Monofilament fishing line has been the standard choice fishing line for most anglers since the 1960s when DuPont first started manufacturing a thin monofilament line called Stren. Although still popular with fishermen, it is not without its disadvantages and was recently replaced by fluorocarbon as the most popular type of line. Both lines have pros and cons and favor different fishing environments.
Monofilament Advantages
Monofilament line is ideal for fly fishing or fishing when using a float, largely because it becomes almost transparent in water according to Generation Fly, a website for fly-fishing enthusiasts. This transparency ensures the fish will not be able to detect the line running up to the fly on the water's surface. Monofilament is also an option for anglers on a tight budget, as it is cheaper than fluorocarbon line.
Monofilament Disadvantages
Monofilament has a high stretch limit. This can make deep water ledger fishing difficult with monofilament due to the lack of sensitivity -- a fish could be taking your bait and you might not even know it. The stretchiness also means that some fish can become poorly hooked, resulting in the fish escaping on occasion. Monofilament also has high water absorption which further deteriorates its sensitivity and strength over time.
Fluorocarbon Advantages
Fluorocarbon line is ideal for use with ledger fishing because the line is denser and heavier than water, according to Florida Bass Fishing website. Because it is also transparent, it can lie on the sea floor, river bed or lake bed and appear invisible next to your ground bait. The hypersensitivity means that you can fish simply with a motion alarm on your rod-rest, or even by using your hands to feel irregular vibrations on the line.
Fluorocarbon Disadvantages
Fluorocarbon line is quite expensive as it still does not have high production rates and therefore not widely available. From a technical aspect, fluorocarbon retains memory more than monofilament, which means if the line has been left on the spool for some time, it will remain curled and looped when casting. This can significantly hamper your casting range.
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