These days it seems as though more and more people are using fluorocarbon lines. From the pros to novices, there are advantages that lend themselves to certain conditions that you may find are present at your favorite fishing hole.
While we typically default to hybrid line for our everyday use, we decided to give Sufix Invisiline 100% Fluorocarbon a try for some of our favorite finesse techniques and see if we found a noticeable difference
Fluorocarbon lines have in the past been notoriously expensive compared to their mono counterparts. While there is a case to be made in terms of justifying that expense, some of it was, in our opinion, just plain cock and bull.
Why would you pay the extra money for a fluoro? Because of the advantages that it is supposed to have over monos.
Four Reasons For Going Fluoro
There are four main reasons to consider using fluoro. One, and probably the most important, is that it has almost the same refractive index as water. Simply put, this stuff is almost invisible under water.
Two, it has less stretch than conventional monos and is more sensitive. Al least that is the claim. I say that because there have been some of the lines in this segment that actually have more stretch than wet mono so you have to be selective and do your research prior to buying some.
Three, fluoro sinks much faster and deeper than mono. Same caveats apply here in that there are some lines out there that don’t live up to the hype.
Four, abrasion resistance. Fluorocarbon is supposed to be tougher than mono.
Okay, so with these in mind, how does the Sufix 100% Fluorocarbon measure up to expectations as well as other lines in this segment? The only way to tell is to get it out of the package, spool up and get it on the water.
On The Water With Sufix
We’ve been testing the Sufix for a couple of months now. We obtained the 7lb. test and spooled it on a 20 series spinning reel mated to a 6’9” medium light action rod for uses that include but aren’t limited to, weightless soft plastics, drop-shotting, shakey-heads and small crankbaits that weigh 1/4 ounce or less.
The first thing you notice when you get the line out of the package is just how clear this stuff is. Held up to the sun, you can see through a 200 yd spool with no problem.
Start spooling your reel and you notice how smooth this line is. There are no detectable imperfections in the line. Not a wave, wrinkle or wobble.
It lays well but don’t allow any slack while spooling or it will try to spring off as it is a little on the stiff side initially.
Once you start casting you will notice over time that it is indeed more sensitive than the vast majority of monos on the market. Sufix has done a very good job in that this line transmits vibrations very well to the anglers hands so that even subtle bites are easily detected.
In terms of less stretch, we believe that the Invisiline Castable Fluorocarbon delivers on this claim as well. You might think that it’s kind of subjective but that isn’t the case if you are used to using monos and braids. You’ll find that the Sufix comes in closer to the braid in terms of how much stretch there is. This translates to sure, quick hook sets which results in fewer bites missed.
It is our opinion in testing the Sufix side by side using a mono on one rig that the fluoro does get down faster and deeper. This really shows when throwing cranks. You can definitely gain more depth using the fluorocarbon.
While fluoro’s were notorious for breaking when they first came out, the Sufix hasn’t demonstrated this annoying tendency at all. Hook sets have been sure and we haven’t managed to break any fish off to date.
Another pleasant surprise is how tough overall this line has been. The 7lb rating belies its true strength. I know that there have been a few instances where I would have broken off other lines in the eight pound category but the Sufix didn’t snap.
Inside the package you will find two recommended knots that are demonstrated for you. There is also a website that you can go to for the purpose of finding other knots you can use given that you’re uncomfortable tying the two that are shown.
Any Downsides?
If we have any gripe with the Sufix it is this. It only comes in 100 or 200 yard spools. There are no other sizes available. We would like to see something in the 300 or 600 yard lengths for when we need to spool multiple reels with the same line.
As far as any idiosyncrasies, there is of course the usual fluoro characteristic in that you don’t want to use any line conditioner. This can and will damage this line. The other thing that came to our attention is that unlike most other lines, the Sufix Invisiline seems to have a break in period. It became easier and easier to handle each time we used it up to about the fourth outing. It didn’t display any signs of losing its advantages but seemed to lose some of its stiffness.
The cost of the Sufix is very reasonable considering the quality the angler receives as compared to similar offerings from other companies.
Sufix Invisiline Castable 100% Fluorocarbon has lived up to all the hype concerning fluorocarbon lines. It does what it says it’s going to do and handles well for the test pound rating it carries.
We’re still waiting to see if this line will deteriorate the way others in this segment do but as of this writing, we don’t see any signs of that.
| Sufix Invisiline Castable | |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating |   |
| Great line at a reasonable price | |
See ya’ on the water ….