Does Mono OR Fluoro Get Weaker After Soaked In Water?
- By: Luke Simonds
- on May 4, 2023
Note: This blog post on what happens to both mono vs fluoro soaked in water was originally shared with our Insider Members on February 9th, 2022, but we’re now revealing the results to the public!! Be sure to scroll down to check out all of the HELPFUL comments below this article!
What happens to both mono vs fluoro soaked in water?
Will the lines absorb the water or will there be a different result?
This is an experiment you do not want to miss!!
Check this out!
Mono VS Fluoro Soaked In Water Experiment [VIDEO]
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Lines Used In This Test:
In this experiment, we are testing the line types to see how much abrasion is caused after they are soaked in water.
From past experiments, we learned mono absorbs water more than fluoro and over time will get weaker.
For this test, we are using a 15-lb monofilament leader versus a 20-lb fluorocarbon leader.
The reason for using different pound test leaders is that these two lines have the same diameter.
The Experiment
The lines have been sitting in the water for over a week.
First, we will test the wet lines, and then for comparison, we will test the dry lines for abrasion.
After running fluorocarbon versus monofilament on the first test, fluorocarbon broke on the 29th run.
Monofilament was still intact and able to maintain a connection.
Even though fluorocarbon is thicker and more expensive, it did not come close to performing as well as the monofilament after both lines were soaked in water.
To maintain accuracy, we tested the lines again but switched the lines.
Again, monofilament crushed fluorocarbon with ease.
In an effort to examine the effectiveness of monofilament on its own, the next test we ran was the dry monofilament line versus the wet monofilament line.
After the first run, the soaked monofilament won versus the dry line.
Now, we swapped the lines again and tested the dry versus wet lines a second time to confirm our results.
The wet monofilament line again beat out the dry monofilament line.
Moving on to testing fluorocarbon on its own, we did the same setup as with the monofilament by starting out with a dry fluorocarbon line attached to one weight and wet fluorocarbon attached to the other.
Fluorocarbon yielded an interesting result with both lines breaking off almost simultaneously.
After checking the replay, the wet fluorocarbon snapped seconds before the dry fluorocarbon.
Then again we repeated the experiment to observe the same exact result which was both the dry and wet fluorocarbon lines breaking simultaneously.
Final Results
Upon reaching conclusions after conducting the experiment, we can confirm fluorocarbon whether it is wet or dry does not matter when it comes to abrasion resistance.
The Monofilament line actually improved in performance after being soaked in water versus dry.
One other thing to note is the 15-lb monofilament outperformed the 20-lb fluorocarbon in every trial run.
Monofilament is the overall winner in terms of abrasion resistance both when it has been soaked in water as well as when tested dry.
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Okay, retired, I am looking to getting a year or two out of a spooling, IF I remember to store it “rinsed”, out of the sun, and away from solvents even just in the air!. But always check the strenght /shock factor, before heading out for that first cast on the water! . If I can snap the line by hand, or the weight of the sinker being trial cast, swap it out! It’s gone to recycle heaven!. If I forget to check the line, and it snaps diring a cast I reach for a back up reel with new line. If there has not been any solvent exposure, and it is not stored in the sunlight I might get a couple of seasons out of good line. Mono is easier on the back pocket. Keep in mind, if you get it exposed to gasoline, the integrity of the line is in question. But it won’t make any difference because nothing is going to hit that chemical smell. So wash your hands after fueling up or you won’t get any bites on the best line you can buy! PAX
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Thanks Luke for all the time you invest in these different test for your members! It really is great that you do these in such a transparent way for us to see the outcome! I feel that I have learned so much from being a member. Keep the information coming.
This was an interesting test. I switched back to mono after trying flouro for a few years. I really wanted to like flouro better but I felt like it took me longer to get rigged up. Sure maybe you get a little bit more break strength but flouro is harder to work with (IMO) and kinks and bends easily and just seems more brittle. I like the softer more supple mono overall especially when you start getting more lightweight.
i would like to know this. does the flouro dry out after fishing. my leaders never soak for 9 days without being in the sun and dry air.
wouldn’t that make a big diffrence?
Hey Luke – Thanks for continuously posting all of the updated testing. Have you guys ever tested a product named Mason’s Hard (nylon) Leader? It has been around a long time and I used it a lot before floro became a thing. It is very stiff but maybe more abrasion resistant than mono (can’t prove that). I used to use 16lb or 20 lb for fishing docks for snook and it performed well. It seemed to be pretty strong in terms of knot strength as well. Sure would like to know your opinion. The stiffness might interfere with the action of some artificial baits?
Great test Luke! One question, was it fresh water or salt water and would it make a difference?
Scott
I switch to mono a while back. Not because of this test but because I used mono before I ever used flouro and never had an issue with it. Keep it simple and save the money
Thanks for the comparisons
Thank You Luke for the testing and video. Cannot wait to see the refraction type testing though.
Luke, I absolutely love the product comparisons that you and your team do and I have personally adapted. My friends however, are all self proclaimed experts. When they fish on my boat I supply everything; rods, reels, etc. Turns out that it’s a good way to use up all the tackle that I thought I needed before I knew better. Many thanks for the education !