What is the difference between monofilament line and flurocarbon fishing line?

Answer 1

The difference is in the polymers used in the manufacturing process.

Other differences are, fluorocarbon sinks faster than other line of the same size, which allows use of smaller weights, smaller baits or heavier line to accomplish the same purposes. You can dig a little deeper with crankbaits and use lighter jigs to create a more subtle action without having to lighten your line.

The slight shift in sink weight becomes especially valuable when you works a weightless Senko, which is one of my favorite ways to fish. An Gamakatsu 3/0 Wide Gap hook and Fluorocarbon combine to make a Senko sink at just the right rate for my style of fishing with no added lead, maximizing the action of the bait.

The size and type of line you use affects the action of any bait and I’ve found that Fluorocarbon allows for the most natural action with most baits.

Another important attribute of Fluorocarbon is its very low stretch. You feel every piece of cover as you work a bait along the bottom and you feel even the lightest strikes.

Minimal stretch also makes for solid hook sets. Even when dragging Carolina rigs over open-water humps, an approach that calls for very long casts, you knows that when you sets the hook you’ll be jerking into fish instead of pulling the stretch out of the line.


Adding even greater value, especially for clear-water fishing, Fluorocarbon is virtually invisible in the water. Plus, it’s highly abrasion resistant, which is critical for fishing around rocks, docks and other cover.

However take note that fluorocarbon is not always the right line for the job. The same properties that offer great virtue in most situations would work against an angler in others. For me, the three main situations that dictate using Monofilament instead of Fluorocarbon are topwater fishing, suspended jerkbait fishing and close-quarters flipping.

A small topwater lure and fluorocarbon don’t go well together because the sinking line tends to pull the nose of the bait down, hampering its action. Therefore I favor mono for slowly jerking a Bomber Long A because the fluorocarbon actually will cause a perfectly balanced suspending jerkbait to sink slowly.

When flipping a Mega Tube and working close to the fish, one needs a little stretch in his line as a shock absorber.

Use a palomar knot to tie lures on when you fish with Fluorocarbon, and be sure to wet the line when you tie it to avoid damaging the line. Fluorocarbon demands a little extra care when you spool reels to make certain they are spooled snugly.

Another benefit of Fluorocarbon is because of its added toughness, you won't have to re-spool as frequently.


Good Luck.

Answer 2

Personally, I avoid Floro mainline like the plague. It is super stiff and has a "harder" character too it, increasing memory greatly. It is my understanding that the process to even make the stuff usable as a main line weakens it a bit, making the real breaking and knot strength less than comparable mono filament. The great advantage of fluro is the fact that it is supposedly less visible to the fish underwater. Mono will be easier to tie a knot with because it is softer and more manageable. Even if you don't buy what I am saying about line and knot strength, as some do disagree and may well be correct, look at the price. Fluro is MUCH more expensive than mono and frankly not worth the price. I DO, however, use fluorocarbon leader material. Fluorocarbon also has much less stretch than mono and sinks much faster, which depending on who you ask can either be an advantage or disadvantage. The sinking characteristic makes it damn useless for top water lures, though.

Answer 3

Both are monofilament, rough translation = 1 fiber

Florocarbon lines are a type of monofilament
that diffuses light underwater making it vitrually invisible to fish

Answer 4

Exert said everything I would have said..........flouro is a great line for a number of reasons.......almost invisible/very tough/good sinking ability/low stretch. Like Exert said, the sinking ability makes it great for almost every type of lure except topwater lures for the obvious reasons. The only thing I would add is that when you tie a knot you MUST moisten the knot (with spit) before you cinch it down. If you don't the knot will be very weak.

Answer 5

Mono has stretch and low memory for great cast ability good for crank bait fishing,spinner bait fishing etc... and bait fishing.Fluorocarbon makes great leader material with little stretch and is invisible under water but has poor cast ability.