have been using G3 since it first came out-which must be around 15 years ago now and as I said previously, I can't recall having had any breakage issues with it.
I've had a good few breaks with fluro, especially with droppers, and have also found it goes brittle on the pack quite quickly. That said, I think it can be useful during very bright weather for spooky fish.
i buy brand new before a trip abroad. for the sake of £20 (for two spools) it's not worth taking a risk. however, i do wish manufacturers would put a date & batch no. on the spool, as it's difficult to know how old the stuff is. i would guess the best bet is to buy from someone like sportfish who are likely to have a high turnover
I do use fluoro for some specific purposes: any stillwater wet fly pulling, lure fishing, straightline nymphing, and sometimes even dry fly fishing. That said, I'm reluctant to venture too far into the world of high tech fluoros - the ones which offer ridiculous strength to diameter ratios and which cost a small fortune. I'm suspicious of those for the same reason I'm suspicious of some copolymer brands which make similar claims. I totally rely on and trust Fulling Mill fluoro - it's good value, stiff, abrasion resistant, sinks and 'grips in' quickly, reassuringly thick for its stated BS and you could drag it through a field of razor blades and it would probably come out unscathed. Knotting is simple - half blood at the hook, 3 turn water knot of FO8 for droppers. I've had wild lake trout in the 4-8lb bracket heading rapidly in the opposite direction while I tighten up and never had a dropper failure or mainline breakage yet.
River fishing, I rarely use fluoro to be honest, apart form winter grayling bugging when I use the aforementioned FM in 4lb, because of the properties mentioned above.
A mate of mine has this season started experimenting with Orvis Mirage fluoro in 0.152mm dia as part of his dry fly set up and has reported back positive things. He twice beat his UK best river brownie this spring, the latter which went over 8lb. Given the number of large fish he successfully lands, I'd say that's a pretty good endorsement of that particular product.
So I suppose it's a case of finding and then sticking with something which works for you. You read a lot on various forums about anglers saying they can't knot certain monos, or they just break for no reason etc....and I always wonder to what degree it's a case of operator error. I've heard stories about people giving knots more turns than normal because the diameter of the material is finer than they are used to....or trying to knot a fine diameter mono to a relatively large or thick wired hook.....or using weird and wonderful knots because they read somewhere that that is how you are supposed to knot a given product.
Matt
I too have abandoned the fluoro after some bad experiences. On Gordon's recommendation I went to Yo-Zuri and have been happy with it using it from 6lb to 20lb. While I have had fluoro failures at knots and so on the break that really made up my mind was a sea trout of probably around 2lb that caused my fluoro leader to break in a completely straight bit of leader. I felt it go and it was almost as if it stretched and then broke as it was a weird feeling. I can't remember exactly but think it was 12lb BS fluoro and it was the first cast of the day so wind knots or other strange stuff is unlikely. It was always riverge brand I used. This one event wouldn't have made up my mind but along with a series of other weird stuff it assisted me to the conclusion that fluoro wasn't for me. I know a very able angler who says it gives him an advantage with the trout on Lough Melvin. I also knew one of the great Melvin anglers who had a bad day if he didn't put double figure numbers of trout in the boat and considered a 2lb fish small. He fished bright green sea fishing type nylon in what I would guess was 50lb BS.
When pretty much all my loch fishing consisted of pulling wet flies (8 to 10 years ago) I used Riverge Grand Max 6.4lb as standard. 16' to 18' cast with 2 droppers ties on with 3 turn water knots and flies tied on with tucked half blood knots. So long as I took care tying the knots I didn't have any problems; well wetted before pulling tight and then gently tightened - any kind of resistance, sticking when tightening the knot I found could seriously weaken it. It got to the stage that if I wasn't happy with a knot I re did it without even bothering to test it. I also found myself checking for wind knots more often.
I stopped using fluro when I started fishing with dries most of the time - tapered nylon leader with (after hearing about it on here) a Rio copolymer tippet on the end. This is the tippet I use most often now and, although there is more margin for error than with fluro, I still find it needs more care with knots than Maxima. Like Fred say's I wouldn't use its own for pulling wets but I've had no problem using it to pull wets (with a dropper tied to the tippet ring) when it's on the end of a tapered leader which I guess adds a bit of stretch.
Maxima clear I still use for big dries (when I want extra diameter), pulling lures and salmon/seatrout (line is rarely tested anyway :D) and would probably use these days for long 3 fly casts for pulling wets. For me there is no doubt Maxima is much more forgiving and you probably have a good chance of getting away with missing a wind knot or nick in the line.
I used fluro in the past because it gave the highest breaking strain for the lowest diameter and at the time I thought this would help me catch more. These days I don't think this makes that much of a difference anymore and is the main reason I don't use it - if I was fishing somewhere/a method where I thought it did I wouldn't hesitate to use it, just taking a bit extra care with knots etc.
The following video tells an all to common story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c255SPVSWcE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c255SPVSWcE)
lots of folks catching big, powerful fish on fluorocarbon around the world...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov1xP5Q_djQ&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov1xP5Q_djQ&feature=youtu.be)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js4QAepIhpk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js4QAepIhpk)
strange, huh? as Matt suggests, operator malfunction is probably the major cause of failure
Not with that guy!
Only problem I've had was with Seagar using it for salmon, don't know if it was a bad spool, but it snapped easily. I use fluro for trout all the time with no problem and other makes for salmon in low water again with no problem.
Quote from: nacnud on July 11, 2017, 12:46:18 PM
Interesting re the Maxima, was it the clear or brown?
I was out with my son yesterday, he hasn't been fishing since last season and his brown maxima, which was bought last season was snapping like thread, 4 & 6lb. Been stored in his fishing bag in the house in the dark.
I think a lot has to do with how long it's been lying in the shop, and how it's stored again in the shop.
I've not had a problem with fluro but definitely have had with ordinary mono and copolymer.
A relative staying with me last week wanted to have a go spinning from the sea shore for sea trout so I dug out an old outfit that I have not used for at least 15 and perhaps 18 years. I assumed the 8lb brown Maxima line on the reel would be completely useless after all that time but it was absolutely fine - and he landed a very nice sea trout with it!
I rowed a bloke about in a good going gale today. He rose a lot of salmon, hooked three.
He left Orange Muddlers in two of them. "That never happened before" said he. He was using fluorocarbon of about 13lb bs. I asked him if he had any Maxima....
The guy has fished all over the UK and Ireland for brownies, salmon and sea trout. So no mistakes with knots. Grand Max, or something like that, is the name of the sh!t he was using.
:lol:
My spool of that went in the bin four years ago.
I've never had an issue with it but like I've said before once I get down to 3lb fullingmills flies just disappear. I've lost them casting and I've lost them when fish first take.
aye, under around 5lb seems to be suspect. but problems at the higher breaking strains have gotta be operator error. everyone makes a mistake with a knot now & then; cold hands, rushing, not tightening up properly... doesn't matter how many countries you've fished, pro-guide or amateur. sooner or later you'll make a mistake with the knot & look for something else to blame. probably even more likely if you're an very experienced angler as we'd all like to think we're perfect! :lol:
Ping..... :shock:......another grilse carrying about a muddler today.
Is it the same rod? If tell them that for each muddler they leave in a fish that you will stick one in their ear as a reminder, see if they still think FC is still worth the risk.
The most sensible comment I have heard was "what the feck was he using FC for muddler fishing for?"
It helps for sea trout, but is a liability with no benefit in a big wave.
The guy has had double figure salmon on Hope, a double figure sea trout on Currane with it, and a double figure brown trout on Corrib using the same brand of FC. But he has joined the "that never happened before club"!
Read the following a minute ago. :D :D :D
"Wednesday 23rd August. Overcast but still humid. 1'6" and 60 degrees and clean. Tim joined me in the Cauld this morning and it took a while but we eventually got a nice 9lber right in the tail end from the right bank, we also used the skimmer the whole way down but not even a nose came up to look at it. Meanwhile down in Learmouth Mike fishing with Paul were discussing the merits of fluorocarbon leader material, Paul saying it was crap and Mike saying he's never had a problem with it, he'd no sooner uttered the words and he was into a big fish, then he wasn't as the leader had gone this happens too often so consider it banned from the Lees"
yeah, it's rubbish for big fish... :roll:
[attachimg=1]
Quote from: corsican dave on August 31, 2017, 10:29:31 PM
yeah, it's rubbish for big fish... :roll:
[attachimg=1]
That is not a fish though, it is a crap!
:roflmao
Could go round in circles here....
I have used G3 for well over 10 years and have complete confidence in it. I can't recall an unexplained breakage where I would have blamed the material.
The fish that Paul Proctor routinely catches (large specimen trout from rivers) are landed on flurocarbon tippet.
I fished a reservoir with Haresear on Monday and fishing double dries, I used Riverge flurocarbon that is at least 6-7 years old as I wanted to use up what was left in the spools. Again, no problems despite a couple of wind knots working their way onto my leader.....still landed fish!
Roobarb makes a good/valid point. It is well documented that fluo on occasion can fail & for no good reason.
On my club waters over the years I have spoken too & seen anglers who have had lost good fish due to using this stuff. On reflection it can just not be put down to poor knotting but the unexpected failure is something that mystifies me. I for one do not want to have a fish loose trailing a team of flies behind it. Yes I have left a few fish with a hook in it's mouth but very rarely do I leave the line. Been fly fishing for nigh on 60 years & can count on one hand the fish I have lost due to nylon breakage. Main reason has been a hastily tied knot rather than the line parting. I remember way back Stan Headly writing an article about loosing 9 fish on the trot using that other abomination Drennan Double Strength. Funny thing is he kept on fishing with it, that I could not get my head around. Same thing on my club water only this time fluo is the common denominator. I suspect the lighter BS as the main culprits but only an observation on my point.
Tight Lines
Quote from: Highlander on September 01, 2017, 09:48:34 PM
Roobarb makes a good/valid point. It is well documented that fluo on occasion can fail & for no good reason.
On my club waters over the years I have spoken too & seen anglers who have had lost good fish due to using this stuff. On reflection it can just not be put down to poor knotting but the unexpected failure is something that mystifies me. I for one do not want to have a fish loose trailing a team of flies behind it. Yes I have left a few fish with a hook in it's mouth but very rarely do I leave the line. Been fly fishing for nigh on 60 years & can count on one hand the fish I have lost due to nylon breakage. Main reason has been a hastily tied knot rather than the line parting. I remember way back Stan Headly writing an article about loosing 9 fish on the trot using that other abomination Drennan Double Strength. Funny thing is he kept on fishing with it, that I could not get my head around. Same thing on my club water only this time fluo is the common denominator. I suspect the lighter BS as the main culprits but only an observation on my point.
Tight Lines
i think you're bob-on there with every observation Alan. and as for continuing to fish with something that doesn't work for you... what's that about? weird. yep, drennan double strength; awful stuff! & how does anyone get on with co-polymer btw? i found it coiled up and kinked like crazy...
Quote from: Roobarb on September 01, 2017, 08:14:15 AM
Moving forward just two months...
The same guy turned up this week and used the same spool of Airflo Sightfree which had impressed me in June. He rose a good fish and it snapped straight off. Was it a duff knot? No. Was the leader damaged? No. This just goes to show that even the good fluorocarbon is suspect and can't be trusted.
You NEVER hear anyone say that Maxima (or Drennan sub surface) has snapped unexpectedly.
Have some respect for the fish and stop using stuff that you know will fail for no good reason at some point.
Andy
I was reading what Ian Gordon had to say about the trips he runs to Orkla/Gaula. This was some of his advice (echoed by most ghillies)-
"Leader Material - 18lb - 20lb Maxima, or I will have 17 - 20lb Berkley. For those who like Flurocarbon, its up to yourself but don't cry when it breaks!"
But if anyone does want some flurocarbon tippet, I stopped at the House of Bruar on my way north today. They had a sale box of Riverge and similar spools in varying sizes at "up to 50% off". I did not buy any as I have moved back to Maxima.
Like most lines flouro has good and bad . used maxima all my life and recently started using fulling mill 6lb flouro and have to say im real impressednever had a failure . each to there own
It is the job of ghillie types ( me. Andy, Ian G, etc) to get anglers fish. Knocking your pan in for a day only for the only hook up to suddenly depart (oooh, I dont know what happened there) for no good reason is terrible. Hence we, for the most part, try and get anglers to avoid fluoro. We would not be doing our job otherwise.
A lot of the guys that fish Norway with flouro use 30-40 lb bs stuff to ensure reliability. :D :D
I now reserve the right to say "I told you so" whilst laughing.
Quote from: Roobarb on February 19, 2018, 10:24:07 AM
What size flies are you using and on what weight fly line?
I wouldn't let you in the boat on Uist fishing 6lb Fulling Mill flouro with size 10 flies on a six weight but size 14's on a four weight up a small stream might be a different matter.
Andy
I use a 10 foot #7 on the lochs . flies are anything from size 10 to 14 . ive had browns 4lb + and the occasional rainbow to over 10lb+ with fulling mill 6lb . like i said each to there own . p.s if thats your rules theres a good chance a wouldnt sit in one of your boats .
I've had a couple of spools of Flouro go off on me, and one of them was 6lb Fulling Mill. Uist, nothing but 6lb Maxima for Trout and 8lb for sea trout
Quote from: Squigster on February 23, 2018, 05:08:00 PM
I've had a couple of spools of Flouro go off on me, and one of them was 6lb Fulling Mill. Uist, nothing but 6lb Maxima for Trout and 8lb for sea trout
Can you explain " Go off on me "
When you draw good line through your fingers it feels nice and smooth, when a spool has gone off the line will feel very rough and will snap like tying thread regardless of it's original strength. It was definitely good when purchased and It wouldn't have been hugely old
It happened again yesterday.
5lb grilse hooked as I battled the gale force wind. Ex international Englander angler playing the fish carefully. All going well until the 12.8lb bs (bs all right) fluorocarbon pinged for no good reason.
"Never happened to me before", said he. "That stuff is pure shite, as I told you many times already", said I. That is two fish swimming around the loch with flies stuck in them this last two weeks. Both would have been in the boat had 12 lb bs Maxima been used.
Rant over and, yes, I do feel better now.