Fluorocarbon line brought many changes to fishing. It first became popular in saltwater fishing, and its popularity spread to freshwater fishing as manufacturers reduced production costs. Fluorocarbon line's strengths are invisibility in water, abrasion resistance, sink rate and lack of stretch. There are specific situations in which to use it and specific conditions in which to avoid it.
Use in Clear Water
Use fluorocarbon line in clear water. Fluorocarbon line has a light-refractive index that is almost the same as water. That means it is nearly invisible in water, although you will see it quite easily above water. Try fluorocarbon line in highly pressured fisheries, where fish may avoid lures with fishing lines they can see. Cabela's recommends it for ice fishing, where water can be extremely clear. Pro fisherman Rob Hamilton likes it on mountain lakes. He points out that polymer lines coated with fluorocarbon are not as invisible as 100 percent fluorocarbon lines.
Stretch
Use fluorocarbon line when you want little stretch in your line. Because it has less stretch than monofilament, it is a more sensitive line. That makes it effective for crankbaits, weighted plastics, Carolina rig leaders, bed fishing and other techniques that require a good sense of what the bait is doing. The line's limited stretch helps on the hookset after a long cast with a crankbait. The lack of stretch can be a liability on a hookset close to your boat. Fluorocarbon is not as sensitive as braided lines.
Sink Rate
Fluorocarbon lines is denser than water and monofilament line, so it sinks faster than monofilament. Use it when fishing lures that run under water, such as crankbaits or weighted plastic worms. You will feel more wobble from your crankbait and from strikes than you will with monofilament. The Classic Bass website says the line's properties help a crankbait run up to 2 feet deeper than on monofilament line. Because of its sinking rate, fluorocarbon is not a good line for slowly worked topwater lures. It tends to pull the nose of the lure down, which often ruins a topwater's action.
UV Resistant
Fluorocarbon line does not absorb water and does not deteriorate in sunlight as quickly as monofilament line does. Classic Bass says fluorocarbon will last up to four times as long as monofilament line.
Strength
Fluorocarbon is tough line with good resistance to abrasion. Use it around rocks or pilings. In a Fishin.com article, professional fishing guide Mike Gerry suggests using fluorocarbon line in conditions where a powerful hookset is not needed. Gerry says fluorocarbon breaks under the pressure of a hard set. Tie your knots carefully with fluorocarbon to avoid seeing a knot slip. Some fluorocarbon line used on spinning reels has a lot of memory and will retain twists.
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