Best Fluorocarbon Line for Bass Fishing

Choosing the Right Fluorocarbon

Fluorocarbon has become incredibly popular in the bass fishing world over the last ten years or so. This rise to popularity has come about because of the tangible advantages that it provides over the monofilament lines that dominated the space before fluorocarbon came to be. In comparison to monofilament, fluorocarbon offers superior strength, abrasion resistance, sensitivity and lower visibility underwater. Fluorocarbons have advanced majorly over recent times, and there are some exciting options on today's shelves.

Having said that, not all fluorocarbon lines are built the same, and that is exactly why we have created this guide. We want to help you know exactly what to look for when it comes to picking the right fluorocarbon line and we help this guide helps you do just that!

We've also written several other guides relating to all key areas of equipment, if interested.

Fluorocarbon for Bass Fishing

Below we have a created a concise lists of the key benefits and disadvantages of using fluorocarbon for bass fishing:

Benefits of Fluorocarbon Lines vs Monofilament:

There are a few key benefits or advantages of using fluorocarbon over monofilament, which will add plenty to specific presentations and applications. Some of the benefits include:

• It Sinks: Fluorocarbon is more dense than traditional monofilament. This means that it sinks and is significantly more abrasion resistant. The fact that it sinks make it incredibly effective for weightless presentations as well as any other presentations that require the bait to stay down in the water columns. This of course means that it is not a good choice for topwater presentations!
• Abrasion Resistance: Because fluorocarbon is denser that monofilament, it offers far better abrasion resistance. This gives anglers confidence when fishing around cover as your line is less likely to get knicked or snapped when fighting a fish.
• Low Visibility: While there is some debate about this one, it is generally accepted that fluorocarbon is less visible underwater than monofilament. This of course is a huge advantage, especially when fishing for finicky bass that are easily spooked by seeing line moving underwater. Reduced visibility also means you can upsize your line test more so than you could with mono without the risk of spooking line-shy fish.
• Strength: Fluorocarbon has very little stretch in comparison to monofilament. This is incredibly important when it comes to getting a good hook set and is one of the reasons that fluorocarbon has risen to such popularity. ‍
• Sensitivity: The tightly packed molecules within fluorocarbon transmits more energy, meaning that any small signal at the end of your line will be felt better. Small bites or your lure bouncing along the bottom will generally be more sensitive when using fluorocarbon. Again, this is great for fishing finesse techniques, where there is little pressure put on the line.‍
• Waterproof: Unlike monofilament, fluoro doesn’t absorb water - The benefit of this is that fluorocarbon offers the same performance benefits below the surface as it does when it is dry.
  

Disadvantages of Fluorocarbon Lines vs Monofilament:

While the advantages of fluorocarbon lines are significant, there are two main trade offs that you make when switching from mono to fluoro:

• Manageability: Fluorocarbon is stiff in comparison to monofilament. This can make it more difficult to fish with than monofilament. Now this stiffness does vary from product to product, with more premium fluoros usually being significantly more supple and manageable. In our fluorocarbon reviews we always collect information on  manageability to help you make an educated decision in this regard.
  

• Shock Strength: Because monofilament tends to give (stretch) much more than fluorocarbon, it offers better shock strength. Quick pulls/jerks/snaps to try and dislodge a snagged lure from cover may sometimes result in fluoro snapping unexpectedly, especially when using lower test sizes.

What To Look for When Choosing a Fluorocarbon Line

As stated earlier, not all fluorocarbon lines are built the same. While certain characteristics are somewhat consistent across the majority of fluoro products, there are some key things to consider when choosing a fluorocarbon line. We have outlined these below:

Manageability

One of the main complaints people have with fluorocarbon is that it is very stiff and tends to want to "spring off the spool". The very density that provides the strength of fluoro is behind this issue and some anglers have sworn off fishing with fluoro because of it. Premium fluorocarbon lines of today however tend to be a lot more supple than they were in the past and this has made them far more manageable, to the point where some of them can even be used effectively on a mainline on spinning reels! This suppleness however usually does come with a hefty price tag.

The degree of manageability you need from a fluorocarbon line depends on its use case:

For baitcasting setups

You will want some degree of suppleness as fluoros that are too stiff will be frustrating to fish with. If the line you are using is too stiff, it will feel like straw on your reel causing backlashes and poor casting ability. You can however get away with less manageable, stiffer fluoros on a baitcasting reel than you can with a spinning reel.

For spinning setups

Fluorocarbon lines that are stiff/not supple can be a nightmare to use on spinning reels. In such cases, the line simply springs off the spool, especially if it is fully spooled. To avoid this, go for the softest, most supple fluorocarbon line you can afford when it is to be used as a mainline on a spinning reel. Avoid anything described as stiff or unmanageable by customers who have used the product previously.

For leaders

When using a fluoro as a leader, manageability is not really an issue as it does not make contact with the spool. Here you can get away with a stiffer and usually more affordable line.

Castability

Fluorocarbon lines that are stiff are difficult to cast a long distance, more supple lines offer far better casting distance. If you are going to be using a setup for techniques requiring short casts such as flipping or pitching, you can get away with stiffer fluoros. For techniques requiring longer casts such as swimbait or crankbait fishing, you will most likely need to dive a little deeper into the wallet and get a more supple fluorocarbon line to optimize casting distance.

For maximum casting distance

Go for a softer, more supple fluorocarbon.

For shorter casting techniques

You will be able to get away with stiffer fluorocarbon lines that are usually cheaper than supple options. Stiffer options are often for suitable for techniques such as flipping and pitching.

Abrasion Resistance

One of the biggest advantages of using fluorocarbon over monofilament is the increased abrasion resistance. This is especially helpful when fishing around cover and the fluorocarbon you choose for these situations is extremely important.

For fishing heavy cover

Choose a fluorocarbon line that offers high levels of abrasion resistance. This will prevent your line being knicked every time it touches cover and will give you a better chance of landing fish hooked in thick structure.

For fishing open water

You will be able to get away with less abrasion resistant lines.

Line Diameter

Line diameter is important for two reasons. Firstly, smaller diameter, thinner fluorocarbon line will sink faster than thicker lines. This makes smaller diameter fluoros a better option for weightless presentations where you need a little help getting the bait down as well as any other presentation where you want a fast rate of fall. Secondly, thinner, smaller diameter fluorocarbon lines are less visible to fish making them a better option for finesse presentations in general.

Choose a small diameter fluorocarbon

• If you want to get your bait to the bottom as fast as possible
• You want to minimize the fishes visibility of your line, ideal for finesse presentation

Choose a thicker diameter fluorocarbon

• If you aren't concerned about underwater visibility (thick power fishing techniques)
• You only want a moderate rate of fall

Choosing Fluorocarbon Line Size

Now there is no "right" or "wrong" when it comes to line choice in any technique/presentation in bass fishing, however there are certain forms of fishing where fluorocarbon offers particular advantages. See the summary below to see these presentations as well as recommended line sizes for each:

Pitching/Flipping (12lb-20lb)

Why it works

The strength and abrasion resistance fluorocarbon offers are key factors here. This technique usually involves tossing lures into thick cover and your line can really take a beating. High test fluorocarbons hold up well here thanks to their abrasion resistance. Fluoro also gives you the ability to use thicker wire hooks thanks to its lack of stretch. Many professional anglers use straight fluorocarbon for their pitching setups.

What line size to use

Generally speaking between 12lb and 20lb test. This depends on the density of the cover you are fishing. For lighter cover, err on the lighter side, for super heavy cover, bump it up to 20lb for maximum abrasion resistance and hook setting ability.

Finesse Techniques (6lb - 12lb)

Why it works

We won't go into detail about each technique here but fluorocarbon is widely accepted as the best line for finesse techniques because of a few key factors. Firstly, it has low visibility underwater meaning it does not spook fish, especially when using lighter line sizes. In addition to this, finesse presentations usually have very little weight and require some assistance to sink. Because fluoro sinks it allows anglers to get baits to the bottom effectively without having to add extra weight that would decrease action/add terminal tackle that could spook fish.

What line size to use

Lighter tests are the best choice here, especially when used on spinning setups. For very light presentations fished on a spinning reel use 6-8lb. For slightly heavier finesse presentations fished on either a baitcaster or spinning reels, bump this up to 10lb or 12lb.

Crankbaits (12lb -17lb)

Why it works

Fluorocarbon sinks so if you are trying to get your crankbait to dive deep, fluoro will help you get it there faster. In addition to this, the sensitivity of fluorocarbon line also helps you feel the bottom very well.

What line size to use

Choose your line size depending on the cover you are fishing, the size of the crankbait you are using and the depth at which you want to fish it. For your big, deep divers, go anywhere from 15lb to 17lb for your smaller crankbaits, go from 12lb to 15lb. One thing to keep in mind here is that the lighter test you use, the deeper your crank will go. Sometimes you may need to use slightly lighter line even on bigger cranks when you really want to get them diving deep.

Swim Jigs/Spinnerbaits/Chatterbaits (15lb - 25lb)

Why it works

When fishing these baits you want to feel every little bump as they are moving through the water, you also want a super strong hook set. Fluorocarbon gives you the best of both worlds here thanks to its sensitivity and strength making it a great line choice for these presentations.

What line size to use

Choose your line size depending on the cover you are fishing and the clarity of the water. For clearer water, open water stick around the 15lb mark as the smaller diameter means the line will be less visible. When you are fishing heavy cover you will want to bump this up to around the 20lb to 25lb mark so you can get the fish out of the cover quickly and take advantage of higher abrasion resistance.