Tricks you use to see the line so you can tie on jig

[ICE DOG 69]

Last year I used a yellow ice fishing line (6#) on my walleye jig poles.  Did not effect my catch, my best year yet!  This year I have redone all my poles with a red Ice line after doing research the diameter of the red line I will be using will not effect fish catching (so say the experts).

[wyogator]

The different colored mono lines are designed for trolling, when you have 5 or 6 lines in the water, to keep track of which line goes to which rod.  The fish can't see them.  I don't know if it would help with tying or not.  I like the ice fishing lines; they don't get as stiff.  I'm not sure that they have different colored ones or not.  I haven't seen any.

[dabluz]

I have often seen where the only difference between me and my buddy or son when jigging for walleyes was the snap.  Of those times where there was a difference it was close to 100%.  Meaning, me catching lots of walleyes one after another while the other was almost zero walleyes.  This was using the same exact clear 6 lb mono and the same 1/4 ounce Sickle jig baited with the head of a nightcrawler.  I'm not saying that the difference is always great but I have too often seen a difference over the years.

I have often seen that the colour and the size of the line does make a difference.  The size is more important than the colour.  For brook trout and walleye, the difference between 4 lb test and 6 lb test is small but there is a difference.  The difference between 4 lb clear mono and 8 lb clear mono is quite high.  I have not found much difference for brook trout and walleye when using clear mono or low viz green or beige in 4 lb test.

I am 65 years old and I need glasses to see up close.  What I do is to find something with a contrasting colour that does not reflect light.  A piece of dark cloth works fine.  I then tie my line to the jig with the dark cloth in the background.  It's a question of having decent light from behind and a good background to tie the line.  Some knots are easier to tie than others and the Palomar knot seems to be the easiest yet one of the strongest knots and on top of that, it's foolproof.  The improved clinch knot is a tad stronger but it has to be carefully tied.

[DasRottweiler]

the other thing that i do is carry 10 to many extra rods in a rod bag. most of what i want to use are on those rods in the sled. i try to stay one step ahead of the fish and the weather. it is easier to tie these on in the garage or house than it is in my shanty. i do carry a lot of ice jigs just in case.

Yup, I do carry my jigboxes etc, but I set up about 8 rods with different offerings the night before I go fishing.
No rush, tie em on , check the knots , clip em snug , all while sitting in a cushy chair with good light!  I have 2 spoon rods and I use small snaps on them for quick spoon/rap changes on ice without tying. I won`t even attempt to tie the 2# Gamma I use for pannies on 2 of my rods while on the ice, forget about it...not unless it is absolutely necessary! I have a spring bobber threader that I made using light wire, I am going to try using that with the 2#, stick it thru the jigeye and pull line back thru jigeye with it. Still gutta fight to get the knot tied, but at least I think I can thread the needle!

[beau2]

Thanks for all the feedback fellas.

[OldSailor]

Something else to be considered is trying to tie on a small jig using very light line, sitting on a bucket with the wind blowing and the temps around 0 degrees!! I know, that's why they sell shelters and heaters!! All I have is an old JON-E hand warmer that's well over 40 years old!!(the MADE IN USA one) I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season! MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!!

[howesfc]

I carry a cheap pair of reading glasses and put them over my bifocals when I need extra magnification.

[Bout-Time]

I have progressive trifocals in my glasses and when I was tying some fast snaps on the other day I noticed it was easier to see the line with a dark background. I had a black portfolio laying on the table and found myself holding the snaps over it. I have also seen people with black lights on their bass boats and monofilament lights up like a neon tube. I have an ultra violet flashlight, but haven't tried it on mono yet. I guess getting older comes with it's problems, but is still better than the alternative.

Same here, Ive gotta have a dark backdrop to see the line better. (and my reading glasses)

[da man cave shack]

I like to keep some of those cheap needel threaders in my takle box and pocket.

[devo]

Yellow Stren, 2lb. is easy to tie as rope.

[GAMBELL]

Bring someone younger with you to do all the work  !

[CharlieBrn]

Martian: Thanks for the heads up.  I live in extreme Rural America and one of these days when I make it into civilization, I'm gonna get me a pair of them glasses.

[Purple Floyd]

I put fast snaps on all of my ice rods this year and will use them regardless. I will be trying the QuikSwirl connectors too to see if they will work because they look a bit stronger and more reliable than the snaps.

[CharlieBrn]

Give us an update purple floyd on those.  Have thought about them also but the snaps have been working just great so far.  But always willing to try something new.

[bassbull]

One rod and a fast snap, jigs in right hand pocket in lrg. ice tackle kit. Hole jumping at its finest. Don't need all those poles because to worried about the next hole I'm going to. Everyone a happy Holiday and good fishing. We lost our ice last week and just have frozen scum ice right now and it looks like it could be a while yet according to the weather man.  NUTS........Steve

[lvwalleye]

At 69 with trifocals, plus my hands shake, it can be very difficult.  I too carry carry pre-tied rods and use No Knot Snaps.  Now I use a trick I learned while watching my grandson tie using more line with large loops, like seeing a much larger knot.  Putting the line through the eye is still difficult but once done I prefer to double the line back through the eye for strength.  Put some saliva on the line and it will help hold the line end while sliding it through the eye.  Then make the knot on a loop of 6"-10" of doubled line.  Besides tying knots allows you to spend more time on the ice.  (If this was hard to follow let me know)

[ice dawg]

I like to put the line through the eye, back through the eye, pull a fairly long loop and tie a Palomar knot. This way I can have a long loop to work with and still get a tight knot.

[RussianBear]

Cant use fast snaps, i use jogs that dont have eye but have a hole through the body of the jig. I find their presentations is better than the ones with the eye.

[lvwalleye]

I like to put the line through the eye, back through the eye, pull a fairly long loop and tie a Palomar knot. This way I can have a long loop to work with and still get a tight knot.

.....that's what I was trying to say..... I think.....

[jumbo chaser]

palamor knot  its easyest for me tye

[Skipper]

I gave up. I use the obe-wan jedi technique.... I learned to tie knots pretty much blind by wrapping the line around select fingers and counting twists. The only part I need to see is putting the line through the eye of the jig.

Snaps are not cool with size 6 and smaller jigs.

Tying line is my enemy!!

[Ty]

go find your significant others sewing kit, and jack one of these from them



its called a wire loop needle threader and it works by jamming the wire loop through the eye on the jig, and thread the line through the loop, then pull the wire loop back through the eye of the jig and boom, you have a threaded jig with no squinting what so ever.