Ice Line vs. Regular Line

[OnAFly]

All these posts about ice lines has me thinking. Is there really a difference between ice line and regular line?

I've been trying to find Gamma Ice line for a month now. Nobody has it. I'm wondering if there is going to be any noticeable difference between regular Gamma and Gamma Ice.

I've always used "ice" lines. Anyone know anything on this/have any experience with this?

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I think most are different lines. They are made to be less stiff and brittle in the cold also I know Gamma's ice lines are thinner diameter than the same pound open water line.

[magic_minnow]

I'm guessing if you're a hardcore company sponsored ice fisherman you'd probably want all the edge you can get and use the Gamme ICE, but i've had to go with good old red box Trilene Smooth cast 3lb test the night right before a big ice trip up north and have been fine. Sure there are added benefits to an ICE LINE (trilene ice is good) but to the casual fisherman IMO you'll be fine with good ol trilene. I will warn against the cheapo brands like shakespere though.

[gopher_nation]

i've been told in a store that trilene ice line is just basic trilene xl.

[RebelSS]

About 3 years back, I put good 'ol Stren on half my reels, and Trilene Ice and Stren ice on the other half. (I put new on every season, though) I fish waldos, northern, and perch. I haven't noticed a difference yet....

[gopher_nation]

Ice line is just a sales pitch.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Not by all companies...

[magic_minnow]

Its all about "BELIEVEING" in your gear. Once you BELIEVE and TRUST yuor gear, you'll catch more fish. Believe in eagle claw and you will catch with eagle claw. Believe in the banjo minnow and you will catch fish. I happen to BELIEVE in Trilene Ice 3lb test.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I can tell you this.. After being on the gamma staff.. the 6 lb gamma ice line is different than the regular.. its got a different diam, different stiffness. I was told it has a coating on it to repel water so its not as stiff when its really cold?.. thats what I was told.. but if you look at them, they have different diam for sure.

[gopher_nation]

why wouldn't you use ice line during the spring/summer/fall then.

[Deitz Dittrich]

its thicker. Because of the coating used.. which in the summer is not as nessisary.

[CJH]

I am assuming the summer stuff has to be stronger, since it take more abuse off of rocks, timber, etc...? Maybe that would explain the thicker diameter?

[Ed Carlson]

why wouldn't you use ice line during the spring/summer/fall then.

I do, in some situations. I spool up in October with Gama Polar Ice and Power Pro Ice on reels I also use on the ice.

It performs better in the periods where icing is on and off occurrence. This season was a perfect example of a great time to spool up ice lines on late season jigging and cranking rods.

I am confidant Gama Polar Ice Line is far superior to a standard use mono line in cold weather, it clearly outperforms all comers in my book.

[shizzy]

here is how I see it.

I'm respooling for spring or summer and buying line anyways. its not going to cost me any extra for either type of line. Might as well use it.

[Deitz Dittrich]

sad thing for me.. I fish enough that I respool most of my rods mid summer and again mid winter.. it doesnt take much. I usually leave 1/2 backing on and just fill the rest of the way.

[caseymcq]

sad thing for me.. I fish enough that I respool most of my rods mid summer and again mid winter..

I had to chuckle a little bit when I read this.. it is sad that you fish that much

I know what you meant but at first glance...

[Deitz Dittrich]

ok casey "Sad" may have not been the best choice word. But I work enough events to know that many people leave the same line on their reel all year round and change once a year.. if that..

i have a couple rods I change 3 times a summer, and still feel it may not be enough..

[caseymcq]

Like I said, I knew what you meant. It just looked kind of funny.

I change mine as needed too. If it is getting too much of a memory or too kinked for whatever reason I respool.

[fisherdog19]

Definately a difference, been using Gamma open and hard water fro a few years now; the ice line has a much thinner diameter than the open water version and is more supple. I use the 8lb ice during open water in lieu of the 6 lb open water line; the 8 lb ice is a little thinner and handles a bit better.

[jigginjim]

I use ice lines for ice fishing and your normal summer lines on summer rods. I use fireline as my main line but I also use leader line on rods used during the day. At night I have found no difference in catch rate.

[fiskyknut]

I have tried alot of 'ice' lines and have'nt really found one that seems to work any better than good old Trilene XL.

I'll maybe have to give this Gamma stuff a chance this year??

fiskyknut

[JIvers]

I use 2 lb. Trilene Ice line for panfishing in the winter--like others have said, I need to re-spool my ice reels every winter anyway, so why not use ice-specific line? Plus, I don't use 2 lb. test for anything in the summer months.

On my heavier ice gear, i.e. the stuff I use for walleye, sauger, and wiper (we have the white bass x striped bass hybrid in Iowa), I use 4 lb. and 6 lb. test. On some of my reels I use in the summer, I leave the regular 4 lb. or 6 lb. Trilene XL on for the winter. I have a couple of heavier reels I only use for icefishing, plus I may need to re-spool some of my 4 or 6 lb. test, so on those I use Trilene ice line.

I've been told that ice line is limper, with less memory, but that difference only matters in very cold air temps. My own experience supports this--in a heated shack, or outside when it is thirty degrees out, I have found no difference between 4 or 6 lb. regular Trilene XL, and Trilene ice line.

However, if I am fishing outdoors when it is zero or ten below out, the regular Trilene XL definitely has more memory issues than the Trilene ice line.

[slab master]

I agree with Deitz the gamma is really good line. it's just my opinion but unless your fishing out in the open and the extremes your probably not going to notice any differance between ice line or regular line

[me_fathead]

I've never been a fan of any ice line (although I've never tried Gamma). I've found that I can't even use Trilene XL without hating myself. I use strictly XT in 4 & 6# summer and winter for panfish and walleyes. I've never had any issues with it. I have had major issues with XL and other soft lines. They tangle constantly, catch on everything and have the stretch of a rubber band. Bleah.

Like someone posted earlier, it's about believing in your rig. Try out a few things and see which ones get your blood pressure up the most frequently.

[TylerS]

All this talk about Gamma...anyone use P-Line? I put that stuff on my panfish rods last year and was thoroughly impressed. Nice and limp, low memory, spools off smooth as silk.

Also use PowerPro on my walleye rod. Something like 6 lb test, I think. Nice, round line, also spools off nicely.