Braided Line for jigging

[Fish Head]

10-15 years ago I tried using fireline on some spinning rods for walleyes. I had a terrible time hooking fish so I went back to mono and haven't tried it on spinning rods since.

Reading what others have said here on FM got me to give it a try again. I just got back from the Rainy River. I put 10 # Power Pro on a St Croix rod that I usually use for vertical jigging. I put 6# Gama mono on 2 other spinning rods. Again, I couldn't hook fish worth a darn on that rod with the braided line! After 1 1/2 days of that, I said screw it and I only used the 2 rods with mono.

I can't be the only guy out there who has this problem. I don't have any problem hooking fish with mono. I don't seem to have any problem detecting bites and feeling bottom with 6 # mono and a quality rod either.

Ugghhhh.

[Kyle Sandberg]

Your probably setting the hook to hard on the fish. Being used to fishing with mono, your accustumed to stretch and to overcome that you take a "good" hookset. When you use a super line with no stretch, a more sweeping, less agressive hookset is all thats needed. If you pull to hard, you can rip the hood out of the fishes mouth. Hope it helps.

[ozzie]

The feel with fireline is instant since it has no stretch and like Kdawg said it takes a very subtle hookset. I used some fireline for ice fishing and it took awhile to get used to the hook set but after awhile it became easy.....good luck!!

[Craig Plummer]

Well stick with what works then!

[PerchJerker]

I'm right there with you Fish Head, I'm not a very big fan of jigging with superlines. I only do it when I have too ---- which isn't very often ---- it's when I need the sensitivty of the superline to stay in touch with what's going on with my jig.

[Fish Head]

I know the problem is the no strech of the braids. Too many years of fishing with mono I guess. I also think there is a little bit of a problem with the no stretch lines, the fish can feel you better and more quickly as well.

Craig said exactly what I was thinking- I'm sticking with what has always worked for me.

[Northlander]

Try a mono "Shock" leader about 6' long. It will give ya some stretch bit you will still have the added feel of the superline.

I love power pro for jigging and thats all I use for jigging 95% of the time. Relax on hook sets and give the fish just a tad more time after you feel the take. The bassmaster hook sets wil leither rip some lips or straighten some hooks. I like a quick flick of the wrist.

In rivers especially I love the extra feel I get from Power Pro. I got some Fireline Crystal and although I like the feel it seems to get wrapped over itself on the spool to much after a big fish or snag. Seems to bind up on itself. I think because its flatter than Power Pro.

Like you said though if your confident in mono and catch more fish with it stay with mono. Cheaper thats for sure.

[Tim_Anderson]

I personally love the 10/4 fireline, and have very little trouble with losing fish. Normally if I do, it's because of a short bite, or because my hooks are dull (I sharpen them just like the musky tackle, although not as religiously). Sometimes it's also because they're just very small fish.

Sometimes during the past week up here on the rainy, we have had to "feed them" a bit. I do set the hook VERY hard, and am a believer that this really helps. I also rarely go without stinger hooks.

But like someone else said, if you do well with mono, then you should use that. I had two guys in the boat this week who definitely had more confidence using mono. No reason to switch if it's working...that's why I use fireline, pretty confident with it.

[Team Otter]

I am in the same "boat" as Tim.

[snowman678]

I have to admit that I was very slow to even give the braids a chance. Now, 1 year later, I will have exactly 1 reel with mono once I re-spool my trolling rods. I'm a big fan of the fireline crystal. My only complaint with the braids is that they are tough to break on a bad snag, which is a pretty minor issue. But, as others have mentioned, whatever works & is comfortable for you to use, stick with it.

[zachp]

A 6.5 foot medium light rod helps when using superlines, there's a little more give in the rod when setting the hook and also less tension on the fish that's pulling on your jig. I'm also a big fan of the 5 to 6 foot mono leader tied with a double uni-knot

[UncleKes]

Fishhead: Northlander is right! Fireline is really excellent stuff but most people who use it to jig with that I know will take a 6 to 8 foot section of mono and tie on a shock leader to it.

I had to smile reading about your hooking success rate. I had the same problem with the new super lines when they first came out too. In my case it was Spiderwire. The super lines DO take a bit of getting used to. They need a very VERY sharp hook and you cannot wail back on the rod to make the hook set. You have to just barely (it seems) flick back on your wrist. I suspect the newer lazer honed light wire hooks and jigs are a result of the demands brought about because of the new super lines whether we are talking the super braids or the super monos.

I still am called "FISH LIPS" in certain quarters because one opener a few years back I had spooled a reel with Spiderwire. When i went to set the hook on a Northern Pike I came back with the lower jaw. God only knows what happend to the fish?? So listen carefully to what the rest of them are telling you. When they say don't set hard! I will be living that mistake down for the rest of my life I expect!

Tight Lines;

Uncle Kes

[JohnMickish]

Another thing to think about is maybe changing your rod. It's going to be more expensive than just using mono but if you really want to use the braid you can get a rod that will have the sinsitivity you need to feel whats going on and still have the right action and backbone to help prevent the hook pull outs. A small braid will allow you to use a smaller jig yet still stay in contact with the bottom and catch more fish.

May I ask what rod/action you are currently using with the braid?

[Northlander]

I like a 6'6" med/light with a fast action. I do use a couple med or med.heavy for big jigs and heavy current. I use straight power pro to my jigs almost always and dont have a hook up problem. Its all in what you have confidence in and what works best for you.

[Fish Head]

Up on the Rainy River I was using a 6'2" St Croix Avid, Medium, X-Fast with 10# Power Pro. I knew going in that the hookset would have to be lighter with the braid, so I was keeping that in mind. Possible other reasons I had more trouble hooking with fish with super braid is that they were small fish that nip on the end of the minnow.

With my other rod (that I had no problem hooking fish), I had a 6'6" Shimano Crucial, medium light, fast, with 6# Gama. I may very well have had better success if I witched the lines around on these two rods.

I hear other guys say how much better the "feel" is with the braid, I thought I should try it. I may give it another shot some day, but I have no problems catching fish with 6# mono.

By the way, we had a great time on the Rainy. The numbers weren't real high, but decent. I had 5 fish over 25" in 1 1/2 days on the river... so thats always fun!

[JohnMickish]

With an X-fast tip and braided line you would get excellent feel of what's going on, but being an X-fast action you get into the backbone of the rod reletivily sooner than on a fast rod. It is very possible that with the no stretch line and getting into the backbone of the rod there could be a hook pullout problem. I wouldn't give up on it yet, maybe change reels on the two rods.

I personally would have the braid on the the ML fast and have mono on the M X-fast.

[b1gf1sh1]

 Quote:

I know the problem is the no strech of the braids the fish can feel you better and more quickly as well.

i stopped using braid for anything but casting or trolling. but i did read somewhere what my downfall probly was. setting too soon. the feel of a fish with the bait in it's mouth with mono is different than braid. what feels like a sure take with mono is just a sniff on braid. made sense but i fished mono all these years and changeing up now seems silly to me. just wish there was a good mono that does'nt kink so bad.i think i've tried everything. any tips for me anyone?? i know the warm water trick, and that helps, but every time out gets monotonous.

[Rivernut]

I vertical jig fish exclusively w/braid. I usually put a 12-18" mono or flourocarbon leader to it. Using a small swivel if in deeper water. Works great w/ medium rod w/ a soft tip. The soft tip cuts down on ripping the jig out of the fishes mouth. I also set the drag a bit lighter w/ braid.

[tacklejunkie]

believe me, stick with mono. the only reason i use any braids is i need no stretch line fishing deep superior. had rotten luck with fireline for spinning or jigging rods.

[Turk]

 Originally Posted By: Fish Head

10-15 years ago I tried using fireline on some spinning rods for walleyes. I had a terrible time hooking fish so I went back to mono and haven't tried it on spinning rods since.

If others have mentioned this sorry, but you really need a good medium light rod with no stretch line. Turk Gierke