bigjim,
i think you hit the nail on the head.
i come from a conventional bass fishing background and have run the gamut on the types of FC out there, and have always fallen back on Sunline's shooter models. I see the difference it has made in my 'bottom bouncing' applications, and there's no way I would look back and use mono when it came to those types of applications. I think nymph fishing is synonymous as far as the concept goes.
the only time i use mono or copolymer is with topwater baits, simply because FC sinks a bit more than mono.
i figure my tippet to my dry will continue to be mono, but I'll be using stuff like Defier and Machineguncast to see if I notice the difference between traditional tippet material and the new stuff.
my dropper back to my nymph will now be FC, and I'll see how the combination works out.
thanks for everyone sharing their experience and their knowledge once again.
-dS
I fish with other gear besides fly tackle, and know many folks who like the Sunline FC. I know quite a few who insist they need a leader with braids, and many who tie direct, including myself. Again, it goes back to what is best for us individually.
I bought a spool of fluorocarbon years ago, and really never saw it to be of any great benefit, particularly for the extra cost compared to mono type lines. "Mono" now includes a lot brands and formulations, so they're not all the same, and that holds true for "tippet" materials sold.
And again, the only way to determine what is best suited to each of us, is try some different lines. I began using Yozuri Hybrid on casting reels several years ago, and in paying attention to how it acted in various temperature conditions, decided to try it for fly tackle leaders.
Ny Yankee, I can't disagree with what you've posted, but line diameters are generally available for any line sold now. For my fishing, and I've been at this along time, I can't say I've seen any benefit from a line material being a specific diameter although I do pay attention to it when building leaders. Manufacturing technology has improved over the years, and bulk lines are now no less "precise" in diameter than tippet materials, sometimes depending on the brand and where it's produced. I've checked many that I've used with a micrometer and yes, there are slight variances, but same with tippet. Diameter is important when constructing leaders as is other properties of the material. Too stiff or too limber will have it's affects. However, it became apparent to me that no matter how "technical" the manufacturers appeared to get with their lines, it all came down to the performance, and when comparing lines I've used, that's what's been important to me. Like a lot of things, I've learned what I need from my leader and tippet materials, as it's a sense you develop when it's working correctly.
This is not to say, that there is not differences in "tippet material" and bulk lines, that may be important to folks who use them. I found with the Yozuri line, it provided characteristics that I desired, so it makes little sense to seek a tippet material that does the same thing and may cost me more. Performance will always be what is important to me, and this all goes back to what I said about each of us having to determine our own course.
When I first started building leaders I got a bit frustrated with all the technical aspects of line diameters until I realized, it wasn't as important as what was being published. For example, if your tippet is .005 in diameter, and a fairly stiff material, it may act like a different material that is .008 in diameter by slightly more flexible. There's too many variables to try & figure them all out, so once a line is found that performs as you need, that's the important part. Yes, the line diameter certainly is important if it's too large to fit thru the eye of the hook, but not everyone is using tiny fly sizes, so most of what has been mentioned here is a generalization and line types should be considered based in individual needs. I use 20 lb test much of the time, so it makes little difference if it's .4380" diameter ( what the makers claims it to be), or .44" or .45" as it doesn't affect how I'll fish with it. The smaller the line diameter the bigger impact it may have on your fishing needs.
