Problems that come with age.

I'm primed to go fishing, but have a small problem. Crappie fishing calls for very light line. At my age the small line just disappears even in bright sunlight. Hard to tie what you can't see. I'm going to have to step up to at least 8 pound line. I have a canepole that calls for 4 pound line. What kind of risk is there to using heavier line? Will I snap my cane pole? Will I strip the gears in my light spinning reel? Or will have to switch to bass fishing? Minor problem in the scheme of things, but it's real to me. Thanks to all.

When that happened to me, at first I bought some reading glasses, then got my eyes checked. Wound up needing bi-focals in my glasses. I also changed to Hi-vis line with a clear leader, which you could step up the weight on. I don't have an option for the reeled cane pole.

Crappie are usually not very line shy. ( where I normally fish)
Unless the water is gin clear and have extremely high fishing pressure.
Most the time I use 10lb hi vis green mono on my casting rigs and the same mono as a leader tied to high vis braid on my jig poles.





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Reading glasses from Amazon can be bought in different strengths. I found a 3 pack for $10; the 1.75 power should be strong enough. Use this link to the page: Amazon.com . When not using it, put it on the bill of your hat. Always good to have around the house and at 77 I can't live without them for fine detail work and reading articles or instructions.

Braid is your best bet. I only use KastKing SuperPower Braided Line - also on Amazon. My choice: Moss green; 8 lb test.(4# test diam.) (No point distracting fish from the lure with bright colored line.) Only the fish can snap a rod if the drag is not set properly.

Braid has many advantage over mono or fluorocarbon:

*abrasion resistant; holds knot tight
*sensitive to what the lure is doing on the retrieve and for very light strikes
*zero stretch = fish hooking themselves much of the time when slack line it taken in (Rod angle must not be horizontal when fighting a fish!)
*casts very light lures far (90% of the time I cast light soft plastics rigged on light jig heads 1/32 - 1/16 oz
*the recommended line can be used to catch all species of freshwater fish from *3" gills to 8 lb cat fish.

I have it on baitcast, spinning and spin cast reels

For me it’s bi-focals with any line. Readers from Wal Mart should help plus you can get 2 and 4 lb line from sporting goods and test the glasses out in store.

I definitely would try hi vis. Glasses help a lot. I can’t do any close work without them. In fact, I went with progressive lenses and have never looked back.
Bob

A sharpie will color the tag end of small line black so it can be more easily seen. Then the black part is cut of leaving clear line.

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

A sharpie will color the tag end of small line black so it can be more easily seen. Then the black part is cut of leaving clear line.

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Now there's one fine idea for us older guys!!

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Originally Posted by BobC

I definitely would try hi vis. Glasses help a lot. I can’t do any close work without them. In fact, I went with progressive lenses and have never looked back.
Bob

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I’ve been wearing progressives for a few years, and I just now got progressive polarized prescription sunglasses (previously single vision prescription sunglasses) because I got tired of having to look over the sunglasses (or pull glasses off) to tie knows or untangle lines.

Besides trying to help my vision with glasses I have started using a black towel on my lap when tying 4# line. The black background makes the fine line stand out more. It helps a lot for me.


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Thank you all for your kind replies.

hold your jig high and at a distance you see well from and or wear readers , the silhouette of the eye is easier to hit that way and or make sure the background behind the jig is light colored .....

I use braid on several reels, then tie a small swivel to connect flurocarbon to braid, then tie a snap or a No Knot Fas-Snap at the end of the Flurocarbon. I tie leaders at home and wrap them around empty pill bottles, with the line size on the cap. It makes storage easy and if you break the line, just tie a new leader onto the braid with one knot, instead of having to tie another leader.

You shouldn't need to worry about heavier line stripping gears on your reels, unless you switch to 60+ Lb. braid. Just adjust your drag accordingly and fight the fish with the rod.

The No Knot Fas-Snaps make changing jigs, lures, or hooks fast. They're plenty strong.
Attachment 490979
Jim

Hi-Vis 8 lb test is my go to line. Also, I suggest a pair of sunglasses that have the 2.00 or 2.50 bifocal lenses. You can get them cheap at WalMart.


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All good suggestions. I use a lot of UL stuff and the line is ridiculously thin. Keeping a darker background helps me a lot. The black towel idea is very good. Hi vis helps some too.

I always protect my eyes from UV. Still can't tie or see to tie a jig without visual magnification. I switched from using a second pair of cheaters to bifocal sunglasses. Over the years I have settled on these. They hold up well, even doing yards work.

Amazon.com

For those who want prescription polarized sunglasses without the high price of name brand or the local shop--may have even used up your optical insurance allowance on main glasses/contacts, some of my favorite glasses have come from Glasses Shop. Depending on my needs, I just look out for a buy one, get one offer or a "Black Friday" deal like 40-50% off code.

Amazon.com

For tying