Fireline - Trolling?

[gms]

Has anyone ever tried using Fireline for trolling crankbaits for walleye? I have always been hesitant to try this think that the "no stretch" will rip the crankbaits out of the walleye's mouth?

On the flip side I would like to get some of my #8 Shad Rap's down a couple more feet will out having to add keel weights.

[chamookman]

Fireline is a very important tool in My trolling arsenall. It`s not for every situation, but don`t leave home without it!! My .02- Bob.

[ETT]

Fireline gives you more depth, & more action. Weeds, trash fish and small fish are easy to read. Long softer rods will reduce the number of rip-offs but not elliminate them. 10/4 & 14/6 are the 2 most popular sizes on Erie. I use it but only when needed because I HATE TO LOSE FISH!!!

With the right rods (longer and softer), and experience (don't try to move a fish that's shaking it's head) you will be able to reduce the rip-offs to around 25%. Still too high but comes with the territory, and don't worry you'll know when they are shaking their heads. Fish with the drags backed off, and it should take you about twice as long to bring a fish to the boat with fireline as with mono.
Good luck.

[SUPERTROLLER]

I tried mono again this spring but was back to Power Pro and Fireline by July. With all the weeds I encounter, I want to know immediately when my baits collect debris and stop running correctly. Mono doesn't transmit the vibrations back to the rod tips on long leads I'm running and I want to maximize my productivity. As ETT said, use a softer rod and back off your drags. Allow the drag to do the job for you. When a fish takes line, LET IT. Never set your hooks by jerking the rods. It's not needed. The fish will already have done it for you or will with the constant tension you keep on the rod. Keep the rod tips High and reel whenever the fish allows. I lose very few fish. By the time a walleye gets to the boat, it has lost most of the energy to make a violent run. Try it, you'll like it.

[Toolman]

GMS,
As ETT said, back off the drags, both while trolling and while bringing in a fish. Set the drag to slip on the strike. I think this cuts down on most of the tear outs by getting a better hook set. Don't worry, sharp hooks will set themselves with fireline, even with a loose drag. 8 to 8'6" composite or fiberglass rods help take out the shock of a surging fish also.
Tearouts are a downside to fireline but the depths that can be reached without adding weight and the sensitivity gained (especially at long line out lengths) outweigh the drawbacks most of the time. That being said, trolling with mono still has it's place in certain situations.
Tim

[DarrenB]

I don't like trolling with anything else but Fireline. Lures are expensive these days and all it takes is a snag on a rock or branch and a kink in the line and you are out 5 or 6 bucks. Over time thats a lot of money. Like everyone else has mentioned, I usually keep the drag set somewhat loose so that the fish can run with the bait. While trolling the fish hook themselves and there is no need for a real sharp and hard hookset.

[Chevy4sur]

For the past two years I have come to troll only with Power Pro and Whiplash. I try mono occasionally but after a half hour or so, I am back to using the braids. I love the feel of the lure working.

I troll rivers most of the time and fish within the bottom foot of water. That means lots of snags or no fish. Snags were too costly with mono; however, I rarely lose a lure with the braids. And with the braids, I always know if the lure is working properly and this results in no lost time.

To fish the braids most effectively and efficiently I use flexible rods (St Croix med glass rods in the 7 foot length)and level wind reels with the star drags set very light and the line clicker "on."

Once you try trolling with the braids in snag and weed infested waters, you will never troll with mono again.

Jack

[mmillelacs]

i use fireline 90 percent of the time, however there are a few situations where i have found mono to be a little better. I have found that mono works a little better when using tail dancers or shallow diveing shad raps. I believe that these 2 baits and possibly and possibly a few others have such an erratic wobble that mono seems to smooth it out a little if that is what the fish respond to. I noticed this pattern a couple times last fall

[mmillelacs]

testing--just wanted to see if im registered again

[bladebait]

I use fireline for almost all my trolling for walleye in rivers. You know immediately when you are fouled with weeds and you can see the lure working. As far as losing fish, I think I lose fewer now with fireline than I once did with mono but it took a while to adjust to playing the fish and finding the right combination of drag setting and rod action. I think the reason I lose fewer fish now is that the fight doesn't last as long because the distance I set the lure back is less than with mono. When I play a fish I don't yank the rod out of the holder and start pumping the fish in, I ease the rod out of the holder, take the boat out of gear and wind the fish in slow and steady while keeping the rod perpendicular to the fish and low to the water. Wind the fish in fast enough to keep the rod loaded but not so fast that the hooks rip holes in the mouth of the fish. In the river, once we hook a fish and take the boat out of gear it's not long before we are drifting toward the fish, ending the fight pretty quick.
The only time time I switch to mono is to prevent my plugs from diving too deep or when fishing for steelhead which run so fast they break leaders and pop our boards off. For most walleye fishing it's hard to beat the overall benefits of fused lines.

[Curt]

Fireline is great isn't it? Heck its so tough that I use it to winch the boat up. I worry though, I really don't want to pull the eye out of the boat! LOL just kidding. Good stuff though huh?

[Russ Warye]

Great product for trolling, although I suggest using fiberglass rods, as others have.