Panfish line

What brand and what LB test do you use for fishing panfish open water? I have maxima 4 lb stringed up and I hate it. I LOVE their 8lb purple mono but their green 4 lb not so much.

I have been using Suffix Mono 4lb and it is been pretty good.

I use P-Line Floroclear in 5lb or Suffix Elite in 4lb.

For mono, nothing but clear XL Trilene in 4 pound.

Braid has its place but I don’t really see it necessary for panfish. Unless you are talking about ultra finesse deep water jigging…and even then.

Tom Sawvell wrote:

For mono, nothing but clear XL Trilene in 4 pound.

X2

lindyrig79 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Tom Sawvell wrote:</div>
For mono, nothing but clear XL Trilene in 4 pound.

X2

Yeah I used to use trilene XL and liked it. Not sure why I got away from it. Think I’m gonna go back to that

Suffix Elite.

Another Trilene XL fan.

4lb P-Line Floroclear for me

Have never felt need to try anything other than Trilene XL. Which reminds me probably time to replace line if I have any in stock…

Grouse

6 lb power pro to 3 lb mono

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Have never felt need to try anything other than Trilene XL. Which reminds me probably time to replace line if I have any in stock…

Grouse

Doing that myself this morning. Then to Fleet Farm to pick up another 1000 yard spool of it.

6 lb xl

To the guys that love the XL, I would at least try the Suffix Elite, I used to run nothing but XL and made the switch. I feel like there is a little less memory to it.

I normally use 6lb braid with a 4lb fluorocarbon leader. Yesterday, I used just straight 4lb braid.

I can toss tiny baits further with braid, even 1/32oz tungsten ice fishing jigs with tiny plastics and no bobber.

John Rasmussen wrote:

To the guys that love the XL, I would at least try the Suffix Elite, I used to run nothing but XL and made the switch. I feel like there is a little less memory to it.

Same here.

I have been playing around with lines in the 4lb test as I have been having NOTHING but problems with everything for some reason. I decided to try some Suffix ProMix 4lb and so far this has been the best line.

I have put 6lb nanobraid on my walleye jigging rod and my panfish rods. I like it a lot so far. Running 6-8 ft of 4lb mono leader.

In a few years when I re-spool I may consider 3-4 lb, whatever that line offers.

3lb P-Line. The same line I use for ice fishing. Good stuff! Normally I would use 4lb but this line is strong. I’ve landed plenty of big walleyes, pike & bass on it.

If you love the 8lb purple (I’m assuming it’s the chameleon) then why not try it in 4lb. That’s what I use (4lb maxima chameleon). Great line in my opinion.

Ryan Wilson wrote:

If you love the 8lb purple (I’m assuming it’s the chameleon) then why not try it in 4lb. That’s what I use (4lb maxima chameleon). Great line in my opinion.

Didn’t know the chameleon came in 4 lb. I’ll check that out

Crappie….

A lot will depend on whether you’re going to use floats or not. I have rods that will see floats at some point so they get the XL since it doesn’t tend to sink. Any of the fluorocarbons or fluorocarbon coated lines will sink and deal you fits if you put a float on….setting the hook with the belly of the line between the rod tip and the cork is futile. If you’re going to use a float, stay simple with a quality pure mono. XL offers just that.

Some of the complex lines that are still mono, the blends of polymers in the mono, can be prone coiling issues and the line will never lay flat on the water float or not. That coiling comes into play with distance casting too. And these lines tend to have the greatest diameters per pound of breaking strength. The line diameter has zero to do with breaking strength too so all you’re getting is thicker line.

IF, you are not likely going to use a float and don’t like monos or the blended monos and fluoros, or if you’re going to be vertically jigging mostly by all means try a braid. But braids with light lures bring their own headaches. Wind knots are common. Braids can collect a ton of minute crap off the water and get “rough” surfaces and impede casting distances. Floats and stops can be a pain to keep in place and then you will likely need a leader of mono tied in anyway. I have two rods that see nothing but vertical jigging from docks early in the spring and in the fall/early winter and both are spooled with the new Clam Frost line in 4 pound test and for what the rods are used for this line is excellent. Yes, it casts a million miles with little or nothing for a jig tied on, but the fish are straight down.

XL in the clear is an affordable mono that has years of reputation behind it and was the cornerstone for the monofilament line industry at its inception and it hasn’t changed a lick since then. The clear XL that is. There’s also a green. Forget it, fish can’t see the clear and the green tinting in the XL makes it stiffer. For that matter, anything in any mono type of line other than a straight clear pure mono will not be as limp as XL clear. Remember, there’s always going to be trade-off when adding anything to pure mono and its usually in stiffness and coiling and poor or tough handling on the reel.

I won’t rouble you with how many big fish with big teeth 4 pound clear XL has caught for me. Yes, the 4 pound clear XL has lost some big fish with big teeth for me too, but so have the myriad of braids I have tried and left behind. XL is all you and the kids need for pannies.

Thanks for the very informative write up tom. Can always count on you to bestow us with the knowledge you have acquired through the years. Much obliged sir

Bass Thumb wrote:

I normally use 6lb braid with a 4lb fluorocarbon leader. Yesterday, I used just straight 4lb braid.

I can toss tiny baits further with braid, even 1/32oz tungsten ice fishing jigs with tiny plastics and no bobber.

x2 I use 4 lb nonobraid . Can cast light jigs farther , with better feel , and most importantly , it respools well with these small panfish jigs . Still use mono on slip bobber rods though .