Tough and Strong, Sufix's Advance Fluorocarbon Fishing Line

Total Score: 7.92 - GOOD

Introduction: Fluorocarbon remains the top choice for anglers seeking a quality fishing line with low underwater visibility. Manufacturers recognize this demand with many now offering technique specific blends of fluorocarbon to better respond to the needs in a cranking versus flipping versus general purpose fluorocarbon. The key ingredient in every special blend of fluorocarbon intended for use as a main line is handling. More naturally suited as a material for leaders, fluorocarbon needs extra processing when extruded for use as a main line. Each manufacturer has their own strategy to achieve this goal and at a previous ICAST, Sufix debuted their latest strategy. Here's our look at Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon.

Quality : Relying upon a proprietary process called Gel Phase Technology, Sufix has created what they describe as a super-soft fluorocarbon that handles extremely well while maintaining that extra degree of sensitivity and resistance to abrasion that makes fluorocarbon lines so popular.

Sufix packages their Advance Fluorocarbon precision wound onto the spool

To enhance that feel of a premium grade fluorocarbon, Sufix delivers their Advance Fluorocarbon (FC) precision wound onto the filler spools. We acquired several different strengths of this line from four (4) through twenty (20) pound test. First thing I did when they arrived at TackleTour HQ was to strip off several feet of each spool to verify their diameters. In some cases the numbers were very close, in others, off by as much as 0.028mm or close to ten percent (10%) for the twelve (12) pound test.

The actual variation in diameters we measured along the five different points for each strength of line was only 0.6 to 1.5 percent depending on the spool. We've measured some brands with a variation of up to 3.10% in the past. Our historical average is 0.9%. So Sufix Advance is right in line with the average here. Taking it a step further and running those same lengths of line between my fingers, it's easy to feel how smooth and consistent this line's shape and diameter is off the spool. Whether or not that consistency is due to the precision winding, we cannot say for certain, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

I fished a variety of strengths over the course of several trips

Lab Tests: Even with those positive first impressions, before any new fluorocarbon (or really non-braid line) makes it onto our fishing reels these days, we need to get an idea of what we're dealing with. That means into the lab with the spool of line that meters out closest in diameter to 0.300mm so we can run our standard series of tests for tensile and knot strength, resistance to abrasion, and stretch and deformity. For Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, this meant 10lb (measured with an average of 0.301mm in diameter).

Tensile & Knot Strength: Strapping lengths of 10lb of Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon up to The Machine revealed an average breaking strength of 9.2lbs. Tying an overhand knot in the middle of the line resulted in an average break at 64% of that tested strength. This is almost identical to our historical average knot strength for fluorocarbon lines, 63.7%.

Spooled directly on my Revo IKE spinning reel

Abrasion: Fluorocarbon is generally the most resistant to abrasion of all fishing line materials. But even with this material, results vary between manufacturers. A lot of that variance has to do with the diameter of the line you're using. In general, the thicker the line, the more resistance to abrasion you're going to get. That's just common sense. Sufix Advance FC aligns pretty closely with our historical average in this department as well with the 0.301mm lasting an average of 15 cycles through our abrasion machine (historical average = 14.5).

Fished as a leader on board my Daiwa Ballistic tied to JBraid Grand

Stretch: Where Sufix Advance FC stood out was in our stretch tests. During our 2007 Fluorocarbon Showdown, we debunked the early myth that Fluorocarbon lines do not stretch. It's now widely accepted now that they do, but the interesting characteristic with most fluorocarbon is that they do not recover one hundred percent from their stretched state. In fact, the average amount of deformity in our historical test samples is 4.8%. Similarly, the average amount of stretch is 11.6%.

Sensitivity is top notch with this line making it a really good choice for finesse fishing

Sufix Advance FC tested in our lab at an average of 10.1% stretch but recovered almost entirely after each test for an average of only 0.8% deformity. This is better than average in both cases which should translate to more solid hooksets out on the water when you swing.

Spooled on my Revo EXD casting reel matched with a Phenix Rods M1 MX72MH