LINE WARS

Comment

Comment by Leo Nguyen on June 6, 2016 at 5:39pm

Allen, funny how you mention about braid freezing to itself. In salt water, such as the Salton Sea, with high salinity condition, if the line is not rinsed off after a few hours with fresh water, the salt content will cause the braid to stick to itself. So extreme cold and high salt content cause binding issue. Minus go to the braid.

Comment by dick tabbert on June 6, 2016 at 5:36pm

I have a big spool of Garcia #10 line in the barn probably 35 years old. The stuff is tuff as nails. Use to use it back when I bass fished alot a big bulk spool. It gets warm in the barn but it's always dark. Haven't messed with it for awhile guess I need to check it out.

Comment by Allen Morgan on June 6, 2016 at 5:34pm

In my research into fishing for Steelhead here in MI, I've read numerous times that people always say, "Use hi-vis mono!".  Apparently, it's so you can:

1)  Not have your braid freeze to itself on the spool in between casts in sub-freezing conditions (common up here in the Great White Frozen North).

2)  So other anglers can see your line, and where your Steelhead is going, so they can clear their lines out of the way.

I have yet to get some of this line, as I need to either purchase a second spool for the reel on my Steelhead rod, or, purchase another reel.  I would prefer to keep the 20 lbs test braid that I currently have on it, for use in above-freezing conditions.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 6, 2016 at 5:33pm

PS for fly tippet I have 4 and 6 lb mono, and 4 lb fluoro

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 6, 2016 at 5:29pm

I do like the Mr. Crappie Hi-Viz yellow, to which I add a leader section.
Typically, for the Bass-Bluegill Lap, I'm using 6 lb/4lb leader.
I use a 7-8' limber panfish rod, so I have a lot of leeway.

Comment by Allen Morgan on June 6, 2016 at 5:27pm

I've got braid on all my reels, except my fly rods.  Mainly because I needed the extra casting distance, and extra line capacity in case I hooked into something "big" back in Oklahoma.  I always used either mono or fluoro for leaders with the braid.  Lbs test of the leader material depended on rod used, the targetted species, and what I ended up actually catching.  Usually end up using 4 lbs test mono for gills.  If LMBs start taking my baits/lures, I switch up to 8 lbs test.  I also have some 12 lbs test, but I usually only used that when I tied an Albright knot to connect braid direct to leader.  12 lbs test is Fluoro, not mono.  I got it for the clarity of the line, as I used it primarily fishing for LMBs in one clear lake in OK.  If I was after catfish, 20 lbs test mono was the default, and would upgrade to 40 lbs test if needed.

I also use these same lines for tippet material when fly fishing.  4 lbs test for the bulk of my sunfish flies.  8 lbs test for bigger poppers, and 12 lbs test for the biggest ones (keeps them flying straight during the cast).  I bought some 2 lbs test ice fishing mono this past winter, and have used it as tippet material for my really SMALL flies, like size 20 and smaller.  Have yet to actually string up the ice fishing rod I bought.

My main panfish rod is a 7' light action spinning rig.  Shimano Syncopate 2500 reel, with a little 8 lbs test mono backing, then 10 lbs test PowerPro braid.  While I love using this combo, the braid does not like the wind.  Just last week I ended up cutting off about 30' of line when I got a snarl that I couldn't pick out.  I haven't decided if I want to replace that braid with 20 lbs test PowerPro or not.

I've heard that PowerPro has reformulated their line.  The "new" blend is crap.  At least, according to a friend of mine back in OK.  All my poles are strung up with the old blend, and it's all held up pretty well, with the exception of the 10 lbs test.

I have one UL rig, and it's spooled with either 8 or 6 lbs test Nanofil (can't remember which).  I like using it.  I get much better casting range versus mono.  However, I have broken off twice.  Both times were due to getting a snarl in the line that was big enough to block an eye on the rod, and the force of casting a heavier spinner with a sudden stop popped the line.

Comment by Leo Nguyen on June 6, 2016 at 5:03pm

Jim, you are correct. The bait stealers are not fearful of lines, but are extremely weary of the things that are out of the ordinary. A colored line slapping on the water, creating wakes, will spook them because it's not normal. We searched the streams around here for brown trout as well, and even when the flies are slowly drifting downstream to entice them, the chance of getting a hookset in the first 5 minutes was like pulling teeth.

Comment by jim cosgrove on June 6, 2016 at 4:57pm

leo my waters are also heavily fished and we have an abundance of predators that get the fish..ask any stream trout fisherman if line spooks fish.the little bait stealers are not scared of anything but bigger fish are very wary .they get big by not making fatal mistakes,like tony said in another discussion,a 1lb bluegill will never be a 2lb bluegill if he gets caught

Comment by carl hendrix on June 6, 2016 at 4:54pm

FOR ME;; 8 POUND TEST; IS ALL I USE; EITHER FOR A SPINNING ROD; OR AS A TIPPET;; AND; VERY MUCH LIKE JIM COSGORVE;; GIVE ME A FLY ROD ANY DAY !    JIM;; TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT NANO LINE BUDDY ;; I JUST MIGHT HAVE TO TRY IT !

Comment by Leo Nguyen on June 6, 2016 at 4:50pm

Stren is great with its formulation for low test pounds. Same goes for Berkley and Maxima. High test pound monos hold up well. Still testing out the Mr. Crappie line. Not sure how the 4lbs hold up after 3 years, since the day of manufacturing. I have weights ready for both 4lbs and 6lbs to test before fall and winter season. Still have the spool of line that was used back last year hauling in the multiple 6lbs+ fishes. Will be using that to test as well.

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