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Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: gaddy on December 07, 2022, 09:04:12 AM


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Title: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: gaddy on December 07, 2022, 09:04:12 AM
Any one have a solution ? Really don't want to respool with mono and do the waxing thing. Best I've come up with is hosing with wd-40 but that doesn't last very long. Thinking of silicone spray. I know I'm asking a lot considering water and below freezing temps  :chuckle: :chuckle: but thought Id ask. Heard about using fly line dressing, seams about the same as waxing which in my experience doesn't last long either. Frozen eyes are one thing but when the spool freezes it can ruin your day.   What works for you ??
Title: Re: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: PointBlank on December 07, 2022, 10:00:20 AM
Hahaha the struggles of winter steelhead fishing… :chuckle: best I have ever tried was the fly line wax… doesn’t last long but it will get you thru a fishing trip with minimal hassle. Good luck and rip some lips :tup:
Title: Re: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: wadu1 on December 07, 2022, 10:29:55 AM
I also would try the fly line wax; chemicals may break down braid. Maybe put it in a man bun  :chuckle:sorry had to be funny.
Title: Re: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: gaddy on December 07, 2022, 10:51:20 AM
 :chuckle: It's a hell of a deal when a man can deal with frozen hands and feet, icy roads, shoveling snow etc.. but frozen fishing line is your biggest concern. Wife thinks I'm nuts  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: hunter399 on December 07, 2022, 11:20:40 AM
Maybe a spray bottle of rainx. :dunno:
Title: Re: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: RC on December 07, 2022, 11:30:31 AM
Pam cooking spray
Title: Re: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: Bareback on December 07, 2022, 11:59:59 AM
I’ve always used fly line dressing but you’ll never get past the freezing. Vasaline on the guides helps a bit but eventually they’ll freeze up again. To much fly line dressing will mess the timing of your cast if used in excess. PLine use to make float fishing line for bait casters that worked pretty well in freezing conditions.  It never really caught on since braid was much more versatile. Switching to mono might be your best solution.
Title: Re: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: Cylvertip on December 07, 2022, 06:15:54 PM
I have heard good things about Blakemore Reel Magic.
Title: Re: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: Alchase on December 07, 2022, 07:49:05 PM
:chuckle: It's a hell of a deal when a man can deal with frozen hands and feet, icy roads, shoveling snow etc.. but frozen fishing line is your biggest concern. Wife thinks I'm nuts  :chuckle:

I was kinda thinking the same thing  :chuckle: just kidding

I have been out of the Steelhead game for 6 years, because they refuse to migrate south and east to Oklahoma.
But in my 40 years of fishing for winter Steelies, I had never heard of line freezing on the reel.  :dunno:
Had to deal with Eyelets freezing constantly and as you said it seems hands and feet have to be frozen before the bite can commence.  :rolleyes:
Granted 98% of my Steelie fishing was from shore drift fishing,  and I always used mono.
Are you float fishing or from a boat?

Title: Re: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: gaddy on December 08, 2022, 09:58:53 AM
Float fishing. Tried the Real magic several times. Doesn't work for me. Pam sounds like it might work if I can get it to penetrate the Braid to dispel the water. Maybe get it dry and hose it down good. Just don't want to deal with to much gumming up when cold.
Yes my braid freezes on the spool. Turns into a mess.
My daughter in law asked the other day when is it to cold for you to fish? I said when my gear freezes and won't work, and I keep my spare in the cab to swap out. Fish that until the other thaws and repeat  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: Alchase on December 08, 2022, 11:20:02 PM
Nice!

I honestly have never had to deal with a real freezing, but I did not do much float fishing,

I know this sounds weird, but I miss the ice cold feet!

Something about wading in ice cold water, throwing a lure or sceen of eggs, for hours on end, hoping a stray steelhead will get annoyed enough to strike, then after loosing a few, you land that first steelhead. It gets stuck in the blood  :tup:


Title: Re: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: Bullkllr on December 09, 2022, 06:18:34 AM
I've been through it all with winter steelheading; tried every solution for icing guides. Pam works on guides (using mono), for a while then you need to reapply. Same with wd-40 and vaseline, etc. Dipping the rod in the water and shaking it works too. Now braid is another story. I don't think there's an obvious solution as the braid will be porous no matter what you do. Pam might work for a while- it's just a matter of how much you would need to apply and how frequently- and how much of an oily mess you want to deal with- it's veg oil with propellant. Some braids are worse than others; I've used a lot of PPro, Fireline and Nanofil and it's not always a big problem (Nano has been the best); but that's barely freezing west-side temps. When it's really cold, going to mono might be the best option. Spinning reel I'd just keep a spare spool handy. Looking at some of the ice fishing discussion, it looks like the consensus is braid remains problematic unless in a heated shelter.  :twocents:
Title: Re: Tricks to keep braid from freezing ??
Post by: Webfoot on December 09, 2022, 01:29:13 PM
One thing that helps is not going fishing til later in the morning when the temps have risen a little. Also the water will have warmed up a degree or 2 and they will bite better.
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