Ice line choices

[Diehardiceguy]

So what's your favorite line to fish with and why.  I've fished with fire line for the last year and it's ok. Sensitivity is good. Doesn't ice up as bad as braid, and doesn't stretch.

I've been thinking about giving pline flouroice a try if any one has some in out.
Questions are 1. Does pline ice have a lot of stretch. 2. Is it sensitive enough to jig for walleye
3. How is the line management. Thanks for any input.

Also would be jigging strait flouro work for ice fishing or is there to much stretch. I'd go with braid, however fishing outside it freezes up to bad.

[Ice Surveyor]

I don't try to analyze fishing line too much, so darn many choices out there.  I find one that works for me, and stick with it.  That line in PLine.  Been using it for at least 6 years, and it does the job.  I don't jig for walleyes, so I can't help you there.  Mainly panfish. 

[Townie]

Northland Bionic Ice braid in 2#; cheap spools on EBAY, camo blue coloration, hasn't froze up yet

[IAbottomfeeder]

I like Northland Bionic Ice Fluorosilk. Seems to have alot less memory and you don't get those annoying spirals. Seaguars Abrazx Fluorocarbon ice line is one of my go to lines also.

[iowapackfan]

strictly ASSO

[Husker.Walleye]

I used 6lb flouroice this year jigging for walleye in 20-35ft of water on the Missouri River. Braid kept icing up, I was really impressed with the flouroice and have put it on a couple more rods. There is some stretch, but I got good hook sets with my fast action rods. I have also ran 6lb bionic mono and thought is was good. I have not tried the bionic braid. Search around online, I picked up some flouroice for $4.99. If you have other questions let me know.

[Diehardiceguy]

Did you run a leader with flouroice? 

[eyehi]

I run straight p line ..... 8lb test been using it for years with good results...

[Raptortrapper]

I used Stroft for the first time this year, and I'll never use anything else.  Even going to change my open water reels over to it this spring.  Thinnest diameter of anything I looked at, and I looked at a LOT of lines.  No memory to it on the 2.2# and 5# lines.  Superb line.

[fishall30]

P Line CXX - NO memory

[Swift]

Been using ASSO Micron 3 for years and see no need to consider a change. Only need to put enough on to get to the fish, tough, straight and sinks like a rock

[slipperybob]

I use a lot of different kinds.  I can't think of any combo right now that has the same line. LOL.

I will say that this year my main focus is on ASSO micron3 4#.  Wonderful line, I've had this line since 2010 or something.  One year I was focused on Pline Floroice 3#.  Another year it was Fireline Micro Ice.  One year, it was Gamma ESP ice and Gamma Fluorocarbon Ice.  I also remember starting out with Trilene XL, XT, and moving onto Cold weather then Micro ice.  I still have original ASSO Ice fishing line in the blue color.

The basis for my line comparison is with two identical setups with different lines.

[Chris338378]

I've used Triline Cold Weather for years and like it, no issues over the years.  This year I tried Triline Micro-Ice and am not much of a fan because it seems like the spool was sort and it has more twist in the line even though it was a recent manufacturer date.  Maybe I got a bad spool but will try it again.  I always get four pound line.

[Diehardiceguy]

How is the asso line. I want a good sensitive set up for jigging walleyes in 20-40 ft deep. From my experience mono has to much stretch and not enough sensitivity for jigging.

[ChevySilveraydoMN]

I run suffix ice braid #8 test with 6 feet of pline #6 as a leader.  I use this for walleyes at 20 to 30+ fow.  I feel every little bite.  I really like that set up.

[ejdelvo28]

Nanofil.  Never ices up, zero stretch,smooth as silk and no memory.

[slipperybob]

How is the asso line. I want a good sensitive set up for jigging walleyes in 20-40 ft deep. From my experience mono has to much stretch and not enough sensitivity for jigging.

That's subjective.  It takes much more than line alone to be "sensitive" in the set up.  That is why there are spring bobbers and noodles rods.  There's also a lot of line formulations that offers different results.  Not everyone can tell not feel the difference. If it's all feel, then short rods are far better for vibration detection and lure movement than longer rods.  However balancing the set up to one's preference.  Too short of a rod, may be counterproductive for the entire set up.

Braid lines are great for line pulling detection.  Absolutely useless for slack line and up bite feel.  Monolines to include coplymer lines are versatile but comes with that forgiveness in line stretch.  Fluorocarbon lines offers better sensitivity over that of monolines but comes with weaker knot strength, line stiffness, and higher density for line sink.

There are a lot of ASSO lines.  If strictly jigging for walleyes in 20-40 fow, I would use either ASSO Tetramax or Flourolight lines in 4-6# test.  ASSO Ice Heavy is also a great line that sinks but the availability of it in 4-6# is rare.  The 2-3# is always readily available and awesome for panfish with very light lures.  Being a fluorocarbon lines, it does have the weak knot strength and I personally tend to get lazy about re-tying a new knot.

[Bullet21XD]

How is the asso line. I want a good sensitive set up for jigging walleyes in 20-40 ft deep. From my experience mono has to much stretch and not enough sensitivity for jigging.

I use, and would use in your situation, a 5-6lb braid to a 6lb or 8lb Fluorocarbon leader. It works very well for me.

[SexiVexi28]

 Northland Bionic Ice Fluoro. Seems to always work year to year for me. Low memory, durable, and sensitive.

[vanillaice]

I switched to P-line CXX 2lb test a couple years ago and NEVER looked back.  Supple, STRONG, cheap, DURABLE and great soft water line too!

[fowl_language]

I agree with the over analyzing thing to a point, but then I get on my soap box lol.  It's all relative, if you've caught fish with something it becomes important to you and then it's final some guys won't ever switch it up.

For me:
3 lb Berkley Micro Ice, monofillament, I've noticed is pretty low stretch for mono, over twice as strong as 2 lb and a lot smaller diameter than the 4 lb stuff, it does have some memory but only if it's a real cold day (under 10 degrees or so).  I spool all pan fish reels with it every season.  I landed a decent 30" pike with it this year no problems (lipped hooked though).

On larger rigs I usually go 6-8 lb regular trilene xl, might switch to the new power pro ice line though heard good reviews on how it sheds water and resists freezing, which has been my previous experience with braided lines through the ice.

[Dave R]

I fish mostly for Bluegill and Crappie. For the past several years, I've been using 3# Trilene Micro Ice Solar and really like it. This year I spooled some 2# Trilene Cold Weather Blue on an ultra light micro spinning reel and like it also.

[Diehardiceguy]

I was doing some research and found that gamma makes an ice braid just for ice fishing. It looks like it just came out a couple months ago so one sure there's not any reviews yet. It's suppose to not freeze at all its cermic coated or something like that. I think I'm going to give it a shot for jigging.

[slipperybob]

I was doing some research and found that gamma makes an ice braid just for ice fishing. It looks like it just came out a couple months ago so one sure there's not any reviews yet. It's suppose to not freeze at all its cermic coated or something like that. I think I'm going to give it a shot for jigging.

Very interesting...