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Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Bluegill => Topic started by: bladebait on Mar 03, 2008, 09:56 PM

Title: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: bladebait on Mar 03, 2008, 09:56 PM
Just recently started to fish for panfish via hardwater and love it! So I have been sitting my walleye rods to the side. For all you die hard panfish fisherman what is the best line to use for these fish? Have been using 2lb Berkley Vanish but man is it "kinky".

So, instaed of me wasting my money to experiment with other lines I figured I would ask for some opinions first. Didn't know if I should try some Fireline or Spiderwire with a mono type leader?
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: captain54 on Mar 08, 2008, 08:29 AM
I'm a big bull gill man myself,that's my target fish,I've been using Trilene ice( grey color) I use 2,3,4,pound test.When there fussy,I'll use 2lb,if not 3 or 4lb,I use 4lb test when using spoons,like the Frosty or Forage minnow,(alot of bass and pike hit the spoon)2lb test when finesse fishing with Ratso's and small jigs size(12 -16's).Get yourself some GILL PILLS,they where outstanding jigs this winter.The firetiger just put buckets of quality gills in are freezer,Big gills to me start at 8 inches and go up,we got at least over 200 gills that where over 9 inches this year.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: bladebait on Mar 10, 2008, 09:16 PM
I'm a big bull gill man myself,that's my target fish,I've been using Trilene ice( grey color) I use 2,3,4,pound test.When there fussy,I'll use 2lb,if not 3 or 4lb,I use 4lb test when using spoons,like the Frosty or Forage minnow,(alot of bass and pike hit the spoon)2lb test when finesse fishing with Ratso's and small jigs size(12 -16's).Get yourself some GILL PILLS,they where outstanding jigs this winter.The firetiger just put buckets of quality gills in are freezer,Big gills to me start at 8 inches and go up,we got at least over 200 gills that where over 9 inches this year.
Thanks' for the reply captain54. I will take your advice!
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: ~X~ on Nov 06, 2008, 06:06 PM
I just use 2 pound Berkley Trilene XL in the clear color. You can get it in spools large enough to fill the spool on the small spinning reels and it's cheap. Just about everyone I know does the same thing.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: mbart on Nov 06, 2008, 07:26 PM
I use 2 lb. Stren yellow, small jigs don't fish right on 4lb. test. Marmooska's and Moon Jigs are my favorites.  HT 24" Ice Blue, IB-24 rod is what I use for gills and crappie, watching the line and rod tip is critical, because they flare their gills and suck the bait in. I've caught a few nice crappie on this set up, 17.5", 3lb.2oz.  is my personal best.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: CrappieBuster on Nov 06, 2008, 08:24 PM
Pline FluroIce 2lb.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: icejunky on Nov 07, 2008, 06:31 AM
Im a P-line guy for gills as well, in 2lb up to 4lb

Quote
So, instaed of me wasting my money to experiment with other lines I figured I would ask for some opinions first

dont hesitate to try a few different kinds of line, as it will come down to personal preference. I tyr a new line each season to make sure Im not missing out on anything amazing. I have tied on some awful lines but also found some amzing lines...
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: fishhead16 on Nov 07, 2008, 07:32 AM
Im going to try the 2lb cajun line this year.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: icejunky on Nov 07, 2008, 08:09 AM
I like the lighter cajun line, as you go heavey it starts to coil and kink
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: Jigging Nomad on Nov 07, 2008, 05:08 PM
I used 2 lb. Berkely Trilene Ice last year in grey color and it worked very well.  I am mixing in some Sunline Sniper Fluoro this year in case they get real finicky. 
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: ~X~ on Nov 07, 2008, 05:20 PM
The 2 pound FC Sniper Fluoro works great, but since Sunline wacked the US Distributor and most of the pro staff I have no way of getting it any more. Even if I could after what they did I wouldn't consider it...
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: Jigging Nomad on Nov 08, 2008, 04:02 AM
Tackle Warehouse still sells Sniper.  Great line. 
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: FISHFORPIKE on Nov 08, 2008, 04:37 AM
The 2 pound FC Sniper Fluoro works great, but since Sunline wacked the US Distributor and most of the pro staff I have no way of getting it any more. Even if I could after what they did I wouldn't consider it...
EBAY has a ton of it.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: ~X~ on Nov 08, 2008, 05:20 AM
Yeah I may have to break down and get some. Had a bad taste in my mouth ever since they just up and deleted their entire pro staff program out of the blue. A lot of us worked really hard to promote Sunline to be where it is and then to just be cut off without any knowledge of it was pretty irritating...
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: IowaNate on Nov 08, 2008, 12:19 PM
 I use Berkely's Coldwater blue line in 3 lb test. Very limp and easy to see against the ice.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: westt5 on Dec 06, 2008, 12:20 PM
so no one has tried fire line?
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: icejunky on Dec 06, 2008, 12:32 PM
Quote
so no one has tried fire line?

Oh, I have tried fireline...but the question was what is the best line for gills, and fireline is not the best line for anything...it has it's place, but is strictly a secondary rod line for me...and it has to be crystal, not the original.

Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: Van_Cleaver on Dec 07, 2008, 07:51 AM
I like P-line in 2-4#, and keep a couple of rigs spooled with each. Usually have one rig spooled with braided line, (Power Pro with a short flouro leader) not my choice for gills, though it works well for heavier perch spoons IMO.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: CrappieBuster on Dec 07, 2008, 07:19 PM
P-line or gamma ice #2
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: icebucketjohn on Dec 08, 2008, 05:13 AM
For the past few seasons, I've liked the Stren Hi-Viz GOLD 4 lb. While it may be a little stiffer than typical "ice-lines" or "micro-lines", I can certainly see it better and tie knots easier.  It doesnt get whipped by the wind as easily as lighter lines.  I'll put a leader on it using any 2-4 lb line I have available or find on sale.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: Townie on Dec 08, 2008, 11:37 AM
Gotta try the new Gamma Fluoro Ice

Anyone ever use Tortue Nicrita in the past? I had the 3# test; held up  for many seasons.

Can't find it now. In-Fish recommended it back in '95  ;D
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: slabgill on Dec 09, 2008, 08:46 PM
2 lb vanish works fine for me and i catch plenty 8 1/2 to 10 inches every year never have had a problem with it :tipup: :tipup:
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: btechvft70 on Dec 09, 2008, 09:07 PM
gamma esp in 1-2#
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: Richard Cr on Dec 13, 2008, 12:43 PM
Just call me crazy but I like to use nylon sewing thread. Just set the drag quite light and finesse them in with a very limber rod.
I've caught many nice (8"-10") gills with this and when they are sluggish and line shy it seems to be the ticket Just don't HOG them in cuz it don't work.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: zwalleye on Dec 22, 2008, 03:59 PM
1 lb ice trilene.  The lighter, the better for gills.  I've landed some big fish like bass, walleye and pike on it.  Just have to take your time.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: KTapper on Dec 24, 2008, 11:22 PM
Berkly fireline line crystal 1 or 2 pound. Love it!
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: Spin on Dec 29, 2008, 10:09 AM
   Fireline Ice with about a 3 to 4 ft. Flourocarbon leader. In the right conditions with a camera or even looking straight down the hole you can see the difference in visability. Mono looks like Flourecient kite string,
Flourocarbon is dam near invisable. The fireline is no stretch - better sensitivity and hook set and no memory.
I don't like using straight flouro line as it's quite expensive, has memory and cold/stiffening characteristrics and the fact that our Sun will be a burnt out cinder befor this stuff will bio degrade. Wads of old mono all over bodies of water are bad enough now.

                                                                                                                    Spin
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: Sullymon on Jan 13, 2009, 12:34 PM
4# suffix elite ... used to use Berkley XL, this stuff is way better.  I use Fireline and Power Pro for everthing else pertaining to open water, but braid does not work well in freezing conditions, so I don't ice fish with it.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: Kevin23 on Jan 14, 2009, 02:16 PM
I use berkley trilene micro ice in 3lb.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: 53andout on Jan 14, 2009, 02:30 PM
I have 2lb Fire Line Crystal on both my bluegill rods and on my perch rods. I pulled all my different monos off. I like it. But then again, that's just me.


so no one has tried fire line?
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: dkfry on Jan 14, 2009, 04:21 PM
I use a mix of lines. Berkley Micro Ice, P-Line Fluroclear and Stren Ice hi-vis gold. I want to try some of the Asso lines. Fireline has to be the worse line I've ever used for open water and ice. Sort of like using waxed dental floss.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: Sullymon on Jan 14, 2009, 11:05 PM
See how opinions are ... I have Fireline on 25 of my reels, spinning, casting, and conventional ... it's absolutely one of my favorite fishing lines (along with Power-Pro and Suffix braid.)  No stretch, fraction of size compaired to mono or floro., slices through weeds, and casts twice as far.  But then again, I don't like Fireline at all when the temp falls below 32f as it "waxes" (ice-buildup) easy and gets ruined, then I have no choice but mono or floro.
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: Jigging Nomad on Jan 15, 2009, 08:49 PM
2 lb. Sunline Sniper has treated me real well. 
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: brittlab on Jan 15, 2009, 08:59 PM
I have some 1# for clear water fishing and generally use 2-3# pline flouroice or micro ice for the rest of my rods. I also have some 2# crystal for use on stained water lakes
Title: Re: Best Line for Gills?
Post by: fiesty on Jan 22, 2009, 09:40 PM
ande 4 ande 6....