Fluorocarbon vs Mono Test Results: Are You Using The WRONG Fishing Line???

The fluorocarbon vs mono fishing line debate was settled a long time ago, right?
WRONG!
Most inshore saltwater anglers use one of the 3 leader lines examined in this training video.
Unfortunately, only ONE of them is best for inshore saltwater fishing according to 3 years of unbiased research and testing conducted on each type of line.
We originally only shared this video with our Insider members, but Joe and Luke thought the results were so shocking that they wanted everyone to learn what they discovered.
If you’re fishing with the inferior leader lines, you might be putting yourself at a severe disadvantage, reducing the number of strikes you get or potentially losing the fish of a lifetime.
If you’re a serious angler, you do not want to miss seeing this because we're going to walk you through what we've learned when it comes to fluorocarbon vs mono abrasion resistance, strength, visibility, and thickness... and it doesn't line up with all the marketing claims.
It's not just anecdotal evidence from being out on the water, either. We actually built rigs to test fluorocarbon side by side against monofilament and the numbers don't lie.
So before you head over to the Salt Strong Tackle Store to buy your line (Insiders save 20%), check out this comparison of the two most popular inshore saltwater fishing leader materials and see the surprising conclusion that changed the line Joe and Luke use!
Video References:
Original Abrasion Test: • Mono vs Fluoro: Abrasi...
Follow-up Abrasion Test: • You've Got To See This...
Knot Strength Test: • Knot Strength Test Wit...
Visibility Demo: • Mono vs Fluoro Underwa...
Using Saliva: • The Truth About Using ...
Water Soak Test: • Is Leader Line Less Ef...
Stress Test: • Fluorocarbon vs. Monof...
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[@stevegois103]

Been using good old berkley trilene and big game my whole life , main lane or leader, has never failed me . I watch these young guys trying to tell me about fancy lines but I still out fish them with no problem . Stop worrying about diameter and invisibility , fancy expensive rods the latest and greatest, the in with the Jones’s crap , $4000.00 plastic kayaks . Stop and just and learn how to fish, learn feeding habits ,temp , depth , tides ,seasonal species habitat and patterns. The use of that knowledge is the real power here. That being said I love these guys great video thank you.

[@Saltstrong]

Fancy gear is no substitute for knowledge and wisdom!

[@sirwilliam7988]

I could not have said it better myself. 20lb Big Game has been kickin bass for years.

[@OldPalFishing]

I love big game as my leader line, works great and is cheap.

[@PoetofHateSpeech]

@Saltstrong I remember a story my father told me. He had all the gear and was fishing off the rocks here in Australia on an extremely windy day. He was fishing for a couple of hours without a bite. An old guy turned up, pulled out a hand line, non weighted, just a hook and a piece of mullet... The old man ended up with 4 tuna, a bunch of bonito, and a fish we call bream, if I remember the story correctly. My father could hardly cast because of the wind, but the old bloke didn't have an issue

[@DanTheFireman]

@@PoetofHateSpeech From Key West, FL... my dad used a "Cuban yoyo" handline and we never went hungry.

[@Sir_Defyable]

Great video, it’s always refreshing to see actual testing and data used to support the claims. Never gets old, in fact. I’m a surf guy, so long leaders and abrasion resistance mean a lot. If I had to pick just one leader material to use for the rest of my days, it would be Ande 50# mono for sure. I have known about the difference in abrasion resistance (in favor of mono) for some time thanks to you guys, but I don’t have to choose just one, and I still use fluoro sometimes. Why? Depth control. The places I fish range from 3 feet to about 15 feet, but it’s usually one end of that range or the other, like 3-7 feet in some spots or 10-15 in others. In my head, the use of a mono leader will help me keep my presentations shallower, and the use of fluoro can help my baits/plugs run a little deeper. The difference of a foot or two in depth can make all the difference in catching fish or not, and in practice the theory seems to hold water (no pun intended) but I can’t seem to validate the theory based on any known testing. If you guys are open to suggestions, knowing whether a heavy mono leader leads to a bait running shallower when compared to a long thin fluoro leader would be very useful to know. In my case, using thin, strong main line is necessary as casting distance is a forever a premium from the surf, but I’m sure that affects the results as well. What I have seen the data for is braid testing, and Yo-Zuri Superbraid is still the king of braided lines especially for the $$ 😎

[@Saltstrong]

Those are great points. I'll put a bug in Luke's ear and see if we can figure out a way to test running depth between the two materials.

[@joeschmoe1301]

These actual tests are SO valuable for consumers. Thank you soooo much!!!

[@Saltstrong]

You're very welcome-glad we could help!

[@armandorjusino]

I remember when he made this contraption testing lines, that's when I subscribed, thank you for all the effort you guys make.

[@Saltstrong]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@donlowery1275]

The invisibility factor with flourcarbon, I've olny seen be true under certain light conditions. If you see it run enough underwater at various depths all while moving, the way it reflects light if it's really bright , is no different than mono. However if it's lower light , deeper ect , a large portion of the flourcarbon, would disappear. Not the whole leader , but a significant part of it. It's when the sun was at peak and it was being reflected in shallow water that made it look no different than standard mono. If you see enough footage, you can spot segments almost completely blend with water. Particularly a jerk bait or erratic retrieve, because the angle on the leader line being so flexible was constantly changing. So you wouldn't see certain sections of it as it catches light , or not . But as mentioned, it's olny under certain conditions. I first noticed it when using 130 lb for musky and giant pike . Certain days I compared to thin wire , it could seem to make a the difference and the next as if they didn't care. I saw that , just as you guys were showing it in a glass , it was plainly visible. So I started second guessing it. But now there are conditions where it is better and less visible than thin wire. But of course it's the conditions. I'm interested in seeing a product called Hard Mono. Companies like Svartzonker in Europe make this and use it for very big pike. May be of value for salt water, particularly the abrasion resistance against say tarpon. If it can go against pike teeth, it can handle most inshore species, if as you all well know how to play a fish and use the equipment to your advantage. Just as something unique and different.

[@Saltstrong]

Great point-thanks for sharing!

[@muskyhunter1535]

This channel is so good and I don’t hardly fish salt water. Great video.

[@Saltstrong]

Thank you!

[@MrJoshdeuce]

Top Tier educational content that's for sure.

[@FatherTech]

Thank you for the transparency and honesty. You guys are amazing for sharing, I can tell a lot of time and thought has gone into all these test.

[@Saltstrong]

Thank you! Joe and Luke wanted to make sure everyone could learn from what they discovered.

[@frederickmooney2581]

I’ve never tried fluorocarbon, it was gonna cut into my beer budget so I prioritized! 😂

[@Saltstrong]

Would you look at that? It's beer-thirty right now. What a coincidence! 🍻

[@williamelliott4444]

Exactly

[@kylelancaster7872]

You guys Rock! Happy to be a member. Keep it up :)

[@Saltstrong]

Thank you! See you in the Community Feed!

[@steveop123]

Appreciate the work you guys put in for anglers - Thanks from a life long insider

[@Saltstrong]

Glad to be of help!

[@billhobson6637]

Thank you for comparing diameter to diameter versus lb. test! That seems to be the fairest way to compare!

[@Saltstrong]

You're welcome! After testing the same lb ratings, diameter seemed a logical next step to us.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

A VERY long time ago, I jumped on the hype wagon that is fluorocarbon line like everyone else. I was telling everyone: "Ya need to switch to this new fluoro line, because mono is history". I bought the most expensive fluoro I could get my hands on. But then something happened, and it took me nearly 4 years to realize the cause of my problem.......and that problem was that I was losing fish to broken line.......and even losing lures to broken line, even though I had just inspected the end of the fluoro line, cut it off, and re-tied with a fresh knot. But still, I was losing fish, even little fish, due to line breakage with fluoro. NEARLY 4 YEARS mind you. I got SO sick & tired, I KNEW it had to be the fluoro line itself. I switched 100% back to Berkley/Trilene Big Game mono on ALL of my rigs, and my line breakage issues virtually vanished right away. The year was 2005.......and ever since then, I've been trying to tell everyone that they are wasting tons of money buying & using expensive fluoro on all of their rigs........and losing fish, lures, and terminal rigs. But most refuse to listen to me. The ONLY real advantage to fluoro line, is the fact that it sinks, so you can get a deep diving crank bait to run a little deeper........but even then, you better be replacing that fluoro VERY often.............again: due to line breakage issues.

[@Saltstrong]

Well said!

[@TM-zr9zn]

Thanks for this comment. I think you just answered my problem with losing fish and lures so easy with fluoro. Back in the day with mono I didn't have that issue

[@jamescanady3442]

I experienced the same exact thing. Salt Strong turned me back on to mono last year. Around September, I bought some Big Game mono to use out at Sebastian Inlet (if the toothy fish weren't biting me off then the Snook and Grouper were taking me into the rocks), and 90% of my breakage issues disappeared.

[@Garminrules]

Interesting, I did exact same thing, back to big game.

[@PoetofHateSpeech]

@@Saltstrong O and you boys should visit Australia for some real saltwater fishing 😝

[@frankschannel2642]

Wow...terrific stuff - and perfect timing. Was about to go out to my local bait and tackle shop for a few things, including leader material!

[@Saltstrong]

Glad we could help!

[@DiegueCR]

Thanks for all the valuable info. It has been factual and enlightening.

[@Saltstrong]

Glad we could help!

[@mikewubben2844]

I've been using main line braid to a leader of Berkley Trilene Big Game for the last few years with no complaints. 10-50# braid and 12-80# leader based on species targeted with my main setup being 15 or 20# braid to 20# leader. Haven't noticed a difference in clear vs green leader color but I tend to go with clear in clearer water just in case.

[@Saltstrong]

We tend to go with clear across the board as well.

[@ronbyrd313]

I appreciate what you all do thanks !

[@Saltstrong]

You're very welcome!

[@michaelt2571]

Good stuff Luke n Joe

[@Saltstrong]

Thank you!

[@RH-nc8uu]

I had some rants on diameter being most important in previous test videos so great you're now focusing on that. One thing actual diameter and actual break strength vs stated is also about the most important. Line, labeled. .40 or .405 may be. .48 and .35 in actuality Line rated at 20lb may break at 15 or 30 13:39 what you see and what a fish sees is different. Testing side by side mono and fluorocarbon of roughly equivalent diameters with everything 100 percent identical just live bait fishing in other than the most dirty of water and I always have gotten much more interest on the fluorocarbon. Fishing in motion with artificial it has, ade practically no difference. I would still lead exclusively towards mono in all but the clearest brightest situations unless fishing for bonefish or Tarpon.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@Mark--Todd]

Incredibly thought provoking, thank you

[@Saltstrong]

You're welcome-glad we could help!

[@regkane-Pluvis]

Really appreciate your work guys.

[@Saltstrong]

You're very welcome-glad we can help!

[@regkane-Pluvis]

Love the no BS.

[@teamflanneloutdoors5631]

I love it! Pretty sure I've commented before on this channel that fluoro is a gimmick. Knot & abrasion failure led me back to Berkley Sensation and Maxims Ultragreen years ago. Great vid👍👍

[@Saltstrong]

Thank you!

[@TalkFishTVHawaiianDan]

Frigging luv you bros! Great incredibly valuable content! Knowledge is key! Been telling everyone about the same experience for years! The funny thing is, many just want to believe what they're fed.

[@bqoutdoors2334]

Very good video on the two different lines. I have switched to mono and Andy leader for the last few years. Don’t ever plan on buying fluorocarbon ever again.

[@Saltstrong]

Thank you!

[@DarenHarmon]

I’ve followed the floro bandwagon for the last two years. I spontaneously bought some Trout Magnet line from Walmart a couple weeks ago and was suprised at how well it performed! I was surprised when I a floro leader back on and had issues with my lure coming off the line! It honestly seemed like it came untied. Probably why I got so fond of the palomar knot haha! I will definitely be giving mono a chance this summer!

[@solbhorat293]

The little bit of stretch of mono leaders also serves as a great shock absorber when using braided mainline. Would love to see these tests using thicker line diameters as well as wet conditions. Here in South Africa we generally use .65mm+ line for our rock and surf bait applications and almost everyone prefers mono leaders but flouro hook snoods. Also keen to see the performance of flouro coated mono lines.

[@Saltstrong]

We've done a lot of testing between mono and fluoro. Check out this video we did to specifically test wet conditions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4WYi2SKoruSmM0

[@brucerudd69]

Glad to see you ran the test with similar diameter lines this time. I have been wondering about that so it’s good that you tie that out. I do wonder if those claims came from a time when monofilament wasn’t what it is today. Maybe you should go to Walmart and get some of that old cheap blue Stren and try it. I’ll still use fluorocarbon for bass fishing for things like deep cranking because the thinner diameter does help me get the baits down deeper.

[@Saltstrong]

That's a great question. Mono certainly has come a long way in the past couple of decades.

[@bassandtreblefishing]

Great stuff as always fellas, can your please share your thoughts/ results on Yo-Zuri Hybrid?

[@chrism2042]

Last weekend I noticed a difference while re-tying leader to braid with FG knot. I previously tightened the FG with a rag in my hand with braid wrapped around rag, just to prevent cuts tying multiple knots. I started using 2 pieces of 3/4" pex pipe with heat shrink on them to wrap the line to prevent slipping when tightening FG knot or uni-knot on large mono line for shark rods. Been using Seaguar Pink label and Yo-Zuri 20lb & 30lb fluoro for several years. I even mark the packs with month and year purchased so I can use oldest first, when not fishing with it on the boat, it is in conditioned garage. The 30lb fluoro purchased last Fall was snapping within 1/2" of the FG knot (with average tightening pressure), knot after knot. I even tried a spool of Yo-Zuri fluoro, same result. It sucked, but good FG knot practice! I grabbed a bulk spool of Smoke Sufix 25lb mono that I purchased a couple years ago to spool several freshwater striper reels. Tied FG knot to braid, tightened the knot and it felt much stronger than the 30 lb fluoro, I was getting the FG knot to tighten without line breaking. Past few days I have been thinking about getting spools of Clear Sufix 20lb & 25lb mono and start using that for my leaders.

[@Saltstrong]

Interesting-thanks for sharing that!

[@cs1089]

This is a great test and video. I've also noticed that nylon has a stronger break strength than fluoro for knots when fishing very light tippet for fresh water fishing. Another touted advantage of fluoro is that it sinks faster than nylon. That would be interesting to test too. Thanks!

[@Saltstrong]

Thank you! Here's a video where we tested floatation and sinking between the two: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmqqfmpup9CkpLc

[@cs1089]

Awesome. Thanks!

[@davidkuns1839]

So the advantage of flouro is that you can use a smaller diameter leader, so long as you don’t stretch it too much. Thanks for the info. I’m going back to Maxima Ultragreen for leaders on braid, probably.

[@Saltstrong]

Glad we could help!

[@dontnonowuno9953]

Best mono on the market

[@mattbarton362]

Good video .I use braid lone and I use berkey big game line. Keep it simple. Out on the fishing Market some things are designed to catch fish and some things are designed to catch fishermen.i go with what works for me.that go for line reels and gear.

[@Saltstrong]

That's some wisdom to hang onto!

[@FishingWithDummies78]

thank you so much for this information I did not know and I will now use mono now :)

[@Saltstrong]

You're welcome-glad we could help!

[@FishingWithDummies78]

@@Saltstrong I won't lie I thought the Fluorocarbon was a little bit thinner looking and harder to see in the water but not by much at all

[@comfortablynumb9342]

These videos make me happy that I only bought one spool of flouro leader. I didn't like how it tied to braid. So I'll stick with mono leaders.

[@Saltstrong]

Glad we could help!

[@macmyers8143]

More really great stuff. Luke is really good.

[@Saltstrong]

Thank you!

[@motorcyleadventuringwithmi2778]

Way back when, my family ran a small commercial Salmon boat. We used 50lb straight mono main line and no leader. So, 50lb from the hooks to the flasher to the weight release to the reel. I can't ever remember losing a fish and we caught crate loads every day. The problem is, no one educated the fish about Flouro...

[@Saltstrong]

Even after hanging out in schools, they still don't know the difference! 😄

[@OldPalFishing]

Nice video, I wonder if either perform better for casting / dropping light jigs down to the bottom with light tackle gear.

[@Saltstrong]

That's a great question. Depending on how light you're talking (1/8-ounce is pretty light for saltwater but you could be at 1/32-ounce for crappie), braid is still going to be the best bet to get the lowest diameter for the mainline. If you're fishing the same diameter line, I'm not sure you're see much difference in sink rate, though the fluoro would have a higher lb test rating.

[@jimmartin9137]

Thanks guys, enjoy your videos. It looks like you need to make a little more room, I take that box of reels off hands to help you out. Thanks again, Jim

[@Saltstrong]

Glad we could help! Not sure Luke's ready to give away his collection just yet. 😀

[@ericcorse]

Thanks guys.

[@Saltstrong]

You're welcome-glad we could help!

[@FishTramp]

Do a test on the Orange label seagaur plz! The salmon trout and steelhead kind for us west coast salmon guys!!It seems a lot better than the blue label, but would like to see how it performs. Love this channel!!

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the idea. I'll pass it on to the team!

[@maxcole3930]

Definitely interesting testing. I use mono & floro pretty evenly I have casting & spinning rods spooled with both. I definitely look at line diameters & have tried so many different lines too. Idk if I can really say I've found my favorite or best. What's the best monos & floors you have found for abortion & knot strengths??

[@Saltstrong]

There are probably some small gains to be made if you get down to the nitty gritty, but we use Ande mono and don't have any complaints.

[@user-zc8sd8jx8s]

Another very interesting experiment would be to test how different materials (specifically nylon vs fluorocarbon) resist cutting rather than abrasive damage. Scenario: northern pike fishing. Pike's teeth cut like a knife rather than scratch like sandpaper. Not sure what test setup would be close enough to representing a real world situation. Some ideas are to measure the breaking force of the doubled line pulled straight against a standard (e.g. razor) blade, similar to when you want to cut a length of line in half using a knife; another is to push the blade into a length of line tied without slack between two points and measure the maximum force that the blade is pushing with before the line is cut.

[@Saltstrong]

That's a great idea. We'll have to see if we can come up with a reliable way to test that.

[@dondinero13]

Great videos boys. Thanks for all you do 🫡

[@Saltstrong]

You're very welcome!

[@BradinManheim]

Another factor: I am older and can’t tie knots as well as when I was younger.😊I now use the tie fast tool exclusively and I try to tie as few knots as I can. I ditched braid completely and fish straight mono. It has worked well for decades and it works well for me. The “advantages” of braid to fluorocarbon were so little that I am now staying with straight mono. Cheap, easy, convenient.

[@steveforsman]

Hi guys another great video - how about sink rate? - I did similar sense check tests after your original video but did find that a piece of flouro sank faster than a similar piece of mono so maybe better for fresh water nymph fishing where better sink rate is an advantage??

[@Saltstrong]

Great question! The answer is 2-fold. First, both lines sink, but fluoro sinks faster. Luke tested it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmqqfmpup9CkpLc The other thing that Coach Tony showed in a topwater test is that the line needs to break the surface water tension to start sinking. With a nymph, that shouldn't be too big of a deal since the lure is going break it. Either way, fluoro is a better option to get a faster sink rate.

[@leecasteen]

Only thing that matters is what the fish prefer. Sometimes it doesn’t matter (fish don’t care), but when it does I’ll take the flouro every time. I’ve fished both on the same bite and flouro gets bit much better all else constant.

[@Saltstrong]

At the end of the day, it's all about tight lines.

[@MostlyHumanPowered]

I am a freshwater fisherman. The other advantage that I have heard about fluoro is that it's more sensitive, particularly with bottom-dragging baits. But I think you only get that advantage if you use a fluoro main line. Have you guys ever tested the sensitivity?

[@Saltstrong]

Not on a full spool of fluoro. Braid does such a great job of transferring the feel and our leaders are usually less than 3', so we don't notice a difference between the mono and fluoro.

[@chrisw6981]

I love what you guys are doing and this content ! You kind of wonder about Seaguar……for inshore FC i have always used (and still believe in) shimano ocea, very common in australia.It’s extremely thin and tough and has been a great performer - casts a mile and i have used them all. If i had to use an alternative (mono or FC) for inshore it has been YGK X Braid / Galis……both products are hard to find here in Texas……what does that mean ? A clear reason Seaguar cannot be found in Australia 😅😅😅

[@Saltstrong]

Good point!

[@franksaunders6534]

I fish NSW Australian rocks for hard pulling Eastern rock blackfish aka 'black drummer' of 'pigs'. I run straight through mono to the hook with a tiny ball sinking sliding down to the hook (Maxima Ultra Green or Schneider Klear). Out fish guys who turn up with expensive braid and fluorocarbon leaders every time - my rod also is a 36 year old blank which has been redone a few times - beautiful rod with an action missing from today's rods!

[@Saltstrong]

There's nothing like outfishing the folks that show up with the latest and greatest super-expensive gear!

[@holeeshietpyro4072]

unregulated market much like supplements and vitamins had been for decades... you can tell by going to a tackle shop, bass pro, sportsmans and walk down the endless aisles of lures and line that seem to be infinite. Products with just a small slight change between each one... should let you know theres companies out there trying to get your money.. and it seems pretty easy to get into lure/tackle design and jump in that fray to hype and sell..

[@Saltstrong]

There's definitely a ton of choices out there today. That's why we're committed to objectively testing what and discovering what's actually the best.

[@WilliamKiene-yg7rq]

You can not test monofilament lines by the advertised strength, you need to do testing with the same diameter. The lines need to be soaked before being tested. FC sinks faster and nylon mono sinks slower and FC will still be strong in 10 years. Salt Strong is one of the best fishing channels on KZbin. Thanks for your contributions to the sport of fishing.

[@Saltstrong]

Thank you, and thanks for watching! If you haven't seen it, Luke did a wet test in a separate video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4WYi2SKoruSmM0

[@user-ro5rl5et5i]

Wow, ive been using both floro& mono in my fishing - did a club tourney saturday on a river- buddy got bit off by pike three times: i had my line shredded twice but got the lure back: he was using straight floro- i was actually using floro coated mono- the floro coat was shredded, but the mono core held. crazy. I'll be using my hybrid line&ande mono alot more& them floros' alot less for sure.

[@Saltstrong]

Interesting-thanks for sharing!

[@miamiwax5504]

Been saying this. Mono is stretchy flouro is stiff and more brittle. I don't know why anybody would think it's more abrasion resisitant.

[@Saltstrong]

Glad our results lined up with your experience!

[@Sweetaccord]

I figured that out 8 years ago 😂 Thanks for sharing nonetheless! 😊

[@Saltstrong]

You betcha! Now you can show your fishing buddies some objective reasons why you're the smarter one!

[@Sweetaccord]

@@Saltstrong Right? You guys did great on this! Awesome! Keep up the great work!

[@igord.2163]

Hey, thanks for the video !!! THe only think I'm a little disagree , or better say , would you try ( if you didn't already ) is to put camera in the water with the lines , because it is obviously that ... don't know how to say in english , but it is 2 Absolut different view from water and from the land ... Oh and the reason I use flure is because the same diameter ( 0.18) I have no problem to cut with my tooth ( did it whole my life ) but one I took the same 0.18 flurocarbon , I just can't cut it and have to use tools , so for me it is obvious that it flure is much more resistant to the tooth

[@stoyasmussen5831]

Luke convinced Me a long time ago as I am going to Mono and when my FC is gone I will not be buying more.

[@Saltstrong]

Glad to hear it!

[@jacobcarolan1172]

I have floro on my bass rod now. I don’t like it as much as high quality mono. Especially maxima ultragreen

[@Saltstrong]

👍

[@Tom-gm3wq]

If you buy the big spool of mono do you worry that over time the line will degrade on the spool waiting to use it all up?

[@Saltstrong]

Great question! We don't worry about it too much. I have line that's a couple of years old that shows no signs of issue. When it starts to degrade, it will begin to feel dry and won't stretch. You can usually tell just by giving it a pull with your hands. As long as you don't leave your mono in the sun, it has a nice long life.

[@AlexLeeNewYorkCity]

Thank you for these tests. Do you think wetting the knot matters if one is using very thin lines in small knots, i.e. 6 or 7x tippet for fly fishing? Thanks.

[@Saltstrong]

Great question! The mono we've tested actually does better if you don't wet it first. Luke did a test on using saliva to wet knots that you can see here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoSblmeYiZuWabM

[@Jerry-sy8rd]

Isn’t there a sometimes significant difference in breaking strength between different mono brands of the same rated test? I’m sure it’s related to some degree to the diameter of the mono but🤔… Comes into play when qualifying records I believe. Footnote, one of my favorite mono lines over the years is Andi Tournament. I liked it due to softness and SMALLER diameter that translated into better cast distance and fewer “wind knots”.

[@AlexLeeNewYorkCity]

@@Saltstrong Thank you for the answer. I saw you mentioned not needing to wet knots in this video also. The link you showed above was also using a relatively heavy line weight. My question is regarding really light tippets like 6x or 7x. Because I have noticed that with those really thin tippets if I don't wet the knot, the line tense to cure up where it is pulled through the tightening knot. Thanks.

[@RoggiesRigs]

These are the vids that work! Both you guys tag teaming a project and providing great information. You both ARE the brand! I want to see more snook hook ups from the balcony of a condo too! 🤙 🫵😉😁

[@Saltstrong]

Thank you!

[@dangdang8106]

I used to use fluro leader line but I go sick of buying so many lines I just buy bulk 24,20,15,10kg black magic mono line. 24kg main and ill use 20kg or 15kg for leader or hooks

[@Saltstrong]

Another vote for mono!

[@jaylancerice5871]

I have used Berkeley Big Game for about 25 years now. I have always loved it and could never see why people spent so much more on floro. Glad I didn't change. Since I fish all fresh water, I have always used green. To go saltwater fishing, should I change to clear?

[@Saltstrong]

We always use clear but doing some on the water testing between green and clear sounds like a good idea. I'll put a bug in Luke's ear.

[@Kadjain3]

What about a stretch test? How much more does mono stretch than fluorocarbon. I never got on the fluoro wagon, but I’m just wondering if mono really stretches that much more

[@Saltstrong]

Mono does have more stretch than fluoro, but fluoro degrades after getting stretched while mono doesn't according to this test: www.saltstrong.com/articles/fluoro-vs-mono-line-stress-test-experiment/ Also, the stretch difference is not noticeable when only using the mono/fluoro as a leader line at the end of a braid mainline which is what we use it for.

[@JerseyMiller]

Dang that settles it. I'm switching back to using only mono leaders and drop shots.

[@Saltstrong]

Glad we could help!

[@chrisknapp9908]

In my experience…. I mostly use Yozuri 40lb+ fluro but I only fish in water 80+ ft deep offshore. I've found that brand is stiffer than mono and will not twist as much on the drop when bottom fishing. Also, after catching a heavy fish and reeling up from 80+ ft deep the Yozuri 40lb+ fluro will not stretch/twist up as much as mono for the next drop (so I get more drops before having to change leader). I don't see any difference in strength/abrasion/visibility just the stiffness and stretch (that's what she said, haha..).

[@Saltstrong]

That's a good point. Our applications are primarily focused on inshore, but going deep adds some additional variables.

[@Joseph-yq5zl]

On the salt strong Moonwalker, what hooks can I replace the in-line hooks once they get a little rusty still single hooks

[@Saltstrong]

These are the best deal for single inline hooks for the moonwalker (size 1/0): fishstrong.com/products/mustad-kaiju-inline-single-hook?_pos=1&_sid=0753c84a8&_ss=r&variant=37595827765422

[@diggerrob6356]

I did some tests while fishing for Bream where I’d sit off a jetty and cast into close proximity or even under the structure using a barely weighted prawn. I had one rod with 6lb nylon leader and another with 6lb fluoro. I was getting bites within seconds on the fluoro but the mono leader sometimes didn’t get a bite for 20 minutes, or not at all. I did additional tests using heavier fluoro leaders of 8lb and 12 lb but found I got less bites the heavier I fished. Fishing around barnacle encrusted piers meant some losses with the lighter leader however and I had to get them in the clear as fast as could.

[@Saltstrong]

Did you try testing a mono of the same diameter as the fluoro to keep it fair? If using a 6lb fluoro and a 6 lb mono, the mono is most often much thicker than the fluoro which will put it at an immediate disadvantage.

[@diggerrob6356]

@@Saltstrong No only breaking strain, it wasn’t meant to be a scientific test after all.

[@anotheryoutuber_]

mono backer, braid main, mono leader (if needed).

[@Saltstrong]

Bingo!

[@travisyork3915]

ANDE is what i use for big catfish

[@Saltstrong]

Tough to go wrong with Ande!

[@AintNothingEasy]

thanks 😃😀

[@Saltstrong]

You're very welcome!

[@markdelacruz2097]

Mono is the way! When will you do reviews on JDM rods, reels, line, etc.?

[@Saltstrong]

We are working on bringing back more gear reviews as we speak! I'll put a bug in the ear of our new Head of Content and see if he can line anything up.

[@mikekelly1771]

Studies were done on various species of coral reef fish and marlin in Australia where they analysed the rod and cone receptors and colour sensitivity of the eyes receptors. And the marlin has exceptional vision, for a fish. But, is still a lot worse than a human. For something that is 80 yards away for a human to see, it has to be 20 yards away for a marlin to see it. And they have the best sight of all fish tested. Where they did excel is detecting contrast. Far superior to humans. But, fish are virtually blind to anything that's more than a few metres away. So although I'll use fluoro, I'm sceptical as to the claims about whether it helps with bites.

[@Saltstrong]

Very interesting-thanks for sharing!

[@BrianSGuitars]

I've switched to mono, but I still use leader specific mono. Is this a waste too?

[@Saltstrong]

Great question! We haven't noticed a difference between the leader spools and bulk spools. We usually buy the bulk spools to save money.

[@jamesbarron1202]

You can also factor in that in equal diameter between the 2, the mono will handle much better on the reel. Less wiry. I ask you to do the stress test many years ago. I think you tested that from my comment. I knew Flouro didn’t have the elasticity of mono and didn’t return to its original length as much as mono.

[@Saltstrong]

Good point!

[@kagekilla]

How do you test for sensitivity? As that to me is the biggest difference in mono VS Flouro

[@Saltstrong]

That's a great question. For inshore fishing, the leader is typically less than 3 feet long and the braid is so sensitive that we haven't noticed a difference between the two leader materials.

[@theunaballer6424]

I use 12, 15, or 20lb mono for main/leader. I don’t believe it has any impact on my catch rate.

[@Saltstrong]

And it's a lot cheaper!

[@markgrotto7852]

Maybe it’s just me fishing the more murky waters of the Texas gulf coast but I stopped using a liter line and haven’t seen a difference. Braid all the way. People say the liter helps with shock but that’s what the rod is for.

[@Saltstrong]

Interesting. Are you seeing any increase in breakoffs around structure?

[@markgrotto7852]

@@Saltstrong No. thinking braid would have better resistance anyway…it’s harder to cut with scissors.

[@markgrotto7852]

Also I do remove some line every 3-5 trips as the braid does fray. Hate losing fish. To be fair if I’m bouncing a voodoo in the oyster reef and I get caught really bad a few times I can lose them. Thinking mono wouldn’t be any better. It breaks at the lure metal loop interfaces with the line knot. Lately I’ve gone to 2 loops through the lure.

[@randyferreira5265]

I never used fluorocarbon mostly because I couldn't see spending that kind of money .Mono has always worked for me with either a mono leader or straight mono.I like trilene big game or trilene xt for my leaders.Great test and I am not really that surprised.

[@Saltstrong]

💪

[@DavidWGould]

I left Fluoro a long time ago. I have told my friend and they still don’t understand or believe what I am saying. I tell them to watch Salt Strong test and they still do not understand.

[@Saltstrong]

It can be a tough sell, that's why we've done so much testing and committed to sharing the results. Tight lines!

[@taylorhickman84]

I wonder if the results would be different if this testing rig was submerged in water? I'm guessing it would extend the test equally for both lines.

[@Saltstrong]

Luke actually did a wet test in another video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4WYi2SKoruSmM0

[@Big7media2011]

I’m just glad that Ryan Reynolds love to fish 🎣 now.

[@rainbosprinkles6548]

To be fair, mono test label are outrageous. Berkeley big game 25lb breaks closer to 40lb. The test is basically irrelevant. Shopping based on diameter is more realistic.

[@Saltstrong]

👍

[@rainbosprinkles6548]

The Line Laboratory Channel here on youtube is how Line testing should be performed.

[@joeyd4899]

The knot strength might be a little better for florocarborn of similar diameters, but if you tie and FG knot they definately hold better on mono. I have never had an FG knot come loose on a mono leader but it has happened several times with floro. The braid bites better into the mono IMO.

[@Saltstrong]

Good point!

[@WilliamKiene-yg7rq]

What brand of mono do you like for a leader?

[@Saltstrong]

We've had great results with Ande monofilament.

[@WilliamKiene-yg7rq]

@@Saltstrong Ande monofilament line has been around since 1956. Nylon monofilament was invented around World War II, in the 1940s. Our soldiers brought home the European spinning reels they found during World War II. Thanks.

[@weswolf73]

I only use flouro when i want a faster sink. Is that still true?

[@Saltstrong]

Here's an experiment on sink rate of mono vs fluoro: www.saltstrong.com/articles/fluorocarbon-monofilament-sink-float-test/

[@NeonKue]

Me: Uses 65lb braid only yet catch Bass, Walleye, Musky, Trout, and Salmon 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Saltstrong]

Don't mess with success-if it works, work it! 😀

[@frostizz2072]

I use the cheap Walmart mono line like 3$ for a whole spool

[@Saltstrong]

That's a lot cheaper than fluoro for sure!

[@NathanVanGilder]

I've used braid to P-Line CXX for years. Tried fluoro and it was no better, just more expensive.

[@Saltstrong]

👍

[@FlavorfulGaming]

What about more finesse applications. Slack line sensitivity ?

[@Saltstrong]

For those of us who use braid as the mainline, and only have 2 to 3 ft of mono/fluoro leader, there is no noticeable difference in sensitivity. If using the full spool of mono/fluoro, then the fluoro would have slightly better feel since it typically has less stretch than regular mono.

[@brian1204]

Lots of marketing. They relabel the same line as “leader” line, charge more for less, make more $ from it.

[@Saltstrong]

No point in paying more than you need to. 💪

[@stevenofalltrades8553]

So what’s the best mono???

[@Saltstrong]

Great question! We typically use Ande mono for our leaders. There may be some small gains with other brands, but we don't have any complaints.

[@stevenofalltrades8553]

You’re the best!

[@chrisz.9974]

Been using mono as leader because I’m cheap lol.

[@Saltstrong]

Cheap and better!

[@suavelifestyle9094]

So when im throwing big greenbacks near bridges what should i use 40lb mono or 50lb fluoro ??? Or even 30lb mono or 40lb fluoro??? Haha

[@Saltstrong]

Great question! Assuming your targeting big snook or tarpon with those greenbacks, we'd go with the 40-lb mono and drop down to 30-lb if you're not getting any hits.

[@ATREZ0123]

The main reason I use Fluoro is because it's supposed to sink faster then Mono. Is that not true?

[@Saltstrong]

Here's a link to an experiment on that: www.saltstrong.com/articles/fluorocarbon-monofilament-sink-float-test/

[@JoeSimondsSaltStrong]

Mono for me!!!

[@Saltstrong]

No doubt!

[@baddawg863]

When did you stop saying “like diamonds"?

[@Saltstrong]

They still bring it up. With the launch of the new Terd Ferguson color, we're hearing "That's a funny name" from Joe more than anything else. 😄

[@user-zc8sd8jx8s]

You should be comparing apples to apples, that is, lines of equal MEASURED cross section, but different materials. Don't also blindly trust what's written on the box: manufacturers lie about both the diameter and the breaking strength! You have to measure both. We want to compare the materials, and that assumes everything else, including the actual (measured!) diameter of the line, being equal.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the tips!

[@1theredrooster]

Mono works. Why change.

[@Saltstrong]

And now we know there no reason to.😀

[@danielwebb9188]

Then just use steel leader and forget about it lol

[@Saltstrong]

That's what we tell everyone who's competing against us in tournaments. 😄

[@eeassa]

I feel like I've seen this video before?

[@Saltstrong]

We've done a lot of testing between these two lines and wanted to bring a summary of what we've learned into one video.

[@eeassa]

@@Saltstrong That was one of the videos that made me join Salt Strong. No hype, just science.