Superline

[Nubbinbuck]

I know there has been a discussion before, but I just want to be absolutely sure before spending some money. I am thinking of spooling some spinning reels with PowerPro.. will it behave ok on them? Also, anyone have any experience with Whiplash line?

Thanks !

[Cangl]

Prepare your self for virtualy no memory with any superline that does not use silicone polester and the likes for memory. Once you get used to "fire cracker wick" it is awesome with casting distances, trolling and vertical jigging. The stuff will wrap it self undetectably together around tips and eyelets and also blows around in the wind but as for limp? Limp as a downy feather. I prefer to use a mono leader and swivel 90% time the memory helps with non fowling and keeps most of the stuff away from and out of the tip, keep sharp tools for cutting it also, and alot of times its easier to cut and rerig aarggh but its a neccessity. Silicone wears away and a strand of polyester sounds like an improvement but..... Once you get used to the fibers with no memory "enhancement" the other are "stiff" forever.

[John]

With a swivel and a mono leader, don't you lose some of the sensitivity? I thought you needed all the sensitivity you can get to feel the soft bite.

[slick2526]

I use the small swivel also but I use 8lb Segaur Florocarbon CARBONPRO as my leader. I spose you loose some of the sensitivity but I dont think its enought to worry about. I use a 1/8oz jig in 40ft of water for walleyes and ended up catching about 50 4in perch. Is that sensitive enough for you?

[sorenson]

I have had reasonably good luck with superlines on spinning gear. Sensitivity is nearly unbelievable, no stretch takes some time getting used to - particularly on hook sets. I have not used Power Pro, so can't comment on it specifically. I have had what I consider poor luck with Whiplash; it frayed quite badly and knotted back on itself more often than I thought it should. I am not a complete convert to superlines - they have their applications, but I still fish mono quite a bit too.
s.

[REW]

The comments about no memory are right on.

If you are using a bait caster - and if you are running a bit heavier line - you can use some of the braids with out any problems.

However, if you are running a very light braid - there is so little memory - that it can cause lots of problems on a spinning reel.

Some folks use the general rule of thumb, to use the same diameter super line - for casting purposes as they would use for mono. This - because of the larger tends to take care of the tangling issues.

A line that has worked for me very well - on a spinning rod - is 10 lb fire line. The line is stiff enough so that you tend to get away from some of the no memory - and the ensuing tangle issues, that you get with limper and less memory line.

In any event - the general rule of thumb is to fish with lighter action rods, and also set the drags lighter as well, so that you don't rip the hooks out of fishes mouthes.

In general - there is no reason for an over the head hook set - as is the case for some 4-6 lb mono line. If you are jigging with 4 lb line, and get a bite at 70 feet - you might have 4 feet of stretch in the line. Conversely, with 40 feet of 10 lb fireline out, you might have 2 inches of stretch. Thus, a wrist set - on the hook is more than enough.

I personally, have found that if I am shallow water jigging, that I prefer the use of high vis mono. Lots of line watching, and the stretch of the mono, can actually help hook fish, if you are in relatively shallow water and or close to the boat.

However, once you are fishing in 30 feet of water - or if you are long line trolling - or other application - where you have 100 feet or more line out - then the super line really excels.

Excellent reports on the power pro line, spider wire, and fireline.
I have completely abandonded any of the smoke or dark colored superlines. I use only the high vis lines now. Because of the very thin nature of these lines, I have found absolutely no problems in tying my line directly to the jig, or rig, or crankbait. The number of bites seem equal to using clear or low vis mono.

But, with the high vis super line - high vis green, for fire line, or high vis bright yellow for power pro - makes line watching feasable. The smoke colored lines are simply too tough to see - for excellent line watching.

This first came to me - many years ago - when fireline first came out. I was using smoke colored fire line for drift fishing for steel head, and it was a disaster. You are always fishing on a slack line - when drift fishing - and being able to see the line is an absolute must. The net result was - that after that first trip - I went home and ripped off all of the smoke fireline on that rod and replaced it with high vis mono - until - high vis fireline came out a couple of years later.

Now, with the use of the high vis line - drift fishing is again possible with fire line or power pro.

As I said earlier - I have run quite a few different experiments, and really see no need at all to use any mono line in the system.

I tie the fire line or power pro - dirctly to the baits of choice - and have no problems in getting bites - even in very clear water lakes.

I think that the small size of the line - simply lets fish ignore the line.

Take care
REW