Fluorocarbon leash - what is it for and is it needed at all?

Fluorocarbon leader is currently causing a lot of controversy among fishermen. Some of them are convinced that it is useless.

As an argument, they cite the fact that a pike can supposedly bite through such a leash without much effort. Others, in turn, believe that a fluorocarbon leash saves you from the teeth of a predator, and from shells, and from stones. Which one is right?

Description of fluorocarbon leader

Peculiarities

Fluorocarbon, in general, is quite resistant to aggressive aquatic environments and mechanical stress. Of course, steel or titanium leashes are undoubtedly better. But they are also heavier, and can also make it difficult to play with a light bait.

Most fishing fans have a positive opinion about fluorocab, claiming that it is an excellent material that adequately withstands the teeth of a predator. But there is another point of view where the use of such a leash is inappropriate, since there is a risk of losing an expensive bait.

Fluorocarbon fishing line has high performance characteristics.

Among them:

• greater resistance to temperature changes (heat, extreme cold), so this leash can be used in winter,
• Durable material, can withstand the teeth of predatory fish,
• does not absorb water, so performance does not deteriorate,
• UV resistant
• almost invisible in water,
• the fishing line is stretchable,
• sufficiently high rigidity, this has a positive effect on the sensitivity of the gear and recognizes every bite. This is especially true when fishing at long distances.
• resistance to aggressive environments. Can be used in rocky bottom conditions.
• It goes well with a baitcasting reel and sinks into the water quite quickly due to its weight, so it is good to use when fishing for bottom dwellers or when fly fishing.

Advantages

The fluorocarbon leash is invisible and, in addition, quite reliable. The vast majority of fluorocarbon leaders are used by ultralight enthusiasts.

By skillfully selecting thin braid and the right leash, fishermen can achieve good results. As a rule, it is used as reliable leashes in a wide variety of equipment.

Among the advantages of fluorocarbon leashes are the following:

• hardly noticeable to predatory fish,
• there are no deforming changes after the next bite,
• durable material, does not wear out,
• light and quite elastic,
• It’s quite easy to use: the knots are strong, and the leash unravels quickly.

By the way, you can buy fluorocarbon in fishing stores. In addition, making such a leash is quite simple at home.

Fluorocarbon leash for the laziest

Several years ago, while still a student, I regularly hung out in a fishing shop located next to my alma mater. I really liked the salesman who worked there, who, being also a very experienced spinning fisherman, willingly revealed his professional secrets to me. When I once again ran to him during recess to buy a dozen tungsten leashes, he told me not to be foolish and not waste money on this garbage, but to make the leashes myself, and within twenty seconds he made a miracle leash.

I have been using these leashes for 8 years now, almost completely abandoning store-bought ones. Cheapness, simplicity and reliability more than suit me.

I recently came across a video on YouTube where a very familiar Fish Hook guy demonstrated his method of making leashes, and then I found the corresponding article on FH. I don’t argue, the leash really turned out well, but making it is only possible at home. Then another forum member said in an article that the pre-prepared fly leashes ran out in the middle of fishing. In general, I realized that it’s enough to fish on the sly, it’s time to sit down at the reviewer.

I would like to immediately apologize to everyone for the quality of the photos! For God's sake, do not think about showing any disrespect. It’s just that if I hadn’t photographed the process now on my shabby phone, I most likely would never have planned to do this. Lazy too.

So, we take a piece of fluoric with a diameter of 0.5-0.6 mm. We cut off a piece of the length we need - 15, 50 or more centimeters, everyone decides for themselves. We knit the three simplest knots (the knot, it turns out, is called “simple”) and voila! The leash is ready. Are there any unclear points? Well then, in order.

We knit a knot at the end of the segment, which we will call “No. 1”. We tighten it well, this is very important!

We cut the tip of the fluor to the very root and check that the knot does not slip off. For aesthetics, the stump can be melted with a lighter.

Have you forgotten how you tied the hooks with a spatula (without a ring)? Here we also tie our workpiece to the braid. For those who forgot, let me remind you: they attached a loop of wattle to the fluor, tied one to the other, the tip of the wattle into the loop and tightened it.

The final view of the Leash-Wattage connection

Then at the opposite end of the fluor we knit the same simple knot No. 2. We cut off the excess flurry so that after this knot there remains a piece 5-10 mm long (over time, decide which is more convenient for you).

Now we scroll this same node No. 2 with our fingers like this...

...to create a sharp corner.

Next, stepping back 2-3 cm from node No. 2, we form node No. 3, but do not tighten it yet.

The leash itself is already ready.

Now how does it work. We thread knot No. 2 into the eye/ring of the bait so that it is between knots No. 2 and No. 3. (The gap between nodes has been increased for clarity)

We pass knot No. 2 into knot No. 3 and tighten the latter.

The bait is securely fixed. Node #2 will not jump out of node #3. I understand that I can’t believe it, and I’m not asking you to take my word for it. Just check.

You threw one bait for about 15 minutes. The fish doesn’t want to bite. It's time to change the bait. To do this, squeeze the pieces of fluor that form knot No. 3 towards each other, and it will open.

After 5-7 changes of bait, node No. 3 is thoroughly deformed. Working with our “lobster clasp” will become inconvenient. Cut off knots No. 2 and No. 3, shortening the leash by 3-4 cm and tie them again.

The positive aspects of such a leash are obvious:

• ease of manufacture in any conditions. I knit like this at night without a lantern, standing in the wade up to my knees in water;
• lack of additional accessories;
• cheapness. Yes, a reel of fluor is not very cheap. But if you divide these 100 meters by the number of leashes received... Plus the previous point;
• ease of storage and transportation. You can put the bobbin in a bag, or wrap 2-3 meters around your hand before fishing, and put the resulting ring in your pocket. And you don’t have to bother with all sorts of pencil cases, cases, and so on;
• other advantages of fluorocarbon leaders.

Flaws:

• not applicable when fishing with spinners and devons. It's clear why. (* Does anyone still fish with Devons?);
• It’s not very comfortable to fish with jig heads. Most jig heads have a very small diameter ring and knot No. 2 has to be pulled through this ring by force, grabbing the tip of the leader with your teeth;
• not suitable for UL-L fishing. It’s also clear why;
• other disadvantages of fluorocarbon leaders.

That's actually all I had to tell you. I will be glad if this information is useful to someone.

Especially for Fish Hoek, Dmitry bulkin Bulychev.

Reviews from fishermen

I read rave reviews on the Internet about the miraculous properties of fluorocarbon. I also decided not to lag behind and purchased 50 meters of this miracle fishing line. I put on leashes and went fishing. The first disappointment came immediately. I saw my fluorocarbon leader in the water, no worse than a regular fishing line! I threw it away, all on my nerves, for four hours, nothing bit. And something began to tell me that the pike didn’t care what kind of leash. If there is a bite, it will be on any leash, but if there is none, then no, and the material of the leash will not help.

Grade:

Oleg

It seems to me that it is very possible to be left without a favorite or expensive wobbler using a fluorocarbon leash. Share, who has experience? Grade:

Sergey

I use these types of leashes very often to catch roach. Winter option from Seaguar. Their water is really almost invisible. There are usually about a third more bites than with conventional leashes. But this is when the roach is very careful. But I didn’t like the purchased leashes for pike. Lots of breaks. In general, at the moment I can’t find anything better for myself than homemade ones made from stainless wire. Grade:

Stas

I use about 0.51mm (from Berkley trilene). Goes great. As a rule, the number of fish is smaller, but the size is much larger. As soon as I see the marks that have formed on the leash, I immediately change it. So far, not a single toothy one has cut. Grade:

Andrey

I definitely use flur only when fishing for pike perch (I gave it up when fishing for pike). I do it myself. For a ridiculous amount of money in the spring I prepare leashes of any length for the entire season. There is no trust in store-bought leashes. Grade:

Semyon

The best fluorocarbon leashes for pike, prices

The most popular and high-quality fishing lines are the following; they are ideal for making leashes for pike fishing. These are Salmo, For Max Specter, Hyper Clear Fluorocarbon, Daiwa, Krepton Team Fluorocarbon, Milo, Sunline Siglon FC.

Salmo

• This fluorocarbon is made in Japan, invisible, suitable for long periods in water.
• Due to its strength and invisibility, it is ideal for use as a main line and for making leaders.
• On sale there is a diameter from 0.08 to 0.2 mm, a skein length of 30 m, the cost is 320 rubles.

For Max Specter

• This line was made in Japan and costs 300 rubles per 25 m.
• There are various diameters on sale, it differs from analogues in its high rigidity, making it ideal for Gerdner connections.
• Can be used for feeder fishing and made leashes for pike.

Hyper Clear Fluorocarbon, Daiwa

• This line is of high quality, reliable, and with a small diameter of 0.4, it resists the sharp teeth of pike.
• The leash holds well, abrasion is weak, it is not used for pike with a diameter less than 0.4 mm, and can withstand breaking loads of up to 11 kg.
• The cost of 25 m of such thread reaches 320 rubles.

Krepton Team Fluorocarbon, Milo

• This product has the same performance as the previous fishing line, but it has a longer service life and is not as rigid.
• The cost of this thread is higher, since it is 50 m in a bobbin, the cost depends on the diameter, 0.10 mm costs 9 euros, 0.21 mm costs 12.5 euros.

Sunline Siglon FC

The cost of fishing line with a diameter of 0.14 mm is 260 rubles, in a skein of 30 m, if the reel is 50 m and the diameter of the fishing line is 0.38, then the price is 660 rubles. This fluorocarbon is of high quality, invisible in water, ideal for pike fishing.