Favorite Ice Fishing Line

[Lake Trout]

Of all the choices: Cajun Ice Line, Fireline Micro Ice, Power Pro Ice Line, Stren Ice Line, Trilene Cold Weather, Trilene Micro Ice, Berkely Vanish, which do you prefer? I am leaning towards the Fireline Micro, but would like a review on it first. I have used straight flourocarbon the past few years successfully.

[CCAdams]

I think alot of it depends on what kind of fish you fish for. For instant, I don't think you would need the tough, expensive power pro, if you just fishing for bluegill.

[federline]

Hi Lake Trout,

If you are in sub-freezing temps, the fireline ice can be a pain, it ices up (good pun on the name, I thought) - but it doesn't have much spool memory at all, a big plus in cold weather - it is a tradeoff. If you are inside with heat the Fireline Ice is great for bigger gamefish. The sensitivity is way high compared to mono, and you can fit more heavier weight line on a small spool than other lines.

For pannies in every condition, I like Trilene cold weather 4lb, it's been good to me, is easy to work with and is durable. The biggest mistake I ever made in line was to try out 2lb trilene, what a pain in the butt to tie with my big hands!

I've never bought Stren or PowerPro - I stick with the Berkely brands - Fireline, Trilene. I've been thinking of trading the Trilene cold weather line for Vanish flouro this year, just because I want super-light jigs to drop faster without having to add weight to the presentation.

[IcemanMN]

I use P-Line Flourcarbon 4lb and 6lb on my perch sweetheart and my deadstick rod.

This year I'm trying 2lb Fireline Crystal on my panfish rods. I have a feeling I'm going to hate how thin this stuff is to tie on lures with.

[icehousebob]

I'm pretty much a Berkley man myself. I like the blue Cold Weather line but not their Micro Ice. I use 4 lb. on Sunny rods and 6 lb. on Crappie and Perch rods. I have 4lb. Fireline on jigging Perch rods for inside the house and I just picked up some 8lb. Fireline Crystal for a couple of Walleye rods. Should be interesting to try it. I know it catches fishermen, now let's see whether it catches fish.

[Mr. Pike1]

I use 3lb P-Line and Berkley micro ice on my pannie and walleye rigs. I use the 4lb fireline ice for jigging spoons for eyes and pike

[Blainebob]

I use the 4 lb micro line-havent had a problem yet,but stay away from the polar ice line,lotss of twisting!

[hanson]

After years of fishing Fireline through the ice, YUCK! Never again. If I need to use a superline for deeper water jigging, I'll go with PowerPro. The rest of my ice fishing is now down with P-Line Floroice on the advise of many folks here.

Fireline doesn't hold bobber stop knots very well, it ices up, gets stiff if you aren't in a heated shack, and is more visible to picky panfish.

P-Line gives you many, many advantages and is incredibly strong for its actual rated test.

[hip_hop_fisherman]

Hanson, I see your post regarding fireline. I was thinking of trying the new fireline "crystal?" I believe it was called. Have you (or anyone else) tried the new stuff yet? Is it worth a shot? Or is it the same old fireline with a new name?

[ice bandit]

i use the fireline ice and power pro ice i prefer the power pro ice a little more than the the fireline and i picked mine up at walmart at the end of last season for 2.50 a spool the power pro seems to be much more limp and retain less memory

[matthothand]

I prefer the P-kine flouro for most applications. Pretty much same as what's been said...3lb for panfish and 4 lb for jigging and deadsticking eyes.

[Crazy4 Ice]

My absolute forvorite set up is a Power Pro knock off I picked up at Joe's. I love that you can go small diameter and have such strenth and no memory. I can't say I like to lose a fish if I'm fishing crappies and happen to run across something bigger. I use a Thorn Bro Sweetheart so if something larger comes along you still have the backbone to bring it up the hole. I also like to tie on a Vanish flouro leader incase the water is clear or the fish are picky. Just my 2 cents...

[Corey Bechtold]

My vote is for Berkley Micro Ice! I love the 3lb for Panfish and have even landed large Bass and Pike. Last year I had a 40+" Pike that I had up to the hole at least 3 times along with a ton of weeds it was wrapped in. I had the head out of the hole but couldn't get my fingers in the gill plate and wasn't able to pull it out of the hole. My 4 year old was going nuts when he saw that big fish! Hard to believe how well the 3lb Micro Ice did.

As for Fireline Crystal I am anxious to try it this season. I have some 2lb for Panfish and 6lb to try for Eyes, Bass and Pike.

I'll post some results of the Fireline Crystal in the Crappies-Sunfish forum this winter under the "What's working now Ice" thread.

Good luck,

Corey Bechtold

[gvg_uwec]

I have used berkley micro ice in the past and have had good luck with it. I gave the cajun ice a try last year and have been quite satisfied with it also. I have it on my rod that is set up for deadsticking and using ice busters. I still have the berkley on my panny rod because gander was out of the cajun in a 3 lb but i see no reason to change it over yet either. I bought 2 guide series rods for eyes this year and put 6lb vanish on them both and am anxious to see how they perform. I bought some fireline crystal for tipup leader material and it seems to just be a tint that claims to be "crystal" clear in the water but is still fireline(what the gander guy said). I am sure that it will be much more abrasion resistant than the mono that I had been previously using for leaders on tipups. It seems that I have a little bit of everything set up for this year. I think that next year I should be an expert on what to use and what not to use