50lb fireline Is this enough?

[pointer boat]

I am new to musky fishing after a 34 in. hit my #5 shad rap last week fishing for walleyes & I couldn't pull the rod out of the holder trolling 2.8 mi.'s & hr. Wow! netted it by myself after a 15 min. fight ,complete with tail walking across the surface 50 yd's from the boat, . Now I just spent $500 on 2 new 7 ft. heavy action Fenwick rods,& 2 7000 iCS Abu Garcia reels. Now my question is i had them spooled with 50# white fireline . Is this heavy enough line for that trophy fish? Also what kind of leader should I use , remember I'm a 40 yr. walleye guy , don't have a leader in my boat.

Thanks in advance signed : I don't know what the #### I'm doing:confused:

[ToddM]

What is the diameter of 50lb fireline? You want a superline that is at least 18lb diameter mono equivalent and on a 7000 20lb equivalent diameter is probably best. Basically that is 100lb power pro but i know fireline strengths and diamters are different.

if you are trolling, you want a long leader. Flourocarbon 100lb+ or 90lb sevenstrand coated are your choices here. Make sure they are at least 3ft long as muskies like to roll when you catch them trolling.

For casting 8-12" leaders are fine. 100lb+ flourocarbon, 90lb sevenstrand and 124lb+ sraight wire leaders are good.

I use flourocarbon for trolling and casting everything except glide bait(side to side baits) where i use a 124lb or 174lb straight wire leader. I hope this helps you catch and release that big fish you are after.

[PRD1]

I have had the best luck with 80# braided line (Spider Wire Stealth). The 50 pound line is strong enough but my experience with the 50# is that if you get a backlash it is very likely to break and your lure goes sailing. That never happens with 80# and there is very little difference in diameter. I would say the majority of the Musky fishermen use 80# with 65# and 100# cclose seconds.

You will also find the braided line better to cast with and very easy in general to remove backlashes from.

[Unregistered]

Fireline has not been made in 50lb. for about 6 years and never in white unless maybe for some market other than North America. Where did you get it?

If it is 50lb. Fireline then you will be fine as that was one of my favorites when it was being made. It is much thicker than a 50lb. braided line so you will not have the digging in and snapping off problems like 50lb. braid.

[PRD1]

Pure Fishing/Berkeley currently shows FireLine available in the crystal in both 50# and 75# test so it is fresh line. I think you are good to go with the 50# and you might consider trying the 80# SpiderWire Stealth on one of the reels just to see which you prefer.

[Unregistered]

Where did you see that they make 50 and 75 FireLine?

[PRD1]

Sorry about that I mis-read the text. 30# is the heaviest.

[Hawker (Unlogged)]

Actually I'd almost bet (best guess actually) is that instead of the 50# Fireline it is Big Game Braid which comes in a Cabo White and is offered in 10, 20, 30, 50, 65 & 80# choices. Regardless, the 50# (whatever it really is) superline should be plenty adequate for a trolling line for them big toothy critters. If however there is going to be a lot of casting of the bigger heavier muskie baits, the 80# (whatever his choice) would be a better minimum # test choice.

[old fart]

I don't know about that heavy stuff but I just landed a 25lb 44 inch fish with 14lb fireline. I have never used leaders and find they do way more damage to my spinner baits than they do to the line...

[ccg]

One other tip: When you use fireline, make sure you put in about 20 - 30' of mono backing. This will prevent the line from slipping around the spool.

[Donnie]

I have used 80# for years....simply because the smaller diameter lines were cutting into themselves and either getting stuck in a backlash and losing a lure, or, more importantly, burying themselves into the spool. The line gets buried, and the fish is lost.

Just my 2 cents worth!!