Line Preferences on Mille Lacs

Hi,

I fish long snells with plain hooks, or spinners on Mille Lacs a lot out on the flats. I use Trilene 6lb XL green. I find that I need to use 3/4 of an ounce to and ounce of weight above my swivel to maintain good bottom feel. I would like to decrease this weight and increase my sensitivity.

I am considering a smaller diameter superline above the swivel. Has anyone used this for this presentation and if so what line have you used? What weight have you been able to maintain good bottom feel with using this line?

Also, I have read some posts of guys using floracarbon line for snells. I have had some good catches using my Trilene XL Green, but how many of you feel the Floracarbon is better in the clear water of Mille Lacs?

Thanks!

Scott

Weight size is going to depend on the situations. I use Spiderwire Fusion as my main line on a 7’6 St.Croix Avid ML rod. I use green Stren Magnathin for my snells. For rigging, florocarbon can sometimes be a negitive because it sinks so you need to fish your weight off the bottom higher. I sometimes think line is over-rated, after all, walleyes don’t seem to mind gillnets.

I also use 6lb XL green/clear trilene on my reel spools…….and I tie all my snells out of 6 lb. fluracarbon. I use Trilene Big Game 12lb for my crawller harnesses. The Big Game really stands up to the use!!!

I like the idea of the Fluracarbon line being invisible in the water! When you are rig fishing for walleye you need to have as lively presentation as possible…..letting your leech swim about with least amount of effert.

As far as weight…..I’m changing to the conditions all the time. Changing up when in the rock’s, sand and mud. From 1/4 oz up to 1 1/4 oz bottom bouncers (pencil style)

Scott,

I think there are a few things to consider here. Not only line type, but also rod type if you are looking at sensitivity and feel. I would first look at your rod if you are looking for sensitivity and feel and then look at your line selection.

I usually use a 1/4 to 1/2 OZ. slip weight on Mille Lacs for pulling live bait rigs, depending on wind and wave action. I do not pull spinners a lot (as of yet), so I’m not sure what to say there.

For live bait rigging, I usually use 8lb Firleine Smoke above the swivel and 4 lb (Smoke or Flame Green)for the snell. This gives me great sensitivity and feel on my 7′ ML action Fenwick HMX. I fish with a couple of buddies that I often outfish live bait rigging. Many days, the bites I get are really light and more of a increase in weight on my rod tip. I’m guessing that my buddies are also getting bit especially after they switch to my snell set up, but just are not feeling the light subtles bites and misssing fish catching opportunities. They usually fish with a cheaper rod in a medium action shorter 6’6″ length spooled with the same Firleine. I have fished with my Fenwick for the last 4 to 5 years. I truly believe the more you use the same rod and reel set up the more you will understand what each different vibration means. So find a set up you like and stick with it.

I am also searching for even greater sensitivity and looking to purchase my first St. Croix Rod this Spring. Either a Avid or Tournament Legend 7′ to 7.5′ ML Rod. I also fish with Shimano Symetre and the next style down???? reels. Along with line type, the rod and reel are just as important if not more.

This is what has worked for me and just my $.02 worth. Hope it helps.

I have been using the 2-10 Power Pro the last 2 years for my live bait rods. It does work good with the smaller diameter allowing me to use less weight to get to the bottom. I usually run 6 or 8 Trilene clear for my snells.

Dino

I use only Flourocarbon on Mille Lacs, nothing else. The water is very clear. I think it gives me a competitive advantage. I have not noticed an advantage using anything less than 8lb test.

Certain lakes any line will work, on those I rig with Power Pro, yes Power Pro. When visability is an issue like Mille Lacs, I don’t use anything but Flourocarbon-Clear.

All of these are great suggestions and I will throw my two-sense worth in here.
Line is important when the bite is off. Like Derek eluded to with the gillnet analogy, when their biting nothing bothers them. But like Lip Ripper said, sometimes you will barely feel anything with the best of equipment. This is when I believe your snell line and the amount of weight you use is important.
I like to use Florocarbon for my snells and 6lb green Trilene on the rod.
Weight is dictated by speed.
Bob and I have perfected this for the way we fish together. In fact we were just talking about this on saturday while fishing.
Like Dino talked about 2-10 power pro is a great line as well as fireline but with no stretch, a novice with the drag set to tight, may pay for it by losing that fish of a life time to a busted leader.
If your going to go with braids or super lines I suggest you practice and learn to back reel.
IMHO The rod is the most important thing for rigging on Mille Lacs. Sensitivity and weight of the rod make a world of difference.

80lb powerpro!! OH this isn’t the musky forum. oh well i have been trying the 10/2 powerpro for both bobbering and lindy rigging. over all i am happy with it. you have to really tighten down on your bobber stops, lessen the power of your hook sets. it works well for trolling crank’s and rapala’s also. when it comes to mono i use stren florescent blue. i think that the terminal tackel is more important that line color in most cases, i.e sinker weights, swivels, hook color/size. when i use powerpro for bobber fishing i tie the jig/hook directly to the powerpro, no mono leader. i catch as many fish as everybody else in the boat.

For rigging I use 8# Berkley Sensation Lo Vis Green for my main line, and 6# Trilene XL Lo Vis Green for my snells. When I’m rigging, I usually use a 3/8oz. bullet weight, but do go up to a 1/2 oz.. If you need any more than that, unless you are using large minnows, you are moving toooo fast, SLOW DOWN!

My spinners I tie up with 12# Berkley XT. I experimented with florocarbon, but didn’t see where it made much difference for me.

I like to use power pro with a mono leader when rigging out on the flats.I also use heavier weight like 3/4 & 1 ounce for a couple of reasons.1-I like to keep my bait close to the boat and if I mark fish on the locator I want to know my bait is close to the fish.2-More important I want to know that I am not dragging bottom on the mud.My reason for this is if you drop a camera down on a mud flat you will find that they are covered in silt 3-4 inches deep and the camera will disapear into a cloud of silt.IMO this is why the long snell seems to be more effective.If you have a short leader and dragging bottom your bait is probably in a cloud of silt.For rigging I think the rod is more important than the line for detecting light bites.As with the gill nets when you are bobber fishing that 1/2 anchor rope doesnt seem to bother them much.