Fireline for trout

Someone recently mentioned using fireline,spin-casting for trout.I’d like to hear more about this,since it seems I lose half the fish I initially hook,mostly due to poor hook-sets.It sounds like it’s worth a try.How about some feed-back?Thanks,Mike

Troutman,

Great question! I too have wondered this, but a couple things have kept me from trying it! Fishing in gin clear waters for spooky trout with black or dark line????????? Accidently overcasting, getting hung in a tree. Would that make it hard to dislodge my gear? Casting? How well would this stuff cast lighter gear or cast from a smaller out-fit? Lastly, sometimes I think having a bit of stretch in my line, will benefit my hook-set over no stretch. Trout, as you know, have delicate mouths. ALso, would they be more tempted release, having no give, feeling that “brick wall” so to speak? For example, many times a trout will follow, flashing at my presentation several times during the retrieve, hitting it. IF there is no stretch and the line is highly visible, will this effect repeat “attacks”? Very rarely will a trout hit more than once, after feeling your hooks!!!

However, I can be made a believer. So like you, I want someone who spends a lot of time trout fishing with fireline/braided line to step forward and try to sell me on it!???

Jim W

I’ve tried both Fireline and Power Pro for trout fishing when using minnow baits and didn’t care for it. It just didn’t have the right feel. I used Fireline fishing John Egger’s spinners (at his recommendation) for trout a couple weeks ago and will definitely use it again with spinners.

I find it a must when using the thin superbraids to use a rod with a soft tip. Another observersation is I can free a snagged lure easier with mono than with a superbraid.

troutman, I use fireline all the time for trout. I used to use mono but I like the no stretch that fireline provides. Another benefit I’ve found that if you do snag in one of those dang overhanging branches it amazing how many times you can pull your lure free while mono would break.

Most of the time I’m fishing crankbaits and sometimes spinners for trout. I don’t think visibility of the line is such a concern with lures of this type. ( I’m assuming that no one would use over 6# fireline for trout) However a slower approach with plastics or jigs could be affected by the lines dark color. I haven’t fished jigs enough with either line to reach a conclusion.

Jury is still out for me guys! Any other case testimonies for fireline! I guess I just might have to try it out for myself eh?

Thanks for the info uffda and birdman!!!

Jim W

Troutman,

I experimented with the black 6lb fireline on my trout fishing poles about 3 years. When fishing rivers it really did not seem to be a turn-off to the trout because of the lower visibility. But in the streams where the water runs clearer there was a huge difference in the number of fish that would bite. The other thing to remember is like Jim W stated “trout have delicate mouths”. While using the fireline with spinners and jigs on the rivers I would occasionally rip the hooks right out of there mouths because of the no-stretch factor of fireline. Even setting the drag really loose didn’t help all that much because if the drag stuck for even a moment that lure would rip right out of the fishs mouth. Shortly after that I went back to fishing with 4lb to 6lb mono. I like the stretch that mono affers especially when fishing for trout.

Hey JIm

I use 4-1 fireline in the high vis. When I first tried it I thought it might reduce the number of bites because of the high vis factor. I was wrong! The line is so thin it dose not seem to make a difference to the fish. I have caught fish up to 21″ on this line. I fish alot of spinners and realy light jigs.man can you cast a 1/32 oz jig on that stuff. Many times trout hit the jig like they would a nimph(hard to detect bite) but with the fire line I can usually feel it or see what bites I can not feel. I believe it has improved my bite to land ratio by atleast 20%.

Hope this dose not make for a hung jury.

If you fish jigs give the 4-1 fireline hi vis a try. I don’t think you will be dissapointed. What would it hurt?

That is another good point there Predator 2. You can really cast a super small jig a mile with fireline. When I did go from fishing a river to a stream I often added a mono leader of around 2ft with 4lb to 6lb test. I would tie this directly to the fireline without a swivel. This way I could still get the same casting distance with the fireline and I would still have a little more confidence in the fact that the trout probably would not be able to see my line above the jigs or spinner. To me, this was just a little confidence booster for me when I was fishing with the fireline.

Jim L

Thanks to all for your replies.You’re responses have posed another question I have.Spinners…they’re always my last resort.Not because they don’t work for me,they do but,it’s the line twist thing.Snap swivels don’t seem to help much and it seems after one outing using spinners,changing line is a must.So,am I just being a cheapskate?Do I just accept line twist as a fact of life and carry an extra spool with me or,does someone have a solution?Also,does Jim Eggers sell his spinners?If so,how do I contact him?Thanks again for all your help.Mike

What type of spinners are you using? I’ve used 4/1 Fireline with a variety of Panther Martin spinners and have never had a problem with line twist.

TROUTMAN,

Since switching to Fireline we have reduced our trout loss, on hook up from about 30 percent, down to about 10.

I have found that in most cases when a trout strikes he is usualy comming from behind, so line visibility is of little concern when using spinners. Casting accuracy, getting down to the fish and a solid hook set has been the key for me.

Also I should add that I only lost 1 spinner all last year.

When I was first intoduced to trout fishing,many years ago now,the stream I was fishing then,had some real hogs in it and I was warned not to fish it with 4# test because,if I got into one of these pigs,they would procede to trash me and my equipment…I did…and they did.So,I’m somewhat hesitant to go to 4#,at least fishing waters with big fish potential.However,I’m pretty inexperienced with fireline and maybe their 4-1# is up to the task.I use Panther Martin spinners when I use them.Correct me if I’m wrong but,it seems to me that spinners and line twist go hand in hand.Is there something about fireline that prevents that or does it just deal with it better than mono?How about those spinners of yours John?Any for sale?Thanks again,Mike

I’m sure the Fireline still gets twisted, but unlike mono, it’s not affected nearly as much. That is it doesn’t bunch up and twist as a result. As far as strength, I’ve landed some awfully large fish, including a 40+ in sturgeon on the 4lb Fireline. The one thing I don’t like about Fireline is that since it is such a small diameter line, when it does get a bird nest in it, it’s nearly impossible to get out. Better off cutting the line and starting over.

troutman, I use 6 pound smoke fireline. I used to use 4 pound but when I tried to fish jigs it was very hard to see your line. I have not had any problems with the six pound casting rapalas or spinners. I usually use bigger baits and spinners though.

You guys are getting real close to convincing me!! Great info!!! Time to hit the stream!!!

Jim W

TROUTMAN (I like that handle!)

The 4/10 fireline stands for 4lb. diameter with a 10lb test.

when tied to a spinner with a palomar knot, it will stop a charging 23″ Brown dead in the water. If your arm and the rest of your gear will take it.

I don’t want to trash a PM, I have seen too many trout caught on them, but by it’s very nature a fixed blade spinner such as these are line twisting machines. As this spinner is retrieved too much pressure is put on the support bead that the blade rests against, also the blade itself exerts a lot of friction on the shaft, causing the whole spinner to twist. The friction is evident in the fact that the hole in these blades can ware to many times its’ original size in a single outing.

I have found that blade and clevis style spinners don’t twist line as bad.

Braided lines still twist but it’s like the difference between twisting a kite string and a piece of wire. When a wire is twisted the twist will run the whole of the length of the wire, so unless it is held tight the wire will start to wrap around itself. There is more give in a piece of string, so it takes longer for the twisting to take its toll.

My Super Bow spinners are for sale, I sell them in packages of three, they will be posted in the EFN store comming soon, in the mean time you can order them directly from me at [email protected].

Thanks for your inquiry

JOHN

OK,I’m sold.I will be spooling up with fireline tomorrow.So far I’ve heard both hi-vis and smoke recommended.Anyone else care to weigh in on that subject?Thanks for all the feedback you guys.It’s all been very helpful.Mike