Rod to use Lindy Rigging with Fireline?

[drowningworm]

I like to use 8-10 lb Fireline when using a lindy. I currently use a 6'6 medium action, fast tip Gander Tournament Guide series rod. I'd like to buy a new rod. Should I go to a light or medium light action with fireline? Recommendations?

If I continue to use the medium action rod, what line should I be using...mono or fluorcarbon.

[HARPOON-OR-BUST]

I wouldn't suggest using fireline to rig, it doesn't have any stretch and there is no forgiveness there. While it would be good for sensitivity, if you make any mistakes the fish is going to feel you and spit it. Also it doesn't disappear in the water the way you would like it to. My suggestion would be to spool up with mono and then tie your leader/snell up with fluoro or mono. As far as a rod action it really depends on the rod, I have a fenwick AV that is a med light that I love for rigging but in some rods a med-light is too light. I would stay away from the light action.

[Rost]

I like a medium light spooled with mono as well. Since we can use two lines here in SD, often times we'll throw a lindy out the side while we're casting. Therefore the line is'nt being watched every second of the time. So I like a forgiving rod so the fish doesn't spit the bait so fast. It gives you a little more time to throw your jigging stick down and fumble accross the boat to reel in your fish.

[Rosalita]

90% of my fishing is for walleye, and 90% of my walleye fishing involves lindy rigging. I fish a lot of deep, canadian shield type lakes as well as the larger sandy bottomed Lake of the Woods and Upper Red types. I would definitely use your fireline. I use Spiderwire Stealth myself because it has a coating which is easier on rod guides. The same principal applies to fireline though. When you are lindy rigging in deeper waters, you want as much sensitivity as possible to feel those light bites with the tip of your index (pointer) finger as it holds your line from unspooling from your open bail. Fireline or Spiderwire will give you a lot less stretch on your hookset as well, which is more of an issue when you are lindy rigging deeper structure. Although, I use the same approaches here for shallow Spring time fishing as well. Drop that line instantly at the first bite. The type of bait and mood of the fish will determine how much line you allow the fish to take or how much time to give a walleye to take for instance a crawler before you take up the slack slowly and set the hook at the first feel of the weight of the fish. You most likely know all of this. I used to be a mono for everything type of a guy, but the best walleye fisherman I know suggested spiderwire on my lindy/spinner rods, and I have never been more thankful that I switched. I tie all of my leaders long (4 to 7 feet) with nothing but Vanish. Another benefit to this set up is that if you are ever snagged, the Vanish will give (break)and you are still left with your slip sinker (I like the lindy no-snaggs)and snap swivel. Obviously, you have the benefit of no stretch with the stealth of Vanish.

I like my lindy rods to be at least 6'6" long with a extra fast action and a medium build.

I got a little off your topic; that said, looking back on your post, you are in the correct direction.

I use 15 pound Stealth, but it does not matter too much because your main line is several feet from your bait. I use 6 pound Vanish for my leaders. I honestly catch and feel more of the bites after switching to spiderwire (in your case fireline)when lindy rigging for walleyes. Do NOT be afraid of switching; I did and will never return to mono for my main line lindy rigging rod.

Good luck this season.

[drowningworm]

Thanks for the advice. If I continue to use Fireline, should I get a new rod that is medium light instead of medium? I usually lindy rig from anywhere from 10 - 20 Ft. Since I am using a no stretch line, is it better to go with a lighter/longer rod so I don't rip a lot of lips and the fish don't feel me on the other end??.

[fiskyknut]

IMHO, I'd dump the fireline for rigging myself, especially in the depth of water you mention. If you stay with it I'd say use a longer rod with a more moderate action in M or ML, for the exact reasons you, and the other guys mention. I rig with mono on the LOTW, don't fish any deeper than the low 30's, mostly with a 7'6" ML, rated as fast action but it's a bit slower than the average fast action rods I own.

Lot's of ways and means to catch the wiley Walleyes though!

[Rosalita]

Personally, I would stay with the medium because a medium light rod will be rather bent and gushy on the tip when trolling or even drifting in deeper water with let's say a 3/8 ounce sinker or heavier. I love medium light for jigging, but I would never tie on a half ounce jig to a medium light pole. The same line of thinking applies to lindy rigging. If you only fish lighter weights in more shallow water, you can get by with only medium light. However, You said you were fishing in 20 feet at times. To keep your bait under your boat at that type of depth, you will need a heavier sinker. Here is the reason; it is beneficial to have you lindy sinker close to the boat because you will feel more bites, get less snaggs, have more control of your bait, have stronger hook ups with fish, and keep on the fish you are seeing on your graph more easier. I don't think you have to worry about ripping the lips off of a walleye, but stranger things have happened.

Just my thoughts though

[ChuckN]

I've experimented livebait rigging with mono, Power Pro and Fireline and various rods. I've used primarily medium action rods with a softer tip with the superlines.

I had a custom build rigging rod built last fall that is over 7', a little beefier rod blank with fast tip. I wanted this application because sometimes I'm rigging with over 1 oz and a soft tip just didn't cut it for me.

This rod is extreme, but so far I love it. I may combine this rod for bassin plastic worms so I put on 8lb diameter Fireline. The sensitivity is fantastic and I have no complaints. It's caught a fair amount of fish so far. I would just recommend not slamming the hookset into these fish with superlines.

But, I also have rods that are mono that I use for rigging also. There is a time and place for both set-ups in my opinion.

[Team Otter]

Chuck said it best. Superline and soft tip is tough to beat. Just make sure your snell is mono or fluorocarbon. I would stick with the medium action rod.

[Northlander]

7'6" med/light Midwest Rod with 1/8 Power Pro and a 6# XT leader for me. I love the sensitivity I get with PP and the fish dont seem to mind as long as I have a mono leader on. Back off the drag and no Basmasters hooksets. Nothing better unless your in super clear waters.

[fiskyknut]

Quote:

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Nothing better unless your in super clear waters.

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Except my setup of course!

Seriously though is the potential stretch factor of mono even an issue when it comes to sensitivity when rigging in relatively shallow water? I think not. So I'm fishing in 12 to 14 fow moving way slow, running 8 pound mono on the reel with a 3/16 ounce walking sinker, a 5 foot snell with a bead, single hook and a leech or minnow for bait. Who can tell me just how much stretch is put on this mainline and how much loss of sensitivity could there possibly be? My opinion is that the weight/rig/bait is stretching the mono absolutly zero inches with no loss what-so-ever in sensitivity.

Now if we were talking running a Reef runner deep diver back 200 foot with mono you will get some stretch in there most likely!

My favorite spinner fishing rod for the LOTW shallows is a 7'mlf baitcasting rod. With this setup I'll run weight up to a 3/4 or even an ounce sometimes, and a blade with hook/hooks and bait appropriate for the day. I doubt this streches my mono much if any either, and whether I run a braid or mono on this rod I can still feel everything going on with the rig and bottom no problem.

Don't get me wrong I use both Power pro and Fireline for various applications and like 'em both, but the stretch/sensitivity factor of mono vs braids in shallow water applications is just maybe a bit blown out of proportion at times.

Chuck said it best....."A time and a place for both setups".

I think tomorrow I'm gonna have to scale my uncles old milking parlor with a 30 foot chunk of 6 and 8 pound mono and that 3/16oz weight connected, and the bead/hook/leech rig, and take some 'scientific' stretch readings!

All imho of course.

Fisky

[Northlander]

Its not about stretch its about the sensitivity Fisky. No mono will give you the feel a superline does in any depths.

In shallow waters you can get away with mono and I often do so. Once I started to use the PP for my main line I felt SO much more I couldnt believe it. Less snags and I can tel a pick up from a weed on my weight. To each his own I guess.

The stretch of mono is nice at times but I would rather have a limper tip and less drag and more feel of the bottom.

[fiskyknut]

Yepper and I did word it stretch/sensitivity in one line, and brought up sensitivity in another, guess I'll agree to respectfully disagree BIG Steve.

Could also maybe come down to ones wrist and fingers education, ability, and sensitivity too eh!

Heard the bite out your way has'nt been too hot yet. Da Woods has been good, why don't you wander over I could set you up in a shorebound sleeper probono ya know.

Regards my friend.....Norm, aka, fiskyknut

[croixeyes]

This thread seems to have taken a turn in another direction.I use pp and the rod ive used for the past five years or so is a 7.6 med light xtra fast action.Shallow or deep is a slip sinker issue,from a split shot to a two ounce egg.The rod tip loading up on the heavier weight is no problem,helps alot when moving a little faster or in big waves and deep water.Still leaving alot of flexability in the rod.2 cents

[drowningworm]

Thanks croixeyes for getting us back on track. I didn't mean this forum to be a debate between mono and superlines. I like to use fireline. I just wanted assistance on picking the best rod for using that type of line. I think I'm going to go with a 7' Medium/Medium Light rod with a Fast tip.

[fiskyknut]

If I continue to use the medium action rod, what line should I be using...mono or fluorcarbon.

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Sorry but you did kinda inquire in your first post and a number of folks gave you their opinion is all. I did mention my opinion on what I'd use rod wise with braids in my first reply to you drowning worm.

Give me some time and I'll get my posts/opinions removed if you'd like so you 2 guys don't feel it's going off track and in some other direction.

Again I'm very sorry for any inconvienience I caused you.

Peace and out.....fiskyknut

[Northlander]

Fisky e-mail me a good time to be there and we can hook up for a couple days. I havent done open water up there except for the gap area.

[SledNeck]

Ive been using 20 lb fireline on my walleye rods since 1998. NEVER ever had a problem catching walleyes compared to the people fishing mono right next to me. I use lindy rigs for walleyes 100% of the time (with no snagg sinkers) Better hook sets...hundreds of dollars worth of tackle saved. I have not broken off a line since last july. My leader is trilene mono 17 lb test. My rod is a gander guide series 6'6" medium. Ive fished fireline so long that I can no longer use mono again cause it disgusts me and I see no advantage what so ever.