What advantages are there in having Fluro straight through

[Hess]

Just wondering if any of you guys use Fluro straight through, what advantages are there in this?

[BloodWorm]

The simple answer is that FC is less visible than braid.

I call it a 1% thing advantage.

In most cases fishing braid and a rod length of leader you will catch fish. But that session when the fish are off the bite, spooky what ever using FC straight through may trigger a bite you normally wouldn't get.

A negative is that FC has more stretch than braid so your ability to feel what is happening at the end of your line is muffled. Mind you reading Steve Morgan's accounts of him using FC he seems to be able to feel things almost as good as braid.

[Eastbrimin]

There will divided opinion on this one i reakon. I have only just started to use straight FC for the last few months. I have found that my hook-up rate has increased when using Hards. An Example was the Kayak ABT comp at Marlo. Day one i was using 4lb braid with a 4lb FC leader of about 4m. I caught a lot of fish that day but missed a heap that were 'bumping' the lure but no hook-up.
Day two i switched to straight FC, fished the same spot, same lure, same technique and those 'bumps' took me from 36th to 5th
And most of the bigger fish were only just hooked in the lip.

[Eastbrimin]

Originally Posted by BloodWorm

The simple answer is that FC is less visible than braid.

I call it a 1% thing advantage.

In most cases fishing braid and a rod length of leader you will catch fish. But that session when the fish are off the bite, spooky what ever using FC straight through may trigger a bite you normally wouldn't get.

A negative is that FC has more stretch than braid so your ability to feel what is happening at the end of your line is muffled. Mind you reading Steve Morgan's accounts of him using FC he seems to be able to feel things almost as good as braid.

True but i see the main advantage being the stretch of the line.. Allowing the fish to hit the lure and not feeling direct resistance from non-stretch braid ????

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Eastbrimin

There will divided opinion on this one i reakon. I have only just started to use straight FC for the last few months. I have found that my hook-up rate has increased when using Hards. An Example was the Kayak ABT comp at Marlo. Day one i was using 4lb braid with a 4lb FC leader of about 4m. I caught a lot of fish that day but missed a heap that were 'bumping' the lure but no hook-up.
Day two i switched to straight FC, fished the same spot, same lure, same technique and those 'bumps' took me from 36th to 5th
And most of the bigger fish were only just hooked in the lip.

Was your straight through of the same diameter (4 lbs)?

[Jules01]

it's cheaper

[BloodWorm]

Originally Posted by Eastbrimin

True but i see the main advantage being the stretch of the line.. Allowing the fish to hit the lure and not feeling direct resistance from non-stretch braid ????

Interesting view on FC.

Rod choice obviously plays to this as well.

[Eastbrimin]

Originally Posted by Alex

Was your straight through of the same diameter (4 lbs)?

Sorry was actually 3lb when i used it straight through and i was using 3lb leader the first day not 4 .....

[Yak_Hak]

Originally Posted by Eastbrimin

True but i see the main advantage being the stretch of the line.. Allowing the fish to hit the lure and not feeling direct resistance from non-stretch braid ????

I would definitely agree with that... I tend to find that the lack of resistance will make fish run with the lure a little longer giving you that extra millisecond to set the hooks.

The down side for my has been tangles caused by line twists... some guys don't seem to have this problem but it seems to happen to me at least once a session.

[ljbeer]

Originally Posted by Yak_Hak

I would definitely agree with that... I tend to find that the lack of resistance will make fish run with the lure a little longer giving you that extra millisecond to set the hooks.

The down side for my has been tangles caused by line twists... some guys don't seem to have this problem but it seems to happen to me at least once a session.

What lb are you using and what reel? 1000-2000 size reels I found struggle with 4lb or higher and tend to twist if not very careful. if its a small reel and your confident enough use 3lb.

biggest thing i found to eliminate tangles and twists was to ensure it never gets wound on loosely! If its wound on with resistance you (hopefully) will have no trouble!

[BRETT]

2lb straight thru best advantage is testing your skills and fun

[TassieDevil]

I use 3lb straight through these days. Unitika Silver Thread has been the best I've found, never get many tangles at all.
I use Quantum Smoke 30 size reel which is more like a 2500 size in most other brands I feel.
I've never gone above the 20 size reels in the past but was given one to try last year and found I was casting a good 5m further sometimes more just from the increased spool size. At the time I trialed this reel I was using MicroFuse in 3 and 4lb with a 4lb leader. on both the new 30 size and the older 20 size spool.
Best advantage for straight through for me that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet is no leader knots. The micro guides on my Howler Customs are so tiny as I'm sure many other have too and I find that I'm again casting further with straight through and no guide wrap ever. I know some people say they never get any and they may or most definitely have a different casting style as we all probably do but I'm a big fan of the straight through now days.
Only tried it when I bought a couple of spools of Silver Thread at Mo's on the long drive from Hobart to the GC for the GF last year to top spool some light fluro for the yellowfin. Really glad I did.
I also have a short stiff 5 foot road loaded the 6lb straight thru that I fish a locked drag with for pulling big Tassie blacks from under jetties and wharf's down here. I do get the occasional tangle but mostly casting 10m max or flicking under arm from close range so it's very manageable.

[crusty]

I've tried it and didn't like it at all - It was only Basic FC so a better line might be different.

The thing I like best about braid is the sensitivity it gives. With FC - Arrgh the stretch - felt like fishing with bungee cord.
But in reality I know I haven't given it a fair go. I think I only tried with plastics and then only a few times which was pretty silly in hindsight. Still have the spool in the bag ready to go.
I think with little hardbodies on the flats it could be better option - the stretch would be an advantage if you've just nicked the fish. Missed quite few hits last weekend.

I think I will give it another go. Save tying leader knots - thats got to be a bonus.

[Yak_Hak]

Originally Posted by ljbeer

What lb are you using and what reel? 1000-2000 size reels I found struggle with 4lb or higher and tend to twist if not very careful. if its a small reel and your confident enough use 3lb.

biggest thing i found to eliminate tangles and twists was to ensure it never gets wound on loosely! If its wound on with resistance you (hopefully) will have no trouble!

Using a 2004 size Daiwa...

Originally Posted by crusty

I've tried it and didn't like it at all - It was only Basic FC so a better line might be different.

The thing I like best about braid is the sensitivity it gives. With FC - Arrgh the stretch - felt like fishing with bungee cord.
But in reality I know I haven't given it a fair go. I think I only tried with plastics and then only a few times which was pretty silly in hindsight. Still have the spool in the bag ready to go.
I think with little hardbodies on the flats it could be better option - the stretch would be an advantage if you've just nicked the fish. Missed quite few hits last weekend.

I think I will give it another go. Save tying leader knots - thats got to be a bonus.

I see it this way: when fishing with lures there are "tight line techniques" eg slow rolling hard bodies, and "slack line techniques" eg skipping plastics/blades... For tight line techniques I like fluoro straight through, for slack line I still prefer braid.

[tuan]

Originally Posted by Yak_Hak

I see it this way: when fishing with lures there are "tight line techniques" eg slow rolling hard bodies, and "slack line techniques" eg skipping plastics/blades... For tight line techniques I like fluoro straight through, for slack line I still prefer braid.

winner .. that too is how i decide whether i use my fluoro reel or braid reel. i dont feel i lose too much sensitivity with the fluoro and that you will still feel the line tics when the fish hits / sniffs when fishing tight like slow rolling hards

still fish braid/fluoro leader combo more due to fishing plastics more often than hards

no twists/windknots here .. sniper 3lb

give it a go, just don't tie on your $30 lures until you re quite confident with casting and fighting fish with it though !! you can still give quite a bit of stick on 3lb fluoro coz of the stretch it has