Fluorocarbon line is pretty new to me.  I’m using Suffix for leader material and am curious how frequently is it recommended to re-tie knots and how often to replace leaders?  I’ve noticed fluoro seems quite stiff compared to mono and am wondering if it’s brittle?

 

Reason I ask is my son was casting a Live Target Poppin’ Frog this afternoon - 8# fluoro leader tied to 30# braid - when the knot broke at the lure and we lost our frog (leader still firmly attached to braid).  I don’t think we’d made 50 casts and had not caught any fish so I’m a little surprised.  And I’d wet the knot well before pulling tight.  I fished for years with mono and never had that happen.

The question might be - what knot you’re tying to attach the fluorocarbon to the lure.  A lot of people (including me previously) tie a Palomar, and although that works well with braid, can slip out with fluorocarbon.  You can tell this is the case when you lose a lure and at the end of the knot is “curly-cued.” 
 

I switched over to a new know that seems to be bullet-proof.  You can look up the video how to tie it if you Google “Shaw Grigsby fluorocarbon knot.”
 

 

Never...

I Never tie a leader. 

My hook knot is a SDJ and will retie after every 1/2 dozen or so fish. 

Most times it's really not needed, it's a confidence thing. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Every thing I fish with flouro is now tied with a uni and no more lost lures/fish.

2 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I switched over to a new know that seems to be bullet-proof.  You can look up the video how to tie it if you Google “Shaw Grigsby fluorocarbon knot.”

 

Cool.  I watched the video and have practiced that know a few times - I think I've got it.  Thanks!

 

I have been tying an old/traditional knot that I learned literally in the 70's and used with mono for 20 years with no issues.  But, I just got back into fishing recently after about a 20 year hiatus and am coming up to speed on all the new gear and techniques.  Clearly, not everything I learned in the 70's is directly transferable to current day.  lol
 

20 minutes ago, OnthePotomac said:

Every thing I fish with flouro is now tied with a uni and no more lost lures/fish.

Hey. What size line are you using? I had trouble with the uni breaking with 8 and 10lb Seaguar

Line management is critical with both FC and any monofilament line. If you feel or see any abrasion, nicks, flat shiny spots retie. 

How many times do you read about anglers loosing that big fish because it broke off....

I never have any knot tied to lures longer then 1 trip of use or over night and retie several times each outing using FC line.

Pulling a lure loose from a snag is a good time to retie.

Tom

Never had trouble with knots and fc. I also use the Shaw Grigsby knot ( I learned it as the Jimmy Houston knot) and used Sunline Sniper FC. I also think 8# is too light for fishing a frog.

2 hours ago, waymont said:

Hey. What size line are you using? I had trouble with the uni breaking with 8 and 10lb Seaguar

10 and 15lb Invizx.

6 hours ago, tander said:

Never had trouble with knots and fc. I also use the Shaw Grigsby knot ( I learned it as the Jimmy Houston knot) and used Sunline Sniper FC. I also think 8# is too light for fishing a frog.

I'll look into that knot too.  As for using 8#, that's what I had on hand but agree it's too light and will be buying something more like 15#.  Thank for the tips.

5 minutes ago, The Baron said:

I'll look into that knot too.  As for using 8#, that's what I had on hand but agree it's too light and will be buying something more like 15#.  Thank for the tips.

You don't need a leader using a frog.

Tom

Just now, WRB said:

You don't need a leader using a frog.

Tom

 

Should have mentioned... my main line is hi viz yellow, and I don't want to change it yet.

15 minutes ago, The Baron said:

 

Should have mentioned... my main line is hi viz yellow, and I don't want to change it yet.

They aren't scared of your line.

^^^^^ This, go with straight braid.

I direct tie everything so re-tieing is often.

 

I've had no issues with polamar and Sunline but only ever use FC as leader material, Alberto for leader.

 

I think leaving a nice tab when using FC and polamar, I leave 1/2" or more.

 

If you don't like braid, I'd recommend a good mono over fluorocarbon for a reel fill.

 

I don't use leaders for any top water applications but will admit......straight braid will grab a front treble occasionally. 

33 minutes ago, The Baron said:

 

Should have mentioned... my main line is hi viz yellow, and I don't want to change it yet.

You can color the line green or black about 3' with a Sharpie pen if the yellow bothers you.

Tom

It always makes me laugh how we use black lures to "stand out" yet we color the line black to help hide it when fishing braid ?

I only retie leader when it's to short. Depending what I have tied on, I'll use specific knot accordingly. I use Stren fluorocarbon for leader and never had an issue. I used to use Suffix FC, but that stuff tends to fray after awhile.

Don't use fluoro as a leader for topwater baits.  Either tie direct (this is what I do) or use something that floats, like mono.

17 hours ago, The Baron said:

 

Should have mentioned... my main line is hi viz yellow, and I don't want to change it yet.

 

17 hours ago, WRB said:

You can color the line green or black about 3' with a Sharpie pen if the yellow bothers you.

This is exactly what I was going to recommend. 

 

Tie directly with braid, and the 8lb line you were using was way too light for almost any application other than maybe a dropshot setup. 

I use no less than 8-10lb test leader  with 20 or 30lb braid