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I'm sure there's tons of opinions but just courious. This new set up I got a few weeks ago is a Mitchel 308 spinning reel, Bucks 8ft jigging pole and spooled with this Maxima Ultra green 8lb test. So far I've had nothing but air knots, a couple bad bird's nests and the memory is terrible. The only other line I've ever really used is Trilene xl, just wondering whats better or even braided line. This is going to be my main jigging pole (from the docks once the boats leave in fall).
Lake Fork " Fluorotex panfish line...
suffix elite for casting, I don't do much vertical jig fishing
I've had similar issues with Maxima line. Stren, Suffix, and Trilene in their lighter weights 4-8# seem to work best. I use Cajun Red 12# for leaders when striper fishing, but it is stiff and doesn't spool well on small size spinning reels.
I have not tried every line of course...but I could live just fine with only Trilene smooth casting and Power Pro braid. I always carry rods spooled with both and fish some with both on the same trip. I experiment still some with other lines...but I have tried a lot of lines that were suppose to be superior in everyway...but were not for me.
You have to get the twist out of any line...the more memory the line has the more problems you have. No matter whether you lay the spool flat or let it roll off the spool...you will always come out ahead if you pull out a good portion of the line across the yard or other open grass area,or play it out behind the boat and then reel it back in. If you can hold the rod between your legs and reel it while you pinch the line lightly between your fingers even better. It forces the twist out ...the line has to be able to turn with the twist so you don't want anything on the end of the line.
The optimum trick to me is spray some reel magic on a rag...and pinch the line in that rag and reel it in.It works out all the twist and coats the line with reel magic.Two people is better than one....but you can get creative to do it yourself.
Mr Crappie HI Vis mono 8lb for jigging and spider rigging, and 10lb for pulling crankbaits.
No problems......
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I like vicious hi vis 6lb for jigging.
I like mr crappie 6 and 8# on spinning reels for casting lures and vertical jigging on long poles with trigger spin reels, no problems on either reels .Have landed 30 muskie up to 25#on the 6# line in the last month,with only two bite offs . Have landed 62 keeper walleye up to 4 1/2 # on 6 and 8# with no bite offs in the last month. It' s very good line for the money.
Stren, #4 lb, Hi Vis Yellow or Mr. Crappie #6 lb, Hi Vis Yellow
vicious hi-vis
i am testing some vicious 4 lb clear blue right now , but i have to quite honestly say it isnt any better or worse than the zebco clear 4 lb test i was testing a few weeks back .
there have been a few i have not cared for in the equation over the years but i try not to down anyones products on open forums . i have rods spooled with mister crappie ,team catfish, vicious , zebco ,stren ,cajun red line ,power pro braid ,and the list goes on ...some perform well for some things and some dont
many of the lines manufactured today are so much better than what was available in the old days that it is sometimes just about preference .....
now whats wrong with your set up in my opinion is this ....the line is way to heavy for that reel number one , the reel is most likely over spooled as well .
i would drop to 6 or maybe 4 depending and i like mono most of the time but braid might be the way to go for winter jiggin docks ....my 2 cents it is ...
Stren & Vicious for me 6 or 10#
NANOFILL. Castes little jigs amazingly far.
Bass pro shop hi vis. Memory isn't bad and its strong to .
It's the line, not the reel. Maxima line is notorious for being stiff, and that alone can cause the problems you've encountered. You get the same "less stretch" action from copoly lines (like Vicious Panfish), but with less "stiffness".Quote:
Originally Posted by floaterguy
I have two Mitchell 308x reels, one on a 10ft rod & one on an 8ft rod ... and both reels are spooled with 8# BPS Excel clear/blu mono. If I used them more often, for things like casting or vertical jigging, I'd likely change the line over to 6# Vicious Panfish hi-vis copoly line ... like I use on my primary jig casting outfits.
Those reels would certainly handle braid, but I doubt you really need that ... I'd try the Trilene before committing to braid. :twocents
Stren original 6lb for jigging everything from perch to walleye as well as casting small jigs for crappie.
Stren orginal 8lb for salmon and steelhead
Berkley big game 10lbs for all of my walleye trolling rods
Ande 30lb for Salmon trolling (downrigger rods)
Tiger braid for dipsy diver rods (50# test)
Ande 30lb as backer for lead core rods
Seaguar Red label Florocarbon (10lb) for leaders for walleye
Seaguar Red label Florocarbon (20lb AbrazX for making harnesses
Vicous His viz yellow 4lb for ice fishing
As you can see, no "one size fits all" line company. I've tested a ton of different options and these are what work best for me in these applications. As you can see, I run braid for one thing only.
I am fishing relatively snag free structures here, so what I use may/may not be your ideal choice. But I gotta tell you, after many years of reliable use, I find it hard to beat a quality, light braid + fluorocarbon leader. My preference is Fireline Crystal in 2# test, with a 4# test leader (for added abrasion resistance). This combination has worked well for me over the seasons. JMO. :)
Stren original 4,6,8 .
Mr Crappie Hi-Vis 6lb for casting, Power Pro 10-2 Hi-Vis for vertical jigging
Vicious 4#Panfish Hi Vis for everything.