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Good morning- I have a question for you Guru's- I am having to go to braid line for my bluegill, panfish JDM rods and reels. I just can't see the mono & other nylon lines. I bought a spool of Sea Knight classic braid in blue. Spooled it on my lightest rod and reel, it did fine and I could see the line to tie and watch for bites. What are your thought's on this change.
So I am by no means an expert. My first thought was why braid until I read your post. Quite simply if it works for you then run with it. I too have problems seeing mono and may go to a braided line in the future. I use hi-vis line now which has helped. Just my 2 cents....
The one JDM line I have never purchased is a PE line...or braid. But I will soon as I have several new JDM reels on the way and I can now dedicate one reel just for the PE. Stan....and others.... have some good reviews on JDM PE line in the JDM line thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by trypman1
Regards
Crestliner has posted a lot about Fireline Crystal. You might search his posts or send him a PM.
You'll be hard pressed to find a better quality fishing line for your purpose than 2# test Fireline Crystal. It's all I use now on 5 rigs for a multitude of species.
I also use a 4# test fluorocarbon leader of about 3' - 4', but not for it's purported "invisibility". Rather the qualities I seek in a leader material is abrasion resistance (No. 1) and stretch. Yes, fluorocarbon lines do stretch, contrary to some media hype. And that's a good thing.
Regardless of what kind of braid you try, you'll definitely need some form of shock resisting leader. Otherwise, you'll be tearing hooks out of the fish's mouths on a frequent basis. Fluorocarbon accomplishes that and is much more abrasion resistant than mono or co-polymer type lines.
You'll soon realize the benefits of using braid as you main line. Sensitivity and casting distance is superior to anything else. As a side bonus, you will never have to worry about line twist again. Yes, it still does happen with braid. But there is no consequent to it happening as with other single strand lines. I've had this line on several of my rigs for several seasons with no ill effects.
Finally, don't be intimidated by the small line test rating on this Crystal. I've landed some pretty big fish of various species without ever worrying about it breaking on me. That will be re-enforced the first time you hook bottom and try to break it off.
I almost forgot.....learn to tie the Alberto knot to join both your line and leader. A little practice and it's no where near as intimidating as some folks would have you believe. As a leader joint, I rely on it exclusively. Small knot profile slides through the guides easily.
I use 6# yellow braid with a 6# fluorocarbon leader. I use a double Uniknot to join the two. I find it the easiest to tie and it also has a low knot profile.
I went to 6# because the pond I mostly fish for panfish has some 4-8 Lb. Bass in it and I got tired of losing Beetle Spins and small Rapalas!
One thing to keep in mind. I’m not sure which JDM rods you have but I would not exceed the line rating. Most...if not all......US market braids will far exceed their stated line strength. You don’t want to break a rod thinking you have 2# test when it is really 6# test. Of course if you know exactly what your drag setting is that would not be a problem. I keep my drag set at 20 percent of the actual break strength of super lines.......those that don’t stretch.
Regards
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I like the 2# Fireline Crystal that Crestliner recommends, it's white, and easy to see, just add a 18ln 6#mono leader and your good to go.
The Unitaka Braid in 3lb test is the main braid I have settled on. Have fished Nanofil 2-4lb, and the Fireline Crystal in 2lb. When fishing shallow to medium depths, I had no problems as both of these lines float. Two years ago when I started fishing deeper water and structure for Panfish with lighter equipment and baits, I began looking for a line that had good bite detection but would sink a little faster. Tried fluorocarbon, yikes what a mess for me. Plus very difficult to see. The JDM road and research led me to the Yellow PE (braid). Attachment 363528
Attachment 363529
Having landed almost every fish in our local lakes with this line, I would definitely recommend this line for fishing all depths as it is a little heavier than mono, but has the limp characteristics of a good braid. No special knot (Palomar is what I use) is needed. Determine what style of fishing you do most then start out with a couple different braids on similar rods and reels. You will hopefully find what works best.
I just ordered a bunch of Nanofil to try 4 6 8 and 12lb. As of now I have 4lb Fins windtamar on one reel. If I can find 4lb Sufix 832 that would be great, really like the 8lb on my casting.
Do you use a leader or tie direct?Quote:
Originally Posted by StantheMan2567
Thanks
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I am feeling better about this now, thanks folks. I tested the Seaknight line yesterday on Rainbow trout & it did fine. I used a 2' leader on it and caught a limit in short order, I had to drag the trout though 20' of underwater rocks on dam because the water was so high. I used blue line and I ca see it. The trout did not care.
I tie direct, the water clarity here in E TN is not an issue, especially in the Spring months when the Gills and Crappie are up shallow or in the structure. Also, of the braids I have tried, the Unitaka Braid does hold a leader better than the others. Last year I tried the flourocarbon leader thing a couple of times while bank fishing, really just experimenting with different knots on the different lines and found the yellow braid to hold a surgeons knot better than the others.Quote:
Originally Posted by slowhand
I agree with Stan on the Unitaka braid. It is really good stuff. I have it in 3 and 4 pound. I tie a fluorocarbon leader to it. It works great!
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I just ordered some Unitaka, thanks to all.
Does Fireline work well with micro jigs, 1/64 oz and smaller? Probably what it is made for, but I don't know.
If you are fishing 1/64 or smaller jigs then I assume you are fishing shallow and/or shallow water. The Fireline Crystal in 2lb is a good line for fishing small jigs in skinny waters as it pretty much floats, thus helping keeping the light jig up. I suspect it has a greater breaking strength than 2lb. It’s very thin diameter does help in casting, but is very hard to control in the wind. I have it spooled on a Diawa Gekka Bijiin 1000 MX reel and have used it many times when fishing for bluegill in the buck bushes and willow trees where I need to get them out of the nasty stuff quick. Pitch a TM up under a shady willow branch on a late May afternoon and it will never reach the bottom, the braid helps to snatch them right out....quick.Quote:
Originally Posted by DV8ed
Some shallow, and there are those here who are fans of small jigs on lite line in deeper water when the bite slows. Some time reading on what line is available and it's uses seems to be in order. The language is always the hard part.
Good info on the replies!
Thanks,
Bob
I have basically given up using mono and floro carbon since 2006. Sight fishing was essential when fishing with these lines because they lacked sensitivity because of stretch. I used to rely on sight when jig fishing but I go strictly by feel since using super lines.
I fish two different ultra light methods for panfish… slip floating and long-cast micro jigging.
On the slip float set-ups I use power pro or spider wire braid mostly. The braid cuts thru weed stalks like a weed whacker. Spider wire also comes in high visibility yellow.
On my long cast micro jig setups I use 8# GLISS or 4# Nano… the 8# Gliss has the same diameter as 2# mono and casts very close to mono distances at much greater strength. I've caught LMBs up to 6# and channel cats up to 10# on these setups. These fish would have certainly been lost on 2# mono.
I have ditched the floro leader concept when I found that thinness is more important to stealth than the clear mono or floro thinking. I thought It was ridiculous tying 6# floro on to my 8# braid main line that was 300% larger in diameter than the braid.
Most people I know don't use a leader for stealth. They use it because braid frays easily around obstructions. The mono/fluoro leader helps to prevent that.Quote:
Originally Posted by slip sinker
Also, a leader is stiffer than braid, and easier to deal with if your line wraps around your spinner or crankbait.Quote:
Originally Posted by deathb4disco
Good stuff, folks- keep it coming!
... secondly when rigged with a floro leader it becomes impossible to #longcastmicrojig at any distance with the interference between the knot joining leader/mainline going thru the guides...when casting even UL jigs you lose considerable distance... the braid is the most durable of the lines i have ever used... Gliss and Nano or close in durability to mono and floro in my opinion. i have setups that have 4 plus years going with superlines still performing as new
when you say crank bait or spinner bait ... basically it is bass fishing methods... dealing with long casting jigs down to sub 1/64 you need to reduce the friction between the guides and the line... a knot stops your cast in its tracks with these tiny baitsQuote:
Originally Posted by Techno2000
Well, I'm talking about beetle spins, rooster tails and bitsy pond minnow crankbaits. I only make my leaders about 18 inches or less, so resistance and knot stops aren't an issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by slip sinker
:notworthyQuote:
I have ditched the floro leader concept when I found that thinness is more important to stealth than the clear mono or floro thinking. I thought It was ridiculous tying 6# floro on to my 8# braid main line that was 300% larger in diameter than the braid.
Another good quality braid I use with 1/32 oz or heavier jigs/soft plastic or hair:
Attachment 364993
Good sensitivity with my light action rod and casts light lures a long distance - even from a spincast reel; 6# test = 2 lb diameter. It's way cheaper than other braids and the brand has started selling other tackle.
.
I just received a spool of KastKing Extremus 6# braid to try. It looks and feels good. Small dia.
I am liking the Unitaka Nightgame PE in 3 lb test. I put it on my Ice Cube RP/Luvias 1000S with a 3 lb FC Sniper flouro leader, tied with an Alberto knot. Casts a small jig amazingly well, easy to see a strike, very sensitive. Caught a nice spotted bass on it and he didn't have a chance.
I have the Unitaka Nightgame coming in 4#.
I just got in some 2lb and 3lb in the nightgame and boy is that 2lb tiny... I’m excited to try it tho
What is that brand of line made of ?Quote:
Originally Posted by VaCrappieMan
UNITIKA NIGHT GAME PE-II
No, I mean what's it's made of... as in Spectra, Dyneema ?Quote:
Originally Posted by VaCrappieMan
the box is pretty much all in Japanese... Several others have the same line in 3lb and 4lb... they may know... I’ll try to find out for you...
Their website doesn’t say. This Unitika line actually sinks with a specific gravity of 1.18 so I’m sure there is something added into the line. All other braids have a specific gravity of .8 to 1.Quote:
Originally Posted by Techno2000
Regards
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