Scientific Data: Line Stretch

[coldfront]

In a world where it's hard enough to do what's right with good information, it still bothers me when a significant amount of folks talk about stuff like it's 'TRUE'...when in fact, the facts may not support the position.

Such an issue is, for me, the constant comments about flourocarbon line being more sensitive because it doesn't stretch...relative to mono anyway.  From what I can gather from folks who've investigated this using approaches that quantify (measure, record:  novel concepts) what's actually happening...

Fluorocarbon line stretches...almost as much, possibly more...than mono...

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfluorocarbon2.html



Please note, my favorite 'stretchy line' Trilene XL is at the bottom of the chart for comparison/reference.


Take a look at the second page where they talk about deformation and strain...



Pretty cool/interesting stuff.

[islandbass]

Yeah, that is good information and it's been out for a while.  I do get a chuckle when people say that fc line has low stretch.  Some don't stretch as much as others.

[coldfront]

Yeah, that is good information and it's been out for a while.  I do get a chuckle when people say that fc line has low stretch.  Some don't stretch as much as others.

Plenty of big name pros who ought to know better (or their sponsoring companies should remind them)...continue putting out this erroneous info...

[pawpaw]

coldfront, I'll bet you $10.00 it wont be two days until somebody post something about florocarbon line haveing low stretch.

[coldfront]

coldfront, I'll bet you $10.00 it wont be two days until somebody post something about florocarbon line haveing low stretch.

PawPaw, if I were to take that bet, I'd just as well put the money in the mail...

for the young folks, this might be a great opportunity for a drinking game...like the one we used to play with the Bob Newhart show...

'Hi Bob...'

[Pferox]

As far as I am concerned, there is no such thing as no stretch, heck I have seen steel rods pulled into very thin threads before they broke, although it didn't happen from a fish. 

[bassindude]

Great post Coldfront.  Great article, I read the entire study.  The one other test I would like to have seen is the sink rate.  FC is supposed to sink faster, and be better for worming and jigging and such.  Just wondering how much of that is true.  Ive been a life long user of Stren, and I know it has been owned for a while by Berkley.  I wonder if it has basically become the same line as Trilene or have they kept the processes seperate.  I havn't noticed any differences, but I'm not an everyday angler, so I dont have as much opportunity to abuse my line like some.

[coldfront]

Great post Coldfront.  Great article, I read the entire study.  The one other test I would like to have seen is the sink rate.  FC is supposed to sink faster, and be better for worming and jigging and such.  Just wondering how much of that is true.  Ive been a life long user of Stren, and I know it has been owned for a while by Berkley.  I wonder if it has basically become the same line as Trilene or have they kept the processes seperate.  I havn't noticed any differences, but I'm not an everyday angler, so I dont have as much opportunity to abuse my line like some.

thanks.

First of all, I've been re-thinking this post over the past couple of days and realizing what an  I am...but that's my cross to bear...

as for sink rate, it makes a lot of sense in that FC is more dense than mono...which also plays a part in how well it transmits vibration...both in the density factor (for example:  sound moves through water MUCH faster than air due to the difference in density between the two mediums) and also in what I think is increased line tension due to that sink...

I can see how an angler might get more positive hook sets with FC due to these characteristics as well...but FC doesn't appear to be a no stretch line type...

[goliac7]

I prefer flourocarbon line over mono because it has zero stretch!!! 
haha. The only thing I notice about flouro is that it gets high memory on my spinning reels very quickly....

[goliac7]

I prefer flourocarbon line over mono because it has zero stretch!!! 
 I had to do it.The only thing I notice about flouro is that it gets high memory on my spinning reels very quickly....

[Baron49]

Great thread and well done Coldfront.  Posting facts like this keeps members of UB in the know and ahead of the curve. 

I do have to agree that Elite pros SHOULD understand and know the product they are advertising before tell the general public something that just is not true!

[Jared LeBlue]

I prefer flourocarbon line over mono because it has zero stretch!!! 
haha. The only thing I notice about flouro is that it gets high memory on my spinning reels very quickly....

I find that to be the same with copolymers as well.

[NMFishFinder]

My gamma copalomer seems to do the trick for me, I tried berkley vanish and let me tell ya that stuff is worth its weight in dog vomit. So my fluro opinion is a little askew. I am gonna try the floro coated p-line, I dont know if its, as or more, abrasion resistant as my gamma but I'll see.

[coldfront]

My first and only experience with copoly was a yo-zuri line (probably about 10-15 years ago)...based on that, I just haven't seen the need for it over what's now out there in flouro, mono and braid.

I have gotten pretty specific about my line apps...  probably just old age.

[Jared LeBlue]

My gamma copalomer seems to do the trick for me, I tried berkley vanish and let me tell ya that stuff is worth its weight in dog vomit. So my fluro opinion is a little askew. I am gonna try the floro coated p-line, I dont know if its, as or more, abrasion resistant as my gamma but I'll see.

That's what I am using now and it's pretty good. It does have some memory but no more than regular p-line.

[Mike]

I have used many different Flouro's trying to find one I liked. Battling memory, stretch, and knot strength. Some things I have found in my personal experience bounced against this data...

First is that the lines they show have more stretch actually do better in the memory category for me, meaning less memory. I.E. the Maximum line is extremely high memory whether its cold or not? The Seagur has been fantastic when it comes to memory or lack of it. Now realize I don't use anything less than 15 lbs test line here in Louisiana.

Second is stretch, I have found their stats pretty true in my personal use. I haven't used all the lines they have listed but many. And I would have to totally agree with what they have posted.

Now knot strength? I can't find a comparison in the stretch of the line versus knot strength? I know that everyone can tie a bad knot at times but a line of note is the BPS FC I have had the worst luck with it when it comes to tensile strength and knot strength. Did I get a bad spool? Maybe but it would have had to be three bad spools?

[NMFishFinder]

That's what I am using now and it's pretty good. It does have some memory but no more than regular p-line.

The memory is an easy fix a couple casts and its gone, if its been in the reel a long time, tie something heavy like a big spinnerbait and either whip it out or troll a little behind the boat the line will come back to normal after this.

[Team9nine]

Great post Coldfront.  Great article, I read the entire study.  The one other test I would like to have seen is the sink rate.  FC is supposed to sink faster, and be better for worming and jigging and such.  Just wondering how much of that is true. 

Fluoro sinks 3 times faster than mono, but still not fast. Takes a piece of fluoro about 15 seconds to fall 1 foot. Mono takes 45 seconds to do the same. Braid floats.

-T9

[ReelKnights]

I'm a senior civil engineering student so all this talk about these material properties is insisting that I add my $0.02  

Keep in mind you get what you pay for with anything- and that includes line; whether it is brand name or in a lot of cases quality. Fluro is denser, and "more abrasion resistant" I wonder how much more... but you can definitely feel the difference in it from mono, how much stiffer it is. To note more on quality for price, look at the stretch percentages, including after soaking, you see mono goes up while the better quality fluro retains its properites. Also, as noted before, there is no such thing as no strech- I've watched tension tests on high-strength steel and it will stretch before it ruptures. Braid stretches to an extent, and so do the other lines... to a greater extent. If you look closely you can see that some of the lines approach almost half the stretch of mono, especially as mono increases during soak- might not seem like a lot but 1/2 the stretch is pretty significant on a large scale. Their is a difference in the polymer used for the fluro, I just truly believe it is so hyped up and pricey becuase like anything new in technology, they had to do a little R&D so of course they want it to look like the next best thing since sliced bread.

I'm not completely sold on fluro, shoot the only I've ever bought is leader since it has a lower index and is less visible. But I'll stick so my suffix elite mono, I'll keep my money and just set the hook a little harder on my mono to compensate for the stretch

-Vince

[coldfront]

Fluro is ... "more abrasion resistant" I wonder how much more...
-Vince

I will say this:  I will use 10# flouro to pitch weightless soft plastics into the heart of brush piles...with no problems pulling fish out...and can feel line 'sawing' down there in the process.

the roughness of the line, the knicks on the line:  much less with flouro...

I still check it though...and retie...