Ultralight lines

[Craig Thoreson]

With the new rod incoming and the plans are micro crankbaits and micro spinners for the most part I need a smooth casting line for these smaller baits. Mostly 1-2" and I think the heaviest I'm looking at are right around 1/8th oz for the bigger ones. Would there be any benefit to go with the Berkley Nanofil in say 6# test as it seems to have a super small diameter. Rod is rates 2-6# and the reel is UL 4 or 6# rating. Other options would be just a 2 or 4# Flouro or Mono line also. Looking for thoughts and ideas. Wanting something that will cast well as most of my fishing is from banks in tight cover stream or coves.

[Slip Sinker]

Carl the line I used in this specific test is Suffix Elite… but it doesn’t matter what brand. Monofilament is produced from the same material and the same process generally. Its properties are the same as with all monofilaments… it stretches. Its an economical process that s been in production since 1938. People buy it because its economical …. short run off the shelf. It fishes well and people fish happily with it. They fill 5 gal buckets of fish with it.

Ive used Trilene, Stren, Suffix, Eagle Claw as well as Mr. Crappie mono filaments. Admittedly the Eagle Claw and Mr. Crappie were the most economical in Bulk spools from Walmart and I generally use them as Super Line backing.

The reason why fisherman nowadays are paying the higher dollar for the premium super lines is they want something better...ultra sensitivity, thinness, durability and strength that can only be achieved with today's Super Lines not mono. The manufacturing processes to achieve those statistics cost bigger dollars upfront. Hence the higher price tags but pays for itself in durability and longevity in the long run. Ive owned my original braid for nine years before it became too short on the spool before being replaced… that was just over a buck per season with 0 maintenance.

I own a Lew’s limited edition spinning reel came preloaded with Mr Crappie Yellow Monofilament line…. Used it for a partial season as a slip bobber rig and nothing else. Caught many panfish with it but something was noticeably defficient … it was the fight of the gill… it was noticeably lacking! In the back of my mind I blamed it on the cheap IM-7 graphite rod from Eagle Claw. How sensitive could a sub 25.00 dollar rod be … right? On the water I swapped out reels with an UL reel loaded with braid used on a short vertical jigging rod. Problem solved! Blue gill headshake and jaw crunching fight restored! The difference between fight of the B'Gill on mono and super is night and day!!

Personally I fish for trophies and numbers of species. Catch and release basically. Living for the fight. If I could maximize that fight as well as the quantities of fish as well as big fish I believe and feel first hand the right line accomplishes this … im all in!

Carl take your bulk spool of Crappie Monofilament and grab just over 12 “ of line and pull… youll be shocked. My 2” per 12” is a conservative number more like 3-4”

( ISNT THAT ABOUT ALMOST AS TALL AS YOU LITTLE BUDDY ??  LOLOLOL)

Carl just a couple inches short of 6 ft lol

[carl hendrix]

HAHAHAHAHA  SLIP STINKER;; SO;; YOUR A COUPLE OF INCHES SHY OF 6 FOOT ??  THEN; YOUR AS TALL AS I AM; OR;; AS VERTICALLY CHALLANGED AS I AM !!  LOLOLO !!    BUT STILL;; I HAVE NEVER SEEN ; OR HEARD OF A 5  FOOT STRECH OF MONO LINE;; ( WHICH ALSO MEANS;; THATS ABOUT AS LONG; AS WE ARE TALL;; ONLY LIKING A FEW INCHES;; RIGHT ???)))   MY REAL ONLY PROBLEM; WITH BRAID LINE IS;; WHEN YOU GET HUNG UP;; ;; YOU CANT; JUST BREAK THE LINE OFF;; YOU HAVE TO CUT IT !!  I TRIED THE BRAID LINE;; ONCE !!  GOT SO FRUSTRATED WITH IT;; SOON AS I GOT HOME; I TOOK IT OFF MY REEL;; NEVER TO USE IT AGAIN !!   AND;; MUCH LIKE YOU;; OVER THE YEARS;; I HAVE TRIED JUST ABOUT EVERY TYPE OF MONO LINE;; EVER MADE;; STREN; TRILENE;; YOU NAME IT !   WHEN I TRIED THE MR. CRAPPIE LINE;; IT ACTS DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER TPYES OF MONO LINE;; PLUS;; BEING ABLE TO SEE IT BETTER IN WATER; ( DANG OLD EYES AINT WHAT THEY USED TO BE );; AND;; I STILL SAY;; IT HAS VERY LOW STRETCH; IF ANY !  IT SUITS MY PURPOSES VEERY WELL;; AND FOR NOW; UNTILL I FIND SOMETHING BETTER;; ITS WHAT I WILL USE..     DENNY BRAUER;; OF BASS MASTER FAME SAID IT BEST; A FEW YEARS AGO; WHEN ASKED WHAT TYPE OF LINE HE PREFERRED;; BRAID VERSUS MONO;; HIS REPLY WAS;; THE ONE THAT CATCHES THE MOST FISH !!   BOTH MONO;; AND BRAID;; HAVE THEIR PLACES IN FISHING;; CERTAIN CRANKBAITS WORK BETTER WITH MONO LINE;; AND;; BRAID WORKS WELL WITH SPINNER BAITS;; NEVER GO FISHING;; WITH OUT BOTH OF THEM !!

[Slip Sinker]

You should of gave a shout out when you were having problems… im sure somebody on here would of walked you thru any problems you were having. its a shame you totally gave up on such a great technology for fishing.

[Craig Thoreson]

Awesome conversation guys. My old favorite setup was a 5' St Croix UL paired with a 20 series Pinnacle Alyssa and 4# Flourocarbon. My favorite was the original P-Line though after the first year it seemed to change as the newer spools never were as nice. I've bounced around various lines over the years. I did take the new setup out yesterday again and casting is a dream with the 6'9" rod I feel the Nanofil is lacking. I'm going to try some 4# Smoke Fireline as I want something thin that will cut through the water and not be as prone to breaking off when I get into the heavy stuff. If all else fails I'll go back to a Flourocarbon line if I Cna find a decent one I like.

[Craig Thoreson]

I used it years ago and I remember it was alright but got to try it what's a few bucks to test

[Slip Sinker]

... ive had great success with the braid slicing thru the weeds.

[Slip Sinker]

"The only qualms I have with 2lb diameter braid/ 6lb actual test is line visibility. I feel like Stevie Wonder trying to keep track of what the line is doing after the cast, but have gotten used to it and accept the benefit of zero hook-setting stretch on the long cast"

I hear what your texting Frank! LOL sometimes I make that long cast with the tiny stuff and never see it land!

I too have been favoring  the short rods lately… I love twitching the tiny baits… so much easier to control… and ultimately more sensitive.

[Craig Thoreson]

So I've been playing with some Nanofil and Fireline. The Nanofil casts great is smooth in the fingers though definitely suffers on the abrasion resistance. The Fireline doesn't cast as smooth though feels much stronger when pulling out of snags though the wax coating is almost tacky feeling. I have gotten a fish in the Fireline yet so need some more field testing on that end.

[jim cosgrove]

i would go with 8lb nanofil dis agree about the abrasion thing have fought some large fish in the rocks and the line was fine.braid will tear on the rocks as well.might have some burrs on your hook eyes or snap rings,the 6lb nano is still almost too smal..have used the fireline crystal for years.it does soften up with use but floats and can get caught in the wind.i do not like the nano knot,i tie a cinch knot with a couple overhand knots to lock it.stuff is slippery so check your knots for slippage.have lost fish on heavy braid with a fluro leader as the braid burned thru the fluro.lost a bass of a lifetime and was not happy as i used the recommended by several "experts" braid to fluro knot.am not gonna wreck my guides with even a tiny swivel either.

[Craig Thoreson]

I've been able to break the 6lb when locking the knot down on a couple occasions. I'd really like to try the Sufix Nano Braid it sounds like it might be the best of both worlds when it comes to nano lines.

[Mike Cooper]

I use 8# fireline in the smoke color simply because I can see it well enough to tie a knot.

4# clear mono gives me fits, and I'm afraid nanofil would, too.

[Slip Sinker]

…i'm currently fishing 8# GLISS... very new on the scene... very thin super-line feels like mono. casts a country mile and very sensitive. fishing it off one of my smallest UL rigs. im currently in the middle of a review of this product. looking very favorable.