Page 25 - Joseph B. Healy "The Pocket Guide to Fishing Knots"

against you when a fish strikes suddenly or when you’re fighting a fish

and the shock absorption of mono is an advantage. When it comes to
knots, fluoro must be moistened before seating the knot, otherwise you
risk knot failure. This seems more crucial than when using mono—though
you should moisten mono knots, too. Manufacturers have improved
fluorocarbon formulations, so always read the packaging, catalogs, and
website copy to learn the claimed advantages.

Rio offers various leader and tippet materials, such as fluorocarbon material called Fluoroflex Plus
tippet, tapered leaders and nylon material called Powerflex Plus, and monofilament saltwater
leaders.

Without question, when I’m fishing in situations where visibility is a
concern—such as the saltwater flats of the Florida Keys—I always use
fluorocarbon. Years ago I was fly fishing the flats of the Keys out of the
Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo. Bonefish were sporadically tailing, tipping

up to feed into the coral and sand bottom with their underslung mouths,
probably picking up small crabs. I had a crab fly pattern tied on, and the
guide poled the boat within a longish cast of a tailing bonefish. I fired
away and came up short. That’s when I experienced a benefit of the
fluorocarbon leader and tippet I was using: The diameter of the fluoro