Fishing Line

[Guest]

Hey guys I was fishing today for perch today and I have been using Berkley micro Ice 1-pound test is that to lite. Ive heaard that liter is better which i can belive but if your loosing good fish is it worth it? Any info-recomendations would be great.

Thanks,
Dan

[Deitz Dittrich]

If your breaking them off, either lighten the drag or go with a heavier pound test.. if you are worried about a fish seeing the line try a florcabon line.. I am using p-line floroice this year in 2 lb and have been VERY pleased!

[hawgTime]

1lb. is too lite for me. I like 3lb.

hawgTime

[Steve Foss]

You rarely need to go to 1-lb line, if ever. Consider that 2-lb test DOUBLES your line strength. For pannies (perch, gills, crappies) I always keep 4-lb line on the reel and splice on a 4-lb fluorocarbon leader. There are times with very light lures that 4-lb fluorocarbon is too stiff (it's a good bit stiffer than Trilene XL, for example), and then I'll clip off the fluoro and go with straight XL 4 lb. If that's still too heavy, I'll go to 2-lb XL. I have a spare spool with 2-lb, but usually don't need to take it out.

Anything under 2-lb, and my wife's sewing thread tests heavier than that!

If 2-lb line is too heavy, then those fish aren't going to be caught by this catfish, and it's time to fish walleyes, pike or lakers.

Or sit by the fire and drink beer.

[This message has been edited by stfcatfish (edited 01-28-2003).]

[Pig_sticka]

i use 6# and 8# berkly ice line, and i do great fishing. i personally think line is way overrated. if ya dont believe me look in my fishin bucket
and the main thing is i haven't broke my line once this year. i still got as many jigs in my box as when i started, except for a few my friends jacked cuz i was catching fish on em

[Scott Steil]

1lb is to light. Think of the pull on your line as you set the hook on a 3/4 lb gill. I would look into 2 lb Vanish or 3 lb P-Line.

[bigeyes]

yup too lite, even 2lb. is worthless for me, It seems like 2lb snaps when the wind blows a little. I think 4 works well.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I always use 4# test ice line or 4# test Trilene XL on my crappie rigs.
Works great for crappies and I have caught pike up to 12 pounds on my crappie rigs if the drag is set right!
Cliff

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Cliff's Guide Service
CliffsGuideService-LakeVermilion.com
Lake Vermilion
Phone: (218) 753-2005

[Guest]

I use 4 pound test line when fishing perch. Typically there are walleyes in the area as well so I want a little stronger line. Most active perch that swim by hit the bait aggressively and I haven't found too much difference between 2 and 4 pound when fishing aggressive perch. Sometimes those perch are in a negative phase and 2 pound test might be needed.

Good Fishin, Matt.

[Fisher Dave]

I generally use 4 lb XL. I do have one reel spooled with 3 lb and havent had any better results. I shy away from florocarbin(sp?) because I have had alot of problems due to the stiffness of the line. With the stiff line the ultra-light bait presentations dont seem nearly as natural either ... It's just my perspective, everyone has their own.

I used to use 2 lb XL and had slightly better results than 4 lb, but the only downfall is fishing with this stuff at night .. very hard to see to retie, and always seems to get tangled in something. It is neccessary to respool often with the 2lb or it gets frail, the 4lb will often last the entire winter as long as your not hooking into anything too huge on a regular basis.

[Norco]

4 lb FireLine the stuff is works great. Easy to feel perch bites and tough enough to handle pickeral and jack bites

[vern]

I normally use Berkely 2lb XL for panfish, but another option is Fireline. I use the 1/4 a lot on my panfish rigs. That's 4lb test with 1lb diameter. Same with my walleye set-ups. I have a couple spooled with either 6/2 or 10/4. I haven't noticed fish shying away from it, but I normally fish at night for crappies & walleyes. With bluegills in shallow clear water I stick with 2lb mono or flourocarbon. I have caught plenty of metro trout sight-fishing in shallow, clear water and Fireline wasn't a problem. They didn't seem to shy away. Great sensitivity & it gives you the line strength you need when an unexpected big fish grabs your jig. I normally fish in a house, so I'm not sure how workable it is out in the open on the ice. Vern

[roadkingclasic56]

The 1lb. line works good with a spring bobber if you are going to fish sunfish through the ice. I have used it to catch sunfish and had crappies come in and take the presentation when they wouldn't take anything else. It will allow you to see bites in certain conditions that you would not otherwise be able to detect. You do have to lighten up on the drag some and be patient.

[eyesandgills]

Caught a 5 lb pike on URL while fishing crappies with 4 lb test. Didn't seem like the crappies minded either. For gills, I've added some 2lb otter line if I've had some around. Otherwise, 4 lb seems to be my choice.

[Northlander]

I never go lighter then 3# line. Clear XL. for panfish. 6# or 8# for eyes etc. Fireline w/ mono shocker leader on it fo jigging in deep water.

[Cyberfish]

The best way to pick line size is by jig weight. If your jig hangs down in the water and pulls the line straight, then you are ready to fish. if it is kinked, or coiled, then you either need new line, a heavier jig, or lighter line. I prefer 3 pound micro ice for panfish jigs.

[rockhardinmn]

seems to be i may be the odd ball out here ,, if i can find it i like to use the old 3lb diam. fenwick iron thread ,, to the point if any one knows where they still have a few spools for sale i will come and get it .. even the 2lb diam spiderwire worked great for me not the fusion or super mono stuff ,, trouble finding that now too . so i have been useing 1 lb fire line of late and it seems to do the jod well,, as for out side fishing the old irn thred or spiderwire worked real well .

[deadeye]

I have been very happy with my 3# micro-ice. I have heard that the p-line in 3# is also good. I wouldn't go under 3# because if you set the hook into a nice crappie or gill anything smaller will probably give way. Also, if you are having trouble with light biting fish try some flourocarbon as a leader. You really can't see that stuff even in clear water. ><> good luck
deadeye

[Guest]

I like stren magnathin 6 # or berkley ultra thin.I used regular 4 pound before and had major line twist and had the bigger fish break it off! I like 4# for crappie and 6# for bass and steelhead.

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Just say yes to icefishing!

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

Berkley
Sounds like your in the sit and rip hot spot. My suggestion is small diam. micro/ice fire line. What a fantastic product, the inventors of that fire line should be put in some kind of hall of fame.
As for the mono, some times you need it for those shy biters. If your going to stay with it check your equipment. try backreeling, no better place to practice then on panfish.
C&R---->')))))><