I'm running 15# Suffix 832 braid on my spinning setup with 8# P-Line CXX for my leader. Some of the reservoirs I fish have very clear water. Would I be better off using a fluro leader under these conditions for less visibility? The reservoirs are heavily pressured this time of year and the smallmouth are very picky. I'm mainly referring to Liberty Reservoir in Maryland for those that may be familiar.

 

Thanks,

Billy

Nope. Copoly Or mono would be perfectly fine. I doubt fluorocarbon is any less visible than cxx Crystal clear. Plus your 8# cxx is more like 12lb breaking strength, where 8# fluorocarbon may break at 6# if you tie a decent knot. 

Fishing in Lake Erie for the first time I was told bring as light of line as you've got

I got schooled because I was using 4lb and 6lb mono and my partner was using 6lb flourocarbon.

Once I switched, it was like day and night.

I also watched him land a 16 lb sheepshead on that 6lb Gamma

 

 

I cant speak for copoly as I've never used it 

48 minutes ago, BassNJake said:

Fishing in Lake Erie for the first time I was told bring as light of line as you've got

I got schooled because I was using 4lb and 6lb mono and my partner was using 6lb flourocarbon.

Once I switched, it was like day and night.

I also watched him land a 16 lb sheepshead on that 6lb Gamma

 

 

I cant speak for copoly as I've never used it 

You switched? How did you do that on the water during a bite going on?

After over 2 decade of comparing FC to mono or Copoly lines the difference I can detect is FC has weaker knot strength, less abrasion resistance when comparing line by it's diameter and I have tried them all. Bass, including Smallmouth, are not line shy fish, the line stiffness, weight and diameter can affect some lures performance. The most important factor is knot strength, if the line breaks you loose!

If you have confidence the line works for you then use it!

Tom

14 minutes ago, WRB said:

You switched? How did you do that on the water during a bite going on?

 

Probably as simple as switching rods.  I can vouch for light fluoro buying you more bites on Erie and Ontario.  I use 4 and 6 lb. line as well.  My buddy Burnie holds some IGFA line class records for walleye, trout, and smallmouth, all from Ontario, using 4 lb. fluorocarbon.  Maybe not a difference where you fish, but there's a difference here, and it's so prevalent among other local anglers, it's not a confidence thing in our heads.

I use Maxima ultra green copoly for smallmouth leaders & I have never felt I missed any bites by not using fluoro. I have fished against a guy using flouro from my boat using the same baits & we never really noticed a difference. Water clarity on Erie is usually not that good because of turbidity from the waves so any clarity advantage fluoro has is negated almost all the time. Lake Ontario because of its deeper nature does have clearer water than Erie.  

Here's how clear it is at Ontario:

 

 

19 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Here's how clear it is at Ontario:

 

 

 

 

Great rainbow!  That is some incredibly clear water.  How deep were you fishing?  That's a very visible bottom for sure.

I was in 10-12', if I recall.

4 hours ago, J Francho said:

 

Probably as simple as switching rods.  I can vouch for light fluoro buying you more bites on Erie and Ontario.  I use 4 and 6 lb. line as well.  My buddy Burnie holds some IGFA line class records for walleye, trout, and smallmouth, all from Ontario, using 4 lb. fluorocarbon.  Maybe not a difference where you fish, but there's a difference here, and it's so prevalent among other local anglers, it's not a confidence thing in our heads.

 

Burnie is crazy with that light line business! He knows what he's doing though, that's for sure.

4 minutes ago, RichF said:

Burnie is crazy.

 

Fixed that for you.

 

Just kidding.  I've donated to his wallet on more than a few occasions.

Just now, J Francho said:

 

Fixed that for you.

 

Just kidding.  I've donated to his wallet on more than a few occasions.

 

HA! As have I!

He and Cusano have been tearing it up in team opens this year, again.  They are deadly on Oneida.

44 minutes ago, J Francho said:

He and Cusano have been tearing it up in team opens this year, again.  They are deadly on Oneida.

 

I steer clear of Oneida.  I grew up only an hr from it and hardly ever fish it.  It's one of my least favorite lakes up there.

6 hours ago, WRB said:

You switched? How did you do that on the water during a bite going on?

After over 2 decade of comparing FC to mono or Copoly lines the difference I can detect is FC has weaker knot strength, less abrasion resistance when comparing line by it's diameter and I have tried them all. Bass, including Smallmouth, are not line shy fish, the line stiffness, weight and diameter can affect some lures performance. The most important factor is knot strength, if the line breaks you loose!

If you have confidence the line works for you then use it!

Tom

He let me use a couple of his rods as this was before I even owned Flourocarbon.

I always thought flouro was an over hyped product and never bought into it.

Several trips first hand experiencing the difference changed my beliefs.

 

I do not feel as though it is abrasion resistant, any little nick or burr will be the end of it.

Which is why everyone that uses it has to constantly retie or lose fish like you have indicated earlier.

Maybe once I am able to put in 20 years testing it as much as you have, I'll have a different opinion.

I have never used copoly or a high quality mono and will give those a try based on the recommendations on this site.

Your success may have more do to the rod/reel/line/hook/weight combination allowing you to detect strikes and effectively catch bass then the FC line alone.

I am not saying FC line is bad, I am saying it isn't a panacea to catching more bass.

Tom