Fishing line

[TeacherMan]

What pound test do you like to use.

trout - in lakes 6 pound is my favorite for bait fishing or spin casting. Trolling I like 30 pound spider wire because of the heavy bladed gear that I use, expensive stuff.

catfish - 17 or 20 pound mono or 30 pound spider wire

Walleye - on Lake Roosevelt 8 lb cant beat it.

Smallmouth - trout rods with 6 pound test

stream fishing or high Mt. lake - 4 lb line

Tiger Muskey - 50 lb braided

Saltwater Salmon  Neah Bay (kings or silvers) 15 -20 lb Oh ya let them run!!!

saltwater bottom fish - 30-40 lb mono

Steelhead - that's my dilemma?


I've always been a Trylene guy, but I'm kind of interested in the new fluorocarbons.

[huntnphool]

Steelhead - that's my dilemma?

From a boat or shore? In my boat I drift with 12# mainline and a 8# or 10# leader depending on water clarity.

[TeacherMan]

Steelhead - that's my dilemma?

From a boat or shore? In my boat I drift with 12# mainline and a 8# or 10# leader depending on water clarity.

Same thing from shore?

[huntnphool]

I do, but I know a lot of guys go a bit heavier from shore, you dont have the advantage of drifting down river with the fish when on shore.

 Bottom line, no pun intended, the lighter the line generally the more fish you will hook, however you run the risk of breaking them off more. Find a happy medium

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

Berkley sucks.. thats my first statement.. as far as mono goes flouro is overpriced IMO.. its nice but we all caught tons of fish before it was ever around.. mono wise izorline or maxima is the best IMO..... for fish here we go

lakes- 6lb maxima
streams- same
fall salmon (boat) 30lb power pro
Spring salmon (boat) 20lb maxima
sturgeon- 80-100lb power pro
sturg bank- 30lb maxima
salmon bank- 15lb izor or maxima
steelies bank- 6-10lb maxima

[Jerome]

Maxima is the only line i use.

[Red Dawg]

While drift fishing I use a 12 pound test main line Stren (much easier to see while fishing) and maxima leader of all strengths depending on the water. I use maxima because if it known toughness against abrasions due to hits foreign objects in the water. And because that is just what I have always done. Fluorocarbon leaders will work in some river but in the rough water rivers I think you would regret using it.

[fc2038]

Maxima is the only line i use.

Same here! I match the line to the water conditions. Just depends on what I have to work with. I normally run 12 or 10 main and 8 leader from the bank for steelhead drift fishing.

[C-Money]

My spinning rods have 4lb trilene XT. My trolling rods have 10lb Trilene XT. My salt water rods have 40lb Trilene big game.

[rasbo]

Maxim ultra green

[bowhunterforever]

I use trylene 6 or 8lb for walleye's, bass and trout! Hey teacherman have you caught any of those tigermuskies that are in curlew lake?

[addicted]

20lb spiderwire.  3-6lb monophilament leader for trout.

[jeepasaurusrex]

I use 12lb Cajun Red for rivers.

6lb Cajun Red in the lakes.  Smaller leader depending on what fish. 

[Gobble]

Maxima is good but I have switched to Ande Mono and tend to load 10-12 lb for Steelies and salmon, mostly 12. If I'm fishing for Kings I'll use 15-20 lb test.

[jackelope]

12lb maxima main line with leaders from 4-10lb test for varying water/fishing conditions. where there's a lot of pressure you'll outfish guys using lighter leaders, you just have to have the right rod and know how to handle fish using a lighter leader. flouro i use for flyfishing trout only as long as we're not using dry flys.
if you want to use flouro i would say just use it for your leader material. personally i wonder if it's overrated especially given it's knot strength.

[Intruder]

Steelhead - that's my dilemma?
I've always been a Trylene guy, but I'm kind of interested in the new fluorocarbons.

Kinda depends on how you're fishing for em. In some cased I use straight 10 or 12 lb Maxima (ultragreen).  In other cases I use 14lb braid with a 12-15' 12lb flourocarbon leader attached with a double uni.

Flyfishing... Maxima tippet on a Rio leader for dyrline or just straight Maxima on a sinktip.   

[Bofire]

The water and conditions dictate my gear not the fish. I would guess I have caught more steelies on 8lb than any other, last year I got 16 out of a local river, small water(30 foot cast max), small bait, 6lb line and a trout rod. Same with line choice, the water, conditions and bait.
Mono good all round line
Flurocarbon good line, sensitive, some of it stretches alot.
braid is sensitive and don't stretch, really good for some stuff.
 I like Maxima and Trilene
Carl

[klickman]

What pound test do you like to use.

trout - in lakes 6 pound is my favorite for bait fishing or spin casting. Trolling I like 30 pound spider wire because of the heavy bladed gear that I use, expensive stuff.
[bgcolor=#b00000]I like the use of spider wire.  Good call[/bgcolor]

catfish - 17 or 20 pound mono or 30 pound spider wire
[bgcolor=#b00000]don't fish cats but that sounds good[/bgcolor]

Walleye - on Lake Roosevelt 8 lb cant beat it.
[bgcolor=#b00000]Thats what we used at potholes back in the day.[/bgcolor]

Smallmouth - trout rods with 6 pound test
[bgcolor=#b00000]that sounds about right[/bgcolor]

stream fishing or high Mt. lake - 4 lb line
[bgcolor=#b00000]Usually flyfish but 4-6lb tippet is what I use[/bgcolor]

Tiger Muskey - 50 lb braided
[bgcolor=#b00000]I use 50lb powerpro braid for pike [/bgcolor]

Saltwater Salmon  Neah Bay (kings or silvers) 15 -20 lb Oh ya let them run!!!
[bgcolor=#b00000]I always use 20 in the ocean and in wa rivers.  Usually don't need more than that[/bgcolor]saltwater bottom fish - 30-40 lb mono
[bgcolor=#b00000]Try braid I bet you will like it more.  Less drag and more sensativity[/bgcolor]

Steelhead - that's my dilemma?
[bgcolor=#b00000]It all depends on your style of fishing.  Generally 8lb is a good place to start.  If the water gets really clear you may have to go down to 6lb.  I would think that you can fish 8lb for 90% of your fishing for steelies[/bgcolor]

I've always been a Trylene guy, but I'm kind of interested in the new fluorocarbons.
[bgcolor=#b00000]Maxima Ultra Green is your best bet for mono.  Most of the flourocarbons are overrated.  I wouldn't waste your money.[/bgcolor]

[Intruder]

I would suggest using the heaviest line you can get away with for steelhead... especially if you are fishing where there are large numbers of native fish.  You want to be able to put the screws to em and get em in without completely playing them out.  Using too light of line can result in exhausting fish especially in warmer water conditions.  Also, with fly tackle, light leaders take too much abuse and you'll end up breaking a lot of fish off.  Personally I never use under 10 lb test.  If water is super clear, I switch 12 lb flourocarbon.

[tlbradford]

I like a 12#-20# main line for steelhead in a high visibilty mono or fluoro.  I use 4#-12# leaders in the maxima ultra green or chameleon.  I also take a brown or black marker and make a stripe every few inches on the leader.  I saw Bob Croupy doing this for bass when fishing crawdads in ultra clear water on Lake Castaic (sp?).  I don't know if it helps but it makes me feel better.  I always try to have a 6# difference between main and leader, so hopefully i am breaking off leaders only when I get hung up.

[tlbradford]

All this steelhead talk really makes me want to go fishing. 

[klickman]

I like a 12#-20# main line for steelhead in a high visibilty mono or fluoro.  I use 4#-12# leaders in the maxima ultra green or chameleon.  I also take a brown or black marker and make a stripe every few inches on the leader.  I saw Bob Croupy doing this for bass when fishing crawdads in ultra clear water on Lake Castaic (sp?).  I don't know if it helps but it makes me feel better.  I always try to have a 6# difference between main and leader, so hopefully i am breaking off leaders only when I get hung up.

Why would you use the marker to mark your line.  Thats interesting
Klickman

[tlbradford]

He said he believed it helped camoflauge the line.  So instead of seeing a continuous line, it was broken up.  Like I said it might be a bunch of hooey, and I have never seen a show or a magazine article talk about this either, since I watched that show about 15 years ago.  It just made some sense to me.  I have no data to support if it works or not either.

[klickman]

I like the concept that makes sense.  I'm gonna keep a marker in my pack this fall when I'm fishing clear water for really spooky fish.  There are a few creeks that I fish for bows that get hammered with pressure.  It gets really frustrating seing a 20+ inch rainbow just ignoring your fly this could help.  Thanks for the tip.

Klickman