New line for 2009 (bluegills)

[newfish]

I need to respool my bluegill rods, what is your best icefishing line for bluegills ?

[jimbo]

ah! the debate continues. it's a personal thing. i like the micro ice line.
alot of people will tell you to go with some florocarbon line like P-LINE.
i think it has too much memory & our line remains in a coil as you're fishing. i use 2lb on most of my rods. 3 lb on my innerflows.

[Jacob Huffman]

I definatly go "outside the box"..I use yellow 4lb. test..I use a jigging method that you watch the line instead of the rod tip or bobber...You jig constantly,not much but non-stop, and when your jiging the line will bend.When a fish takes the jig it feels no resistance because there is always slack in the line...Well when it bites the line straightens out and you set the hook...works like a charm..I usually out fish my partners..It take a little practice but I will never fish anyother way again....

[yellowbelly80]

1lb or 1/2lb fire line crystal ice line stuff is super strong

[bucknduck]

I watched someone using this same tactic last year on one of the local outdoor shows MOOD? Wasn't you was it? Interesting technique.
I use 2lb vanish with good results.

I definatly go "outside the box"..I use yellow 4lb. test..I use a jigging method that you watch the line instead of the rod tip or bobber...You jig constantly,not much but non-stop, and when your jiging the line will bend.When a fish takes the jig it feels no resistance because there is always slack in the line...Well when it bites the line straightens out and you set the hook...works like a charm..I usually out fish my partners..It take a little practice but I will never fish anyother way again....

[wolverines]

2# P-line FLOUROCARBON...I like it even better than FlouroIce, and it's the diameter of most manufacture's 1#.

[jigworm]

Micro Ice has been good for me in the past but I'll be trying some of the newer flouro's this year. Did not like the memory. Anyone using flyline tippet material for a leader?

[jimbo]

hey wolverine, don't you have trouble with your line coiling due to memory? i tried p-line last yr & took it off after 1 trip

[newfish]

line memory has been a problem for me in the past. Which ice line has least memory?

[WALLEYE MIKE]

1lb fire crystal. Tough and thin.

[Ara]

line memory has been a problem for me in the past. Which ice line has least memory?
I forget.:yikes:

[DE82]

I use 4lb XL, it's either 3lb or 4lb but it's XL

EDIT - It's 4lb I ordered, couldn't get a 1000 yard spool of 3lb now that I think about it. Why so heavy you might ask? I don't want to lose my ficious jigs of course :lol: besides that I've never met a better ice angler than ficious and he uses 3lb, the dia from 3-4lb XL can't be THAT great. Last year I used 4lb Ande(HATED IT) almost all year and caught a bluegill close to 12inches(in my gallery) a few pike, a bunch of bass and some nice crappie among the other fish so bigger fish can in fact be had on a bit heavier line IME - Bryon

[tommy-n]

I agree with Jacob Huffman, I'm a line watcher and never, never stop pounding my jig. I always try new stuff all the time but always end up going back to the 2lb yellow stren. I use the thorne bros rods and there second to none, you think you can feel your jig pounding but the eye to the brain is quicker and watching the line is much more effective. I don't usually like to toot my own horn, my freind told me last year on the way fishing he was going to " kick my ***** today" I simply replied "you have to kick my sons ***** before you can even play with me":lol:

[JayJayMo]

when I sight fish I use 6lb orange suffix braid (its about 2lb diameter) and usually a 3 to 6 foot leader of 2lb seagur flouro. Jigging and deadstick sets 1lb fire line crystal or 6lb and the 3-6 ft 2lb seagur flouro. Bobber set ups I use 2 lb trilene mono or back it with the 6lb fireline for memory issues and use a long leader of mono. Floruo IMO shreds up with the slip bobber stops.

[BASSMAST3R]

i use sewing thread NO JOKE! the clear sewing thread

[fish fanatic jr.]

I've heard of people using thread for crappie how do you like it? To the guys that line watch what kind of jigs do you fish with i hate lite jigs that take forever to get down to the fish.

[Jacob Huffman]

I watched someone using this same tactic last year on one of the local outdoor shows MOOD? Wasn't you was it? Interesting technique.
I use 2lb vanish with good results.


No not me...I learned it from a local up on Lake Cadillac about 5-6 years ago...Best part about this method is that you dont have to use an ultra light rod..any rod will work because your not waiting to feel the bite you just need to look for it...

[fish fanatic jr.]

jake what kind of jigs do you use for that type of fishing?

[DE82]

I've heard of people using thread for crappie how do you like it? To the guys that line watch what kind of jigs do you fish with i hate lite jigs that take forever to get down to the fish.I understand what your saying with some jigs being too light but a lot of times that's just what they want. It's always good to have a few sizes, that's why I have original, lil' minnies, baby zitz and zitz ficious jigs to let the fish tell me what they want.

[jacktownhooker]

all good answers - try them all ! i have 2 for sight fishing for super clear jackson lks where this method first originated ! huey swager is credited 40 yrs ago and the top sight fisherman from jackson used this to be top ice teams contestants last 5 yrs ! in national competition . i like 2 lb as you can always bloodknot less lbs if conditions call or for redears ! i have 2 more with yellow line but with spring bobbers for heavier jigs and or darker water or more action ! and a 4 ft fiberglass very light action sold at capn chucks in ludington custom made that 90% on hamlin uses with 2 lb and use teardrops with flickers and i put spring bobber on keep it movin -great for mobility and standing ! 3 lb might be better if you only have a few rods and want to go after crappies at night i also like the yellow flourescent line -stren ice as backing because it glows against the snow and ice ! and only a ft of other lines shouldnt have issues . spinning reels will twist line causing problems schooley reels eliminate those issues 16 ice rods i have all kinds of different lines so looking at some i have 1 lb sufix ice magic 3 lb trilene micro ice 4 lb stren ice hi vis gold and 2 lb trilene xl clear also early ice ya can make do with heavier jigs - line as fish are aggressive but as winter gets late i like everything micro ! cya

[DaveW731]

Another vote for 2# yellow Stren and "tightlining" (jigging and watching for the line to move). I usually use a 2' leader of 2# flouro, but I am not sure if the fish care or not.
I do have a pole rigged with either 1# or .75# (or sewing thread, as mentioned above) with a spring bobber for backup, in case I think the fish are extremely line shy.

[fish fanatic jr.]

So am i getting this right you just jig constently and watch your line does it go straight or dar off to the sides?:confused:

[DE82]

I'm not a big "line watcher" nothing is more sensative than a spring bobber but I did do some line watching, just look for any side to side movement while your jigging, sometimes a gill or perch with just pick the jig up and not nip at it - Bryon

[fish fanatic jr.]

Ok i get it now just making sure icase i try that i wouldn't give up on it to soon if I'm not sure what im looking for.

[jacktownhooker]

line watching is more sensitive than spring bobber !! -line has to move first before spring bobber moves !! spring bobbers are not PSYCHIC ! that is what the yellow line is for ! whatever depth you are fishing - just under the waterline use your fingernails to curl the line so you have a small curl in line (for beginners )then when you see line twitch set the hook - i guarantee that you wont see spring bobber even move ! when you get good at it you wont even use spring bobbers ! i like spring bobbers but mostly at night for crappies and catfish and slip bobbers as at night ya CANT SEE !!

[Jacob Huffman]

jake what kind of jigs do you use for that type of fishing?

So am i getting this right you just jig constently and watch your line does it go straight or dar off to the sides?:confused:

I prefer small ...size 10 or 12....I really like the dart jigs...What you do is find bottom...now jig you rod..I usually move it up and down about 3-4 inches...just keep it moving...don't stop...then while your doing this raise your arm up slowly...keep jigging and raise your arm slowly...dont try to feel the bite or watch your rod...instead watch the line..thats why I use yellow 4 lb. it is easy to see.....every time your jig comes up that 3-4 inches your line will go slack that much...when you see it go completely straight that means a fish has taken the jig...just set the hook...Try that method at bottom then if no fish after 3 or 4 times raiseing your arm up then the next time you let it down reel it in a couple of times and start the whole process over from that depth...keep doing it until you find the fish.....I honestly can try this method at a hole and with in a minute or two tell you if the fish are there ..they really like this method...usually...:lol:

[wolverines]

hey wolverine, don't you have trouble with your line coiling due to memory? i tried p-line last yr & took it off after 1 trip




With 2#...never. I'll use 12# on a spinning real dragging heavy tubes for smallies and that can be a problem sometimes, but I just streatch about 30 yards of it and it's fine for a day of fishing. But the 2# through the ice on up to 10# in the summer gives me no problems at all...

[tommy-n]

Hey line watchers, Suffix ice magic is another fine line available in a tangerine and lime green colors. It's very visible but not quite as visible as the yellow stren. I used this alot last year in the 2lb and 3lb tests as well as the 2lb yellow stren.

[DaveW731]

Ok i get it now just making sure icase i try that i wouldn't give up on it to soon if I'm not sure what im looking for.

One variation to consider: try combining yellow line with a spring bobber for a while. That way if you do miss the bite from watching the line, you may still catch it with the bobber. Just remember to keep concentrating on the line while keeping spring bobber in the corner of your eye. Eventually you will notice the more subtle movements in the line as you associate line movement with bobber movement. When you are able to ignore the bobber and detect bites using line only, you've got it. Worked for me, anyway.

[jacktownhooker]

:yeahthat:One variation to consider: try combining yellow line with a spring bobber for a while. That way if you do miss the bite from watching the line, you may still catch it with the bobber. Just remember to keep concentrating on the line while keeping spring bobber in the corner of your eye. Eventually you will notice the more subtle movements in the line as you associate line movement with bobber movement. When you are able to ignore the bobber and detect bites using line only, you've got it. Worked for me, anyway.

[Capnhook]

I can attest to what jacktownhooker says. Huey has tied micro flies and chased gills around SE Mich for 40 yrs. He is the guy that started it. The guy is damn near blind, but can tie at size #24 gnat that looks like it could fly. The guy is like the Yoda of line watching. Huey shared this technique with me, at least 35 yrs. ago, and I've used it ever since. I've watched him tie and it's something to behold. I can tie micros, but not like him. So, if you see an old dude with a ripped up snow suit on, hovering over an ice hole in the Irish Hills, and he doesn't use a bobber, go over and say hi. Watch him closely and you will learn something. He'll be glad to share a secret or two if you ask. Capnhhok

[JayJayMo]

I use the suffix tangerine but use a flouro leader when sight fishing or line watching, it works good for me. I sugest too sight fish in shallow water, depending on how clear the water is you can sight fish up to 10 fow and actually see the fish. Watch how the fish behave and you can corolate it with how you line acts and draw conclusions on the deeper water applications. This is finesse at its utmost and sometimes suttle jigging motions work better and sometimes almost no jigging action works once you have called em in. I compare sight fishing to hunting, nothing gets the heart pumping like calling in a few 10" redears then seeing them stare at your jig just like seeing a big 10 point creeping past a brush pile into your sights. For me anyways it is.

[jacktownhooker]

hey jo jo may we need to hook up on gillettes ! - capn hook ! man i thought i was the only one that knew huey !! a living legend ! i have sat while he tied up flies and fine tune his spider jigs on piano wire and bought his custom made poles in amazement ! but was nothing compared to his stories !! one was how dave genz would always buy his lures and rods when in town and use them to win contests without anyone looking then switch to the ones he was hawking at the time or him and lindner bros stealing his ideas and lures makin a fortune while he sat around handtying them . i didnt REALLY believe at first but a couple of years ago in- fisherman and ice team mentioned him and crediting him for that particular method and how to so the next year when i got another order from him and mentioned it and also noticed the top 2 of 5 icefishing teams in the nation were from jackson using his method he said to me that he personally trained them !! last year his health was a issue and i couldnt get my hands on any homemades so im going to make sure to get some this year ! they are my go to lures and technique !

[JayJayMo]

Man that sound's like a living ledgend of icefishing, I never met the guy but he sounds like a pioner of the michigan style fishing and rigging ideals. Maybe I will bump into him some day and thank him, what a treat. Just got a flasher like less than four years ago and I used to sight fish first and last ice with old schooley spring bobber set ups with fly and jig exclusivly, the flasher did help my fishing though:) Moved out here to Jackson county from Washtenaw 2yrs ago and started picking up ways through others out there that made my michingan style rigs and sight fishing a lot more proficiant. Now I know a little more on the story/history and where it came from.

Jacktown did the gillets last ice last season a bit and to my surpries cats, I was hooked on em, but then the ice was gone. Got into em again open water from shore a touch and out in my kayak would love to hit em up on ice again....lets do it.

[jacktownhooker]

Man that sound's like a living ledgend of icefishing, I never met the guy but he sounds like a pioner of the michigan style fishing and rigging ideals. Maybe I will bump into him some day and thank him, what a treat. Just got a flasher like less than four years ago and I used to sight fish first and last ice with old schooley spring bobber set ups with fly and jig exclusivly, the flasher did help my fishing though:) Moved out here to Jackson county from Washtenaw 2yrs ago and started picking up ways through others out there that made my michingan style rigs and sight fishing a lot more proficiant. Now I know a little more on the story/history and where it came from.

Jacktown did the gillets last ice last season a bit and to my surpries cats, I was hooked on em, but then the ice was gone. Got into em again open water from shore a touch and out in my kayak would love to hit em up on ice again....lets do it. lets !! i just talked to huey and he was laid off first time in 8 yrs and will be makin those ice flies and the weighted ones too !! and his poles are guaranteed for life ! he doesnt know that i post about him and he doesnt have time for internet but as a help to us ! any pm for his lures i will give his ph no to order in a couple of weeks not only am i ordering 2 doz. one of the top teams in the nation the martins are ordering 7 doz !i would get pictures but i only have 4 left and they are well used ! but they dont chip and there is a super glow spot on one side . i think ill wait till iget fresh ones for pictures cya

[Chad Smith]

2# copolymer by P-Line.