Best sinking UL line? Fluoro or Ester...or something else?

[ultralight]

I know that I started a thread (no pun intended) on Ester line, which well-informed enthusiasts such as Alphahawk like. One of the defining strengths mentioned is that Ester sinks.

I need a line that allows my 1.5 to 3 grams jigs to sink to 20 feet and stay in that zone as much as possible. I use lines rated between 2 and 4 lbs.

Checking specific gravity, I see that Ester lines are about 1.35, and fluorocarbon is at 1.78.

Shouldn't fluorocarbon sink better than ester lines when I need to lightweight jigs down as quickly as possible and stay down? I realize that fluorocarbon stretches and thus is likely to be less sensitive than ester. But at this point, I'm only considering which sinks better....

Thanks for any insight.

ps: I could not find the specific gravity of monofilament line...anyone knows? I assume it is less than
1.

[ultralight]

Not a big deal but given no replies, I assume that no one has compared them side by side. I'll likely go with Fluoro then. I had thought that ester would sink better but given that fluor is about 31% dense, I assume that it sill get down better though I think Ester's stiffness will give better sensitivity.

[Alphahawk]

I know that I started a thread (no pun intended) on Ester line, which well-informed enthusiasts such as Alphahawk like. One of the defining strengths mentioned is that Ester sinks.

I need a line that allows my 1.5 to 3 grams jigs to sink to 20 feet and stay in that zone as much as possible. I use lines rated between 2 and 4 lbs.

Checking specific gravity, I see that Ester lines are about 1.35, and fluorocarbon is at 1.78.

Shouldn't fluorocarbon sink better than ester lines when I need to lightweight jigs down as quickly as possible and stay down? I realize that fluorocarbon stretches and thus is likely to be less sensitive than ester. But at this point, I'm only considering which sinks better....

Thanks for any insight.

ps: I could not find the specific gravity of monofilament line...anyone knows? I assume it is less than
1.

FC is better at sinking.....but I have a very hard time of seeing it or I would use it more. Nylon is a 1 on the specific gravity.

Regards

[ultralight]

Thanks Alphahawk,

Appreciate the confirmation. When you say that you have a hard time seeing it, do you mean when you need to tie the line or when actually fishing? And if actually fishing, are you watching the line to see strikes rather than feeling the strikes?

ps: Also, I assume that with 2 lbs line, the Ester casts significantly further than a 2 lbs fluoro?

Thanks again for the insight. Great forum!

[Alphahawk]

Thanks Alphahawk,

Appreciate the confirmation. When you say that you have a hard time seeing it, do you mean when you need to tie the line or when actually fishing? And if actually fishing, are you watching the line to see strikes rather than feeling the strikes?

ps: Also, I assume that with 2 lbs line, the Ester casts significantly further than a 2 lbs fluoro?

Thanks again for the insight. Great forum!

You can cast coast to coast with Varivas ES 2 ester line. I use the Varivas Blue Moon FC...and I really like it. But it is hard for me to see to tie or while working the jig. I am not a typical line watcher and I do fish by feel...but....when I lose sight of my line it messes with my head...LOL.


Regards

[Tim Kelly]

In my experience FC below about 8lb is virtually indistinguishable from mono in most situations. The line is so fine that the density becomes a negligible factor. I haven't tried fishing light jigs at 20ft extensively, but you're going to have to fish them slow whatever line you use. Ester seems to me to work amazingly well for many light jig situations, and is not significantly more difficult than a springy FC line.

[ultralight]

Thanks all!