Fluorocarbon lines were initially designed to be used as a leader. Despite all the positive aspects of the line, some drawbacks had plagued fluorocarbon lines when anglers started using it as a mainline. Because it’s harder and stiffer than other lines, fluoro lines tend to be more challenging to cast, tie knots, and prone to forming bad line memory.
Thicker fluorocarbon leader lines can be straightened using heat and stretching the line. Thinner fluoro mainlines can be straightened by using a line conditioner, correctly spooling the line, stretching the line, or warming the spooled line in warm water, which relaxes the line memory.
Modern mainline fluorocarbon lines are more flexible and limp than the older line. Despite the improvements over the years, fluorocarbon will need to be straightened out from time to time. Let us explore how to resolve this issue with some easy fixes.
How to Straighten A Fluorocarbon Line
Fluorocarbon lines are available in two different line types. Leader lines are generally thicker and sold in rolls containing a couple of inches in length to 110 yards. The dedicated leader lines are sold as such and are harder and stiffer than the newer mainline products.
Fluorocarbon is virtually invisible underwater, ensures good hook sets, doesn’t degrade in sunlight, is abrasion-resistant, and doesn’t absorb water. However, it is prone to forming line memory which can be quickly resolved if you know what to do.
The following techniques can be used to straighten fluorocarbon lines.
Fluorocarbon Leader Line Straightening
Fluorocarbon leader lines are harder and stiffer than other lines to ensure high abrasion and strength. The downside is that the fluorocarbon leader tends to develop line memory. If wound up on a spool, straightening the line will most likely be required before the line can be used.
- Stretching the Line To Straighten It
This technique is utilized for straightening any fluorocarbon leader line. For short leader lines such as those used on fly fishing lines, grab hold of either end of the line and apply pressure to the bar. Be careful not to break the line if a thin leader is straightened.
When using longer leaders, attach one end of the leader to a firmly mounted object. Roll the leader line out and apply tension to the line. One or two stretches are all that are needed to straighten the line. - Straightening A Fluorocarbon Leader Line Using Friction
A more radical means of straightening a short length of fluorocarbon leader line is to run your hand back and forth along the line using friction to create heat.
Should you notice that your leader line has developed a coil or two and is not presenting nice and flat, the following technique is a handy quick-fix solution that can be used while fishing. Take hold of the end of the line at the lure or hook end. Tension the line between the rod and your hand holding the line.
You’ll need to clamp the rod under an armpit or between your legs. Using your free hand, grab the taught line in a loosely closed fist and run your hand back and forth along the affected area of the line. You’ll feel the heat building up. As soon as you feel the heat build-up, stop rubbing. The line will be visibly straighter.
If you hold the line too tightly, there is a risk of burning yourself on the line if you run it through your hand too vigorously, so be careful.
Fluorocarbon Main Line Straightening
Fluorocarbon mainlines are designed to deliver the advantages of mono while retaining the benefits of fluoro. Being much thinner in diameter than the fluorocarbon leader line products, slightly different straightening techniques are required.
These are four techniques that you can use to straighten a fluorocarbon mainline.
- Relaxing The Line In Warm Water
A very effective technique that aids in relaxing the fluorocarbon line is submerging the bulk spool or reel warm to hot water (not boiling). Submerging the line in warm water relaxes and removes the line memory from the line. Approximately ten minutes will be sufficient to allow the warmth to transfer through the line. - Spooling New Line Onto A Spinning Reel Correctly
When winding a new fluorocarbon line onto your spinning reels spool, make sure that the line is wound off the bulk spool in an anti-clockwise direction. This will prevent the line from twisting as it winds onto the reel’s spool.
Once the spool is filled to about one-eighth of an inch from the reel’s rim, submerge the reel spool in warm water for about ten minutes, which will encourage the line to take the shape of the reels spool and assist significantly in casting further.
Reeling fluorocarbon line from a large bulk spool onto the spool of a smaller-sized reel can cause line jump problems. The fluorocarbon line is stiffer than other lines and tries to return to the diameter of the bulk spool when not under tension. The line jump is more prevalent as the line diameter increases. Relaxing the line removes this issue. - Stretching Fluorocarbon Line To Straighten The Line
Fluorocarbon line can be effectively uncoiled or straightened by stretching the line.
All that is needed is to ask a friend to hold the end of the line and then walk out the line length that needs straightening. Hold the reels spool firmly, pull on the line and keep it under tension for two seconds. Relax the line and repeat once more.
The effect should be immediately visible. Rewind the line onto the reel under slight tension by running the line back onto the spool while running the line through a folded cloth not to burn your fingers. - Use Line Conditioner To Straighten Fluorocarbon Line
Using a good quality line conditioner spray makes your fluorocarbon line limper, less visible underwater, smoother to the touch, and more castable.
Using a line conditioner is easy. Spray the conditioner onto a cloth and run the line through the folded cloth onto your reel. Most line conditioners are packaged in a handy spray bottle and can be used while fishing or for best results the night before.
Alternately a few squirts of the conditioner directly onto the line on your reel is always good. Squirt some conditioner onto your line the night before fishing for best results. Applying the conditioner the night before going fishing allows the conditioner time to penetrate the line on the spool.
Happy Fishing & Tight Lines