Hi i was watching the free dvd given away with trout angler the other month. Ian Barr was using 10lb flourocarbon. I know he is a great angler but isn't this line a bit strong? I normally fish with 5 or 6 lb but if i fish Gratham or Rutland should i be fishing 10lb?
Cheers Ray

Yes.......you won't find many experianced anglers fishing Grafham or Rutland with much less. If you spend some time out on any large stillwater you'll soon see why! The fish cant see fluro no matter what strength it is IMO. The strength only determines how the flies behave in the water due to it's stiffness.

Try casting 30 yrds with 4 flies on a 6lb leader.....you'll spend most of your time undoing tangles.

I personally think 10lb presents flies like c**p unless you're pulling lures. I've fished all the midland reservoirs this year with 6/7/8lb fluro and only been broken once on a double hook-up. There's no need to go above 8lb really its a bit overkill.

We're talking about catching 2lb average fish here, so i don't see why anyone would use fluro stronger than 10lb. I'd recommend 7 or 8 personally, and buy a good brand like fulling mill.

2 good replys there i understand what you are both saying, but what about airflo g3 ?I think i read somewhere it is sixty percent of the dia of most flourocarbon's. If this is the case, should this in 10lb not fish a lot better?

Fair enough.............but you wont find mant comp anglers that will agree.

It also depends alot on which brand of Fluro you use. I catch my fair share and fish even buzzers & nymphs on 9-10lb fluro.........Why use a lower breaking strain if it doesn't effect the catch rate.........which i can assure you it doesn't.

I now use 13lb for pulling......

It's not about the breaking strain......it's about the diameter and the suppleness of the material.

Fulling mill is good quality but as think as an american ryder cup fan...........look at the diameters not the BS.

Just to echo Chickenfish's point, I use either 12.5lbs Orvis Mirage or 9.5 lbs BUT these have diiameters of .229 and .20 mm respectively.

Fulling Mill 6lbs is .22 mm so actually when looked at by a fish is very similar to 12.5lbs Mirage.

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

Two schools of thought here.One is the path I have followed and the other takes in lighter lines and often smaller flies.End of the day it is your choice.

I normally use 8lb and up.You need to balance the tippets with the gear you are using or they will break.Some of the 7/8wt rods the reservoir fishers use are very powerful for good reason and smaller diameter/lower BS lines can be a recipe for disaster when powerful forces pull in opposite directions.I have tried the tippet promoted by Mr Barr and found it to be very good in all respects.I normally only use Riverge Grand Max but yes I recognise he is a top angler and succumed to the patter.Glad I did.There is good sound reasoning behind why most of the top reservoir anglers both pleasure and professional I know use the flurocarbon tippets they do.

If you wish to pursue the lighter line approach then balance your gear to suit although I use 8lb copolymer for my reservoir 5wt dry fly/emerger fishing again on advice from a very good source.I have used 6lb here but only when absolutely necessary on really shy fish.

I feel less margin for error is the name of the game and you can still achieve good presentation if you work at it.Tippet diameter and some knots can help here.Just my take on it from watching,listening,learning and a fair bit of time on the water.

Best JP

I take the points made on this page by the users of stronger BS. If i could use 12lb with the same diameter as 7lb fulling mill i would, so maybe i should try the other brands you mention. I use a 6wt rod & line for ressies btw. I'll check out Riverge and orvis mirage

We could easily go round, and round, and round on the old fluro. debate.
Personally i don't like to go really heavy on ressies { that'l be the smallwater man in me } but horses for courses etc..... and if your happy with your catch rate then no need to change.
What i would say though imo, why spend big bucks on expensive fluro's such as Orvis etc ?........ no need.

I'll keep a few quid in me pocket and use fulling mill for pulling and sight free for twiddling.

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