Switched to 1 lb. line, some questions....

[GVSUKUSH]

Why didn't I do it sooner? I hit the gills, crappie and perch pretty good today with 1 lb. test. I've never had luck mid-day and I outfished my other rod with 4 pound and my dad only landed 2 fish all day with 4 pound as well. I was doing so well I thought I had a Vex :lol:

Do you guys use it strickly as a leader or mainline? If you use it as a leader, do you use a small swivel to connect it to the mainline? I was using a Jammin Jigs Bobber Fry tear that I have had the best luck with this year but it kept twisting on me and I think it affecting the action negatively.

I also did not have any action on Teardrops that hung vertical, only the horizontal jigs like the boober fry and that has been the case for much of the season for me.

Another question, the longer 3ft. plus sensitive rods that I see alot of the gill and crappie fisherman using, can anyone reccommend one to me? I know that the length and "noodle" style of the rod would be very benefictial when using light line.

Thanks

[William H Bonney]

The only difference I've noticed with the 1# versus anything else is,,, it BUSTS A WHOLE LOT EASIER!!! Never noticed any significant difference in line weight versus catching fish. What I have noticed a difference in is line color. I only use "invisible" line now, low diameter, usually 4#, sometimes 2# but even that gets frustrating after a while.

[GVSUKUSH]

The only difference I've noticed with the 1# versus anything else is,,, it BUSTS A WHOLE LOT EASIER!!! Never noticed any significant difference in line weight versus catching fish. What I have noticed a difference in is line color. I only use "invisible" line now, low diameter, usually 4#, sometimes 2# but even that gets frustrating after a while.

Billy,

Can you point me towards a brand of "invisible" line?

[lostyooper]

invisible line ? must be hard tying those invisible lures :sad:

[wally-eye]

Always have my pan fish rod rigged with 1 lb. test line. The rod I use is an Ice Blues 1B-30, 30 inch rod. This rod is EXTREMELY thin diameter towards the end and does NOT need a spring bobber. I use a Quantam QL00 spinning reel that I rig the entire reel with 1 lb Ice Line....

With this rod or any quality THIN rod and a quality spinning reel with a good drag there is no reason to bust off a fish.

So far on this set up I have caught a 5 lb sucker on Hamlin lake, a 3 lb walleye on Hamlin lake, 4 different 3 to 5 lb trout on Stony lake and a 4 lb pike on Silver lake Hart. Now realize I was targeting pan fish when I caught these other fish. The moral is you don't need to bust off a fish if you have the proper set up AND quality spinning reel made for ice fishing and a LIGHT set drag. All these fish were caught on an extremely small tear drop and a wax worm....

Usually this late in the year I rerig it with 3/4 pound test sewing thread. Light hands with this set up that will more than out fish you care to go up against...

No setting of hooks more than a 3 or 4 inch little LIGHT snap is all that is needed.

Down sizing line AND BAIT at this time of year is prudent. I have a tear drop that is SO SMALL that I can only use half a wax worm..

Hell, I only use 4 lb test on one of my walleye rods, land and hook up more on this rod/line size than my other stiffer walleye rod w/6 lb test.

My .02

[William H Bonney]

I knew that would be coming, thats why I used the "quotation marks". :rolleyes: Trilene makes a "decent" Ultra Clear Low Visibility line. I'm kinda partial to the flourocarbons now. Once that line touches the water, you can't see SQUAT!! Now that doesn't mean the fish "can't see it", but it seems to work out pretty good for me. I kinda like the Vanish Transition, only problem with that is,, from fishing in LSC, the yellow coloring of the line is actually "wearing off". :rolleyes: Anyone that uses the Vanish Transition will know what I mean.

[GVSUKUSH]

I knew that would be coming, thats why I used the "quotation marks". :rolleyes: Trilene makes a "decent" Ultra Clear Low Visibility line. I'm kinda partial to the flourocarbons now. Once that line touches the water, you can't see SQUAT!! Now that doesn't mean the fish "can't see it", but it seems to work out pretty good for me. I kinda like the Vanish Transition, only problem with that is,, from fishing in LSC, the yellow coloring of the line is actually "wearing off". :rolleyes: Anyone that uses the Vanish Transition will know what I mean.

I knew what ya meant, I wasn't trying to be a smart ass :lol: just looking for different brands.

Thanks Wally for the post, very informative.

[tubejig]

I am using frog hair for my leader material on yellow sensation. I have broke off 5 times this year but twice was on walleye and the other time was on a pike. I have nothing to say but good things about the product except that I cant see it really well to tie it.

[GVSUKUSH]

I have broke off 5 times this year but twice was on walleye and the other time was on a pike.

I probably iced 25-30 fish on it yesterday and it didn't even seem frayed the least bit. I would however have a hard time using a $4-$5 jigging rap with it, just tear's here :)

[WDGibby]

Steve, I been using clear sewing thread, four to eight foot as leader. Attached to two lb. using a blood knot, Micro lite rod and reel with a GOOD drag is a must. Replace leader every third time out. Been iceing nice gills with this set up. Iced a 14 inch bass with it last Friday. Coarse he went back down hole.

Gibby:)

[tommy-n]

Just another point of veiw, I don't personally think that the bluegills will bite better on 1lb than 2lb. The whole deal is some of the teardrops needed during late winter are so small it's hard to get them down, a smaller diameter, limp line sinks much easier, less water resistance because of the smaller diameter. This is the very reason I always use the small teardrops that fish heavy, and the fiskas wolgram jigs are made of tungsten, heavier than lead for it's size.

[WDGibby]

Tommy-n, I took six nice gills out of that20 FOW tonite on one of my hand made flys, #16 hook, off set the barb, had a small gold bead, lead wrap,dark green thread. At least they didn't shy away this time. Will see what happens tommorrow. Just keep trying different things.

Gibby:)

[schaaed1]

Tommy-n, I took six nice gills out of that20 FOW tonite on one of my hand made flys, #16 hook, off set the barb, had a small gold bead, lead wrap,dark green thread. At least they didn't shy away this time. Will see what happens tommorrow. Just keep trying different things.

Gibby:)

Gibby - I'll probably stop out in the morning, after work. I'll be on the smaller lake again.

Ed

[WDGibby]

Schaaed1, I can't make it in the AM, but will Tue. if we don't get snowed in. I heard nicer fish over there. Good luck, yellow and orange tear drop is what Gary is using


Gibby:)

[GVSUKUSH]

I'm using a short ultralight ice rod with a spring bobber on the end, but I want to get what looks like the "noodle rod" setup that all the other guys are using. looks to be 3-4 footers. Anybody have a link for these rods? I can't seem to find exactly what I'm looking for.

[Cherokee]

Steve:


Give the guys at Thorne Bros a call. They will know what to recommend. I found them very helpful last season when I bought my custom from them.

www.thornebros.com (http://www.thornebros.com)

[GVSUKUSH]

Steve:


Give the guys at Thorne Bros a call. They will know what to recommend. I found them very helpful last season when I bought my custom from them.

www.thornebros.com (http://www.thornebros.com)


Thanks Rob, that 24" "Power Noodle" looks like the one that I'm looking for.

[funebonz880]

Go for 24 inchers. The smaller the better. We used to look all over the place for a sensitive rod, w/o spring bobber. We always found the HT ice blues to be the best. They are very good for detecting bites, but not too flimsy. I caught a nice little 23" pike on it. A 3lb bass. And a monster crappie. You just need a good reel and set the drag quick. This pole is my favorite pole. You can also get 21" in HT Polarlites. These have larger rod guides and less of them. It also seems a little too sensitive, no back to em. But still good. As for the clear line, we have always used 2lb test in the berkley micro ice. It is very good, but hard to see if you get ur line caught on the side of the ice. thats why we switched to blue, and cant see a difference yet. As for the reel one of my favorites is the shakespeare synergy UL. Its a very good reel. another good one is the tiny 20. Or the gander mountain guide series, but ive had a problem with the line getting under the drag cap and twisting around there. You then have to cut alot of line off. I highly reccomend the short 24" ice blue noodle rod. $6.96 at walmart.

[sfw1960]

I've used anything from 1# to 6LB XT SOlar on ice & I can attest to the fact when things are the slightest bit "iffy" , getting pannies on 1LB gets the nod , my best friend used to use 6LB test for gills - and two weeks ago , when I was too lazy to re-rig my one pound rig (using 4LB) and I was getting SMOKED badly by Elmer SPuD while he used 1LB test , he asked me what test line I was using... "Geezus!" was his reply as he easily outfished me 4 to one. For the guys that think 2 or 4 is 'just as good'... go ahaed... we'll take the fish you leave behind!!
SFW

[tommy-n]

I'll use my two pound yellow stren with a two pound clear leader on my 28'' thornbros. rod, when ya wanna go.

[scottyhoover]

I like my results with 1lb leaders a lot.....now i havent fished with 2lb in about a month so i don't know if i can give a great side by side comparison.

KUSH,
here's what ya need to do bud. first off get yellow stren for your main line 2lb. watching this stuff jump around as you pound a jig is the only way to go. attach your leader with a blood knot or a double uni knot, I'll see if i can find you one of those nice illustrated links. I like the 1lb because like tommy said some of the jigs we're using now are insanely small. I caught well over 100 gills this weekend and the bass were on fire as well. I musta caught 15-20 bass a day and landed them up to 14-15 inches all on 1lb test. crappie are the number one shredder of 1lb line. I broke off twice i think, probably on bass but one i swear was a pounder gill. anyway, good idea to retie every 20 fish or so, or if you notice any wear, like any other fishin. btw the fishin was absolutely on fire for me and ozzgood, we were throwin back keepers already at 8am saturday. I'm fried from fishin all day for 3 days straight........god bless this good ice this year.

[tommy-n]

Scotty what are you running for the one pound leader, man I'd go broke loosing those fiskas wolfgrams . Lost 4 more this weekend running 2lb leader. I think next year I"ll just by $200 worth before season and get it over.

[scottyhoover]

fortunately i mostly loose the jammin jigs bobber fry...45 cents a piece so no sweat. or genz bugs. I just started using those fiskas jigs so the price thing really didnt hit me until i stopped at the bait shop for the third time and the total was much more than expected! anyway i havent been using them much yet, next year for sure will have all the sizes i really want. I started using the 1lb about 3 weeks back when we got on that hot sight fishin bite in the really clear water....i guess it just stuck with me.

KUSH,
forgot to mention with that 1lb line, find the sweet spot on your drag and make sure its smooth ...you are gonna need it :)

[GVSUKUSH]

Scotty, when you find a link with those pretty pictures let me know. I'm Knot very good with anything accept the inproved clinch knot and snelling.

[scottyhoover]

http://www.stren.com/knotlibrary.htm

i think the knot i tie is a scotty special because it isn't quite like what is shown, but you get the idea.

[skid]

Scotty Thanks for posting the site. Tim :)

[sfw1960]

First off , I thought I was the only one using Fl. Yellow Stren!!!
I use it year 'round & it scares the fish nicely !
:yikes:
I just picked up a HT Ice Blues 28" Light noodle rod -- no spring required....
I'm putting clear 1LB on that one!


I only use a loop knot when I fish for panfish -- it really helps them 'sip' it in... even IF the knot is weak!


Sounds like a sweet setup tommy-n , I'm hopin' for a half day 0' work Friday - and I'd like to go Sat. too !
Just picked up the NEW '05 Squishin' License - got about 5 dzn. spikes & three dzn. mousies -- I think I'm ready to rock!! I'm twitchin' for perch....
I LOVE PERCH
:p
SFW
yA, Ve git dem vit das sVedish PerKinzzz.... hehehe
;)

[schaaed1]

Scotty, when you find a link with those pretty pictures let me know. I'm Knot very good with anything accept the inproved clinch knot and snelling.

Here are a couple sights with any not you ever wanted (and some you didn't). The second sight even has animation for those of us that are a little ... slow.

Any knot you ever wanted (http://www.netknots.com/)
More knots .... with animation!!! (http://www.marinews.com/fishing/fk_main.htm)

[mikenyo]

Alright I had been using 4 lb of that vanish and doing decent. This last weekend I was fishing with a buddy that was using 2 lb vanish and he was kicking my butt. So, I changed to 2 lb trilene yesterday and my success has at least doubled the last 2 days. Either the "Vanish" doesn't vanish as much as I would like to think or there is a big difference in the water displacement between 4 lb and 2 lb line. What do you guys think? I mean it is remarkable the how many more bites I've been getting the last couple days!!
Someone please explain this to me.

[WDGibby]

mikenyo, when the bites are hard to come by, go lighter and smaller tear drops. Last week I couldn't close to gill with a number 12 size tear drop so I went to a size 16 and of course my standard clear sewing thread, works for me. Another limit of deep water gills today. Even with the 2lb they can get line shy.

Gibby:)