Fishing Line recommendations?

[Kylersk]

I picked up a Tica SS500 reel the other day and had them put on 4# and 6# line. After reading matt's post about fishing rods, I think I should have a spool of 2# instead? I thought I read somewhere that 2# is hard to work with (stretches, coils up, ect), is this true?

I plan on using this setup for crappies.

[jiggin pig]

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=268036&page=17&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

check this out it should answer any questions.

[Matt Johnson]

I fish mostly with 2 pound test for crappies in the winter, but everyone has a personal preferrence. I've used both 3 and 4 pound test for crappies in the past and still caught fish, I've just put in the time using 2 pound test and I've grown accustom to using it. 2 pound test is more limp than heavier pound test lines, and it also allows me to control smaller presentations easier. You can handle big fish on 2 pound test line, the biggest largemouth I've ever caught in my life came through an ice hole on 2 pound test and a size 10 jig.

As far as handling, yep, 2 pound test might be a little harder to tie knots with and might be a little less user friendly. The stetch factor doesn't play a huge role in my opinion, mostly due to the fact that you are not hooking cinder blocks A well tied/positioned knot and a small/steady hook-set (not a quick 2 foot jerk/snap) is all you'll need to keep the line from breaking.

Another thing that might cause broken lines is when the angler allows the fish to run with the bait too long. What happens is that the fish gets a chance to get the jig more towards its throat and the line's pressure point is on the roof of the fish's mouth and not on the knot. Even though crappies don't have gigantic teeth, they still have enough rigidness on their upper lip to break even 4 pound test line. A faster hook-set will increase your chances of applying the pressure to knot, being that the knot will be exposed and out of the fish's mouth, and this leaves only the hook in the mouth of the fish and not the whole jig.

Play around with 2 pound test line on one of your rods and see what you think. Confidence is important, and once you gain that confidence in 2 pound test, you will find yourself using it more and more.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Bob Horn]

I use P-Line floroclear 2 and 4 pound. Last year I caught a 5 lb. pike on 2lb. and a 8 pound walleye on 4 lb. I was with Matt both times. I fish P-Line year around. I`ve landed 10lb. flatheads while smallie fishing in the river with 6 lb. You made a good choice on your real. You need a good drag that won`t hang up. Don`t forget to retie and a few fish.

[Deitz Dittrich]

B-horn... sounds like me.. I am a huge P-line fan.. I once caught a 34lb pike on 8 lb p-line.. I too use the Floroclear for ice fishing.. Wont use another till it treats me wrong!

[Seabass77]

I use 3 pound P-Line floroclear and I have had great luck with that for pannies. This year, all my rods will have the same except one will have two pound for finicky fish.