I have Berkley Fl. carbon on one of my reels, and it is really not what I thought it would be. The 12lb test is good, but the 17 I have on is not so much. If I have to pull some out, it curls up like curly fries. Is this normal? If not, what do you guys suggest I use? Resonably priced, and in the same category.

if you unravel the whole bail into the water while you are driving... all of it.... you can reel it back in and it will cast smooth from then on.

Really? Can't say that I would have ever considered that. I won't really have the opportunity to do that. I kinda need something I can put on there tonight and be ready to go.

I was told this by Mile Iaconelli a few years ago. We were talking about shakey head fishing and I mentioned about how fluoro. on my spinning reels always tends to unravel on my casts. His recomandation was while you are spooling the line on the reel, have a cloth rag sprayed with silicone. Grip the line with the rag in your hand and spool away. Also, while out fishing with that reel, you can periodically spray it with line conditioner, (KVD, reel magic, etc.) Since I have been doing this, I only have a problem with the line if my rods sit unused for a while. If that is the case, I have started spraying the line that is on the reel with line conditioner the night before I go out and agin in the morning before I make my first casr. Works for me. If you do not have line conditioner or if your local store does not carry it, you can use the silicone spray or WD-40.

GB

You can try Reel Magic spray and it will help some. Some Fluorocarbon lines are "stiffer" than others. P-Line Halo is "very pretty" and green but more stiff. Seguar is very good but more pricey. Gamma has probably (my opinion) the best Fluoro. Bass Pro is probably a good choice for the price. You might try a Hybrid combination. If you fish with a spinning reel try to not use Fluoro. it is just a big mess with the larger diameter lines.

Fluorocarbon was intended to be leader material.
If you backlash a baitcaster don't expect those kinks to hold up to a big fish in the cover.