Favorite ice line

[no1son]

I fish mostly crappies but intend to try for walleyes this winter, too.

My favorite line all around is GAMMA copolymer. For hard water I am starting out with 2# which they have in an ice version. I also use that weight and 4# in open water quite successfully for crappies and small inshore walleyes. When casting the lighter line gives dramatically more distance to ultralight lures. What line kinks develop on the spool pull out quite easily in the GAMMA lines I have used over the past few years, leaving a limp straight line that shows the slightest nibble. I see more bites than can be felt by any rod; so I have become a very intense tip (in general I light a very soft tip on a fast taper that has enough backbone to dampen any tip bounce) and line watcher. I am going to be trying out a Jason Mitchell meat stick (somewhat modified) and hopefully the tiny guides won't freeze up to badly.

The 2# GAMMA Ice line is even finer that Berkley's 4# FireLine Micro Ice which claims a 1# diameter. That is .10mm for GAMMA versus .13mm for the FireLine. 4# GAMMA Ice at .15mm is very nearly as thin as the 4# FireLine. Somehow I just can't get very excited over FireLine.

Walleyes will need a heavier string, of course, but is there any reason to go over 6#?

What are others' preferences? Brands? Weights?

[chamookman]

I fish 'Eyeballs exclusivly on the Saginaw River here in Mid-Michigan, which typicaly is off color. Flame colored Fireline - either 8lb. or 6lb. tied directly to a snap, works well for Me. C-man

[Fish For Fun]

I just picked up some mono line that is made in Italy, can't remember the name but it is copolymer coated mono if I remember right. They had it down as small as 1/2 Lb test which looked smaller than hair. The 4 Lb was very strong, thin, limp, and smooth it is supposed to break at 7.9 Lbs. Compared to the 4Lb P-Line Copolymer that I like, it was harder to break.

[blueroof]

I like the P-line, they have Flourice in 1lb increments from 1-6 pound. Pretty sweet.

LB

[Seedtree]

Fireline Microice, 4 lb test with 1 lb diameter works well for most fish. If I go to an area with big fish, like Ft Peck, I use Cajun Red in 8 or 10 lb test.

For tip up leaders, Vanish Transition in 6 lb test.

[Auggie264]

I have really come to love the 1lb crystal fireline. I also use alot of 2lb micro ice. The other day I picked up 8oz flourocarbon and will give that a try.

[Fire line]

Fish mainly on lake oahe and fire line is my choice. Cant beat it in deep water for feeling the light bite. For the crappies i like the smallest fire line crystal been out the last three days in water you can see the bottom in 9 feet of water and nailed the fish so the crystal is good stuff.

[no1son]

I am going to try the 6# Fireline Crystal and 2# Gamma copolymer. At this point the 6# Fireline with the supposed 1# diameter quite obviously has a bigger diameter than the 2# Gamma. The Gamma Ice comes in 100 yd plus spools, too, which is nice.

The 2# Gamma is about as fine as I can tie anyway even with my reading glasses, warm fingers, and plenty of light. lol

I got the reels all spooled up and we are now getting firm enough ice on some our city lakes; so when I get done with this weekend's shifts, I will be doing some "comparison testing". Got a new auger to "test", too.