FLIPPIN': When to use Braid Vs. Fluorocarbon?

[Col Forbin]

I have my best luck flippin with heavy mono/copolymer than anything else. Flouro is useless once it gets knicked. 25 pound flouro with the tiniest knick in it is just as weak as 4 pound mono. It will get knicked up often on/in heavy cover too. I tried Flouro for flipping for a while - it is stiff as can be, and needs to be re-tied way too often.

I also tried braid. I hate braid for all applications except for 2 months out of the year when I have a frog tied on and stay in the grass. You cannot break off if you need to - it seems to wrap around the brush way easier than any other line too.

Big mono helps me in several ways. Even when it gets knicked a little it will maintain most of it's strength. Still re-tie often, but have no fears on hooksets. I can see the smallest twitch in the line. And the bulk and bouyancy of it helps for a slower fall.

[Fishin is life]

I switched to braid at the end of the year last year and thank goodness....it was a lot of the reason we won our club....had a hawg down in a tree that im sure would have broke me off with anything less than braid....for what my opinion is worth, if im not in extremely clear water i will have braid tied up for flipping

[flippindrew]

Braid is usually fine around bushes since the branches and twigs are thin. But when around a large piece of waterlogged wood, the braid will dig into it. I flip bushes/wood with 20lb P-line 100% flouro and I've broken 0 fish off using it. Of course braid is not going to dig into wood "every" time you hook a fish with braid on wood. But having that happen one time on a big fish can cause a lot of hearbreak that I'm not willing to chance when it can be avoided with flouro. Co-polymers are also fine for flippin wood.

A lot of people still use co-polymers when flippin wood b/c of the stretch. When your flippin, your usually close to the object your fishing so there is a lot of impact on the knot and line when you set the hook. Using a co-polymer that has a bit more stretch than flouro can take some of that impact away.

But, I've had great success with the P-Line flouro with flippin and I love the added sensitivity so I stay with it.

So, if I'm flippin both grass and wood, yes I'll have two flippin rods. 1 with braid and another with flouro.

[Greg Sallee]

Braid is usually fine around bushes since the branches and twigs are thin. But when around a large piece of waterlogged wood, the braid will dig into it. I flip bushes/wood with 20lb P-line 100% flouro and I've broken 0 fish off using it. Of course braid is not going to dig into wood "every" time you hook a fish with braid on wood. But having that happen one time on a big fish can cause a lot of hearbreak that I'm not willing to chance when it can be avoided with flouro. Co-polymers are also fine for flippin wood.

A lot of people still use co-polymers when flippin wood b/c of the stretch. When your flippin, your usually close to the object your fishing so there is a lot of impact on the knot and line when you set the hook. Using a co-polymer that has a bit more stretch than flouro can take some of that impact away.

But, I've had great success with the P-Line flouro with flippin and I love the added sensitivity so I stay with it.



So, if I'm flippin both grass and wood, yes I'll have two flippin rods. 1 with braid and another with flouro.

I agree, I also use 20lb P-line flourocarbon for flippin.

[Todd2]

When you guys are flippin and pitchin with braid are you using straight braid or a leader?

[DJD]

I have my best luck flippin with heavy mono/copolymer than anything else. Flouro is useless once it gets knicked. 25 pound flouro with the tiniest knick in it is just as weak as 4 pound mono. It will get knicked up often on/in heavy cover too. I tried Flouro for flipping for a while - it is stiff as can be, and needs to be re-tied way too often.

I also tried braid. I hate braid for all applications except for 2 months out of the year when I have a frog tied on and stay in the grass. You cannot break off if you need to - it seems to wrap around the brush way easier than any other line too.

Big mono helps me in several ways. Even when it gets knicked a little it will maintain most of it's strength. Still re-tie often, but have no fears on hooksets. I can see the smallest twitch in the line. And the bulk and bouyancy of it helps for a slower fall.

Amen on the Mono for flippin'. Been doing it for 20 years and even though I try a few new lines here and there I always go back to Mono.

[00SKEETER]

All in all, use what you have the most confidence in. If you like mono, just use 20-25 lb mono for your flippin and pitchin and you'll be fine. It's all in what you have confindence in so you don't second guess yourself when the bite occurs. I think fishing can get way too technical. Look at Rick Clunn, he uses one size/action rod (7ft. Hvy Action) for all applications. Just another example that it's all about what you have confidence in.

[DJD]

All in all, use what you have the most confidence in. If you like mono, just use 20-25 lb mono for your flippin and pitchin and you'll be fine. It's all in what you have confindence in so you don't second guess yourself when the bite occurs. I think fishing can get way too technical. Look at Rick Clunn, he uses one size/action rod (7ft. Hvy Action) for all applications. Just another example that it's all about what you have confidence in.

I agree anglers can get caught up in so many technical issues based upon marketing and what the pro's use.
Remember the K.I.S.S. method.

[buzzking]

I'm with Col Forbin here. Learned a valuable lesson last year flippin buck brush on KY. Flouro is useless once it nicks. 20lb P-line cost me a might large check one day last spring. Anytime I'm flippin the nasty its 25-30lb big game. That stuff will hold up. I've since switched to invisix and like it better than Pline but I'm not taking any chances on flippin with it either. Big game from now on.

[buzzking]

All in all, use what you have the most confidence in. If you like mono, just use 20-25 lb mono for your flippin and pitchin and you'll be fine. It's all in what you have confindence in so you don't second guess yourself when the bite occurs. I think fishing can get way too technical. Look at Rick Clunn, he uses one size/action rod (7ft. Hvy Action) for all applications. Just another example that it's all about what you have confidence in.

Rick clunn is nuttier than squirrel turds also. You can't tell me that you would rather crank a DD22 on a 6:2:1 Heavy flippin rod, than a 5:1 and a soft crankbait rod. Unless you look like Popeye and enjoy the pain.

[00SKEETER]

I would rather use a glass rod and 5:1 gear ratio myself, but that's what I'm comfortable with. It worked pretty good for him at Ky/barkley last year when he was cranking deep ledges.

[buzzking]

Like I said...he's certifiable