Fluorocarbon is the new alternative to mono line that is a plastic polymer. It is made up of polyvinylidene fluoride. It is more expensive than monofilament, but there are a ton of reasons as to why its better and anglers prefer it. The first reason it's preferred is because of its near invisibility in the water.

The line is also effective for fishing swimbaits, swim jigs, soft plastic jerkbaits and shaky head rigs. Fluorocarbon is the premier choice for all the popular finesse tactics including drop shot rigs, wacky rigged worms,Ned rigs, Neko Rigs, and tube baits.

Superior abrasion resistance – Fluorocarbon line is very rigid when compared to other lines, giving it the ability to encounter rock, wood, sand, and gravel without suffering a catastrophic failure.

For some trolling applications in clear water, using fluorocarbon as the main line makes a lot of sense. While fluorocarbon sinks it does so very slowly and doesn't impact on the trolling depth of crankbaits and other gear.

The drawbacks of fluorocarbon can be summed up in a single word: inflexible. This is essentially a hard line which is what makes it water and abrasion resistant.

Negative Characteristics: There appears to be a big difference in brands of fluorocarbon line which is reflected in its quality and price so it might take trying a few different brands before you find the one you like. The line at times will seem stiff and not work as well on spinning rods as casting reels.

The Pros and Cons of Fluorocarbon Line

• Pros. Sensitivity – Because fluorocarbon is made from harder material than mono, the line transmits a greater level of vibration.
• Cons.
• Knot Failure.
• Line Breakage.
• Decreasing Shock Resistance.
• Avoiding the Cons.

Heavier monofilament and fluorocarbon lines do not perform well on spinning reels because the diameter of the line is large enough that the spooled line will jump off the reel spool when casting. This creates monstrous backlashes that are not easy to fix – plus it wastes time on the water.

A couple of points to note on fluorocarbon line; ensure you moisten the line thoroughly when cinching the knot down, and also if you get a backlash and kink the line, the kink will be a weak spot prone to breaking.

Because of the rigidity of fluorocarbon, the angles imposed on a line by various knots weaken the line regardless of whether you wet it or not. Add to this the impact from usage and strain from catching fish, and fluorocarbon can break down at critical points such as during the hookset and while fighting a fish.

Fluorocarbon lines may be changed at least once a year, though they can last much longer: Heavy fishers should change it up to 3 times a year. Moderate fishers can change it 1 to 2 times a year. Weekenders can change it once a year.

The drawbacks of fluorocarbon can be summed up in a single word: inflexible. This is essentially a hard line which is what makes it water and abrasion resistant.