Last century I used mono forever—Stren mostly.

The first versions of FC I tried were really bad, so I went back to mono for a stretch. A few years later, the word on the water was that FC had finally improved, mostly in knot strength, so I gave it another shot.

After cycling through a few brands, I landed on Seaguar. I started with Red Label (not a fan) and moved to InvisX, which is solid and still has a place in my rotation. But once I spooled up and fished Tatsu for a season? I was done looking.

I still use all types of line for various applications, including Big Game Green—one of my favorite topwater and shallow jerkbait leaders. Braid lasts me a long time, but I’ll re-pool mono or FC the second I think the line is compromised.

Bulk spools rule.

A-Jay

For me personally flouro sucks. I always use mono leaders when using leaders to braid. I always use back to back uni knots for the connections without failures. While up at the St Lawrence last week I had two leaders knots fail using saltwater yo-zuri 100% fluorocarbon 30 yard fluoro. The leaders were 10lb & 12lb joined to 10lb braid & 8lb braid. I cinched all my knots up with saliva & lip balm to prevent the knots from burning. Water temps were high 30's & low 40's which I'm sure might have contributed to the problem. Extreme water clarity is the only reason I even considered flouro. My buddy also had a leader connection at the knot to braid fail.

I use Braid with FC leader. I also use staright FC on some of technique specific setups. Also been using Tripolymer in place of straight FC. Haven't had any issues.

I use old school trilene for 90 percent of my fishing, even flipping. Imo it has better abrasion resistance than any flouro I have used.

I am not sold on the fact that flouro has less stretch than mono, it seems comparable to me. Where the advantage comes in is that flouro sinks, leading to better sensitivity. How does that work if it has the same stretch? because when mono is sitting on top of the water, and your bait is on the bottom, this creates slack in the line. Flouro however, goes straight from rod tip to bait, and does not create this bow in the line.

For long casts with bottom contact baits, this is a big advantage. However, it is not an advantage I'm willing to spend 30 dollars per spool of line for, outside of tournaments.

Flouro used to be pretty bad. As with all things the technology has greatly improved. I used to be a flouro hater myself then I learned how to fish with it. Now I run my spinning rods with flouro for anything under 8lb test and use it for pretty much all but my topwater rod for baitcasting. I used to not care for the brand but after extensive testing on how I like to fish versus flouro performance I have decided on Yozuri T-7 flouro as my go to. I like the way it casts and the way it feels.

I tried flouro last year and the start of this year and just don’t like it as a mainline. Bass fishing is all about touch and feel for me and I can’t stand the sag of flouro hanging down to your bait. It has a clunky, springy feel working baits. I much prefer mono or Hybrid which is a great comp. I like braid as well but mostly on my spinning rigs and a couple casting. I didn’t mind straight flouro cranking though.

I only have one setup with FC, all my other ones are Braid/FC, Braid or Tripolymer.

Marketing hype can be pervassive, especially for the bass fishing community. For years people used flourocarbon because they were told it was a line with low stretch. Even though it should be well known by now as a false claim, the use of flouro remains popular.

Personally I do not use it for anything.

Interesting responses, thank you everyone. It'd be interesting to see if Wheeler could still do as well if he used mono for everything. Part of that equation would have to be, instead of just changing, he would have to adjust to how mono sinks/lack of sink. I expect he'd continue to be at the top of the field.

I expect he’d still be at the top of the field @Bazoo - however - I assume if he didn’t have that academy sports/rapala paycheck in the bank, he’d fish with a lot less peace of mind and focus what with the cost of entry fees these days!

Theres 299 other pro anglers that aren’t wheeler that are still making a living doing it - so it’s not really about how great at fishing you are at the end of the day. (And it’s the same for all other pro sports - it’s a business first and foremost)

But yes - if they told wheeler he’d be fishing out of an inflatable ducky float tube with a flasher and two rods - he’d almost certainly still be one of the most dangerous anglers in any field constrained by the same limitations. He’s absolute incredible at fishing - but that isn’t why he’s a successful professional fisherman (just a small part of the puzzle)

1 hour ago, LionHeart said:

Marketing hype can be pervassive, especially for the bass fishing community. For years people used flourocarbon because they were told it was a line with low stretch. Even though it should be well known by now as a false claim, the use of flouro remains popular.

Personally I do not use it for anything.

There are still quite a few claiming fluorocarbon lines have less stretch than monofilament lines. Guess they never read TT's 2-part series articles comparing fluoro to mono. I use very little fluoro and previously it was because that was what was already spooled on used reels I purchased. I can state with absolute confidence that a fluoro line can have a ton of stretch. And that when it breaks it's nasty. Worse than any mono.

I did purchase some 10# J-Fluoro to try on a few crankbait rods. We'll see how that goes.

No I never read his articles.

I use flouro for all but 3 presentations I use braid for.

I won’t use mono to hang a picture on a wall.

Yes, flouro will stretch but it’s a matter of degree to what you’ll except for your waters and style of fishing.

There is no right or wrong here.

Different brands from different manufacturers will vary wildly.

It’s up to us to chose for ourselves

Mike

@Mike L could you elaborate on why you don't like/won't use mono?

@Pat Brown I don't know that the other 299 anglers are making it. Some of them are doing well, but I'd guess a good bit of them are probably just making enough to cover their costs. Now... I don't know for sure, I am theorizing on the limited information I have seen.

Winning $100,000 or $300,000 would certainly ease the financial strain quite a bit though.

@Bazoo - they aren’t winning but they’re making it because they have similar sponsorships and promote their sponsors and build their brands sufficiently to be relevant - lots of examples of legends of the sport who don’t do much winning these days but remain on tour because they have secured good stable sponsor contracts and have enough to fish and pay the bills even if they lose every year - they just have to work harder in other ways.

The fact of the matter is - the amount of money Jacob wins pales in comparison to what he earns selling baits and boats and clothes and working with Academy - by that metric he isn’t THAT much more successful than other folks who are also good at that aspect of professional fishing.

@Bazoo

This won’t be popular on here and I get it.

Some if not all mono users and flouro haters will disagree until they pass out.

I won’t get into a debate as there are no absolutes, but you asked…

For Me….

*Inordinate amount of stretch

*Lower sensitivity and less than ideal hook sets especially for longer casts and bottom contact presentations

*Less abrasion resistance

*Higher visibility

*Higher Memory

*Larger line diameter in my most used line strengths

Etc

Mike

58 minutes ago, Mike L said:

This won’t be popular on here and I get it.

I'm in your corner, pal...and for the same reasons. Of all my rigs, only one has Mono - my topwater setup (spooks, WPs)

Many years ago I made the switch to Vanish flourocarbon and the years that followed left me with a FILTHY mouth.

Went back to mono and then about 7 years ago started migrating towards finesse fishing.

That's when I went back to flouro as a leader and braid as main line...... found holy grail.

1 hour ago, Bird said:

switch to Vanish flourocarbon

It did live up to it's name - made your lures vanish when casting.

On 5/2/2026 at 9:59 PM, MiceNReets said:

I was strictly braid forever and the last few years I’ve been all fluoro but this season I’m thinking it’s back to braid again with fluoro leaders. My go to braid was sufix 832 and berkley x5. What are the cool kids using these days?

Cast X12

I can see no reason not to use Flouro for anything I'm dragging. I personally have never had a problem with break offs or knot issues.

It's fine for buzz baits and any topwater that you have pulled tight like the plopper / choppo.

I like the crank FC for diving baits.

I do use braid to a short FC leader for walking baits and poppers.

In the wind up you have to figure out what works best for you and where you fish.

5 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

I can see no reason not to use Flouro for anything I'm dragging. I personally have never had a problem with break offs or knot issues.

It's fine for buzz baits and any topwater that you have pulled tight like the plopper / choppo.

I like the crank FC for diving baits.

I do use braid to a short FC leader for walking baits and poppers.

In the wind up you have to figure out what works best for you and where you fish.

Yep, for buzzbaits in more open water (and rats too), straight fluoro all the way.

My main gripe with fluoro, is I pitch into brush a lot when using a texas rig, and snag sticks/rocks a lot when using a crankbait. In other words, I break my line because fluoro won't take any abuse. I am a line abuser.

I think you have that mixed up a bit. Fluoro generally will take a lot MORE abuse from abrasion compared to mono. It depends a little on the fluoro and the mono, but for the most part you swap to fluoro for the tougher outer coating/material and to gain abrasion resistance.

I mean, CXX exists if abrasion is your only concern.

Shop by diameter.

For me personally, I have seen zero advantages to fluoro over mono. And I find it hard to believe that when using a 10’ or less leader going to braid if can make any difference at all…

But to each their own