To braid or not to braid? Mono or fluorocarbon? To many options. I can’t switch lines for different depths and different fish at those depths. I refuse to use a slide rule to figure out ice line.
Please just tell me what is best for crappies. And what works best for walleyes. Then I can buy two line types and work from there.
Thanks guys!
P-Line! Or any other flouro coated mono. Mono absorbes water and freezes-full flouro sheds water but coils too much, not very limp. P is the best of both.
GOOD LUCK
Killswith – welcome aboard.
Great question, I would like clarification also.
I’d like to see them all in a side by side comparison
So I use braided line for everything. I have never had a problem feeling the lightest bites. It has the strength to handle walleye and northern. I replace my line every other year this helps prevent coiling, also the line I use is coated to prevent freezing. Towards the end of the 2nd season you can tell the coating must be wearing away because the line starts to freeze a little. Suffix ice braid, Spectra power pro, and fireside micro ice are all good choices. I have had good results with all of them anywhere from 2-10lb test.
X2 on p-line
Late season for tullies braid is the best-warm weather so no freeze up, great hook sets in deep water. Most of the season I go w/o a shack and even the coated stuff freezes-also until tullie time I fish in 20′ or less (often less than 10)
P line, great stuff
X2 on p-line
x3 on all my reels but one
Inside a house for panfish. I run Suffix ice braid and then a fluoro leader. gives the lure a different action and helps detect the lightest of bites. Sucks outside when it’s cold for freeze up issues.
I use Gamma ESP Ice a lot, only thing I don’t like is that they don’t make a 3lb test – the 4lb works for #10 and #12 jigs but it’s just a bit too thick IMO and the 2lb test is very fine, strong but like fishing with human hair it’s so thin.
http://gammafishing.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=74_64
Tried the Sufix Ice Magic in 3lb and was really pleased with it, right mix of size and performance for me and will be using it again this year. Did not care for the Cortland Ice Line, too much stretch for me. I don’t like using braids so I avoid them, have not used P-line enough to say either way but lots of guys like it.
Hope this helps, good luck.
I used to use P-Line it works quite good.
Then I received some Lindy Ice line as a promotion. The stuff is incredibly strong, but also super limp in the coldest temps. I think the thing I like the most is there is almost no memory. It comes off the reel like silk.
Lindy ice Line is the only thing I buy now.
As for braided line and ice fishing… been there done that. There are about 30 walleye over 25″ that thank me for trying braided line one winter.
IMO, ice rods are two short to absorb the slack that a large walleye can put in your line on the way to the hole. That’s why mono is so much better for ice fishing, it stretches! Stretch is a good thing if you fish big fish through the ice.
When you say p line are you talking about Floroice,Floroclear or CX Preamium?
Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t Lindy discontinue their ice line?
Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t Lindy discontinue their ice line?
Maybe they did? I’ll have to check. I bought 10 spools online last fall. I love their ice line, I’ll have to see if I can buy some more online before it’s gone.
Just when you find a product that you love they quit making it 
Great info guys. The more I can gather on here saves me time of aimlessly walking around at Cabelas, Gander, etc!!When I wander I spend too much!
I’m a big fan of suffix flourocarbon ice line. It can be a little slinky at first but after a good fish or two to stretch it out it becomes very manageable. crystal clear and it has some give, but not as much as the mono. Ice braid belongs inside a heated shelter or outside on a nice sunny day IMO.
P-Line! Or any other flouro coated mono. Mono absorbes water and freezes-full flouro sheds water but coils too much, not very limp. P is the best of both.
GOOD LUCK
Excellent advise in my opinion.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
