Ice Fishing Line…?

For a Mono-type line, I have been using the P-Line Floroclear/FloroIce(same thing) for about 5 years now. Great stuff! They make it in 3# & 5# which covers me for the winter, panfish & walleye. Every year I try the latest and greatest line on 1 rig, but I haven’t found one yet that makes me want to switch.
I buy the 330 yd filler spools for $10 and fill 3 reels, instead of the 100yd “ice” spools for $5 for 1 reel. I used to use 2# and 4# for panfish, and 4# and 6# for walleyes, but Pat at Thorne Bros turned me on to the 3# and 5# setups and that has worked great!

Ingy

I used fireline crystal with swivel and fluorocarbon leader in the past. This year I’m trying one reel with 100% fluorocarbon four lb and another with 3lb nanofil. I’m interested to see how the nanofil works cause it seems like it will be perfect for ice fishing and the diameter is way less than any other line I’ve seen. I’m sure soon I’ll know how it handles icing and line twist. I’m using the fluoro just for my dead stick. I’m interested to see if my bite count goes up.

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Hey Bret,

What didn’t you like about it??

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I don’t think P Line is near as limber as Trilene XL. I don’t even like the Trilene ice for this reason. I love the action I get out of Gill Pills and Diamond jigs with the cheap 2-4lb Trilene mono.

I believe the line coil/memory, and line twist problems people have with mono is because they do not read the directions on how to spool there spinning reel.
Line twist is also caused by not having the patience to bring in big fish on light line. If you are reeling while the drag is slipping you will build up line twist in a hurry.
I also purchase Trilene in spools of at least 300yds and I’m not bashful about changing out my line half way through the season or earlier depending on how much action I’m getting.

As far as stretch and fishing deep water, with the correct set up, hook sets should not be an issue. Matter in fact there are times when using smaller hooks that a little stretch is an advantage. This is especially true when taking suspended paper mouths.

I’m not knockin’ anyone who likes there P Line. Heck, I still fish with Blue Fleck
It just is not the line for me. That is why I like the fact that there are so many choices on the market today. With trial and error everyone should be able to find a fishing line they prefer

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There’s some nuggets of sound advice in here from my experience, and changing your line often is one of them. I hear people bash brand x, y, or z, often after they’ve had it on the reel a season or two. Fresh line simply has less memory issues, twists less, and knots better with all else being equal.

That said, I’m a P-line guy myself, floroclear coated. Been using the 5# for years on most of my eye-rods, 3# for everything panfish, with the exception of 4# or 5# for perch because of what else they tend to swim with! Tried the vanish years ago, and the more recent stuff is much better. Original vanish IMO was brittle and had severe memory issues.

Curious Cal to see how the 100% floro experience with Pline treats you. Should be more abrasion resistant, clearer, and as long as it isn’t brittle or kink-easily I think that might be the way to go!

Joel

I have been using suffix invisiline ice and Seaguar abraizx ice. Just for the long haul test, I have had abraizx ice 4# on one reel for three seasons and not one break off, no line twist issues, and strong knots. Suffix got used first time this year. The issue with abraizx is cost. I contacted Seaguar seeing if it was same as standard abraizx and they told me no. They said it was 100% floro, but the ice had a coating so that it would not absorb water, and freeze in colder temps.. Should I take their word for it. Or is there a 100% floro in bigger spools, that will hold up and not break the bank? Not trying to hijack the post, I figured it kind of fit in with it.

i used berkley trilene fluorocarbon ice in 4lbs and 6lbs this last year and i must say im going to try something else next year. Both weights of line would twist like you couldnt believe (yes i know spinning reels are known for that) but this was horrible. Also the 4lbs that i would use for smaller spoons and jigs i had poor knot strength. I would try different kinds of knots to test and most times one good pull would break the knot. I wasnt pleased to say the least

-b-

Wow revived old thread.

If the ice line and the regular line are supposed to be the same, then why are the exact same 3# (pline for example) lines come in different diameter?

Same line, different diameter, right.

Steveinsene wrote:

You guys that like the Berkley vanish really need to fork out a little more money and buy the Berkley 100 percent flourocarbon…Way way way better stuff, just more expensive. My problem with the vanish was in the 10-14 lb stuff for open water bass rods knot strenght is horrible, whatever knot I used or how much you lubricate your knot. They were supposed to have fixed this in the newer vanish but it does not seem so.

X2. Tried 6 lb. and knot strength is terrible.

Bringing back an old post. Anyone want to chime in with newer findings in their preferred ice line? P-Line, Vanish, Trilene……?

What makes an ice line?

1#
1.5 #

Etc.,..

I guess it doesn’t have to be an ice line. I have been using P-line and Berkly Vanish Flourocarbon with good results. I use 2-3 lb for panfish and 4-5 lb for eyes.

I have been running the P-Line 100 Floro for a couple of years. 2lb for panfish rods and 4 pound for my walleye rods.

I mainly fish Mille Lacs in deep water, and the past few years that line has been great! No memory, seems not to freeze up so bad at least for me; and I hole hope all day on the flats out there.

I have also heard the same thing. I had a couple of spools of the P-Line Ice line to try and they told me to put it back, save a few bucks and by the big spool of P-line Floro. They said it was the same thing. I did the math in my head and for as many rods as I have spooled with it, it was cheaper just to buy a big spool.

I won’t go to any other line plain and simple. P-Line is where its at!

For you guys running P-Line floroClear… are you running only the floro or are you primarily using it as a leader and using mono backing?

Say Chris, what knot you use for the flouro?

Love my flouro for ice but seems every 3-4 knots snap when tightened up and tested. Improved cinch, plenty lubed and pulled SLOWLY is what I use.

I use straight floro. If I am fishing where I might feel I will get line twist, I will use the smallest VMC barrel swivel I can find.

As far as knots…. To be honest, I have been using an improved clinch knot as well for pretty much everything. Obviously lots of spit, but I have yet to have a knot fail.
I am not one that will use to many different knots. It’s a personal preference maybe, but I use it for almost everything.

I guess for me, its a fast knot, its always worked and hardly ever fails. I have tried other knots, but the improved clinch is my go to with both floro and mono in the summer and winter. One thing I might do different is I start to pull the knot slow and then give it 2 quick tugs (boy that sounds messed up).

timschmitz wrote:

What is the difference between an ice line and regular fishing line?

“ice line” comes on a smaller spool and it’s blue.

And twice as expensive!

Example: Sufix 832 6-lb “ice braid” versus their 6-lb standard braid, my go-to walleye ice fishing line. Identical as far as I can tell, apart from color and price.

timschmitz wrote:

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<hr>I just spoke to a P line rep in California and he assured me that Floroclear and Floroice lines are the same thing.

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If they are basically the same thing – just packaged differently… makes me wonder if there is a price difference. And if so, the logic behind that decision.

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</font><font class=”post”>That’s pretty simple… Fishermen are suckers tell most fishermen they need product XY or Z for their specific application and they’ll buy it </font>

That’s ICE fishermen are suckers.

tomhopkins wrote:

I used fireline crystal with swivel and fluorocarbon leader in the past. This year I’m trying one reel with 100% fluorocarbon four lb and another with 3lb nanofil. I’m interested to see how the nanofil works cause it seems like it will be perfect for ice fishing and the diameter is way less than any other line I’ve seen. I’m sure soon I’ll know how it handles icing and line twist. I’m using the fluoro just for my dead stick. I’m interested to see if my bite count goes up.

I used 6 lb nanofil last season and was very impressed with the performance. Thin as thread, yet very strong, no memory or stretch. Never tried p-line, but may try for comparison.

This is what I use. No stretch or memory. I’ve been using it 3 years on my rods and will change it out this year now. I’ve never had an issue. Fishing 2 feet down to 80 feet. Awesome line. Shawn

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Just purchased pline floroclear from Dicks. Can’t keep it from springing off the spool no matter what I try. Is there a trick to transferring it to my reel to keep it from shooting off the spool?

skfishing16 wrote:

Is there a trick to transferring it to my reel to keep it from shooting off the spool?

This works well if you’re in a hurry.

Otherwise just wait a week and it will be fine. Most people with issues just load a spool and expect to fish the same day.

Tried the warm water trick. Seemed to work well at first. Been out a few times and starting to spring off the spool when my tip up goes off. Guess I’ll stick with the nanofil.

Be very careful with the nanofil if fishing outside below freezing, it will ice up, fray, and snap very easily.

Hi-Vis Mono this year with a Pline Floru for a leader. I haven’t noticed much difference between braid in mono for ice fishing.

skfishing16 wrote:

Just purchased pline floroclear from Dicks. Can’t keep it from springing off the spool no matter what I try. Is there a trick to transferring it to my reel to keep it from shooting off the spool?

That’s one of the thing I noticed about between Floroice and Floroclear. The Floroice was less springy.

3lb trilene micro ice on multiple rods. has worked good for me for everything from gills to eater eyes. I use 6lb for bigger eyes and trout. both in clear steel color, lil easier to see than clear but haven’t noticed the fish caring. Trilene xl in clear has always been good to me as well. Use 4lb on my tip downs and 8lb as a tip up leader.

Dusty Gesinger wrote:

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Used it many times in harsh conditions and had no issues with freezing. Have had the line fray occasionally near the knot after much use. Just need to re-tie. Love the fact the nanofil does not spring off the reel.

Suffix 2 and 3lb. for panfish 6lb for walleye.I have never had an issue with it.I have used it summer and winter for years.No complaints.

I spool sensation as shown in that video probably a dozen times a year at least in 6-8#, last time it was at night, in a parking lot ready to fish. Everytime I believe has been opposite of what guy shows, sticker down. Think of mono as a rubberband, the tighter it goes on reel the more it will want to jump off. You barely want any tension on the line when it feeds into reel, think how much tension that slender spoon is gonna have when you reel up empty, that much tension.

Never needed any warm water yet. Better let that spool dry out for a few days if anyone goes that route before bringing on ice.