Quote:
Originally Posted by Winch101
Waxy make a suggestion for 8lb. test for jiggin walleyes
and I will try it .. Every time I go to No-sale sprts . I cant talk to anyone who has personal experience with line ...
For Jiggin and Lindy riggin I like a soft stretchy line ...
I will tell you why . almost no memory but after a day of the above presentation pretty twisty ...Let 40 ft or so out behind the boat at full speed
and out comes all the twisty got that from the Lindner brothers 30 yrs ago .....I like a little stretch when fishin big fish deep
cushions a bit ... I always ask my partners what they are using , how
long its been on the reel ... I fish with a guywho works at a tackle store and
and gets the latest and greatest , so I get to see it in action ...
All I am saying is best bang for your buck is still the tried and true ..
A reel full of line in the sun is still only good for one season maybe .....
I opened a pack of vanish 8lb. and broke a piece off , thats not good
XL you still have trouble breaking it off when snagged ( 8 lb. )
I caught my Catfish specialist ( 5) over 20 lbs out of the Red River
Man ..biggest over 35 with 6 ft rod and 8 lb. test XL
Check with big Bad John on here about the fightability there ...
But again tell me what I am missing and I will try it ...
I have fished with a few Berkley Factory guys and gotten the skinny on line ,
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I'm far from a pro, and I've never fished with any factory reps, but here's my $0.02...
I'm a HUGE fan of Fireline. I use it all the time, for just about everything -
Strength - Fireline (or a similar braid like Power Pro, which I don't like as much, too hard on guides and reels) gives unmatched strength and durability. For a comaprison, when dealing with mono, anytime I want to cut it after tying, I just use my teeth, easy as can be, up to 20lb test or more. Just try doing that with Fireline, it's impossible, you need special scissors to cut the stuff. I can't see it being any different for fish teeth.
Same thing goes for trying to break knots or the line, in my experience, you have cut bad snags with Fireline, where as, 95% of time, you can break off a mono snag.
Sensitivity - The other huge advantage to Fireline is it's unmatched sensitivity. I generally jig with the 6/2 or 8/3 Fireline in either crystal or green. In real clear water or finnicky bites, I'll use a 4-6ft 100% fluorocarbon leader to help reduce line visibility. The feel you get from fireline can't be matched by any mono, it's like you can "read" the bottom and differentiating bites is far easier when jigging or lindying.
Visibility - I love the green Fireline for visibility when jigging or lindy rigging. It's so much easier to see those slight twitches or slack in the line, or see the line paying out faster/slower than boat speed, etc...
Diameter - the smaller diameter of the fireline helps with sensitivity, but really makes a difference in getting bouncers and cranks down to deeper depths with less line out, and using less weight - both very good things. It's also an advantage with jigs - lighter jigs can be used and produce that slow drop that seems to be the key to triggering fish when fishing vertical.
Stretch - To each his own, there's no right answer, but I love the low stretch. I like to feel that direct connection, I can't stand a limp noodle rod, and limp noodle line is just as bad. There is a learning curve though, you have to change the way you fish - no more made for TV "Bob Izumi hooksets" - you'll lose far more fish than you'll hook that way. A firm, single motion, sweeping application of pressure is all you need. You don't have to overcome the line stretch to set the hook, just tighten it.
Memory - essential zero. Fireline continues to amaze me at how little memory it has and how little it twists. Don't overfill the spool and you're good to go. The same trick works to get any twist out though.
Mono still has it's place, but I've converted a few "mono" friends of mine that fish the SWT to Fireline in the last couple years, and they haven't looked back.
As for mono, I use the Sensation. To my mind, it's better all around than the XL, but it also has a higher price tag. It's up to the individual if they think it's worth it. I'd only suggest spooling up one XL and one Sensation and try them back to back, I did, and I now use the Sensation. Pretty small $$$ difference in the big picture of fishing.
I use either the XT or 100% Fuoro for spinner rigs and lindy snells. The VAST majority of the time when I get a break off or snag, the spinner/snell will break off and I'll reel in the weight - it's tied on with Fireline.
Fireline 8-3
Sensation 8
Like I said, I'm no expert, just my personal observations...
Waxy