The fishing line is the most important part of our fishing equipment. Most anglers know about braided fishing lines, which are woven from 4, 8, or even 16 strands of material. A braided fishing line can be used for a variety of purposes, but the best time to use it is when trolling or jigging. Monofilaments and fluorocarbons are equally common in the market, but many people are still unsure about the difference between monofilament and fluorocarbon.
braided fishing line
monofilament fishing line
fluorocarbon fishing line
Difference Between Monofilament and Fluorocarbon
1. Material
A monofilament fishing line (shortened to just mono) is a fishing line made of a single fiber of plastic material. Most fishing lines are now nylon monofilament. Fluorocarbons are a class of synthetic materials and compounds, including fluorine, chlorine, and carbon. They are extruded into a single strand that resembles a monofilament.
2. Density
Monofilament has a density of 1.15g/cm3, while fluorocarbon is a denser material with a density of 1.5g/cm3. Fluorocarbons are denser than monofilament, so fluorocarbons are more wear-resistant. It is known that the density of fresh water is 1 g/cm3 and the density of salt water is 1.02 - 1.03 g/cm3. The monofilament has almost the same density as water, making it neutral-buoyant. Fluorocarbons are denser than both monofilament and water, so they can sink.
3. UV resistant and water absorption
Monofilaments absorb water and are easily damaged by UV light. Monofilaments degrade over time and weaken when exposed to heat, sunlight, or salt water. But fluorocarbons are non-absorbent and UV resistant, extending their lifespan.
4. Visibility
Monofilament and fluorocarbon have different refractive indices. Fluorocarbon refracts less light than monofilament, increasing its invisibility.
5. Stretchability
Monofilament is easier to stretch than fluorocarbon, which can be advantageous when fighting a fish. But the more stretch, the lower the sensitivity. Fluorocarbon has tightly packed molecules, and while fluorocarbon stretches less, it transmits more energy than monofilaments which gives you much more sensitivity.
6. Knotability
Monofilament has excellent knotability. It allows larger diameter lines to hold better to avoid knot slippage or breakage. The hardness of fluorocarbon is not suitable for knotting. Especially with larger diameters, the knot does not hold well, which often results in slippage or breakage.
7. Price
Monofilament is much cheaper than fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbons are more expensive than monofilament because of the higher cost of the material and extrusion process.
Application of monofilament and fluorocarbon
The two types of fishing lines have different characteristics and performances, therefore have different applications.
Monofilament is ideal for topwater lures. Due to its near-neutral buoyancy, the monofilament sinks slowly, making it an excellent choice for topwater lures and suspended subsurface displays where you don’t want to accelerate the lure’s downward movement. But monofilament is not suitable for deep water fishing because it absorbs water, causes loose knots, and is less sensitive when wet.
Fluorocarbons are great for jigs and all kinds of crankbaits. Because its sensitivity is unrivaled and the line is almost completely invisible in the water. Fluorocarbon allows more natural light to pass through it, while monofilament tends to refract light, alerting the fish to its presence.
Post time: Sep-23-2022