Fireline?

[tj1n]

Has anyone experience any problems with the flouro fireline being too visible in clear water presentations?

I love fireline for jigging and recently read a post that stated fireline wasn't good for this presentation and that mono is better in these situations?

I hate to give up the sensitivity of switching to mono.....any suggestions if this is your recommendation?

Thanks,
Travis J.

[Kevin/CO]

If you feel comfortable and confident in using the fireline and havne't noticed it having adverse effects or spooking fish then don't switch. If you are really concerned use a leader, slthough that will cut down some of the extreme sensitivity that makes fireline a good choice.

[RD]

I use the black fireline exclusively for jigging. While on a good bite in Canada, I have switched back and forth between mono and fireline and consistently catch more on fireline because I can feel it better. The color does not seem to matter. I have not tried the flurescent because I don't night fish. Fireline is especially great when jigging in deeper water (20'and up).

[Brian_MN]

I'm not sure who I heard it from, probably an old grey hair like Fellegy, but he said "If walleyes were spooked by fishing line they wouldn't get caught in gill nets." Makes some sense. I've not seen a difference between jigging the black or the flame.

[Gilligan]

I got talked into going from smoke to a hi vis line by Scott Fairburn in a seminar a few years back. You will see many more subtle bites and it won't scare the fish.

[REW]

I have done a bunch of testing using mono, smoke, and flame fire line, and found virtually 0 difference in the number of bites. However, the number of fish netted was better with the fireline, because of the better hook setting ability.

I certainly wouldn't worry about using a mono leader. Typically, the mono leader is going to be larger diameter any way.

Take care

REW

[SnellTier]

Interesting posts. Guys, do you have trouble adjusting from the strecth of mono (30%) to the stretch of fire line (like 0%) when you are vertical jigging? I have heard that some of the people makeing the switch have 2 isues to deal with ... first, they actually rip the jig right through the fish's mouth because of the zero stretch and, second, they break rods during the hook set -- again because of the zero stretch.

I have thought about making this switch myself. Partially for me out of curiosity and partially for my wife who has trouble feeling the light bite of walleyes. She is better than me at bottom bouncing but worse than me at jigging.

[Marble Eyes]

I started using the Fireline last fall. I set the Drag fairly light. FWIW I had no trouble with the switch. I also use a Medium light Rod.

But OH the feel.....

[tj1n]

tomd,

I too made the switch this past year as my fishing partner was out catching me when jiggin'

Well this past year at a minimum I kept up with him if not outfished him. I love the feel of fireline, the only concern I had was as mentioned earlier whether or not the visibility would be an issue on clear water.

I love the visibility of the flouro for the light bites as you can really see the line move prior to ever feeling the bite.

Good luck,
Travis J.

[bob oh]

Love fireline. Set drag lighter to soften hook set. Haven't had a problem with the green line spooking fish??

[RANGER]

tomd,

Fireline is another tool in the arsenal. I have used it since inseption and I won't be without it - ever! There is, however, restrictions in using it.

First, you need to learn HOW to fish it. Because it is 0% stretch you can rip hooks out of mouths and break rods, this is true BUT it is due to fishing Fireline as though it was mono. Set drags LOOSELY. Use SWEEPING hook sets instead of wrist-snapping or rack-'em-up, over-the-head sets like Bass fishermen. ;-) The sensitivity of the line requires great concentration, up front, to learn to interpret what you're feeling. Especially with graphite rods! You will learn fast and after you do you will wonder how you ever got by without it!!!!!

Second, you need to learn WHEN to use it. Fireline can, and is, used for all applications but it takes some trial and error to learn to do this. Initially I didn't use it for trolling. The reason was that I had a number of strikes that got hooked and then thrown that would not have happened with mono! Soooo, I tied a mono leader onto the Fireline to serve as a snubber and it worked. As a matter of fact ETT and his family business are making snubbers out of flexible tubing to serve just this purpose. I picked several of them up at the Cleveland boat show and they look pretty nice - can't wait to give them a shot. (Hope that was OK to mention, Jim)!

Thirdly, you need to learn WHERE to use it. In actuality, Fireline can be used EVERYWHERE but only after you get very experienced with it. It really shines, though, for suttle, precision presentations such as jigging and bottom walking etc.

I like my rods to have a fast taper (tip) with medium backbone. I fish IM-6 and IM-7 rods in 6'+ length for the most part and the sensitivity can drive a "mono-man" NUTS!

Fireline is the best thing that has happened to line, IMHO! You will probably agree after you try it and get used to fishing with it!


I, too, have not noticed any difference in bites between smoke, flame and mono. I love the stuff!

[Chad]

Do not add a mono leader. The weakest part of your line is the knot. Last thing you need to do is add more knots to the set up. Tie directly to your line.

[Eyez]

Here's a story for ya, take it for what it's worth.

In 1994, I spent 8 days on Eagle lake, Ontario. We'd had 3 ok days of fishing, when we stumbled into a school of walleyes feeding shallow on a gravel flat at the base of some shoreline boulders. There were 3 of us in the boat, my Dad, my brother and I. Both of them were using mono, I was using a dark green braided line, one of the first that hit the market. Similar to spiderwire. The water was crystal clear, could see down about 15 feet or more, and often could see the walleyes hit our jigs as we worked them across the gravel flat out in front of us. That day, My Dad and Brother, between them, boated over 100 walleyes. I, with my braided line, caught one. around sunset I switched to mono, caught 4 fish in a couple minutes. My brother grabbed my rod with the braided line, he couldn't catch anything on it either in the last part of the day. We fished the same spot for the next 2 days, doing equally as well, occasionally switching back to the braided line, and never did catch anything on it. I'm not saying that braided lines always spook fish, but it sure as heck did in that spot on those days.

That said, I never use fireline for jigging, unless it's something over 20 feet deep or so, but I do use it exclusively for trolling, always with a 10-15 foot mono leader.

My dad, on the other hand, uses fireline exclusively, and he does just fine with it when we're working trees on waubay, or jigging clear water somewhere.

I do think that under certain circumstances, it can spook fish, although I would bet that it's uncommon.

When I do use fireline, I prefer black. ;)


Eyez

[ristorapper]

First of all I don't fish many lakes or rivers that I would call clear.

I am currently in the middle of changing nearly all my jigging rods to fireline in the flame green color.

Last year my wife's rod lay in the rod locker all year pretty much unused because she was so busy with work. Years ago we spooled her up with fireling because she invariably needed a 1/8+ ounce heavier jig than I needed to feel bottom. She using fireline with me useing mono, we were able to use the same weight jig then. We spooled hers with 6/2 flame and she in most cases puts as many in the livewell as I do. The reason for flame is the ability to watch the line. She had trouble seeing mono so we went to flame in hopes of her seeing some of the bites and I think it works for her.

Getting back to her unused rod in the locker last year. I grabbed it on several occasions this past year and did well with it and liked the extra sensitivity. I did have an area infested with snags that gave me a terrible time and finally rigged a rod with 8/3 smoke fireline to recover most of the jigs when i got snagged up. Simply bent the hook to get the jig back(wrap fireline twice around a short piece of 1" dowel and slowly pull, it will let go or straighten the hook). You will not be able to do this with a mono leader. I always tie direct.

And that leads me to this year and spooling mostly fireline on the jig rods. Waiting to find a good price but if that doesn't happen, I will go with it anyway. It is worth it.

I do use fireline on my cranking rods also and like the sensitivity it provides. You can tell if you tick a weed, bottom, whether your fouled up, whatever. Mono doesn't give me that feel. I use mostly 14/6 smoke and adjust my depth of crankbaits using the precision trolling guide. Here again I tie direct.

I am currently shopping around for a pair of baitcasting reels/combos for bottom bouncing and of course will go with fireline probably 8/3 or 10/4 with a mono leader. That was something I learned from Jeff Taege fishing PWT Sakakawea last summer. Boated my largest eye to date!! Sorry got so long here but in clear water I'm not much help, but in slightly stained or stained there is not much difference in mono vs fireline other than sensitivity and recovery of lures in my honest opinion.

BW(ND)
BW(ND)

[tj1n]

If spooling your own, what is the best way to do correctly? Any prefered amounts different than what the spool calls for?

Travis J.

[SUPERTROLLER]

Just fill it like any other line you have used. It has no "memory" and therefore will not uncoil on your reels. Only thing I'd add to the above posts is that in very snaggy areas I prefer to use mono. When I'm drifting downstream and snag up I want to be able to break the line easier. Wrapping around a dowel or other handy tool is essential so you don't slice open your fingers. If we're in a lake it's not as much of a pain to circle back around to try to save the jig/lure/whatever but moving along with the current in a river is tougher because things happen faster. I run my drags as loose as possible and tighten them after a fish hits. This ensures I don't break a rod on the hookset. I like to give a short snap set when I feel the bites. Keeps the bait in the strike zone when I miss. Drag gives line as needed if fish is there.