Line

Hey guys, I need to re-spool my river reels, and have a question about braid. I usually use 6 lb fireline in regular or crystal/white, and haven’t had any problems with it fraying or handling big fish, but am wondering if there is any advantage to bumping it up to 8 lb. I have however landed mid-30’s pike and large buffalo on 6 tho. Also a lot of times I’m making long, precise casts with 1/8 oz jigs and light cranks and having to break off from snags somewhat often. Would upping it to 8 be more of an advantage or disadvantage here?

Bonus question: Should I make the switch to high-viz yellow/green? See a lot of river guys use it and have never tried it. Thanks!

Personally it sounds to me like you have the 6 pound dialed right in. I’d leave your line size alone.

6# has been difficult to tie leaders to imo. 8# is easier to tie and knots up real well.

I like the lift I get with 8# in current, 6# cuts through to easy.

I have both on right now as well in Crystal. 6# don’t bother me enough to change but next go around it’ll be 8#.

I run 6 or 8# suffix 832….both can handle big fish.

I agree with Tom…sounds like you have something that works so I would stay as is.

I don’t like high vis lines at all….I run floro leaders on all my jigging rods or finesse presentations. When the fish are finicky I’ve had days where leaders way outperform high vis lines.

8# Power Pro Hi vis yellow for me. Depending on what I’m doing I’ll run a bit of Floro too. I like to line watch, hi vis is key.

10/2 powerpro. I have had no reason to change over the years and will not till I do.
I will run mono in the winter because of freezing issues but till then its 10/2 power pro. I do have a couple rods at 20 lb for deep cranking but this is just so I can get my baits back when is hit the wrong part of a wingdam.

I run 10# 832 in ghost (white). What is nice about this color is that it is easy to see but is not as visible in the water so you get the best of both worlds. I do tend to tie on 12# fluro leaders though so I could probably go to a hi vis line

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I ended up going with 8lb suffix 832 in high-viz yellow/green. I tied direct and did a little shore fishing at hidden falls. Was surprised I only caught drum as normally this time of year I’m catching pretty much everything down there. My guess is either the game fish either could see the line too well, or — more likely — that they just weren’t around. I’ve never known a p2 smallie to be very picky…

Small sample size but try tying on a 3′ leader and see what happens. Best bet is to fish head to head with another person and see who catches fish with and without leader.

Last weekend the water was pretty clear on P2 so it might have had an affect. I was trolling last weekend with 832 in white (no leader) and my buddy was using mono. Caught about the same amount of fish but his were bigger. I also caught more trash fish….he caught only walleye.

Matt, I see a beer bet in the future.. haha!

I would bet anyone a case of cold ones with their leader vs my hard line direct to the bait. Cranks or jigs on P2. Same bait, spot and boat just to keep it even.

However, there will be a catch. You also have to toss in a buck for every lost bait due to leader line or knot failure. Just to make it sting a little when were tossing at dams or wood.

My boat is ready anytime and my flavor is a 24 of highlife or a 12 of Summits. Who wants a piece of that action???

I’m available most this weekend buschman

buschman wrote:

Matt, I see a beer bet in the future.. haha!

I would bet anyone a case of cold ones with their leader vs my hard line direct to the bait. Cranks or jigs on P2. Same bait, spot and boat just to keep it even.

However, there will be a catch. You also have to toss in a buck for every lost bait due to leader line or knot failure. Just to make it sting a little when were tossing at dams or wood.

My boat is ready anytime and my flavor is a 24 of highlife or a 12 of Summits. Who wants a piece of that action???

I love it….I’ll be on P2 tomorrow afternoon and evening with plenty of clear line and a cooler of beer. White Lund with a talon so swing by if you see me. I plan on dragging jigs and trolling.

Yeah 22 sauger in 90 minutes yesterday on braid. Trolling.

I love hi vis line.

I run various colors on my jigging setups for different light conditions.

Now we got some action! I will be on lower 2 tonight and hopefully this weekend as well. Will need to be in the same boat to honor a good fair bet..

I will keep in touch with you guys.. nhamm, I just shot you a text!

We will get this done and follow up with a nice detailed report. Let the games begin!!!

Sounds like we need the P2 challenge…..who catches more fish on which line, maybe biggest fish (multi-species), who can load the boat trailer in 1 try at the HF launch in fast current, who can yell at the kayakers taking up all the launches, etc.

@Fishblood&rivermud you must be getting bored catching cats if you are slummin’ it on saugers?

Let me know if you want to increase the sample size, on the Mississip I’m on Team Buschman!

Matt Moen wrote:

Sounds like we need the P2 challenge…..who catches more fish on which line, maybe biggest fish (multi-species), who can load the boat trailer in 1 try at the HF launch in fast current, who can yell at the kayakers taking up all the launches, etc.

I don’t yell, Matt. I just burn holes thru their kayaks with my eyeballs.

This is a great idea though. The P2 olympics! If anyone has an open seat when this goes down, gimme a holler.

Based upon recent ido gtg’s, I nominate @nhamm to coordinate this.

Heading to the river in an hour or so to first test catfish line shyness.

Anyone wants in pm me your #. I’ll be out of hidden falls area.

Was at hidden falls tonight and the fish didn’t seem to mind my direct tie this time, although the water is a little dirtier than last time. Caught 1 walleye, 2 channels, 2 crappies, 3 drum, and a smallmouth. One boat, a small white Lund, with 2 guys near the island.

Heading to boat now for remainder of the day. Have a bimini, have extra rain jacket. Rods reels, beer and fried chicken. PM me if ya want to get picked up.

Not sure what I’ll fish for. Catfish didn’t cooperate last night, maybe troll around.

Was out almost all day….clear line was the ticket of course.

Caught this huge walleye.

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Man I bet those cheeks were delicious!

Haven’t really gotten into a walleye mood this year. Been sitting on snags all day but the kitties dont want nothing to do with me.

nhamm wrote:

kitties dont want nothing to do with me.

Story of moen’s life.

Rimshot! (Performed on a drum, not a walleye)

pool2fool wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>nhamm wrote:</div>
kitties dont want nothing to do with me.

Story of moen’s life.

Rimshot! (Performed on a drum, not a walleye)

I been a one kitty guy for longer than I can remember anymore….

Matt Moen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>pool2fool wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>nhamm wrote:</div>
kitties dont want nothing to do with me.

Story of moen’s life.

Rimshot! (Performed on a drum, not a walleye)

I been a one kitty guy for longer than I can remember anymore….

14 years with the FW as of tomorrow. But I’ve learned being a one kitty guy doesn’t necessarily mean she wants anything to do with me!

nhamm wrote:

“Rods reels, beer and fried chicken. PM me if ya want to get picked up.”

Well dang-nabber, sorry I missed out on this GTG. Doubt though Nick you’d have had a good beer in your boat. Bud light?

buschman was seeking a 12 of Summit…that of which I would have been happy to oblige. As long as he let me drink some of it.

Bud light is when I need to sober up

Is this the leader you all speak of?? I snag quite a few of these down on the river with 8 pound mono attached… I usually pull about 6-8 off one specific spot every year. There is always a 1-2 ounce weight and a small Aberdeen style hook attached to the clip. I will save them and whoever decides to hop in the boat with me and you can keep them.. haha.

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