What ta heck is a good 4# test ice fishing line?

[Tinkhamtown]

What to heck am I doing? Tried changing line on several of my ice fishing spinning reels as it had been a couple years and we were going to the Brainerd ice fish contest. I have had good success catching fish with 4# fluorocarbon line but didn’t like how it wanted to come off the reel and also how it tended to put knots in the hook sinker area of the line.

I wanted to use 4# fluorocarbon leaders but get a more manageable line less memory and stiffness for the reel. I went to GM looked unknowingly at a wall of fishing line and like the sheep I am noticed that 4# P-Line was all gone and several of the 6# p-line had been sold also. Thinking my fellow anglers knew what they were doing I followed along and bought 6# P-Line for the reels and 4# fluorocarbon for leaders.

The results are the 6# P-line is ever worse than what I had, the minute I open the bail the line wants to start coming off in bunches making very nice bird nest material.

QUESTION: What is a good easy use ice fish line to put on the reels? I am still going to use 4# fluorocarbon leaders. Thanks

Tink

Middle son Mark caught a .51 Rock Bass and the 150th prize was a .64 fish. As always close but no cigar. And I had been telling everyone I was going to be driving my new truck home.

[boatfixer]

Not sure what fish you are targeting, but I use 2# P line Floroice for panfish and so far have had no problems. I still have 4# Berkley XL for my walleye rods, no leaders in either case.

[waterbound]

I switched one of my reels over to the Fireline Ice and it's worked pretty good so far. I don't remember what pound it is, but I want to say 6 or 8. It doesn't volunteer and it's pretty manageable. It does get beads of ice on it if you're fishing outside for a while but it isn't anywhere near as bad as regular PowerPro or some other braids are. I spooled a different reel up with 10 pound Berkley Vanish and it's worked out the few times I've used it. I did notice that without a swivel it gets all twisted up. I would recommend the FireLine it seems like a pretty good line although with some of the smaller jigs it shows some memory.

[jwmiller33]

i use 4# mono for all my ice rods, and 4# is sufficient for both panfish and eyes. with ice fishing line/reels, its almost impossible to avoid having memory.

[HNTNBUX]

I have had the same problem if I try to put to much line on the spool.

I use 2# micro ice and change every spring and fall. It is usually twisted by then on my panfish rods. My other rods vary from 4-6# micro ice again depending on application.

[walleye-]

tri xl has always worked great for me in the winter and I like to load the spool up.

[Maverick]

Trilene XL winter, spring, summer and fall. In most circumstances it holds up well for two seasons, but after that it gets a little week.

[Meat-Run]

I use 4# Gama and love it personally I think its almost as strong as berkleys 6# or stronger. During open water I use 4# most of the time for jig fishing on leech because the water is clear and your fishing high pressured fish.

mr

[castmaster]

I've been happy with the Fireline Crystal Ice so far after putting it on 2 reels because of issues with line twist and memory. It does have less memory and seems to get less twist in it as well. I got the 4#/1# dia. and would definitely buy it again. I've tried Sensation, XL, and a few others and most seem to be pretty much the same.

I also agree that the line shooting off the reel is probably due to having too much line on it. Try taking some off and see if it solves that part of the problem.

My favorite line for ice fishing is no longer made. The Trilene Tournament in photochromic gold was great, really low memory and didnt seem to twist much. Sure wish they'd make it again.

[tweedlap]

I cast my vote for xl....it is good year around.

#1 crystal is nice, too.

tweed

[BrdHunter01]

I have had the same problem if I try to put to much line on the spool.

^^^ Agree. I'm not sure only 1 line would work..... That just doesn't make sense. Everyone uses many different kinds and types of line... I would say your overloading the spool... JMO

[&JAG]

Fireline crystal is good. Berkley Vanish is good. Gamma is good. Berkley XL is good. Ya, I like those...

[wbliceman]

I like 2# vanish for my sight fishing rods and 3# anything else.. It seems to stay straighter. I had that problem then i learned that going to a lighter line might help. Just dont horse the fish i caught a 18" walleye yesterday on my frabill quick tip and it had 2# fireline crystal on it. You just have to have the drag set right.

[zamboni]

Suffix

[trapperdirk]

You have to use masking tape or mono for a backer to spool lad . If not your into a birdsnest . Also any mono you ever spool soak it in warm water to get the memory out .

TD

[two cups]

I don't know about P-line, I use it in my fish house on the rattle reels as leaders. This past friday night I broke the line two times on hook sets. Yes I do wet the knot when I pull it tight, and the knot does not break. It looks to me it breaks on the part that goes around the hook eyelet. 180 degrees from the knot. I didn't notice this problem in the summer time. By the way it was 8lb. test. Rick

[mikemac]

Winter 4# XL green walleyes and panfish

Summer 4# XL green panfish and 6# XL green walleyes

Always have had good luck but I change line at least 2 times a year. Cheap insurance.

[boatfixer]

I don't know about P-line, I use it in my fish house on the rattle reels as leaders. This past friday night I broke the line two times on hook sets. Yes I do wet the knot when I pull it tight, and the knot does not break. It looks to me it breaks on the part that goes around the hook eyelet. 180 degrees from the knot. I didn't notice this problem in the summer time. By the way it was 8lb. test. Rick

Which knot are you using? I tie a Palomar and have had no issues.