Line Question

[rushing]

I was wondering what everyone uses for line and what poundage. I fish with 20lb Trilene Big Game. I have been thinking of trying fireline or spiderwire type line.

Thanks
Rob

[EBass]

For channels I'd say that's good enough. For flatheads I'd go with heavier line and heavy action rod.

I like Power Pro or P-line.

My .02
EBass

[Fisher Dave]

rushing ...

20 lb Big Game is some very tough/abraision resistant line that is a very good all purpose line. It is capable of landing any fish in our waters backed with a decent rod and good drag. I have straitened split rings on 10" Suicks with that line.

If your chasing channels that line is overkill in my book unless your fishing alot of debris. For flatheads its fine as long as you have some line capacity, and no snags around. You would probably be happier if you changed over to super lines regardless. You can have 50 lb line with the same diameter as you are running now with some of the super braids. For channels I like the 14 lb Fire Line. I have been very happy with fireline due to the no-stretch for picking up the lightest bites, and the small diameter lets me use less weight to hold down in the same amount of current. It works very well for getting out of snags.

The only downfall of superlines is they tend to *eat* rod eyes in time. I picked up a rod at Wal-Mart of all places made by Berkley for channel cat fishing. I believe they call it a TGS. It has titanium lined guides so they dont wear out... The rods cost about $50 but is much better than beating up my St. Croix's.

[korn_fish]

I fish in the heavy snags so I use 30# super braids on my channel set up and 50-80# braided on my Flathead set ups.

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[rushing]

Thanks for the info Guys! I'm heading to Cabelas this weekend and will probably pick up some new line. I was planning on building me a nice catfish rod this last winter but I got side tracked. I had bought a Cabelas King Kat pro spinning combo and I think its great but the reel is kinda crappy.

This winter I plan to buy a nice catfish blank and build me super rod with all the "Bell and Whistles".

How hard is tying knots with the fire lines and the super braid type lines?

What kind and size of hooks do you use? I have been using 4/0 but I think I should move up a size or two.

Sorry for all the silly questions but I'm a trout flyfisherman so I'm used to #18 size hooks and 1.5lb line. LOL

Here is my OLD Flyfishing page if anyone is interested.

http://www.hickorytech.net/~amythiem/index.html

Thanks
Rob

[korn_fish]

I use the palomar knot with the braids, and also use a bead inbetween the knot and my weight.

Hook size depends on the size of the bait. 2/0 when I use cut bait, 5/0 kahle style for 6" chubs and up to 12/0 for when I use those pound and up suckers.

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[Dennis Steele]

I am a braid guy and use 20lb or larger for channels.For flatheads I use a minimum of 50lb.I have beeen tryiong Spiderline Stealth this year and so far am very happy with it.Power Pro is also an excellent choice.The braids hold up well in your plain old wood and river rock but if your fishing area with very sharp river rock like granite rip rap an abrasion resistant mono like Berkley Iron Silk would be best.I didn't care for the Iron Silk at first because I couldn't get my cinch knots to hold.I have been tying the Iron Silk with a palomar along with the braids and its the easiest knot I have found to tie and it holds very well.
I use a hook as large as I need to keep the the point exposed and the gap open in the bait I am using.For cut bait I typically tie up a 6/0 circle for a nice hunk of cut bait.If I use crawlers I downsize to a 4/0 or even a little smaller.Flatheads get a big 7/0 kahle and a tasty bullhead,bullhead chub or lively sucker.

[Ozzy169]

I personally use mono, Berkley big cat or Berkley big game Solar. I've had the braided line hum in the water ??? does it make a difference , who knows? There is also a point where you need the line to break if you get caught in a snag. I use 40# on my gear (abu 6500)(11 ft cat maxx). Hooks are all circle (Gamakatsu) from 2/0 to 8/0 and for sinkers 2 oz. - 6 oz. with my favorite being a 3 oz. No-Roll. Swivels are 2/0 - 4/0 and all tied together with the "fisherman's knot"

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Puff-Puff-Pass

[rushing]

Thanks for all the info guys!

Rob

[Aquaman01]

I'm no seasoned cat-guy, but I'll chime in anyway.
I like Power-Pro for almost all applications, and my River Rod-n-Reel has Power Pro 12/50 on it. Very happy with the strength and manageability. I'm early into messing with baitcasters, so I get plenty of backlashes, and they are easier to pull out with the P.P. than mono.

For knots, I use a uni-knot where I used to use a clinch, and I still use it for snelling, but with at least 12 wraps on the shank, and a double-pass, like when ya tie a crawler harness. The superlines are slick, so they don't grab themselves like a mono or flouro does. A knot has to be mechanically sound, not friction reliant.

Good luck! I'm gonna chase a kitty or two Sunday with the kids. Great thing about cut bait is that yer pretty sure that what you've got is what you're after! My rod can just sit & wait while I tend to the kid's crawlers bringing in the smallies, carp, suckers, etc, etc, etc.

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Aquaman
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Peace and Fishes

[Boar]

I myself like powerpro for its wide variety in test and diameter equivelency, I like the 50lb test in the 10lb diameter, although I just spooled 20lb test in the 6lb diameter for Selkirk next weekend. Powerpro has biggest selection I've ever come across up to 100lb test down to 10lb test in 2lb diameter. Slippery stuff though, use their recommended knots, like the uni-knot throught the eye twice, a simple fishermans knot will have the tendency to pull free on big fish. I do also like strens heavy cover in the 17lb test also for channels. later, boar

[Canuck]

I will include my 2 cents, I use nothing but 25lb Big Game High vis line. I really like it for the abrassion around the rocks below the locks at Lockport. Our average channel is in the neighbourhood of 20 lbs and I find it does NOT stress the fish out too much and with the high vis line it is great with a couple of lines out the back of the boat to keep track when one hooks up.

[Walleye_GFA]

I use 25 pound Big Game, its cheap and it works...

Wally

[simplefish]

I have just started catin' but I have found that lately I have an opinion on just about everything. For the smaller channels I like a good abrasion reistant mono like iron silk, XT, or big game. For something a little more "substantial" I like Power Pro or P-Line. Both work great. A Bit more expensive but worth it. Fireline and Spider line work well also. I like stink bait for channels, Can't go wrong with Junnies Wicked sticky. Bigger cats are live bait territory. Big suckers, shiners, bullheads, and, where legal, sunfish are good baits. I have also heard they like bullfrogs but have never tried it. Hope this helps.

[korn_fish]

SIMPLE - I have never tried bullfrogs but channels and eyes eat up the leopard frogs.

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