Ice Line........is it worth it?

[diddlepole]

Has anyone noticed a difference in performance from "Ice" line versus regular mono?  The Stren ice line is like $4 for a small spool, or their regular mono for $4 for 200+yds. 

[C P]

Theres a big difference. Noticed it last year I tried Stren smooth casting 4 pound on one of my heavier jig rods and it just coils up like no other. I switched to 4 pound suffix ice line which is kind of expensive but it stopped the coiling completely.

On all my other rods I use 1 pound stren ice line its only a couple bucks ad it works great.

[skunkmaster]

I prefer the "cold weather" variety to the ice line.  Seems to be a bit more reliable for me.

[C P]

I prefer the "cold weather" variety to the ice line.  Seems to be a bit more reliable for me.

Problem is I love the 1 pound test and you cant buy it unless you buy "ice line". 

What do you mean by more reliable? Less breaks? 

If thats the case use a more forgiving ice rod and loosen that drag and you can go with a lot lighter line! 

[Swift]

Premium ice lines make a major presentation difference. Pound test of American lines is more of a running joke than reality. Our 2# lines are more like IFGA 4# line which are required to break at/very near the claimed test, ours are simply a suggestion to make one feel like they're doing more than they really are. If you want , simply add a fly line tippet of whatever test you want, don't need more than a couple feet tied on to fool fish. Learning to play a fish simply takes the desire to learn, back reeling is highly effective as well. Never really understood the amount of money spent on any type of fishing gear and the skimping starts when it come to the only thing that is really in contact or potentially viewed by the fish 

[_colorado]

I agree 100% with Swift.  I always use a few feet of fluorocarbon tippet at the jig, regardless of the line used. 

But I think the point is that 'ice line' has less memory and, perhaps more importantly, less stretch than mono line.  The deeper you fish, the more important line stretch becomes.  Shallow fishing for perch is one thing, 100+ FOW for lakers is another.

[C P]

Ya know what I tried last year that I HATED!

Fireline crystal 1 pound...

Thought it would be great for jigging in deeper water but it definitely wasn't. I had TONS of ice build up on my line between the water in my whole and the tip of my rod. and the line would literally freeze to my reel spool.

JUNK!

[Swift]

http://www./asso.html If you're going to use ice fishing line, use real Ice Fishing line not a modified/repackaged summer product

[C P]

http://www./asso.html If you're going to use ice fishing line, use real Ice Fishing line not a modified/repackaged summer product

Dont most people use ice fishing line when there ice fishing?    Most companies that sell mono for soft water fishing line dont sell anything less than 4lb during the summer that ive noticed. Most ice fisherman that I know use 1 and 2lb test ice line. I prefer 1lb Stren micro ice. I doubt there modifying and repackaging a summer product when none of them even sell the same product in the summer? 

Not trying to be a prick about it but it got me thinking...   

[Swift]

Most don't seem to be, stuff they have on may be an ice line but it looks more like a slinky in action, missing fish constantly on the stuff. Rather have a smaller diameter line per real test rating, that stays straight and sinks like a rock, it's all about sensitivity and true contact with what's going on down there. Have tried the Strens and Berkleys, No Thanks, I'll leave them on the shelves for others

[C P]

Most don't seem to be, stuff they have on may be an ice line but it looks more like a slinky in action, missing fish constantly on the stuff. Rather have a smaller diameter line per real test rating, that stays straight and sinks like a rock, it's all about sensitivity and true contact with what's going on down there. Have tried the Strens and Berkleys, No Thanks, I'll leave them on the shelves for others

Slinky in action? I used Stren 1lb on all my rods last year and it worked great. No coils no problems!  but to each his own I guess!

I read that link you posted. It said that ice line was made in Italy. I searched for ice fishing in Italy and didnt find a single link? Weird? 

[Swift]

Ice fishing in Europe makes us look like pure amateurs, they are totally serious about it. Most of our newest/greatest baits to come along are simply variants they've been using for years as well as other things

[C P]

Ice fishing in Europe makes us look like pure amateurs, they are totally serious about it. Most of our newest/greatest baits to come along are simply variants they've been using for years as well as other things

So about that ice line made in Italy?

Do they ice fish there?

[Swift]

Don't get the hang up with Italy, Europe would easily fit inside the USA

[C P]

Don't get the hang up with Italy, Europe would easily fit inside the USA

I see that but it specifically says its made in Italy? Why?

What does the fact that its made in EUROPE make it better than any ice line made in the US? I must be missing something...

[Swift]

Probably because that's where the plant is, it's simply the best product I've come across for the intended purpose, sorry you seem to have a problem with it, it's sole US distributor is in Michigan and great people to deal with

[C P]

Probably because that's where the plant is, it's simply the best product I've come across for the intended purpose, sorry you seem to have a problem with it, it's sole US distributor is in Michigan and great people to deal with

I dont have a problem with it all. If its what you like to you use then great. 

Me though. I prefer Stren microice  which has worked great for me the last couple years. 

"Its soul US distributor is in Michigan"?  Where does most of its profit go? 

[Fabner1]

Theres a big difference. Noticed it last year I tried Stren smooth casting 4 pound on one of my heavier jig rods and it just coils up like no other. I switched to 4 pound suffix ice line which is kind of expensive but it stopped the coiling completely.

On all my other rods I use 1 pound stren ice line its only a couple bucks ad it works great.

I use 4 pound Stren Hi-viz yellow for my main line and a 6 foot 1 pound Fireline ice line for leader.  I watch the line and feel the hit,  no spring or bobber.  If my line wants to coil up I pull it though my warm hand and it takes out the loops.

[The Splash]

I dont have a problem with it all. If its what you like to you use then great. 

Me though. I prefer Stren microice  which has worked great for me the last couple years. 

"Its soul US distributor is in Michigan"?  Where does most of its profit go? 
 

[Hollywood703]

Cp, hate to say it, but your coming off like a %^%^......you made your point....think its time to let it go....

Curious where in Mi the store is.......seems like a decent selection online, would like to see store front..

[jjmoser]

This is just another option,

For sight fishing I use a high vis. braid taped on the reel or attached with 10 foot of mono to ensure no slipage.  I tie 2-3 foot 1# to 4# leaders or tippets of flouro carbon that I replace up to twice a trip but its a verry small amount and my braid backing holds up with no memory all season long.  Braid can ice up but I am mostly in one man coup so it stays thawed.  This is what I have had success with for the specific fishing I do.  I enjoy the low memory and low strech (sesitivity) of the braid backing and I like the tippits function of low visability.  The braid being hi vis also provides as a strike indicator at times and you can fallow it down to the business end in murkier water.
 

[zackdecker@ymail.com]

Anyone use Stren's Hi-Vis super fishing line or something like that?  I was wondering if it turned to Lo-Vis under water, or if it worked good,ect.

[C P]

Anyone use Stren's Hi-Vis super fishing line or something like that?  I was wondering if it turned to Lo-Vis under water, or if it worked good,ect.

Is that the stuff thats bright yellow?

[zackdecker@ymail.com]

Is that the stuff thats bright yellow?

I think it comes in orange, maybe yellow but I'm not that sure.  I think it has 2 different colors so yellow is probably it.

[jjmoser]

I have used it, mine was ice blue and somewhat clear underwater.  It is a type of braid and for the money I would stick to a more economical braid.  My reasoning is this, with any braid you need to use a leader of mono or flourocarbon line, a lot of these fancy ice braids that claim to be invisable under water are infact not the fish can see it so I recomend usuing a leader in all braid applications.  With that being said then why not use as bright and visible colored braid as your backing that way you can see it better near the hole but near the jig the fish cant's see your leader.  In some real clear water applications I have used lighter colored braid beacuse I thought that the fish could see the line 3 foot up past my leader.... dont know if that was the case or my paranoia.