Varivas Fluorocarbon 356 Line

Talk about a varied testing! The sample line got used in Mexico fly fishing for bonito, dorado and needlefish, then went fly fishing for bass in Wales, plus tried its hand on beach rigs for flatties, bass and spotted rays.

Veal's Varivas Fluoro Carbon 365 line is slightly stiffer than normal mono's, a typical characteristic of fluoro carbon lines, but it knots a little better than others I've tried, though with all fluoro carbon's I suggest adding a couple of extra turns to either a tucked blood knot or grinner knot before pulling tight just to make sure as their hard surface can see standard knots slide occasionally. I tie my knots like this and a fly tippet of 20lb 365 fought a 6lb bonito on a 9-weight fly rod for nearly an hour, plus two smaller fish and a dorado without any problems.

Fluoro carbon's also "melt" in the water and prove almost impossible to see. We tried this with the 365 in the gin clear waters of Mexico, and it certainly does tend to blend with the water and camouflages itself making it ideal for all daylight shallow water fishing where fish may prove shy off an obvious line.

The 25lb 365 is perfect for hook snoods on most beach rigs. Being stiff it sits off the rig neatly and minimises tangles in surf conditions. I also use the 25lb for all my rough ground bass rigs as I find the 365 has a hard surface and takes the wear and tear of hitting rocks. Because it's stiff and with minimum stretch it helps improve bite detection a little too. I use the 15lb line for tippets when fishing the fly for bass.

Some anglers question the higher price of fluoro carbons, but clear water conditions it does help you get bites that might not otherwise occur with more obvious standard visible mono hook snoods.

Veal's Varivas Fluoro Carbon 365 comes in 50-metre spools and line strengths of 15lb at £5.75, 20lb at £6.75, and the 25lb retails for £7.50 and is avaliable at Veals Online.