Best line for ultra lite trout?

[atvaholic]

I know there will be a few opinions on this but what line do you guys use for ultralite gear? I usually use Trilene...But find I get alot of the birds nest with it..I see there is new stuff out fireline crystal, etc..what does everyone use?

[Greencoachdog]

4-6 lb. Berkley Vanish!!!

[Leecher]

Trilene XL hands down

[Greencoachdog]

Trilene XL hands down

 

 

I'm sorry Jacques, but something that stands for extra limp can't be good!

 

XT= Extra Tough!

 

Vanish = More Fish!!!

[Ben_Daniels]

Personally I think Vanish is crap...or I just set my drag too tight, eh GCD?

 

-Ben

Edited January 27, 2010 by Ben_Daniels

[Greencoachdog]

Personally I think Vanish is crap...or I just set my drag too tight, eh GCD?

 

-Ben

 

 

It works for me Ben! ... maybe you should use the black Dacron that they use on tip-ups eh!

[danc]

Super Silver Thread or Cabelas pro line. Either one is good for me. I'd rather use sewing thread than Trilene.

[MuskyGreenHorn]

Are you talking creek fishing?

 

I am a big fan of seagar flourocarbon. Almost invisible and more durable. Diawa used to make a line that came in a samuri green colour. It was fantastic. Haven't seen it in years. In the spring I fish smaller creeks that are the head waters of the Ganaraska; think undercut banks, overhanging trees and log jams. I would prefer to run 4lb, but I need 6lb to deal with all of those forementioned linebreakers. The water can run gin clear and very shallow. I used 6lb seagar drifing small row bags and berkley power worms with a lot of success last spring. I pulled quite a few steelies out of some sight spots with it. I do find it a little more prone to twist than mono when using ultra small spinners, but a small swivel 18-20 inches up, solves that. It costs double that of good mono, but I found it lasts at least twice as long. I used the same reels on my walleye rods and the line lasted quite a while.

Edited January 27, 2010 by MuskyGreenHorn

[Leecher]

I'm sorry Jacques, but something that stands for extra limp can't be good!

XT= Extra Tough!

Vanish = More Fish!!!

 

OK Glen you got a point but for me Trilene XL hands down

[Dara]

OK Glen you got a point but for me Trilene XL hands down

 

 

yep...I was raised on it...I haven't tried many others cause there was just no need to.

[perchslayer666]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned P-Line Halo... This is truly the best floro meant to be used on the entire spool. I use it on my ultra light rig for Trout/Panfish (4 LB test) and have landed a 15 lb carp on it, and was able to horse him in. Hold knots great, has super low memory, and is truly a tough floro line. 250 yards usually runs $18-$20, but it is worth it, check it out.

[Guest ThisPlaceSucks]

i use trilene xl as well.

[douG]

You just can't beat SpectraFiber* for strength to diameter ratio. Crazy strong. 47,000 lb test, and it's only 18 mm diameter.

 

 

* A Honeywell Product.

Edited January 27, 2010 by douG

[Greencoachdog]

You just can't beat SpectraFiber* for strength to diameter ratio. Crazy strong.

 

 

* A Honeywell Product.

 

 

Now that Ol' Yeller is working for Johnson Controls, I'm banned from using any Honeywell products.

[Ben_Daniels]

It works for me Ben! ... maybe you should use the black Dacron that they use on tip-ups eh!

 

 

Yea I do like Horsing em

 

-Ben

Edited January 27, 2010 by Ben_Daniels

[Dara]

You just can't beat SpectraFiber* for strength to diameter ratio. Crazy strong. 47,000 lb test, and it's only 18 mm diameter.

 

 

* A Honeywell Product.

 

18 mm..thats 3/4 inch

 

so you use it on a 5 ton winch?

 

helluva spec

[jjcanoe]

You just can't beat SpectraFiber* for strength to diameter ratio. Crazy strong. 47,000 lb test, and it's only 18 mm diameter.

 

 

* A Honeywell Product.

 

100ft weighs 1.6 lbs! might be good for stream rehab (removing beaver dams!) LOL

 

jjcanoe

[singingdog]

I have had really good luck with the PLine Hybrid in 4lb test. Great knot strength and low memory.

[jjcanoe]

Well, back to the question.......The only problem with Flouro on a small ultra light reel ( I use a Spirex 500) is actually keeping it on the reel with the bail open.(no it's not overspooled!) It retains low or no memory which is great for casting but not for the short flips involved in small stream fishing. I tried Suffix mono this past spring with pretty good results so far. 4lb allows you to break off a snag without disturbing the pool by hauling a half a tree out to save a 5 cent hook. (although I might be careful with spinners!)

 

jjcanoe

[MuskyGreenHorn]

JJcanoe, suffix is not a bad choice. I agree with breaking off when needed. I find seagar pretty good in turns of staying on the spool. I agree many flouros are too stiff to using in small reels and when doing short casts. Seagar can be a little on teh tough side when it comes to break-offs.

[dave524]

I used to really like 2lb. Trilene XT, used it for steelhead leaders and on a Mitchell 308 for stream specs. Haven't seen it that light in years though. The stiffness didn't seem a problem in the finer sizes but I found it unmanageable on spinners in heavier sizes.

[troutboy]

I only use stren hi vis gold or high vis green 6lb on my st croix ultra lite! Just my opinion,it has great abrasion resistance, it barely streaches,and amazing sensitivity!

[Dabluz]

I tried different fluorocarbon lines and returned them for a refund. Berkley's Sensithin in 4 lb test was my favourite for brookies in the 2 to 4 lb range on ultra light gear but it no longer exists. Maybe Berkley changed it's name to "Sensation" but I haven't tried it yet so I have no opinion on that line.

 

Now, I use 2 and 3 lb test Tectan Premium.

 

I use a rather old ultra light reel....Cardinal Ultra Light Pro Max teamed up with a surprisingly low cost Daiwa Spinmatic X, SM-X 602 ULFS, 6 foot fast action rod.

 

Concerning fluorocarbon, I don't follow the hype. I do my own tests. I compare the size, the stretch, knot strength, strength, stiffness test etc etc. I ask friends to send me samples of their lines for testing.

 

Yes....Silver Thread did surprise me but I can't get it in smaller than 6 lb test. Trilene XL is great but too much stretch and the XT is way too stiff to stay on my tiny spool.

[atvaholic]

Hi - yes I forgot to mention will be creek fishing.

[Dabluz]

For creek fishing...I would go to 4 lb mono and a stiff rod. The reason for a stiff rod is the fact that the fish will hook itself and will not be able to scoot back under the roots, logs and other hiding places.

 

There are a couple of creeks near my home and nobody fishes them except those that will toss a baited hook from the side of the road. There are no trails along these creeks and it's very dense bush. The only way to fish them is to walk upstream with waders. Fishing consists of pointing the rod tip in an opening over the creek and then lowering the baited hook into the water by backreeling or opening the bail. I don't even use bait....just a weighted nymph and a tiny split shot about 3 inches above the nymph. Even though I can often straddle these small creeks, there are places where the water is waist deep. It's a real jungle and it's hard work but I can catch my limit of 20 trout in a matter of minutes all summer. The water is tea coloured and the small trout all have extremely beautiful bodies. The average size is about 7 inches but there is the occaisional 12 to 14 incher and quite a few 10 inchers. I sometimes go up to 6 lb test depending on where I am fishing. I'm even thinking of just using a good stiff branch about 7 feet long and just unrolling the line that's wrapped around the end of the branch or maybe installing an old fly reel on a rather stiff bamboo pole. Nobody fishes in these creeks in my area....too much trouble. I only do it when I want a quick meal. Every creek in my region is crammed full of trout and there are rarely another species of fish except maybe a few places where there are creek chubs and even then, I haven't come across any creeks with chub.