Bass Anglers are well aware that fluorocarbon line is a must-have tool because of its remarkable sensitivity as well as the fact that it sinks rapidly, driving crankbaits and other lures deeper. But fluoro fishing lines like Bass Pro Shops® XPS® KVD Signature Series 100% Fluorocarbon is also great in saltwater. Here are some reasons you’re missing a bet if you don’t have fluoro on at least one of your saltwater rods:
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The minimal stretch of this line allows for a lightning-fast hook set as well as great fish-fighting power when you need it — like when you’re trying to stop a snook from reaching the mangrove roots!
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The low visibility of this line can be a big plus when you’re chasing spooky species such as bonefish and permit on the air-clear flats of the Florida Keys and throughout the Tropics — with the same refractive index as water, it’s virtually invisible in many conditions. It also works well for fooling picky mangrove or gray snapper offshore — they can be very cagey after a few of their buddies have been hauled into the boat.
Fluoro is also a “harder” line than mono, and in heavier tests that can make it an excellent leader material for toothy species such as Spanish mackerel and bluefish — both critters noted for nipping off mono like a piece of spaghetti. Use a couple feet of 25-pound-test XPS Fluoro in place of leader wire, and you’ll get lots more strikes due to the low visibility, yet have few cutoffs due to the toughness of the line. It’s also great protection against the rough jaws and sharp gill covers of snook.
Fluoro also is much more resistant to UV damage than monofilament — in the bright sunshine of the Florida flats, that can be a big factor over a few months of fishing. You’ll need to change fluorocarbon line less frequently, so even though it costs more, its durability may actually make it less expensive than mono.
If you prefer to fish braided or microfiber line on your saltwater spinning gear — and many anglers do these days — you’ll still probably want to add a foot or two of fluoro leader to the end of your running line. The stiffer fluoro will prevent your line from tangling in the hooks of your lures as you work them, and it’s also much less visible than the braided line, as well as giving you a handle to help pull fish aboard. Grabbing the micro-thin braid can result in a line cut.
Tie the braid to the fluoro with a double surgeon’s knot or double Uniknot and you’ll rarely have trouble with it slipping under pressure. Learning how to tie knots such as the Uni knot is easier than you think.
This article was produced by Frank Sargeant for Bass Pro Shops 1Source.