Fluorocarbon leader?

[PolarBear]

Howdy!
Just wondering if using fluorocarbon leader (for salmon) is worth the extra or is it just hype?

[jackelope]

No experience with it salmon fishing but I use it for my flyfishing leaders for everything except dry flies. I don't know if it's that much better. 

[boneaddict]

It lacks strength and slips knots easily.  Its harder to deal with, but it is much more transparent and thus you ahve more hookups.

[boneaddict]

slips knots easily

In comparison to tradidional leaders that is.  Its harder to get a good knot and in experience thats its weakness, that and cost.  I never worried about cost becasue I figure how much fuel I use etc, and if I can have more hookups....

[PolarBear]

I did give it a try last fall but noticed that it was a pain to work with and standard knots were not as reliable.  Is it that much more transparent than good old clear mono?

[BLKBEARKLR]

I did give it a try last fall but noticed that it was a pain to work with and standard knots were not as reliable.  Is it that much more transparent than good old clear mono?

Polar yes way more transparency.

Get some of the higher end ones P-Line / Seaquer.  And they work just fine on the knots and tensil strength. If all possible I always try to tie palomer knots.

Joe

[PolarBear]

I tried P-Line.  It could just be me as far as the knots go. (it seems that I am losing my touch on all aspects of fishing, lol) I was using 30 lb for salmon leaders tying double rigs.  I'll try it again, thanks folks!

[fishcrazy]

I wouldn't waste the money. The stuff goes bad just sitting on the shelf in the store. Knots can be a pain and the fish just don't care. Line size will matter more than what it is made of. IMO If you think they are going to spook from the line then drop it down and don't horse them.
Use a good quality mono like maxima UG and everythign will be fine.

Kris

[FC]

Save it for the steelhead, salmon don't care.

[ribka]

I did give it a try last fall but noticed that it was a pain to work with and standard knots were not as reliable.  Is it that much more transparent than good old clear mono?

Polar yes way more transparency.

Get some of the higher end ones P-Line / Seaquer.  And they work just fine on the knots and tensil strength. If all possible I always try to tie palomer knots.

Joe

I really like seaguar flouro

Flouro will sometimes make a difference. I think with some trout, bass and saltwater fish( Bone fish, tarpon, stripers) I did notice a difference and had more hook-ups vs reg mono. More abrasion resistant too compared to mono

Personally do not think you need flour or steelhead or salmon. My experience is that they are not leader shy.
I like maxima mono for steelhead and salmon
Uniknot works for me with flouro

[FC]

ribka, what flourocarbon are you using that is more abrasion resistant than mono? Everything I have tried was the exact opposite, I've gotten to the point where I will only use it when the river is crystal clear and the fish are leader shy.

[mkcj]

I only use it if the water is really clear. Just does not hold up against abrasion.

[alanger]

salmons are stupid.

[ribka]

Here is an in depth review for those interested:

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbontest.html

As mentioned like the Seaguar flouro for leaders. Frogs hair and Rio also good but more $$$
I think more abrasion resistant IMO. However, see above article not all flouros are equal.

When tying knots do it slowwwllly  when cinching knot and don't forget to lube knot.

[FC]

That's pretty funny ribka, I've been using 12lb trilene for years after trying a lot of other lines that I found wanting I settled on the berkley big game 12lb for almost all of my salmon fishing from the bank. From that test I would guess that the P-line halo would be the bang for buck flourocarbon line.

[huntnnw]

I use seagur for steelhead, they can be line sensitive.  Salmon don't seem to mind, u could use rope 

[Dmanmastertracker]

Howdy!
Just wondering if using fluorocarbon leader (for salmon) is worth the extra or is it just hype?

 Eric, they swear by it in BC and I can say up there, it was night a day difference, for some reason we got hits of fluoro and nothing on regular mono -every single year. I haven't used it as much in the Sound however but I would imagine it would work just as well.

[PolarBear]

I wonder if it is because the water is so much clearer up there?  The waters in SE Alaska were gin clear in spots.   I'm primarily going to be fishing the big "C" a couple of times this month and next and it aint too clear.  I'm probably going to use up what I have left and tie the rest with plain old mono.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Ok. My 2 cents. and i have been fishing a long time and have caught a crap ton of fish...

For the columbia i run 30 pound trilene big game main line and 50 pound big game leaders. I lost 2 of my favorite spinners last year on big chinook at bouy 10. Those fish don't care about line, they are still feeding...

River fishing, if i an running bobber and eggs, this year i am going with 65 pound power pro, and 25 pound flouro leaders. Heavier flouro line is better than the light stuff.

Casting plugs for river coho i run 14 pound suffix siege. Never had a roblem with it and i catch more than most.
I don't do to much drift fishing for salmon.

[Dmanmastertracker]

I wonder if it is because the water is so much clearer up there?  The waters in SE Alaska were gin clear in spots.   I'm primarily going to be fishing the big "C" a couple of times this month and next and it aint too clear.  I'm probably going to use up what I have left and tie the rest with plain old mono.

 It is at that, at least where we fished. The rivers there run crystal clear, not like the glacial rivers of the Sound.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

PolarBear for steelhead in the columbia i use 30 pound main line and 20 pound leaders and i have never had a problem with that. I run heavy equipment because i hate to lose fish. I don't care who says what, the fish in the columbia are not leader shy.
I don't think flouro is worth the money for the columbia. When you move into the tribs i would use it.

[Rick]

Salmon and steelhead aren't line shy. If they were,they wouldn't swim into gill nets by the millions.

[ribka]

PolarBear for steelhead in the columbia i use 30 pound main line and 20 pound leaders and i have never had a problem with that. I run heavy equipment because i hate to lose fish. I don't care who says what, the fish in the columbia are not leader shy.
I don't think flouro is worth the money for the columbia. When you move into the tribs i would use it.

X2 When fishing Met, Klick and Grande Ronde and water clears switch to flouro

[ribka]

That's pretty funny ribka, I've been using 12lb trilene for years after trying a lot of other lines that I found wanting I settled on the berkley big game 12lb for almost all of my salmon fishing from the bank. From that test I would guess that the P-line halo would be the bang for buck flourocarbon line.

Berkely big Game is good too. Used 14 lb when  when fishing in Gulf for Reds and Sea trout. Oyster beds down there, near where fish are found, are really tough on line.

Different lines for different situations. Braid has its applications too

[Dmanmastertracker]

Salmon and steelhead aren't line shy. If they were,they wouldn't swim into gill nets by the millions.

 Nets are entirely different, they aren't trying to eat them as far as I know.

[BigGoonTuna]

they aren't trying to eat your line either

[Dmanmastertracker]

they aren't trying to eat your line either

 If you rig it right, they do.

[PolarBear]

That's called flossing! 

[Dmanmastertracker]

That's called flossing! 

 Not that kind, I know what you mean .


 If you rig a hootchie, or anchovie with UV tubing, often they do go for the tubing on the line. My secret's out now, learned it from a guide in BC.

 I don't floss in river's, won't keep anything flossed. I hooked 80 fish last year on the Puke, I put back 68 of them.

[FC]

What is the big deal with flossing? If it's hooked in the mouth I don't see the problem.

[BigGoonTuna]

kind of defeats the point of sport fishing, which is to try and get them to bite.

[PolarBear]

kind of defeats the point of sport fishing, which is to try and get them to bite.

Where in the hell does a guy get some stinkin' Maxima clear 40 lb leader?  I went to Cabela's, Holesnail Sports, Sunbirds even Wally World and nothing.     I guess that I will have to try Sportco in Fife next week and just use up the stuff from last season. 

[FC]

LoL and here I have spent years perfecting the art of flossing! In some rivers salmon bite well and in some they don't. Most of the rivers I fish...they don't.