Hi-Vis Mono

Hey all,

A quick question about hi-vis monos for pitching jigs….

I’ve not run across a hi-vis line I’m completely sold on yet for one reason or another. I’ve tried the Stren… very easy to see. More stretch than I can tolerate. I currently use the Berkley Trilene Solar…. quite visible, less stretch than Stren… knot strenght and overall line strength leaves a bit to be desired. Maxima Fibre Glow… good line, not so much stretch, pretty strong stuff…. about every other spool. I seem to run into “bad batches” that are much weaker from time to time. As a result, I haven’t used that line in awhile. Plus you can’t buy the Maxima in stores in Rochester. You have to order it or take it in the shorts and have a bait shop spool you at a premium.

Anyone tried the Ande Tournament hi-vis yellow? I’ve not tried that one and I’ve heard some speak highly of it.

I’d really like to see some of the line manufacturers come out witrh a hi-vis version of some of their low-stretch monos… like the new Berkley Sensation or Stren’s Sensor. I very much liked the Sensor… fished with it a ton last winter and it behaved well in the cold and was a very sensative, low-stretch product. “No-Vis” best describes that line though….

Just constantly looking for a better product here is all. Nothing really has me sold yet and I guess I’ll just keep using the Solar and keep trying everything I can get my hands on until I run out of products to try or something better falls into my lap.

Any and all suggestions are appreciated!

Still using Stren HIVIS 6# , when I am carp hunting I just loosen up the drag a touch and the 6 lb handles large Carp(20# +),(yes I actually target carp somedays to practice fighting heavier fish) Extremely reliable and the stretch is why I use it. Not familiar with the Ande you mentioned. Stren HiVIS ranked near ,(I think first ), the top in Infisherman two years ago for abrasion. I look forward to hearing your report on Ande’s, I’ll try to look around and find some to try. I’ve mentioned before that fireline doesn’t do it for me but it would be nice to have a mono for in between situations. The Stren can be tough to get enough snap to get it out of rock snags. Lawrence

James:

Have you tried the photochromic colored Berkley Premium Strength line? It is pretty visible above the water (although not as visible as the XT solar)

Its a very versatile line. I’ve used it for years (an earlier form of the line used to be called Tri-Max) and it has worked well for me.

Good Luck,

Eric Naig

I too have gone through the hi vis dilemma. I would say I give the Maxima fibre glow a slight edge over the solar xt, but maybe it is just me. I wish the flame green fireline was brighter for use in the above freezing days to come. If anyone finds a better product let me know too!!!!

~~~~~alkfish

Eric

Yeah, I have used the Berkley Premium Strength line. It’s just not “bright” enough to be considered a hi-vis line from my experience and to be truthful, that line and I didn’t get along very well. I don’t know if Berkley has changed that line or not, I initially tried it right after it came out and not again since then.

Tell one of the Berkley guys at the factory to “spill” a bucket of their solar dye into a batch of sensation!..LOL I’d love to try that product in a hi-vis version.

Instead of the mono why don’t you guys try Power Pro in lime green. It seems to work OK in the cold. Strong with no stretch. Cheaper and easier to work with than Fireline

For me and the way I fish, braids and casting jigs just doesn’t mix. I need that diameter to slow the fall of my jig and using a superline with the diameter if 6 or 8 Lb mono hasn’t solved the problem. Good sugestion though…

I put Photochromic on six of my reels this spring. After one day, I had more break offs than I would tolerate in a few months time. Maybe I just had a bad batch, but it was the same result for 4,6 and 8#. Now I use it for dropper lines on three-ways.

I use Stren Gold, but I don’t use any rods shorter than 6’8″, so hooking up has never been a problem for me. And at my age (no comments please) it’s about the only thing that I can see easily, and I’m a ‘line watcher’, so if I can’t see it, I’m struggling.

Beav

What was that red color mono that you had on your jig casting rods when we went out late October from Red Wing. That sure was a great evening of fishing at least before I had to head out to the football game. There is some blood red line called Cajun Lightning that is a copolymer in Cabela’s but it seems to be priced resonable it wouldn’t hurt maybe to give it a try or how about that Cabel’s Vivid, a flurocarbon? Don’t know about either of these but was just looking at the wish book. Steve

Red line….? My feeble memory fails me again. I’ve not used a red line that I remember…. but I know someone that bit the bullet and tried that Cajun line. “Oh Dustin….!” This would be a good time for you tell share you opinion about that fancy blood-red Cajun line! It was such fun watching you use it a couple weeks back…LOL

Hey lieneman, that’s what fishin’ in the sun all day will do to a guy!!

James, I’m sticking with my Berkley 6# XT Solar. I’ve been using it for several years and have not been “Looking”!! Seems the stuff gets better after a few uses.

J.

Maybe it was purple. What color is that Maxima Fibre Glow. I should of asked what kind of line it was. I know my

wife would of liked that color. LOL Come on Dustin lets hear the story on the Cajun Lightning! Steve

For my money , I’ll stick with the stren gold (hi- vis). I use 4# religiously for river and lake fishing.Case in point in u.p. of michigan 2yrs. ago I landed a 25# carp that hit my 1/16 oz. jig although it took 20 minutes to land it , I was quite pleased with the lines performance.I typically use 6 ‘ 6″-7 ‘ rods and diawa tournament ss reels that have exceptional drags. some times when the situation arises I’ll use 6# or 8# but not that often mainly for salt water fishing.as the “beav” lamented us old farts need all the visual help we can muster.I tried berkley solar xt but after a while in the summer sun the color fades. so I’ll stick with stren until something better hits the market. I’m going to be working down at bass pro shop in Gurnee, Ill. on the 21st to the 24th of march I’ll talk to the reps to find out if anything new is on the horizon…..hairjig

I would stick with the Maxima Fibre Glow you can’t beat that line the stren just breaks to easy and the Berkley solar has way to much memory!!!!!!!!! you can barley put that stuff in the water with out it coiling on you. Like James said I would like to see Stren dye there sensor line yellow or pink and it would be dynamite.

just my opinion

Nate Cadwell

James, You remember that day do you? That was not to long ago. I think your last fish report was the day we fished together and I had the great experience with the red Cajun Line.

I have a new name for this line it is called “The most invisible Hi Vis line known to man or beast”. I started the day out casting jigs with this line and after the first casts I made the decision it was not for me. I am being honest here, and James can atest. You just can not see this line once it is away from the boat it is virtually INVISIBLE I gave it a couple more casts and then tried vertical jigging with it, again I could not see it right over the side of the boat. After that I had James run the boat for a while and I respooled to XT solar. This Cajun Line does not cast light jigs very well either! It is to stiff. I would recomend not buying this line for any other purpose than to have a colorfull looking set-up.

I Have to agree with JonJ on the solar XT. I have used it since late last summer and just can not find anything to complain about. I can see it very well, the line seems to be very strong, and I have had no problems in realation to what Nate had to say about it. In my opinion this is the best High Vis mono on the market right now. I am sure there will be something come along that will put this line to shame. But until then, good luck on your line hunting journey James!

Folks that “hi-Vis” line was so “No-Vis” that Dustin actually extended his rod out towards me with the intentions of getting the line close enough for me to see when he was in the front and I was in the back…. I swear I couldn’t see the stuff period.

I’ve got to give you credit for trying it and I will say this, that red line looks mighty pretty on a spinning reel…LOL

I use ANDE line a lot thru out the spring ,fall and summer.It has a little more memory than Maxi-thin,but is very tuff line.The hi-vis is a must when pitchin or vertical jigging.I some times dye my line thru out the winter when using maxi-thin.

The best I found is the pink Maxima for strength.

I had so many bad batches of solar that it will be a long time before I use it again. I use to use it exclusivly. Solar is not the same as it used to be when it first hit the market. I have lost more fish and jigs on trilene solar than all other lines put together!!!

James…….Give P-LINE A TRY, get it from BPS our Cabela’s

James, I’m just like you. I’ve tried everything, and I’m just not completely satisfied with any of the hi-vis mono. XT and Maxima seem to have a lot of memory when it’s cold. I can’t figure out why Berkely doesn’t have a hi-vis color in XL or the Senation. I guess I’ll just keep experimenting.

I like the Maxima brand for jigging. Its a tough line. And yes James, I still use the pretty pink color! Bill

Hey James and Dustin

I don’t know what the salesman told you when you bought that Cajun Line But it is NOT suppose to be a Hi Vis Line Red is the first color to disapear in the water there fore I am glad it works so well if you can’t even see it right above the water than I know it works I bought some also and the guys selling it said they have been using it on lindy rigs up at Mille Lacs and it is invisible thats what they are targeting not a Hi Vis Line.

talk to you later

Nate Cadwell

I have to give a thumbs up to pink!! I always order from cabela’s and in the 600 or 3000 spools it has memory and sum stretch but not as bad as others.. 4 and 6 lb.

My 8 lb I use stren gold….I also have pink power pro which is a hard line I believe it is 2-10..I used it today It works..small jigs deep.. Plus I like pink I heard it was Brittney Spears favorite color and she was one Pool 4 the other day someone said..

no doubt she was trying to “hook” up with one of our guys with an EFN hat…..

Nate,

The salseman basically told me the same thing you just said. It is being marketed to fish clear water lakes like Mill Lacs. I saw it and it looked like it might just be something I would be able to see well above the water.Boy was I wrong! No harm in trying it out, it was pretty cheap. I have some things in mind where it just might come in pretty handy.

That would probley be me…..And I can cook to!!!!