Help with light line

Hey guys I’m putting together a lightweight rig primarily for crappies, and I’m having a hard time choosing line. I often fish with slip bobbers, and I just can’t count on my bobber stop to hold onto the line with anything under 6 lb diameter. So I’m looking for recommendations on line choices, and any tips on keeping bobber stops in place with thin lines.
And as long as I’m here, if anyone has links to good info on finding and catching crappies throughout the year, I’m always looking for more.

For my bobber rods I like 4# mono for all-around use. Trilene XL or sufix elite. If I’m throwing into laydowns or around lots of junk I will go ahead and upgrade to 6# in the same lines. Nothing beats good old mono for bobber fishing.

I have no problems keeping string bobber stops in place with as little as 2#. Actually the opposite usually happens to me, they get too tight and I fray the line trying to move them. Be sure to moisten the line before adjusting it!

For locating and catching, infisherman has a few DVDs out about crappie fishing. And one I think is exactly what you are looking for, about seasonal patterns of crappie.

Just use plain old (GOOD) mono. I’ve used Trilene XL and XT for as long as I can remember and have not had problems. Biggest thing is to remove a few feet of line when retying. All these hybrid lines today are WAY over rated and OVER priced.

In my most humble opinion,
Don

I agree with the 4 pound line…it is awesome to cast.

That said, there is time and place for jig, Fluor leader of 3 feet, small barrel swivel, light braid main line then bobber.

This rig works excellent around heavy cover. If I lose a few bobbers using 4 pound, this rig is always pre rigged on a rod and ready to roll.

Also used by a lot of walleye guys for deep water corkin’…including me.

Now I remember why I ask these questions here at IDO – you guys answer fast and you have the right answers. Thanks to all of you, and I look forward to more responses.
I have also overtightened bobber stops in the past on 6 or even 8 lb mono, but with 4 lb, I can’t get the stop to stay put consistently – especially after fighting a fish, seems the stop always slips right after I find the perfect depth and start catching fish

Its gonna happen when fighting fish, carry s sharpie with you.

If you are not already, try using the Thill brand string stops. I know, expensive! But worth it. I’ve tried all the cheapos and nothing beats the real thing.

I have also tied my own stops in the past, using thick braid and swizzle straws. Works good, but hard to find thick enough braid in bright colors.

Has anybody tried using the little rubber bobber stops? I use them to peg my weight on texas rigs while bass fishing, but never actually used them as a bobber stop.

I use them for bobber stops and for pegging weights. I have had good success using them. Most of the people I fish with use the string but a few of us use the rubber ones. Only issue I have found is when the rubber stop goes through the guides is can get hung up a little.

Rubber stop excels when you are fishing shallow and don’t have to reel it into the guides/reel.

I think the most important thing,(with spinning reel) is to take apart your drag system and sand the metal washers flat using a piece of glass and fine sand paper, sand both sides using a figure 8 pattern, and as long as every thing is apart clean and lub to incluse the fiber washers.
I have found that by doing this there is less of a need to back reel and loose less fish.

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I think the most important thing,(with spinning reel) is to take apart your drag system and sand the metal washers flat using a piece of glass and fine sand paper, sand both sides using a figure 8 pattern, and as long as every thing is apart clean and lub to incluse the fiber washers.
I have found that by doing this there is less of a need to back reel and loose less fish.

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Right on, because if you backreel your bobber stop will slip.

Has anyone tried the Nanofil line yet? It looks good in hand, but how does it cast? does it retain water? any other feedback?
I have a spare spool I might load up and try the 4 lb clear mist.
Thanks for the help guys

Mojo, I tried nanofill on my panfish slip bobber rig and HATED it. It is so thin and slick that a bobber stop slides too easy. The worst thing is it’s so thin and whispy that the section below the float flops in the wind and wraps back over itself creating a birdnest. Then the twisted knots are so tiny they’re impossible to untangle. After a couple of days struggling with this, I went back to good old mono that works so well with slip bobbers.

You didn’t ask, but for vertical jigging deeper panfish, flourocarbon is the way to go. I vertical jig crappies out deep before they come in to spawn and again after the spawn (til freeze up).

John S.

I tried 4# power pro braid for slip bobbers once. Never again. 90% of the casts resulted in line stuck on top of the bobber. Mono for me!

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Has anyone tried the Nanofil line yet? It looks good in hand, but how does it cast? does it retain water? any other feedback?

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I have a couple rods spooled with 4 pound nano and they see nothing but a jig. As mentioned, stops won’t do what they’re supposed to do so floats are out with it unless you want to hang one of the spring loaded clip-ons on the line and wrap the line a few times before letting the spring go.

Casting? Oh yes, nano casts like no tomorrow and is sensitive to hits like other super lines. You do have to keep an eye on the line though because nano does like to shred off if it gets pulled across rocks. You can develop thin spots but you can also see the frayed area well.

For every day crappie/panfish angling I’d just settle on XL in four pound. Stops have never been an issue for me while using it and I buy the stuff by the 1000 yard spool.