Fireline Questions

[D189]

I'm going to try fireline for the first time this year. I spooled some 8lb. on a Stradic 2000. Do I need a leader with this stuff or can you tie it right to your bait/plug? Any trouble using it with graphite rods? Anything else I should be aware of? Thanks guys (and gals)
D189

[Keith]

First of all I hope you used mono backing before you put on the Fireline. If not, the line will slip on the spool. I use Fireline for vertical jigging and tie it to the jig. Have also used it for Bass fishing and don't use a mono leader. You have to remember that when you set the hook, you are going to pull the fish throught the water as far as you move the rod tip. Good luck.

[Mr T]

Keith,
I've used Fireline when pulling cranks. I either use a snap or tie directly to the crankbait eye. Of all the knots I've tried with Fireline I like the Palomar the best. The popular clinch or improved clinch knot, would not be a great choice with Fireline. I think you will find Fireline to be a great weapon to add to your arsenal. One more suggestion. When pulling cranks with Fireline go with a fiberglass rod. Graphite is too fragile for this application. And does not have enough give to it.
Mr T

[Mr T]

D189,
I meant that reply post to you, not to Keith. Sorry Keith.
Mr T

[reddog]

If you get snagged up on something solid, dont give one of those fast, mighty heave-ho's, or you can kiss your graphite rod goodbye. It transfers too much speed without any forgiveness.

[REW]

On the "fireline and snags" statement.
Carry a piece of dowel or piece of broom stick handle in your boat. Then, if you happen to get hung up on something, you can take several wraps of the line around the dowel or broom stick and use the dowel - to either break the line , or to pull the bait out of the snag.

If you try using your hand, you will end up with big cuts and slashes on your hands. The bigger broom stick works best to disallow slipping and not hurt your hands.

If you do decide to use a graphite rod - go with one that is one or two actions softer than you might ordinarly use. i.e rather than a medium - use a medium light -- etc.

Also, make sure you have your reel drags set on the light side. Better to slip your reel - than break a rod.

Also, if you have a rod - with a moderate action, compared to a fast action - so much the better - more forgivness in the rod -when you hook up on something.

If you do need to use the same "fairly stiff " graphite rod, that you use for mono fishing - you might consider the use of about a 10 foot leader. The leader will give you a shock absorber in the line. If you are concerned with line visability - this will also preclude the fish in seeing the line.

If you decide to use fireline for jigging -- use only the solar green line for jigging. Much of jigging is line watching. (As Ripley - said - believe it or not. ) With smoke colored fireline - you simply can't see the line. The first time I tried jigging with smoke colored line - I basically went nearly fishless - until I switched back to a visable line. Then, when I switched to solar gree fireline - my fishing success then exceeded my mono fishing success. For effective jig fishing you need both the feel and visability that this line will give you.

Also, fire line is very ling lived. Many folks have had the same fire line on their reels for 5 years or more. Simply cut off the end, if it starts getting frayed. If the last couple of hundred feet get too beat up - take the line off the reel and swap ends. i.e. put the end of the line that was next to the spool seat - on the end of the rod. This basically doubles your line life. With fireline being the price that it is at - it makes sense to maximize its use.

Take care and enjoy.

p.s.

For the first fishing that you do with this line -- to protect your fishing trip -- take a 2nd spool for the reel that you are going to spool with fireline and spool up with a similar grade of mono that you are used to using. That way, you can do a-b comparisons between mono and fireline. Also, if you find that you are missing fish, that you feel that you should be getting - due to "whatever"you can always quickly switch to mono - and see if it is the fireline, and your training in its use - that is causing the problems.

Remember - fireline - is a different line - go slow - go easy on your hook sets, use a soft tipped rod, light drag - don't horse the fish, and be ready to drop your rod tip, if you need to let the fish run at the boat - and you will soon wonder how you got on without it.

Take care

REW

[mac]

You've gotten all the right advice, although they left out that you need to use the double uni knot to tie mono to fireline. You can find both that and the Palomar knot from the Walleye Central home page.

[Steve_IA]

Rew and Mac have pretty much given you the pertinent information accumulated over the past five years on Fireline use. In addition to what has been mentioned by them, I would add one additional tip. When tying any knot with Fireline, leave at least 1/4 inch tag end to the knot line after tightening the knot as tight as you can. A Fireline knot will slip just a little when pulled and the extra tag line will allow a margin of safety for this.

[GORD]

Like Kieth says, you need a mono backer or it will not reel in. Fireline is so slippery it just won't stick to the spool if there is any pressure (fish) on the line. Without the mono backing, you will be turning the reel handle, but the line won't reel in. Fire line is not changed as often as mono because it is very durable and is also expensive. If you get any line twist, it might be there for a long time. I'd suggest a small inline swivel be put about two feet before your jig. Since the fireline is so slippery there is a potential problem with knots coming undone. Improved clinch and trilene knots will not slip if you give them three extra wraps. Leave about 1/2" tag end anyway, just to be on the safe side.

[GORD]

OOPS, forgot to mention.... unlike mono, there is no stretch in fireline. Be sure to back your drag off a bit. A good solid hook set could snap your expensive rod if you don't.

[REW]

The comment on using the mono backing for fireline is right on. There is one exception to that however. If you happen to have one of the newer Abu Garcia - or similar reels that have a line hole in them, you can tie the fireline securely to one spot on the line spool and not have to use the backing line. These spools are made similar to a winch on a boat -- i.e. there is a machined spot on the spool, which is designed to have the line tied to. With the line tied into this anchor spot - it can's possibly slip on the spool.

Take care

REW

[Mr T]

Gord,
I've had the most luck by not using a clinch knot on Fireline and going with a palomar knot. Have you had problems with the palomar knot slipping? I use it to attach swivels and crankbaits ect. Any suggestions that would be a better choice in knots for me?
Mr T

[fishin_fool]

I have always used a rubber band to keep the fireline from slipping. It works great. Just take a small rubber band and double it up on the spool and then put on your fire line.