Might want to loosen the drag a little. It should give just a little on your hook sets instead of digging in the spool. I usually flip with braid and crank my drag tight but with flouro I'll loosen it up a little. I've seen a lot of flouro get the chaulky look after repeated use. Use some line conditioner or just get some fresh line. Flouro is great for sensitivity and low stretch but it does require some maintenance.

Check to see if you are missing rod tip.

I have never had that problem with sunline shooter. Been on some pretty flippin bites.

Steez, if I know I'm going to be flipping the day before I go, I will tie my line off to the boat and walk off 100 yards or so and reel it all back in with good tension. Seems to help and I usually do it twice and I see the line start to spool up nicer and the memory is gone the next day.

Once again ....Fluoro is your problem, use big game mono for flipping.

Thanks for of all the suggestions and wisdom guys. I'm gonna write this off as "part of it" for the ways I'm fishing and micro guides. I think I'll spool up with less expensive Red Label though.

I know the guides are meticulously clean and in good shape. I clean the rods at least once a month. ....and yep, the expensive ones actually get waxed. Lol. I know.....kinda weird. But, for the last 8 years, I have to buy my stuff at retail. So I take better care of stuff now.

I do think it's a combo of the guides being so small and loose line in the spool from repetitive short flips. When I set the hook, I definitely can understand the stress applied to the line as it's overlapping on the spool.

I guess I should watch it closer too.....since the line is probably getting weak when it's kinked up.


Thanks for all the replies.

Now that you point that out I think your right. I have to Kistlers that I use to flip pitch with. Both have micro guides and I have this same issue. I don't have this problem with my power tackle flipping rods like the 104 and 104.5

I use tatsu, 20 and 25 have more memory for sure than lower weights, but much much much less than invisx or abrazx... What your describing to me is a LINE issue for sure.

I pretty much wont attempt to use them with less than 3/8, I find that some kvd line conditioner makes a big difference.

I basically spray my spool when I grab a rod with floro and get to fishing... Ive found its not good to spray it at the end of the day and let it sit, it seems to react down in my spool, so thats why I use it when I grab the rod and some thru the day.

Hey Steez,

Are you pegging your weight? If so, how?

Working close in, such as flipping and pitching Big Game makes more sense than fluorocarbon. The sensitivity gained in pretty much a misnomer at close distance and the stretch can be a lifesaver at close ranges too. I refuse to have any fluoro in any application that requires it to be wrapped on a spool. I will occasionally use it as a leader but that is seldom. I have yet to be outfished by anyone using fluoro vs my mono. My belief is that fluorocarbon is one of the biggest marketing scams I've seen in the fishing industry.

I use the jumbo "peg-it". The kind that slides through the weight. Always always always have it pegged....very tight. The weight absolutely never slides.

Eh....I like the sinking of the line vs mono

They both stretch. Trust me. Almost the same %.

Is there any way you can downsize to 15# test and see if that helps or do you thing you would have too many break off's? For me 20# Invizx seems to curl a lot worse than 15. Invizx also has 17# but it is only slightly smaller in diameter than the 20 so that may not help out much there.

Do you have a rod you can test out that doesn't have micro guides?

Im just throwing out suggestions because I haven't had an issue like you described but none of the rods I use for pitching have micro guides.

I recently used some mono and when I set the hook I damn near need to jump out of the boat...lots of stretch... that said.

Ive fished straight braid in all applications including clear clear water and never been out fished by anyone with floro on my boat, but Ive only got to test that about 8 times maybe there is a day that it matters but I havent ever seen it yet.

I don't believe that it makes a big difference. But, that said, I tourney fish 75% of the time and I don't take any chances. Only braid in grass....fluorocarbon on EVERYTHING else. And usually 20lb and up. I've lost fish at critical times using smaller lb test. So minimum is 20. Only exception is when I have to fairy fish. Then is 20lb braid and a 6-10lb leader.