Braid for Bluegill?

[Damon Toney]

Any of you use braid for bluegill?

[Damon Toney]

I figured a 6 lbs mono leader would be the ticket. Thanks, guys.

What length of leader?

[Slip Sinker]

yep Steve i like the Fireline crystal and the Nanofil as well... i stole the fire line crystal braid off of one of my ice rigs and was impressed on how far it would cast extremely thin for its rating... im leaning now more toward the coated braids and Nanofil. never heard of Gliss ... im looking into it thanks

[carl hendrix]

as for myself;; I just use mono line; 8 pound test; Mr. Crappie line.  even as a tippet on my fly line. I use my fly rod; around 95 percent of the time;; using the more colorful Mr. Crappie line;; I found I can also use it as a strike indicator of sorts;  Just have to pay close  attention is all; any nudge; or twitch; indicats a fish going for the bait.  Besides;; with my old eyes; i need all the help I can get on shy bites !  with the Mr. Crappie line;; may not be as sentive ; or as strong as other line;; but;; it suits my style of fishing perfectly !

[Slip Sinker]

wouldn't it be easier to feel the bite than watch for it?

[carl hendrix]

slip stinker;; one thing I found out was;; using a braid line; for a fly rod tippet; the length I use;;   not good !  for me -- didnt cast well;;  for spinning reels; would be ok;  if thats what you liked;; but for a fly rod;;;  not for me !

[Slip Sinker]

Carl i'm surprised you still remember that... yep June 2013 bought a flyrod outfit and they fixed me up with a mono leader and tippet for $8.00... I trashed it easily within an hour’s time as beginners will do. I’ve really only used two flies on it a foam spider and a popper. With the mono leader and tippet the flies sat low or actually sank. I was catching fish right and left and finally had to replace the leader. Problem was all my rigs had braid ... so I made a new leader out of light braid and continued catching fish with a personal best B'Gill a couple days later with the braid leader. What I liked about the braid was it floated and did not drag down the popper or foam spider. The braided leader is still on and is about 6-7’ lg now. Casts fine just a little slow drop at the end … but what I really like about it is that it floats and works. Given though I don’t use the fly rod as often as you.

The hardest thing to do is change a way a fisherman fishes if he is successful or he believes he is successful… you are on to something with that fly rod that makes you a successful fisherman. It’s a method you have perfected and importantly you have fun doing it. I see this with all fisherman they develop skills ,techniques and methods that make them productive and they generally stick with it and master it. Super lines are my thing now… they work for me and everyone I have introduced them to.  It will be a tough move to make me change, but I keep my ears open to everything.  Even bait. GULP Pink waxies work for me and many times fish head to head or surpass the live bait fisherman but I have been known to beg for a live waxie or a crawler bit when it seems the fish prefer it.

There are many reasons why fisherman stick to mono and ive heard em and respect them.. all while im singing the praises of Braid and how it has change me as a fisherman… but I've never heard one fisherman say ”I want my B’Gill to fight less on the end of my line so that’s why I stick with mono”. I never intended to sell or sway anyone on braid I just state their distinct advantages... its up to the fisherman to decide. the important thing is to have fun!

ive got florescent yellow on two rigs that I can see easily

[carl hendrix]

slip stinker;; hate to say it buddy; but apparently you remember that conversation better than I do; cause I dont remember it! guess I slept several times since then ; LOL..  no;; I just gave Damon my set up; as to what I use; and the reason for it.  you also asked;; if it wouldnt be better to ( feel) the tug;; rather than watch the line.  ok;; which do yo unotice faster; IF a fish picks up your bait; and moves TOWARD you !  do you feel a tug?  I watch my line all the time; any twitch I notice; and try to get ready for what it might try to do.  slip;; yo ualso fish with spinning reels; how many baits ; or lures do you try ?  I use a fly rod; depending on my mood;; might try ; 5 to 10 or more in a day !  I have several ;; I have yet to even try !  and;; some are as light as a moskito !!  would a spinning rod and reel ;; cast one of those??  as for me using mono for a line tippet;; it HAS to do what I want it to do !!  I have tried several different types;; suffix;; cajun red; stren; berkley trilene;;  and many; many more !!   with mono line;; I can fish ; different depths;; my way ! pure and simple !  generally;; I never do a back cast to forward my line;; only roll cast !  I keep my line directly in front of me at all times;; trees directly behind me;; never a problem !   and;; with my style of roll casting;; if a tree limb; is several inches above water; and should I want to fish behind it;;  I can ! I can roll cast directly behind the limb;; shooting underneath it !!   ok; back to the mono line;; like I said; I have tried severl diffferent types of line; even braid; for a tippet;; didnt like it !!  this Mr. Crappie line; so far;; suits me perfect;; it does what I want it to.  hope this answers your questions slip stinker

[Slip Sinker]

ok;; which do yo unotice faster; IF a fish picks up your bait; and moves TOWARD you !  do you feel a tug?  I watch my line all the time; any twitch I notice; and try to get ready for what it might try to do.

 Carl...

When I’m micro lite jigging with super line I feel a constant connection with the jig at all times... in the event there is slack line I twitch the jig and usually ill tag the fish moving forward. If im using a Power Minnow fish have a tendency to swallow or hold on to the bait. with super lines the fish taking jig even moving forward you generally feel the tick.

Superline does not require the hook sets like setting the hook using monofilament with a fuller motion compensating for stretch. If I have no connection with a fish after the twitch the bait is still in the zone not 6 ft forward. Most of the time when I’m setting the hook in a fish with these tiny diameter no stretch lines you hardly notice a motion of the hook set at all. Just a twitch.

[Slip Sinker]

 I use a fly rod; depending on my mood;; might try ; 5 to 10 or more in a day !  I have several ;; I have yet to even try ! 

can i ask you something?... i know you use a fly rod as you state 99% of the time... how do you fish for the gills sitting at the bottom of a 12ft break line for example?.

the past few years Ive been on a personal drive of condensing tackle out on the boat or yak... bare minimum i take 3 rigs drop shot, jigging and slip bobber. a handful of jigs and plastic bodies and GULP Waxies. These cover all the zones from 1 to 30' how do you cover all the depths and zones blue gill can be with your flyrod? or do you just fish shallow?

[carl hendrix]

ok;; for that depth;; generally I use my quill float !  I set it; deep; if the quill - lays on its side;; I know my bait is on the bottom; so- I raise my quill up; about 6 inches ! cast again; see if it still ; lays down;; if not;; then I know for sure; Im within 6 inches of the bottom !!  thats the great thing about using a quill float;; its also a depth finder !  if a quill; lays down on its side;;  the bait is on the bottom;; raise it up; 6 inches at a time !  after that;; should a quill lay down;; SET THE HOOK !! most often;; a fish has come up from underneath; and picked up your offering; so- the bait is in its mouth;; hook him !  and;; at this time is when my rascals come in real handy !  they dont just nibble on it;; they generally hit it hard; like a runaway train !  but you know I tip them with nite crawler !  getting them in the boat can be a challange tho;; simply because of the length of my rod;; versus tippet;; quill float !;; my fly rod; is only around a 9 footer;; so;; a long handle landing net comes in handy !  and; slip stinker;; your always into sentive fishing lines ; right ?  well;; a quill float is the most sentive float I know of !  once balanced correctly;; its awsome !;; however;; using to heavy of a bait;; will cause it to sink; so;; adjusting is in order !

[carl hendrix]

and;; thats just one of my set ups; slip stinker;; but most of the time; at those depths; I try not to use a quill float;; but rather opt for; ( dead reconing;; or hopeing)  !!  add a small split  shot to my rascal;; long cast;; let it  go to the bottom;; ever so slowly;; inch it in.  there is no doubt; when I get a bite ! its hit hard !----  or ;; make a long cast;; do a count down;; then  a slow steady retieve; keeping it at a different level;; same as before;; my rascal gets pounded;; not nibbled.  but;; also thats in my water here !  some baits;; just do not work in every place or body of water.  and;; I keep at a minium;; 5 fly rods on my boat; at all times !  each one; destined with;; Allan Morgans ; Dick Tabbert;  Tooty; ot a Mark Stein !!each of those will get wet!!!       ok;; heres a small tip;; for water proofing mono line  to make it float !!  I use;; bow string wax !  wax the mono line down; before I go fishing;; the wax will repell water;; floating the line !!  will last ; around a good hour or better !!  bow string wax;; is the same wax; used with archery  can usually be found at wal mart !!  you can also use; berts bees wax;; saddle soap;; or any type of candle;; heat the wx up a bit; make it sticky;; aply quickly to the line !!  slip  stinker;; that will be a dollar for that trick;; LOL

[Slip Sinker]

last season was spent fishing in the shallow slop in less than 2-0' FOW using a float and waxie. this required pinpoint casting and targeting of weed openings and edges. I tried fixed quill floats but with any fixed float presentation there is a significant loss of pinpoint accuracy when casting. it cartwheels when casted. you could easily be off a foot or two. casting under tight overhangs is also a huge problem. Add some wind and your out of the ballpark. Most of my casts were only 16- 20 ft away and I would accurately cast to those tight openings as if I had done it with a long fixed line pole with a slip float. just by nature of the beast with fixed quill floating sensitive yes accurate no