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Member
Posts: 152
Location: Appleton WI | Which would you recommend? I know a lot of the pros say fireline but I fish the Wolf the most and snags suck in the current. A friend told me to go with 8lb green trilene xl but i want to hear what everyone has to say. Thanks. |
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Member
Posts: 42
Location: Fergus Falls, MN | Fireline. I don't use very much mono at all anymore. Slip bobber fishing is the only time, for Walleyes. Fish the same pound test you would with mono. A snag is a snag and 8 pound mono breaks just as easily as 8 pound Fireline.
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Member
Posts: 145
| Both have their applications.
I use Fireline and Stren Superbraid for trolling cranks, 3-ways, bottom bouncers, vertical jigging and more.
I still use Gold Stren when fishing wingdams and other casting applications on the rivers, because you need the line diameter for drag to help the jig get the optimum downstream drift, just like trout fishing.
Beaver |
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Member
Posts: 152
Location: Appleton WI | Thanks for the replies. My only problem with the fireline is I get it snagged and it usually ends up breaking off in my hand anyways. Yesterday I lost 7 jigs and who knows how much line. Thats why I am thinking about trying some monofilament. |
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Member
Posts: 15
Location: Clinton, Ia | Fireline and mono!
When I use fireline, I use whatever line diameter that corresponds with mono lb test. ie: 14 lb test, 6 lb diameter fireline for jigging walleyes. 30 lb test , 12 lb diameter for trolling for northerns and muskies, {this line has no stretch so don't set the hook when trolling. Just start cranking the reel. The no stretch pretty much sets the hook automaticly}. Have lost a lot of big fish by setting the hook after I felt the bite, the boat does a great job of setting the hook. Found out I was ripping the hook right out of thier mouths because of the the "no stretch". I use 6 lb test, 2 lb diameter for crappies in stained water but believe the fish can see the fireline in clear water. In this instance, I use 6 lb florocarbon line.
As far as loseing jigs and line when snagged, here is the solution! Buy or make all your jigs with light wire gold hooks. They're plenty strong enough to catch big fish, but when your snagged, you can bend the hook with little effort and get your jigs back. Straighten out the hook and you're back in business. In a weeks worth of fishing Lake of the Woods for the walleye opener each year, I probably average maybe 5 jigs lost per week.
My rule of thumb is fireline for everything. In clear water if fish are actively feeding, the smoke colored line won't bother, but if they are fairly inactive, you may want to use mono. Set the hook gently when jigging. Don't set the hook when trolling. Not setting the hook when trolling may be the hardest thing to un-program you mind from making you do!!!
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New User
Posts: 4
Location: Sherwood | Stratosboats -
I use Fireline on the Wolf partly because it helps quickly clear snags. (Main reasons are I like the sensitivity and it's thin diameter is effected by current less.) I use 6lb test (2lb diameter) in the bright green. When I snag up, I quickly try the old trick of using the rod as a bow and arrow. I "ping" the line a couple times and about 1/2 the time this frees the jig. If that doesn't work I grab the spool to stop the drag (not the line) and point the rod straight at the snag. About 1/4 of the time this either straightens the hook or lifts the debris off the bottom. I'm amazed at the size of logs I've pulled up on 6lb. test. The other 1/4 of the time the line breaks near the jig. I don't ever remember losing any significant amount of line doing this. I'm a big believer in Fireline for vertical jigging because of the feel it gives you even in pretty heavy current. Made a much better fisherman out of me when I discovered it 5-6 years ago. I'll never go back to mono. Don't know if any of this helped.
Catch a big one for me,
TMK |
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Member
Posts: 42
Location: Fergus Falls, MN | TMK describes the proper way to get out of a snag. And technically speaking, your superlines should break right at the knot because any knot in a line reduces overall line strength. Your knot SHOULD be the weakest part of your line. |
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Member
Posts: 28
| I remember reading a long time ago that mono was preferred for jigging as due to low stretch of braids, yes you feel the fish quicker, but the fish feel you quicker as well due to no stretch! I think it was Al Lindner who said this. I am a pretty die hard jig fisherman, although I am not a 5 time a week guy like some here and thus may be out of touch some, but I have always jigged with mono and trolled, etc. with braids. Only exception would be for deep, deep water jigging. Seems I am the only one thinking this so is this no longer an accurate thought? I have been tempted to go braid and then a mono leader but do not think I am missing fish and guess I just prefer mono- no burning of rod guides, easier to tie and cut, less visibility, etc. Open to having my mind changed though. |
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Member
Posts: 265
Location: Combined Locks, WI | Stratosboats,
I use Fireline or Power Pro in 14/6 pound/diameter. I very seldom break off using a superline. Mono on the otherhand I have many break offs. One thing I can tell you is make sure you are using the correct knot with a superline. The knot you should be tying is called the Palomar Knot. It is one of the strongest knots you can tie. Other knots will slip and not hold if you are using fireline or power pro. If you are able to break off using your hands you are probably just slipping the knot. The only way I can break off using a superline is by pointing the rod tip at the snag and holding the spool. Most times the hook will streighten but sometimes the line will break just above the knot. Hope this helps.
Jon Piette NPAA #294 |
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Member
Posts: 152
Location: Appleton WI | krayfish i agree with you and am going to try to use some mono this weekend. But i'll still keep my fireline on my other spools. |
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Member
Posts: 617
Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin | I'm sold on fireline. I can feel crankbaits working properly and often times tell if my harness blades are free. When jigging I will sometimes put a short mono dropper above the jig if the water is cold or the fish are biting light. Thinner diameter allows me to fish lighter jigs effectively, and I know that has made a difference at times. To me, the biggest advantage fireline provides is that I don't have to retie every 10 minutes when I'm fishing rocks covered with zebra mussels. |
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Monofilament or Fireline?