Fluorocarbon?

[wolfgang510]

Is 2x fluorocarbon umpqua similar strength to 2x regular or does the scale refer more to diameter? I like to fish for steelhead and salmon with 1x, 2x or 3x regular line. When I switch to fluorocarbon should I buy the same sizes or go smaller and buy 3x, 4x and 5x to get the same strength but less visibility and smaller diameters?

[Lance]

Wolfgang the 1x, 2x, etc.... is a mainly a reference to the line diameter. In th past you could also rely on it to match your lbs test to it but with the new lines and including even mono that can vary by up to 2 lbs on a line diameter. If your looking for a line size for steel I'd recommend 4x-5x depending on how soft your rod tip is, for either a fly or noodle rod. You can go smaller but it's not really necassary most of the time.

[Nitrofish]

:confused: I have digital scales & did some testing to see if the claims on the flourocarbon tippet material worked for me . I had no good results on any of the Fly tippet material. I tested Rio & Orvis Mirage.The rio 1x was rated at 13.5 lbs and it broke at 8 lbs same with the mirage. I tested the 3x & 5x with the same kind of results. So I tested my stren flourocarbon. I got in a 250 yd spool & it tested at 100% of its given stregnth on both 6 & 8 lb test. Not a laboratory test but good enough for me . So you should do some testing of your own . I could save you some frustration on the river & we all know how the truly big fish tend to educate a fisherman on where his week link is in his rig. Tight lines to all . Nitrofish