Author Topic: Ice line. (Read 4260 times)

Strike Lead · « **on:** Dec 06, 2005, 09:22 AM »

In all of my nervous anticipation for this ice season, I'm changing all of my line on all of my rigs.

For tip-ups I use black braided line. #17 test. This gives me flexability in cold weather. It also allows for the line to be seen on the ice better. Way down deep, it doesn't seem to spook the big ones.

I usually run two jiggin lines. I'm thinking about going to Spiderwire or Fireline. Monofilament was causing me problems with breaking. I was using some Spiderwire in North Dakota last season and it was great. The braided line was strong and didn't seem to fray even with lots of nicks fom the ice. I think we used light brown or maybe a mossy green.

Any ideas what would be good line for DCL? I usually fish in 25-45 feet for perch/walleye.

Fat Boy · « **Reply #1 on:** Dec 06, 2005, 10:55 AM »

I guess it depends on the species that you're targeting. I tried jigging with Fireline several years back and found that it holds water and freezes. Now there is an ice fishing version of Fireline and I haven't tried it, so maybe that problem has been worked out. Anyone use Fireline Ice for jigging?

Anyway, for finicky bluegills, perch and crappie, I mostly always use fluorocarbon line in small diameters (Seaguar 1 or 2 pound test, for larger species either 4 or 6 pound test, sometimes even 8 pound). For my tightline rigs, I use Stren Hi Vis gold 4 pound with 1 or 2 lb. fluorocarbon leader. I was considering using a small diameter braid or fused line for my tightline rigs along with the fluoro leader since they transmit vibration better than other lines and are very visible, maybe in hi vis green, if I can find the diameter small enough, but for now the gold is OK.

What kind of line do you tightliners use?

C.C. · « **Reply #2 on:** Dec 06, 2005, 11:32 AM »

I put some fire line ice on one of my jigging rods to try for this year. I didn't want to get alot till I see how it works. As for tightlining, I'm not sure if I ever did it so I have no input on that.
Jim

Strike Lead · « **Reply #3 on:** Dec 06, 2005, 01:32 PM »

Yo....Fatboy.

Tightlining......now there's a term I haven't heard for a while. I assume that yur talking about suspended hooks at different levels for panfish. Maybe you could start a new thread and teach us all about this.

I have been ice fishing DCL for over 30 years and I sometimes get into a rut, with bad habits and forget to do those things that worked years ago. I focused in on the bottom and have not done real well for panfish on the ice. I know lots of good blue gill places on the lake but stay away from them in the winter as I go in pursuit of the walleye. God, I'd like to learn more about catching suspended fish.

I found an article online for the carpcatcher. Click Here

Good day, men.

Fat Boy · « **Reply #4 on:** Dec 06, 2005, 05:14 PM »

OK, I'll post more on tightlining when I have a bit more time...gotta go home (I'm at work) or my wife will kill me $:-\$

By the way SL, I fixed your post so that all you have to do is click on the link and it will work. That's the only time I'll ever modify a post is to fix a link that someone intends for others to use unless it's mine.

Fat Boy · « **Reply #5 on:** Dec 06, 2005, 05:24 PM »

Tightlining: lot's of info if you do a search and some really good threads, but here's a post I did to briefly explain what the latest ways of doing it are:

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=26597.msg245809#msg245809

There's a thread on this from last year or the year before. I'll find it and bring it back to life and post the link here too. Also, there's a good article on the IT site somewhere in the archives under panfish. Good info there...

Strike Lead · « **Reply #6 on:** Dec 07, 2005, 08:51 AM »

Thanks Fat Boy for giving us lots of good stuf to thik about. Very interesting.

Rockfish · « **Reply #7 on:** Dec 10, 2005, 03:23 PM »

I've used fireline in the 2lb test dia. 6 or 8lb ( I can't remember) breaking strenth for about 5 seasons on my walleye jigging sticks. I use a small swivel and a 12-15 in. leader of florocarbon to attach my lure. You're right that once it starts getting frayed abit it picks up water that freezes and gets a little sticky. I try to compensate for this because I've felt it's greatly superior to mono. at telegraphing strikes. I'm looking to pick up and try the new ice fishing Fireline this year. Thus far I haven't used it on my panfish rigs. I figure the visibility fishing tiny jigs might put off to many fish.

Rockfish

C.C. · « **Reply #8 on:** Dec 13, 2005, 06:26 AM »

I got to try the fire line ice on sunday. The weather was cold, prob. around 18. The first couple minutes it was great but that ended soon after. It collected ice ball's quickly where the line met the water which is no big deal because mono does also but usually with mono I just squeeze the line between my fingers and pull and its gone, not with fire line. I had to do the mouth thing. Then I reeled the line in several times and that was pretty much the end of the nice words. I can deal with pulling the line off the reel a little but not the whole time. I was only in about 11' or so, if I would have been in 40' I'm affraid there would have been a birds nest of fire line in my equipment box

I would think for in a hut it would be great but I'm not an inside person normally.
Jim

Fat Boy · « **Reply #9 on:** Dec 15, 2005, 12:11 PM »

Here's an article from Mark Strand and Ice Team that explains tightlining very well:

http://www.iceteam.com/2004annual/touchyperch.htm

Rockfish · « **Reply #10 on:** Dec 18, 2005, 10:17 AM »

Carpcatcher,

Really, I haven't had much more of a problem with that than with mono. and actually I feel there's less likelyhood of it damaging my line. Firelines tough stuff. I feel like I can usually shatter the ice balls with my fingertips pretty easily. Of course, this isn't a problem at all in the ice hut.

A question, was that Fireline's ice line or the regular stuff?

Rockfish

C.C. · « **Reply #11 on:** Dec 18, 2005, 04:28 PM »

Rockfish, it was the ice line and when the bite is on I want to have my jig in the zone as much as possible. When using a heavy hali jig it will pull frozen mono off the spool fairly good but I feel you would need an anchor size jig to pull the frozen fire line off. I am definitly not questioning the strength of fire line though.
Jim

wvjohn · « **Reply #12 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 09:29 AM »

Hey there I use Fireline all the time it works well when jigging. Ive only been ice fishing for a few years but in a shanty you really can feel everything and it wont ice up,,as for no shanty = ice balls but I have not tried the ICE FIRELINE so i really cannot say.

John

Rockfish · « **Reply #13 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 09:35 AM »

Hmmm, I see what you mean... The sticks I have loaded with it I devote to using jigging shads and rapalas so I guess its not a problem with heavy stuff like that. I can see it being a prob. with light stuff like panfish jigs... For that I stick with mono. (actually flourocarbon like vanish).

Rockfish

PIKEGUY · « **Reply #14 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 09:48 AM »

I used Fireline Ice on Saturday sitting outside and it iced up pretty bad. It is tough stuff though and it's easy enough to get the ice off.

Strike Lead · « **Reply #15 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 10:29 AM »

Here's a product I've heard of. It's called Stanley's Ice Off. It claims to be
effective to 12 degrees below freezing, or 20 degrees. It can be
applied to your line and guides. Says it's safe for the skin and the
environment. I also heard of another product (both from the same company
called LOON OUTDOORS) called Line Speed. It's a line cleaner and
conditioner. Also a UV block. Make sure you follow the directions.

www.loonoutdoors.com

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