what kind of line for trolling

[scott3206]

What kind of line does everyone recommend for trolling. I mainly pull crawler harnesses behind church boards. Mono, braid? What size line, and why. Thanks......

[Manxfishing]

10# Trilene XT is almost a standered for trolling
The mono has allot of stretch that helps in the hookups and its .013 dia. and all the drive curves in the Precision Trolling book are for that dia. line
Plus it’s on the less expensive side

[180 EyeQ]

What kind of line does everyone recommend for trolling. I mainly pull crawler harnesses behind church boards. Mono, braid? What size line, and why. Thanks......

My personal preference is a quality name brand 10# mono, I don't think it matters which one as long as it's not bargain bin junk. I have a few pro friends that have all tried braid and have since gone back to mono. Their main reason to switch back was too many fish getting off because of hooks pulling out. They tried fluorocarbon leaders but that didn't help much. They also felt that the visibility of the braid reduced their catch numbers due to fish seeing the line in clear water situations. I'm sure others have had success with braid but if you choose a quality mono line I'm sure you'll do just fine.

[Ray Champine]

I look for a line diameter of .013". That keeps me inline with the Precision Trolling book. (I'm just reiterating what Manx has told you.) I prefer to go with a higher pound test that has the same diameter as XT (.013"). I currently use 14lb Spiderwire SuperMono XXX. Another line to think about is Berkley Sensation in 14lb, for the same reasons.

Ray

[Hombre Robusto]

I switched to Berkely Big Game in 12# test last year. It seems a lot more abrasion resistant than lines I've used in the past, plus the local joint sells it for about $8 for a large spool.

[Sportdog]

I switched to Berkely Big Game in 12# test last year. It seems a lot more abrasion resistant than lines I've used in the past, plus the local joint sells it for about $8 for a large spool.

+1......I have been using 15# Big Game but plan on switching to 12# this year. My mono trolling linecounters do double duty for salmon/trout and walleye/Pike so I'm somewhat apprehensive but a lot of the salmon guys are starting to get away from the old standby, 20# Big Game. I think because guys like Dan Keating are proponents of getting more strikes on 10-12# line due to better lure action. Anyway with the good drags on my reels I should be good to go.

[scott3206]

Thanks to everyone for their input.

[teamlund]

I use 17# Trilene XT.. I have been using it for years. If I only trolled fro eyes I would go with 12# but I occasionallt troll for pike so the 17 does great for both. I just have to let out alittle extra line to make up for the larger diamater of line!

[karpbuster]

I use green Big Game with a fluorocarbon leader.

karpbuster

[Smitty]

I personally use Fireline (with the drag fairly loose and a trolling rod with plenty of flex) and I adjust for depth accordingly as the Trolling Bible indicates, but I guess it depends on several variables.

If you are trolling open and reasonably shallow water Mono would work just fine and like others I'd probably choose a quality brand 10lb.

If you want to achieve extra depth without more weight the smaller diameter super-lines can be helpful. I also like Fireline because at one of the lakes I fish I'm often fishing shallow weedy areas and the no stretch characteristic helps me to feel when I have the smallest of weeds on that is impacting action (I'm usually trolling crankbaits rather than harnesses).

[eye4aneye]

I watch the diameter, try to keep it at .013. My local Wally world had Stren 12lb on sale for 3 bucks a roll last fall, it's the right dia, so I stocked up. I was using 12 or 14# (can't remember which) Magnathin that I had bought for a bargain but I have run out.

I like using 12lb or heavier line. When you are pulling boards and a deep diving crank, if you catch a big catfish or wiper, 10# can cost you a lure or worse yet, break off ahead of the board.

I have used Trilene Big Game but it is reaaaalllly stretchy.

[walfshmn]

I use Fireline in the 14/6 on all my trolling reels, but this spring I am going to spool one reel up with the new Fireline brain 15lb.

[goldman]

My personal preference is a quality name brand 10# mono, I don't think it matters which one as long as it's not bargain bin junk. I have a few pro friends that have all tried braid and have since gone back to mono. Their main reason to switch back was too many fish getting off because of hooks pulling out. They tried fluorocarbon leaders but that didn't help much. They also felt that the visibility of the braid reduced their catch numbers due to fish seeing the line in clear water situations. I'm sure others have had success with braid but if you choose a quality mono line I'm sure you'll do just fine.

Ditto's, I've lost alot of fish using Fireline for trolling. Hooks pulled right out of the mouth, and I'm one that kicks the motor out of gear when we get a fish on. I went back to 10lb mono for trolling and have had alot more success. I'm still running super lines for jigging though, the extra sensitivity in that situation is a real plus. Just my $.02

Goldman

[fishinmachine2]

12# Berkley Sensation!! Same diameter as 10# Xt so you can still use the precision trolling book as a referance!!

Scott

[Guest]

14/6 or 20/8 fireline for an extended period and 30/8 power pro the last few yrs. 10/2 power pro for some situations where I want to get flatlined baits deeper. PT conversion charts handle the line dia differences. I'll never spool mono for eye trolling again.

Why - Well, 1st off I only have 5 linecounters (#6 died) and they need to work for everything from dipsies to cranks to harnesses in open water and for cranks and harnesses on structure. The superlines have better sensitivity (that no-stretch others don't like) and I don't have to retie everytime my line gets near a zebra or quagga mussel (10/2 is only a little better than mono for mussels though). I have saved so much money and fishing time by not losing baits when structure trolling it's silly. Plus I don't need to change line several times a season or even every yr and when it does get worn I generally can reverse it and get a second life.

I really, really don't think it superlines spook eyes in any trolling situation and I sometimes fish water with better than 20 ft of visibility. I connect cranks and 4 ft or longer mono harnesses directly to a snap (I tie harnesses with a swivel) and catch as many fish as guys in the same boat running flourocarbon leaders.

I know you said mostly harnesses but if you run superline with cranks on those church boards w/o tattle flags your rod will vibrate from the crankbait action in many situations where it would not with mono. Easy to tell if you pick up a piece of weed or whatever.

I question whether the no-stretch superlines result in more lost fish or maybe result in fishers connecting & losing more lightly hooked fish that used to be missed bites. There is stretch in the harness, the board has give, the rod has give and the reel has a drag. I might argue the fight can be more fun with the sensitivity of superlines. You do need to fight the fish using the rod and the reel drag instead of just reeling it in...LOL Seriously, superlines will rip lips on small fish when speed trolling which is not good but a light drag seems to compensate for the no stretch just fine with decent fish.

[Anthony E]

Trilene 10lb XT Mono. I have it on four of my linecounters-works great-inexpensive line.
Tony

[duckbutter]

I have used Power Pro for trolling for the last five or six years--I put 150 yds on each reel with some cheaper mono for backing. I also use a medium action rod, and usually troll with in line boards. I have been very happy with the Power Pro versus Fire Line--it seems to be a little more of a round line than the fire line and doesn't dig into itself when loading up the reel. I get two seasons of use out of each spool. At the end of each season, I reverse the line on each reel.

[scott3206]

Duckbutter; What size power-pro are you using? Thanks