Bluegill - Big Bluegill

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My first experience with it was with Vanish. On a spin reel and as tippet for steelhead. So-so. Seaguar and P-line seem to be somewhat better, limper, better handling. So my question is... in your opinion, which flourocarbon line would be best, even to spool up with, not just tippet mat'l.. ? steve b

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Yup, Vanish was my first try, and came to same conclusion, am looking for limpest, most castable, tyable, to spool a whole reel with. Never seems to fail, at last light, bite takes off, then I break off. My dexterity is comprimised for several reasons, add to low light issue,well I only want to tie one knot then, an easy one. Just for this one reel, for that one use. steve b
Steve,

Umpqa superflorocarbon is what you are looking for but it is expensive. If you use regular Umpqa mono (http://www.umpqua.com/t-umpquaproducts.aspx) in a 6lb for example and then use a 4 lb superflorocarbon leader you will almost always just break off the leader section so you only tie one knot. I use a number 14 two way swivel tied to the 6 lb and tie the 4 Lb leader to the other end of the swivel.

This way if you make a long cast with just a single line it may break at the reel or anywhere in between and you lose all that line. Using the other method, most of the time you will break off below the swivel losing only a small section of the superflorocarbon. It doesn't have to be 6 lb to 4 lb, it could be 12 lb to 10 lb or 10 lb to 8 lb.

Mostly I use 6 lb to 4 lb, but often I use 4 lb to 2 lb.. Two lb florocarbon works as well as 1 lb mono. The lighter the line the more natural everything looks and big bluegills are as sensitive to a natural presentation as any trout. FWIW.
I've used several versions of fluoro and have had no problems running full spools with any of them. Stren fluoro, Vanish, P-line have all worked well. I use only 4 and 6 pound tests. Part of your problem could be in the setup. I spool these onto 2500 size reels which helps with line management. I also use longer 6.5' ML fast action rods. Finally, make sure to wet every knot and pull it tight s-l-o-w-l-y. Fluoro hates heat which is generated when cinching down dry line.
OK, just home from trout camp. The Berekely Profeesional Grade floroucarbon in 4lb worked great ! I spooled it onto a reel, wasn't happy with fill level, tranfered it onto a second reel to put some filler on, than wound back from second reel to first. A recipe for disaster ! So wired two big snap swivel, in tandem to my bird feeder pole and back across yard and down the driveway, applied pressure and wound it back on. No problems line-wise all weekend. steve b

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