"BIG" Fish - Line

[WalleyeTom]

What line do you use for big lake trout (10 - 20 lb range)?  I have been using 30 lb braided with 12 lb. Seaguar.

[deadsmelthead]

I use 12lb seaguar on tip ups and 10lb on my jigin rods

[Reel_Force]

I use Power Pro  30lb braided with 8 lb. Seaguar INVIZ X leader.

[fishin204]

 both these fish and about another dozen between my brother and i  were taken on yellow #10 power pro ice with a 4 foot flouro leader last year

[muskyon46]

WOW nice lakers fishin204

[WalleyeTom]

Fishin204,

Very nice fish  .....

[Hard_H2O]

I use 8# Trilene XT with a swivel and an 8# flourocarbon leader.

[bigredonice]

I use 6lb fireline with a 10lb flouro leader, easily handles any Lakers in the 10lb-20lb size range you mentioned.

[er-e-is]

I use 10lb fire line with a barrel swivel and a 3' - 15lb mono leader.

[WalleyeTom]

I bought Power Pro 20 lb. and P Line halo 12 lb.

[Hard_H2O]

I bought Power Pro 20 lb. and P Line halo 12 lb.

Boy that sounds heavy.

I have only lost one trout that I would pin on the line. Last year I had a hog on and was working it for quite a while. The leader broke. I think the leader must have been nicked while moving from spot to spot by my careless stowing of the gaff hook.

Other than that the 8# main line and 8# flouro leader has worked for me.

Maybe I have smaller fish in the waters I haunt as well.

Good Luck.

[Akhardwater]

Nothing lighter than 20# floro.  I've seen guys get spooled with 15# test on a good rod and reel.  The big benefit to using heavy line is that it is more abrasion resistant on the bottom of the ice.  We don't mess around with our fish up here especially when an average fish is in the 15# range.  I see allot of guys posting that they will fight a fish for 15-20 minutes, by doing this you just cut that fish's mortality rate in half.  To much added stress can kill a laker just as easily as a foul hook.  I caught a 20lber last year and had him up the hole in less than 5 minutes to give you some perspective.  He went back kicking hard.  On the other hand I caught an 18lber and fought it for 15 minutes and it took just as long to revive.  Unfortunately I don't think he survived due to the stress.  Lakers are pretty fragile fish so handle them carefully and don't over stress them.  Get them to the hole as fast as possible.

[finlessbrown]

6lb leader on all my trout tip-ups and 4lb on my jig rods

[Drifter_016]

Tuf Line Duracast in 24#.    

[Homewrecker]

Have been using 15# power pro and a 15 floro. But will be changing to 30 lb line as some 30 lb lakers have been getting pulled up  at Cold lale.

[Wyomingfish]

I love 6lb, just have to have that drag set for when they run. You will catch alot more fishing using a lighter line. Anything higher than 6lb test trout can see the line.