Mono vs. Fluoro [We Finally Settled The Debate!]
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
Can this ONE video change the leader line you buy for the rest of your life?!
We love testing things to see what’s true and what’s not.
This video is all about leader line.
Don’t miss this one!
Mono vs. Fluoro [VIDEO]
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High-priced lines lead you to believe they are more abrasion resistant, they are stronger, and invisible underwater because that’s what all the marketing claims.
We’re going to test all THREE factors in today’s test and then you can be the judge.
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Leader Line Basics
Why do you even need leader line in saltwater fishing?
First, abrasion resistance.
Leader line attaches directly to your hooks and lures which is where abrasion occurs most.
You also want leader line that is not visible to the fish.
Braid into leader is absolutely the way to go for inshore saltwater fishing.
Abrasion Test
Luke started out depending 100% on fluorocarbon leader.
He then realized he was losing out on a lot of snook.
They have tough jaws that are prone to rubbing through leader line.
The assumption then was to use a thicker leader line to prevent this.
Turns out, that isn’t necessarily true.
In this abrasion test, we put 15lb monofilament leader against 20lb fluorocarbon leader.
The reason for the difference in the two lines is because fluorocarbon is almost always thinner in diameter.
If even after this test you still want to rely on fluorocarbon, we would recommend to buy the bulk spools.
Knot Strength
In our previous knot strength tests, the 20lb fluorocarbon did beat the 15lb monofilament.
Additionally, we debunked another inshore fallacy – using saliva to cinch down knots.
All knots without added saliva performed better than those with saliva.
Invisibility
Neither mono or fluoro are truly invisible.
The science behind fluorocarbon being ‘invisible’ is that the material is a bit denser.
Meaning it’s density is a bit closer to that of water which is supposed to take away the refraction of light.
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Let’s Talk!
Mono or Fluoro? What do you prefer? Drop a comment below and let us know!👇
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Awesome good to know
Appreciate the info.
Thank Y’All so much for this valuable info.
Great info guys! Is it true that fluoro sinks and mono floats? Also, does mono have more memory?
Thanks
I’ve watched most or all of these tests. Great stuff. Thank you.
Very cool. Always knew floro wasn’t as abrasion resistant. I wish I’d known earlier than today that I could’ve just dropped the strength down on my mono. I’m a fan of mono but haven’t been using it much lately because I only tie on like a 5′ leader and hasn’t costed me all that much.
Awesome testing that will come in handy!
I have 4 rods set up 2 with mono and 2 with flor. Always heard good things about both so that’s why I went 2&2. I did however put mono on my shark set up. Hopefully I can hook on to one in May. Only get 2wks of Florida fishing a year.
Sorry if I missed this…so is there difference in mono leader vs a bulk spool of mono “main” line? I thought I heard Luke mention that he uses the bulk spool to save $, but I wasn’t sure if that was a bulk spool of leader vs main. Looking at the fish strong shop, is there a difference in the ande leader vs the ande bulk spool? Gotta be…right!? Thanks!
I have tested the “leader” spools against the bulk mainline spools from several brands, and I could not detect any difference in knot strength nor in abrasion resistance.
The benefit of the “leader” spools seems to be mostly for storage convenience since it takes up less space in a tackle box/bag and it has the outer shell that keeps the line from getting tangled up.
Thanks Luke! So do you think the results of an strength test would be similar when comparing FG knot to leader vs FG knot to main (assuming same brand and lb)?
That’s great to know that bulk is the same as leader line.
Luke…The main reason I like the leader spools is because the mono doesn’t seem to be set to the spool diameter as much and straightens a little easier. This is especially true on mono that has been subjected to a year or so of “weathering” in my tackle bag. Been using Ande mono since I was a kid and I am 77! If it works use it!!
It would be great to see similar test on braided line. Also aged line. The braided line seems to dry out or dry rot in Florida sun. I’ve had fluorocarbon line be stronger than similar braided line after a few months of limited use. Garage temperature seems the worst on braided line.
Thanks for posting the helpful idea. I’ll be sure to store some braid in my garage to see how it weathers.
Mark…We had birds pooping on our mailbox so I set seven nails in the top and strung 20# Fireline crystal (white) braid between the nails. That was seventeen years ago and it is still there! Granted we lived in Yorktown, VA so not quite the Florida sun but seventeen years of aging convinced me that braid is an almost forever line!
I have ten year old braid in my tackle storage area in Nags Head that is unheated and it is like new. My guess would be that there is some slight gasoline or other solvent vapors lingering in your garage attacking the braid.