• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

Fluorocarbon Hooklink Material...

John Cook

John Cook

Senior Member
Hi All,

Has anyone used the following fluorocarbon hooklink material and if so what were your findings????? ESP SOFT GHOST or FOX ILLUSION SOFT??

Thanking you:)
 
John,
I've been using Soft Ghost for the past couple of seasons. Not the most supple in the world, despite being more supple than the old style ESP Ghost, and not the finest diameter. However, I don't want ultimate suppleness from my fluoro. I prefer the anti-tangle element that a little stiffness brings. The only times I've had any dramas with it is when fishing in very rocky (Tidal Trent) locations. Abrasion resistance, like most fluoro, isn't great. I will use it in such locations but am very careful when playing fish. I'm also religious about checking it for nicks and roughness before each re-cast. I tend to use the 10 and 12lb stuff.
 
Thank you Chris i am looking for something a little larger in diameter as ghost soft and illusion seem to be, though labelled as Soft lines i dont want them to be as soft and this as the likes of grand max etc, just wondering how these 2 makes stand up.
 
John
I have been using the Fox Illusion Soft since early summer.
I had run out of Frog Hair and Climax tackle was close so took the FIS in 12lb.
It has coped well on the Middle and Tidal Trent and in rivers in yorkshire.
Its cheaper than the Frog Hair and as long as you follow Sam's advice on nicks and roughness it is good.
It is slightly suppler than the AIrFlow 3G but retains the anti-tangle properties.
It is thicker per lb than Frog Hair but that is useful for the Trent and the rocks!
 
Hi Darryl,

Thank you for that info, i think that i am leaning towards the illusion soft because i have read some good reports about the old illusion as being as tough as old boots
 
I've been using the Gamma 100% flourocarbon, 12lb, 0.33mm for 12 months now and am well pleased with it. Source the BFW shop!! Excuse the shame full plug
 
Hi John - are you moving from Grande Max just for the winter, or didn't you get on with it in the longer term, notwithstanding the monster you landed back in the summer :))?
 
The old illusion was as tough as old boots, with the 12lb breaking at around 17lb, unfortunately it was also not very fluoro for long, suffering from discoloration quite quickly. As a hooklength, probably okay, although my personal pref is for the gardner and jrc soft fluoros, which remain clear for longer and are also v. strong.

Paul
 
Hi Richard,
No not moving away from the grand max soft plus just looking for something a little thicker just for my combi link rigs as i found that the supernatural braid i am using cut into the fine diameter of the fox plus when using the albright knot. the soft plus is a very good strong material imo...
 
Paul is that the gardner subterfuge hooklink material or the mirage mainline???
 
John, its the subterfuge hooklink material. I've tended to move away from the fluoros for mainlines, because they seem to absorb colour or fade quite quickly, whereas with the hooklinks it doesnt matter if you bin it after a session. I havent tried the mirage. If i could find a fluoro mainline that doesnt absorb colour i would probably go back to using as i do like a lot of the qualities of fluoro, such as faster sinking and abrasion resistance.

Forgot to mention that i have in the past used a fluoro up trace/short leader for pinning down, which isnt too bad as it doesnt work out too expensive if it discolours and you need to replace it.

cheers

Paul
 
Last edited:
Paul,

Is the subterfuge a limpish material and are you using the 12bs 0.33, i notice theres not many breaking strains available...The fox illusion soft is a hooklink material.
 
John,

The subterfuge is quite limp for a fluoro, but i havent compared it with illusion soft. It is the 12lb 0.33mm that i use and i quite like it. :) Ive even used it sea fishing and it stands up to crabs quite well. :D

Paul
 
I have been using the Pro Bass Flouro Xline for the last 2 years and it is great with combi rigs, brilliant stuff. I used to have a contact who when he went over to the States would bring me some back from the Pro Bass shops but I have lost contact with him. So if any one is going over in the next few months and do'snt mind getting me some e-mail me Ta
 
Hi Julian,

You had better buy up all the Gamma from the BFW shop:D Not looking for a fluoro mainline Julian, i purchased a spool of the Gardner Subterfuge recommended by Paul and i got a spool of the fox illusion soft recommedded to me by Daryll and i must say i like the look of the both of them...Combi link sorted:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top