Hi everyone,
It's question time again from someone who only ever uses mono to fish with. Here it goes. I was watching Linder's Fishing Edge last night and they were trolling with line counters for Muskies. He said that mono can stretch up 20%!!! Holy doodle!!! I troll using Diawa linecounters with Dipsy Divers using mono for rainbows. I think I have been using the wrong type of line given that Dipsys go down a certain amount of feet with a specific amount of line let out. I think that I have been at the wrong depths. I use up to 125ft. of line to get the depth that I want. After watching the show I think I should be using braid because it has zero stretch. A product that I know nothing about. Here are the questions. Should I be using braid? What brand is good? Are there other applications for braid that I don't know about? ie.baitcaster/spinning reel. I usually use 25lb. Maxima Perfection with a 15 lb Seaguar flouro leader for trolling.
Thanks
High Noon
Fishing Lines
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MuskyMike411
- Participant
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 9:45 am
- Location: Stoney Creek
Hey Noon,
I would say it depends on what you are fishing for and preference. For Musky I use only Power Pro. I have tried some others but Power Pro seems to hold up the best for me. It has Zero stretch so when you first use it, be cautious of your setting.
Here is a neat little test to see how much mono stretches compared to braid.
when you are respooling, dont throw out your line. Take 100-150 feet of line and get someone to hold one end. walk to the other end of the line and hold it taught, but only hold it between your thumb and index finger. have the person at the other end pull on the line and see what happens. You will be amazed at the difference between the Mono and Braid. Its a fun little test to show what you will be doing to a fish's mouth when the bite occurs.
Try out different brands and see what you like the best. They all fade so dont be worried about that. You can re-dye them with a marker (non-toxic obviously) and viola.
Another nice thing about braid is it doesnt kink or twist like Mono.
I use light mono when fishing Smallmouth (2-6lb) just for fun. Its more of a challenge as i dont keep anything. But when it comes to Musky, Get it in the net, take a pic and let it go. The bigger the fish, the faster I get it back in the water.
Hope this helps a little,
Mike
I would say it depends on what you are fishing for and preference. For Musky I use only Power Pro. I have tried some others but Power Pro seems to hold up the best for me. It has Zero stretch so when you first use it, be cautious of your setting.
Here is a neat little test to see how much mono stretches compared to braid.
when you are respooling, dont throw out your line. Take 100-150 feet of line and get someone to hold one end. walk to the other end of the line and hold it taught, but only hold it between your thumb and index finger. have the person at the other end pull on the line and see what happens. You will be amazed at the difference between the Mono and Braid. Its a fun little test to show what you will be doing to a fish's mouth when the bite occurs.
Try out different brands and see what you like the best. They all fade so dont be worried about that. You can re-dye them with a marker (non-toxic obviously) and viola.
Another nice thing about braid is it doesnt kink or twist like Mono.
I use light mono when fishing Smallmouth (2-6lb) just for fun. Its more of a challenge as i dont keep anything. But when it comes to Musky, Get it in the net, take a pic and let it go. The bigger the fish, the faster I get it back in the water.
Hope this helps a little,
Mike
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Fisher Dude
- Bronze Participant
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2005 9:38 pm
Hi Noon 
(ok, I know this is getting old now),
I only use braid (well except for my ultra-lite rig). Ok, I'm definitely not as experienced as most on this site ... But I LOVE BRAID!!! I like it for trolling, casting, jigging; whatever. I don't like the feel of mono when you set the hook (because it stretches so much). While you run the risk of ripping the hook from the fishes lip with braid, you at least know how far you've set. I've only used PowerPro (green). I use 20lb test on a spinning reel for most applications (bass, pike). It's so thin that using 20lb test is really not a factor. I have my trolling rod spooled with 30lb test. When I first converted, the sales guy at "the fishing store" told me he found PowerPro rounder than Fireline. I've never tried anything else as a result.
A recent post on fluro leaders has convinced me to go this route as well (Yah!!! Ditch the wire leaders!!!!)
I can't imagine why you won't love it! Good luck.
FD
(ok, I know this is getting old now),I only use braid (well except for my ultra-lite rig). Ok, I'm definitely not as experienced as most on this site ... But I LOVE BRAID!!! I like it for trolling, casting, jigging; whatever. I don't like the feel of mono when you set the hook (because it stretches so much). While you run the risk of ripping the hook from the fishes lip with braid, you at least know how far you've set. I've only used PowerPro (green). I use 20lb test on a spinning reel for most applications (bass, pike). It's so thin that using 20lb test is really not a factor. I have my trolling rod spooled with 30lb test. When I first converted, the sales guy at "the fishing store" told me he found PowerPro rounder than Fireline. I've never tried anything else as a result.
A recent post on fluro leaders has convinced me to go this route as well (Yah!!! Ditch the wire leaders!!!!)
I can't imagine why you won't love it! Good luck.
FD
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DropShotr
- Gold Participant
- Posts: 1716
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:06 am
- Location: At home....waiting for bass season.
High Noon,
I was a mono kinda person for a long time. I tried the "super lines" when they first came out a long time ago. That crap came off the reels and I stuck to my trusted mono (Cabela's Pro Line) ever since then. Last year I begrudgingly tried a spool of Power Pro on my senko rod at the urging of two co-workers whom I respect as fisherman. WOW! There is no comparison between this next generation of super lines. I am very impressed with Power Pro.
For me the biggest issue is the transition from "big tough guy" hook sets to a wrist flick to set hooks. Watch your drag too, set that with respect to your fluro leader.
I try to match line diameters when setting rods up. 50lb Power Pro and 14lb fluro leader; 30lb Power Pro & 8lb fluro leader. But that's just me.
Good luck,
DropShot'r
I was a mono kinda person for a long time. I tried the "super lines" when they first came out a long time ago. That crap came off the reels and I stuck to my trusted mono (Cabela's Pro Line) ever since then. Last year I begrudgingly tried a spool of Power Pro on my senko rod at the urging of two co-workers whom I respect as fisherman. WOW! There is no comparison between this next generation of super lines. I am very impressed with Power Pro.
For me the biggest issue is the transition from "big tough guy" hook sets to a wrist flick to set hooks. Watch your drag too, set that with respect to your fluro leader.
I try to match line diameters when setting rods up. 50lb Power Pro and 14lb fluro leader; 30lb Power Pro & 8lb fluro leader. But that's just me.
Good luck,
DropShot'r
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almontefisher
- Diamond Participant
- Posts: 2971
- Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:08 pm
- Location: Carleton Place
Noon: If you have a trolling reel with a line counter try lead core...That is what we use on the lake. It will get you down to semi specific depths ( depends on trolling speed, lure etc.) and you just count colours...We go down 3-5 colours when we troll around the lake. Also we add a medium to large gang troll and a 2-5ft leader of light mono. As for the dipsy divers I have never used one so no comment on what is best for that.
See you on the lake this year
See you on the lake this year
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Bobber
- Diamond Participant
- Posts: 3182
- Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2002 10:40 am
- Location: Stittsville, Ontario
- Contact:
<a href="http://www.fish-hawk.net/index.php?page=74">Here are some additional tools as well with another great site for knots. </a>
Rob Atkinson
Site Admin (retired)
Site Admin (retired)
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spoonmaster
- Participant
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2007 11:30 pm
- Location: Cambridge, Ontario
- Contact:
Hi All,
Thanks for all of the great information. I was out to see the Toobinator today and I am all stocked up on line. Braid, Floro and Mono that is. I also picked up some toobs, a pair of Solar Bats, some jig heads, two hats and some excellent advice on knots and setting up toobs. Man oh Man I am so sick of winter. Come on soft water. Again thanks a bunch.
High Noon
Thanks for all of the great information. I was out to see the Toobinator today and I am all stocked up on line. Braid, Floro and Mono that is. I also picked up some toobs, a pair of Solar Bats, some jig heads, two hats and some excellent advice on knots and setting up toobs. Man oh Man I am so sick of winter. Come on soft water. Again thanks a bunch.
High Noon
I use braided for both casting and trolling.
RJ is right use a palomar knot. Trout fishing using 6lb fire line and a palomar knot if I get snagged the hooks will usually bend out before the line or knot gives out. Way stronger system and more feel when trolling.
The thinner diameter also cuts through the water better when I troll getting my lure deeper with less line out which is great when you dont use down riggers.
RJ is right use a palomar knot. Trout fishing using 6lb fire line and a palomar knot if I get snagged the hooks will usually bend out before the line or knot gives out. Way stronger system and more feel when trolling.
The thinner diameter also cuts through the water better when I troll getting my lure deeper with less line out which is great when you dont use down riggers.