Cabelas No-Vis Fluorcarbon - First Impression.

[Bassboss]

When I was at cabelas last month, I picked up a spool of 12lb no-vis fluoro for my baitcaster since I've heard such good things about it, and it's priced very well.

I was a hot day today (100+ at 5:00 by the thermometer on my porch ), and I needed something to do before I went fishing, I thought I might as well spool up that reel with the fluoro since I planed on tossing some jigs, and big worms and today in deep-ish water around boulders, so the extra sensitivity would be nice.... and like I said I was board, lol. So I went on down to the cool basement and started the taking the 12lb CXX I had on before and putting back on the spool of line.

After I got down to my backing I tied it on using an albright knot.

First thing I noticed is this line is limp - a bit limper then 12lb CXX I think, and ad slightly less stretch. When I got back up stairs where the light was better (and heat was hotter, lo) I noticed the line was a milky kinda color. So, so far I was 1 for 1 for likes and dislikes. Packed some worms, and jigs in a back pack and went out the door to the fishin hole with a 5/16oz Eakins Finesse jig on and a Chunk X trailer rigged and ready with a palomar knot.

Onto the field tests.

Let me start off by saying I'm thoroughly impressed with how well this line casts, if someone told me this was mono, I'd believe them. To me I didn't handle anything like fluoro, other than the fact that it was "harder" if you know what I mean. I could also cast noticeably further and could almost reach the weed mats on the other side of deep hole I was fishing. So I started dragging my jig around to test the sensitivity and abrasion resistants. While it didn't feel as sensitive as my St.Croix Premier with braid, I was feeling the rocks a little more vividly, and could more easily detected the difference in the moss and hard bottom then I could with CXX. So now we know that this line can feel what on the bottom, but do we know if it can feel fish? Well the answer to that is yes. Unfortunately I only hooked up with one fish on the jig, but I knew that with out I had bass biting my jig, not another pesky rock bass who I could feel down there doing their thing too. I also missed another bass on the hook set, but I could definitely one had sucked it up.

What about stretch? We all know I'm pretty picky about my line when it comes to stretch. While it's nothing like braid, and no fluoro ever will be, it preformed well for me in this category. While I didn't feel that on a long cast, I could move my rod 2 inches and have my jig move 2 inches, I felt I had adequate control of what my jig was doing down there on the bottom. This was also low stretch enough to set the hook into a fish on a long casts. Remember that bass I caught earlier up there? Well I really crossed his eyes on the hook set, and wish I didn't. I really tore a good hole in his lip and if I'dve let my line limp for even a second he'da been off just like that. So unless you're making 60+ yard casts with a 7'6" rod, I think you'll be fine. I also found I could really jerk my rod and snap the jig free of any weeds just fine.

So I come home and chill a little while and around 5:00 we go to the Wolf River Dam to do a little more bassin. Good! Another opportunity to see what this line could do. I started out using the same Finesse jig, and missed a few fish fishing along a sea wall, only buttoned up with one 'em too and had it come off. I could toss my jig upstream and really feel the current taking it along and bouncing it along the rocks. I've never done with the CXX, so I can't really compare sensitivity, but in terms of abrasion resistance, No-Vis has CXX beat once again. I found that I really only needed to re-tie twice after half hour of dragging the jig.

Since my dad caught two smallies already yo-yoing a lipless crank, I thought I'd out the jig down a while and do the same. Again, I was very impressed with the line's casting. I was casting 3 - 5 yards short of my dad using 10lb braid and a spinning reel. I could definitely feel the crankbait wobbling back and forth, even when I lifted the rod slowly, but knew when I was getting into some rocks too. I also didn't feel like the line was lacking or having too much stretch, and could yo-yo them just fine and have perfect control of what it was doing.

After the lipless crank didn't turn anything up, I tried my luck with a LC pointer. I'd reel it down I feel crank, and give it a few snaps. Again, just enough stretch. I didn't feel like I really had to yank the rod to get the jerk bait to move, but I didn't have to barley twitch it either. Really liking it for jerkbait as a mater of fact.

Well no dice on the jerkbait either, so I set the casting rod down for a whole I fish a drop shot. Caught one smallie on that. After that.. nothing.

Picked up rod with No-Vis again and tied a smallie beaver on a 1/2 football. Again, I'd toss it up-steam and let the current s-l-o-w-l-y drag it along the bottom. I could certainly feel the jig going from gravel to larger rocks. But when I hopped it, it seemed to be a little on the stretchy side again. I could also distinguish a smallie slurping up the beaver from the rocks and gravel with out problem.

Over all I really like this line so far, and find it really shins with moving baits, and has a bit too much stretch for heavier jigs. With lighter jigs, I find it to be boarder line. I think a heaver pound test like 15, or 17 might fix that though. Unfortunately I didn't get to fish any worms on it today, but plan on it tomorrow. Good abrasion resistance, good sensitivity and awesome casting!! My only complaint so far is the milky color it has on the spool. I'm not really sure how it'll preform in ultra clear water in comparison to a clearer fluoro like Trilene 100% (which I use for leaders a lot), but I I'm not really sure if the fish care about line visibility either!

Hope you guys enjoyed reading this little review, and let me know if ya have any questions, I'll see if I can answer any!

[keithdog]

Very good review with some valuable info learned first hand. I'd given up on flourocarbon a couple years back, but I just might give this line a shot next year. I have plenty of line already for this year. Thanks for the review!

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by Bassboss

I was a hot day today (100+ at 5:00 by the terminator on my porch ), and I needed something to do before I went fishing, I thought I might as well spool up that reel with the fluoro since I planed on tossing some jigs, and big worms and today in deep-ish water around boulders, so the extra sensitivity would be nice.... and like I said I was board, lol. So I went on down to the cool basement and started the taking the 12lb CXX I had on before and putting back on the spool of line.

Cool review Sammy, but I didn't know you had a "terminator" on your porch.

Originally Posted by Bassboss

What about stretch? We all know I'm pretty picky about my line when it comes to stretch. While it's nothing like braid, and no fluoro ever will be, it preformed well for me in this category. While I didn't feel that on a long cast, I could move my rod 2 inches and have my jig move 2 inches, I felt I had adequate control of what my jig was doing down there on the bottom. This was also low stretch enough to set the hook into a fish on a long casts. Remember that bass I caught earlier up there? Well I really crossed his eyes on the hook set, and wish I didn't. I really tore a good hole in his lip and if I'dve let my line limp for even a second he'da been off just like that. So unless you're making 60+ yard casts with a 7'6" rod, I think you'll be fine. I also found I could really jerk my rod and snap the jig free of any weeds just fine.

...

Over all I really like this line so far, and find it really shins with moving baits, and has a bit too much stretch for heavier jigs. With lighter jigs, I find it to be boarder line. I think a heaver pound test like 15, or 17 might fix that though.

A little contradictory there, so was the stretch ok or was there too much?

Originally Posted by Bassboss

Picked up rod with No-Vis again and tied a smallie beaver on a 1/2 football. Again, I'd toss it up-steam and let the current s-l-o-w-l-y drag it along the bottom. I could certainly feel the jig going from gravel to larger rocks. But when I hopped it, it seemed to be a little on the stretchy side again. I could also distinguish a smallie slurping up the beaver from the rocks and gravel with out problem.

Out of curiosity, what rod are you fishing jigs on? Even with my slightly-less-than-fast-action 733C and Seaguar InvisX, I really can't distinguish any line stretch just dragging or hopping a jig. It's mostly when I set the hook that I notice a little stretch.

Originally Posted by Bassboss

Unfortunately I didn't get to fish any worms on it today, but plan on it tomorrow. Good abrasion resistance, good sensitivity and awesome casting!! My only complaint so far is the milky color it has on the spool. I'm not really sure how it'll preform in ultra clear water in comparison to a clearer fluoro like Trilene 100% (which I use for leaders a lot), but I I'm not really sure if the fish care about line visibility either!

The milky color reminds be of Seaguar's CarbonPro FC. I never thought it affected visibility in the water. At least to me, it didn't look different in the water than any other FC. And I've heard rumors that Seaguar makes the No-Vis for Cabela's; however, Seaguar claims not to manufacture line for anyone.

BB

[Bassboss]

Thanks guys, appreciated the comments.

A little contradictory there, so was the stretch ok or was there too much?

I felt there was a bit to much for my liking fishing jigs, but still fish able. Fishing anything else I used however stretch was perfect. As far as hook sets, long as you're not making super long casts (the kind cannot achieve with my rods), I think you'll be fine setting the hook into anything.

Out of curiosity, what rod are you fishing jigs on? Even with my slightly-less-than-fast-action 733C and Seaguar InvisX, I really can't distinguish any line stretch just dragging or hopping a jig. It's mostly when I set the hook that I notice a little stretch.

Cabelas XML 7' MH Fast.

The milky color reminds be of Seaguar's CarbonPro FC. I never thought it affected visibility in the water. At least to me, it didn't look different in the water than any other FC. And I've heard rumors that Seaguar makes the No-Vis for Cabela's; however, Seaguar claims not to manufacture line for anyone.
BB

Yeah I've heard that too, I've also heard they Toray makes it.

[Bassboss]

Used it for worms, senkos, and swimjigs yesterday. Nothing bad to say about it yet, I really like for the swimjigs actually. I really burn em when I fish em, and this really helps me keep em down. Not as good as braid for senkos but, it still works well.

[islandbass]

It should be a good line. It is practically Sea Guar's Invixz under Cabela's packaging. Nice Review!

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by Bassboss

Cabelas XML 7' MH Fast.

If you're fishing a 1/2oz jig with another good 1/4oz of plastic on it, you may be feeling more of the rod bowing than line stretching. I weighed a Gander Mtn. version of a beaver and found it to be over 1/4oz. So that brings your jig up to or over 3/4oz; well over the "sweet spot" of a MH rod. If you tried fishing them on a H rod it might seem like the line isn't stretching as much.

BB

[Bassboss]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

If you're fishing a 1/2oz jig with another good 1/4oz of plastic on it, you may be feeling more of the rod bowing than line stretching. I weighed a Gander Mtn. version of a beaver and found it to be over 1/4oz. So that brings your jig up to or over 3/4oz; well over the "sweet spot" of a MH rod. If you tried fishing them on a H rod it might seem like the line isn't stretching as much.

BB

No doubt. I heavier rod would almost definitely feel less stretchy.