What line are you using?

[Chris Roberts]

Is everyone here using Mono for gills?  I've never gone lower than #4 line, but I'm curious what everyone else uses.

I'm currently using BassPro #4 Mono, but have been considering switching to a Fluorocarbon.

[Bruce Tomaselli]

I've used the Clinch Knot for years.

[Vince Fusco]

I use 4lb. Trilene  XL green for most of my gill fishing. I also like McCoy mean green line in 4 lb test. I believe it comes out of Washington State. It is some of the toughest and strongest 4lb I have ever used. It casts well, and it is a soft line with almost no memory.  It is hard to find here in Ga. though. 

[Chris Roberts]

So I went and bought line from the store and picked up the NanoFil 4# along with some spider wire #4 flourocarbon as well (going to put that on my jig rod).  The guy at the store suggested that I only use about 50 yards of either on the rod and spool the first 100 of the rod with a cheaper every day mono.  Has anyone else done this?  It makes sense, but I'm curious of any draw backs.

[federico del toro]

Chris, that's what I do. I really like the nanofil line. I mostly use 4# test and  I'm really happy with the results, I have caught fish as big as 10# with it. I also use a 4# fluorcarbon leader at the end of the line

[Chris Roberts]

Is there a reason for the leader?  I've never used a leader before.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Leaders are not mandatory, of course. You can get by without them. Bluegill can be quite finicky and line shy, however, especially when pressured. I generally use them when live bait fishing below floats or running a slip sinker rig.

A great example of leader use comes from fly fishing. I'm certain this is where the practice originated, in fact, since it predates our more modern spinning and casting methods. Fly line reaches waaay out there, with tiny lightweight lures. This is its raison d'etre.

But, it looks like a boot lace in the water and would scare off any self-respecting fish worth hooking. So a 3 or 4 foot 'tippet' (leader) of light, low visibility line is added out at the catching end of things.

One way I use leaders is on my hi-vis monfilaments. I like the visibility of the bright yellow line, but I want something nearly invisible on the business end. Fluoro leaders give me that, especially in 3-4# test weights.

Another reason to use a leader is when you are fishing 'snaggy' areas. Adding a lower strength leader to the main line will break off the leader, first. This causes less disturbance and takes less time than trying to pull loose every branch and twig when you are hung in a submerged tree. You may get it loose, but you have also sent every fish in the area scattering in fright!

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Drawbacks? I can't think of any that matter. As long as you tie a good knot between the two lines, and dont hook a 30 lb. sturgeon on your 4# line, you're golden.

I do it on most of my reels. It is called "backing," and has been common practice since the advent of fishing line. Back when names like Shakespeare and South Bend were the makers everyone went to (before everything came from China), you could get collets that fit the spool to take up the extra capacity. That disappeared when fishing became a mass market proposition and gimmickry took over the Gentle Art. Today, reels are made to be disposable and few people remember such things as spool collets - fewer still want to pay for them as an option. 

I buy a lot of fishing stuff on clearance, including line. I recently got a 1000 yard spool of Bass Pro 10 lb test for $2. That would make good backing line in the right scenario. Last season I got 770 yard spools of 4# off brand mono and have been using that as both backing as well as a main line. If you are keen on the high dollar, super mega lines, this is a great way to get extra mileage from it.

For most panfishing, 50 yards is probably too much. I hook on a heavy weight and throw it out as far as it will go. That's how much line I put on after the backing. I'd suggest the guy at the store knows what he is talking about.

[Chris Roberts]

If I end up cutting line off every time I switch or snag, I feel like that 50 yards of Nanofil (or however much I go with) would end up having to be replaced sooner.  If I put the entire spool of Nanofil on, as I snag and cut then the spool just goes down.  So does putting only a little on the spoot actually make it last longer?  By this, I mean once I only have 25 yards left on, I pretty much have to pull it off and tie a fresh 50 yards on.  Thus wasting the last 25 yards.

 

I'm hoping this makes sense, or comes off as I'm trying.  I've read it a few times and I think it does, but let me know if I'm just rambling.

[chris kowaleski]

When you get a snag, pull the rod straight back, so it's not bending, and your line should usually break off at or near the snag, resulting in a lot less lost line.

I like to keep mine simple, so i just use trilene xl in 4lb test with no backing.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

There you go.

Ditto on the XL Trilene. It's one of my faves.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Backing the spool makes casting easier. Sooner or later, yes, you have to replace line. That is the nature of the beast.

The real problem is with casting off of a spool that is not full. When you get down to the line near the bottom of the spool, casting becomes difficult, especially so with spinning tackle.

So lets say you put the entire 100 yards of Nanofil on the spool and eventually cut on it until you reach the last 50 yards. So far so good - it is still there.

But has it taken a set, gotten funky and kinky? Will it even cast off the spool in this state? Odds are good it will be at least troublesome. So we back our spools with something else to aid casting, not just to save line. And as we know, we only use the last 1/4" or so anyway. Why not keep it fresh with new stuff?

I've seen everything from kite string to dental floss recommended as backing. In truth it doesn't really matter, except you want to avoid tape of any kind. It turns gummy and weeps adhesive, making a bloody mess of things. So electrical tape is out! Fly fishermen use Dacron... that's a safe bet.

(Back in the day the good angler bought TWO spools...one for use and one to re-load the old line onto. Spooling the old line onto the second spool - after adding the backing line - put it up front and ready for use. In theory you could do this indefinitely. This was mono, of course, so a quick trip around the lake with the line trailing behind took out the kinks and made it ready for use. )

[dick tabbert]

Chris when you get a chance to try out the Nano-Fill will you update me on what you think of it.