Ice Fishing Line - Mille Lacs Lake Fishing (Fishing Reports, Events, Tournament Information and more)

mj54 · Member

Ice Fishing Line

iwalleye · Member

I was at Gander Mtn's First Ice Event a couple of weeks ago. Several Pro's spoke and made references to ice fishing line. I took notes and if my mind, ears and hand were accurate the following is what they said.

It was clear that if the line was used in a heated house or outside in the cold that each may require difference line.

* Mono line will let you feel a slack line bite better than others.

*Braided line has little stretch and to be careful not to set to hard or have a tight drag that might pull the hook free.

*Mono line sheds ice and braided line freezes in the cold (I wish I could remember more about this, I believe I heard that braided line can be easily de-iced between two fingers.)

*With a light action rod that has some give, you maybe able to get away with a braided line. But with a heaver action rod use mono as the line will be more forgiving and absored the shock.

* Use mono outside as it wont freeze up and a braided line inside.

* Braided line will transmit a bite better than mono. Note above that slack line bites transmit better with mono.

I'm not a real fisherman, just a wannabe, though I do play one on TV, So there are many on this forum that can correct any mistakes above and add additional info.

Other line related things I noted

*Match your lure or bait and rod with the weight of your line.

*Many of the Pros will use a swivel and then short leader to reduce line twist.

-- Edited by iwalleye on Wednesday 7th of December 2011 06:08:03 PM

-- Edited by iwalleye on Wednesday 7th of December 2011 06:08:34 PM

Rick Anderson · Member

I usually use a clear winter monofiliment line like Trilene Micro Ice or Berkley Vanish, however, I have problems seeing it when tieing on. Very frustrating

I also have used a braided line like Fireline with barrel swivel and a clear leader. I used to premake a half-dozen 2 ft leaders and load them with lures, then using a quick connect I could change my presentation in less than a minute. That's a big plus When you are changing lures and your flasher lights up like a Christmas tree.

I quit using fireline on Mille Lacs because the water is so clear that the line was clearly visable from 10 feet using my camera. My 2 ft clear leaders didn't seem to isolate the fireline from my bait, I just wasn't catching any fish. By the way, I also use the Fireline when fishing for Northern Pike and never have lost a fish coming through the ice, something I can't say about monofiliment.

This year I am loading up one reel with 6 lb Trilene Micro Ice in the new lime green color. I hope the bright color will help me see the line in low light conditions. I am also seeing new dayglow orange and red color options.

Has anybody used the bright colors with good results or is this just the latest gimick?

Doug Ertl · Website Admin

I tried Vanish last year and like Rick says. It vanishes when you are trying to tie thats for sure. Or it could be my eyes.

Bobber · Admin / Moderator

I've played around with different stuff...but end up spooling up with XL trilene in either green or clear! 6lbs size by the way!

Cronkite · Newbie

Most of my rods are rigged with 8lb power pro, on Mille Lacs I'll use a flourocarbon leader. I do have one old rod, spooled with smoke colored fireline that is at least 12 years old. A cheap light action Berkley rod, I bought before the Brainerd extravaganza at a gas station one year. Everytime I'm out I don't care where it is, St.Croix river, Lake of the Woods, Mille Lacs, Simley pond or Powers lake, that cheap rod with the fireline out fishes every new rod I've ever bought. I haven't changed the line in it since I bought it and never use a leader with it.............think I might try smoke colored fire line on all my rods this year.

tat2jonnie · Senior Member

I've used Berkeley Trilene 6# for years on my perch rods and 8# on my walleye rigs. I've tried others, but I'm an old dog, and kinda set in my ways, I guess.

IxR IcE Man · Member

NORTHLAND BIONIC 4lb on my panfish rods and 6 lb for my perch and walleye rods. i usually take about 20 to 30 feet off of the 4 and 6 lb rods to cut down on saturation and stretch. got one rod with suffix orange 6 lb as well. dont notice a difference when fishing... still put plenty of fish on the ice and a lot more back down the hole.

MCallies · Malmo Bay Bomber

All of my Ice Rods are Berkley Trilene XT 6#

(mostly clear Trilene -- but one green mono for grins). confuse smile confuse

I have two medium walleye rods and two light medium action rods for perch.

The reels all are ball bearing (Flueger or Dave Genz Blue) with decent drags and Trilene XT 6# works for me... wink smile wink

Of course I just follow Jon and Jody around to the safe ice.

Rick Anderson · Member

Fire Line saves the day!

This past Saturday I was fishing with my brother-in-law by Pine City.The fishing was slow and we spent most of the afternoon BSing. We moved several times but no having much luck. My brother-in-law was fishing with his Brand New St Croix setup of which he was very proud of, as he said,"most of his ice fishing equipment was junk." We were fishing for Crappies along a break and he was using one of those balance rod holders. He got a termendous hit on his line which took the rod right down the hole. You could have heard him scream a half a mile away. "No...Not my St. Croix Rod! followed by !#@%**!. I couldn't help myself, the more he howled the more I laughed. By now, all the anglers within 200 yards were looking over at our site. We had a camera and after a minute I located his rod on the bottom. We dropped a depth weight to get direction and he drilled about two feet from his hole. Using a gaff weighted with a cresent wrench and some duck tape He tied Fire line to the gaff and we spent the next 10 minutes trying to hook the rod. Finally he suceeded and got the rod up to the bottom of the ice. A quick barehanded grab and he had his rod back. By now, most of the 6-8 fishermen had stopped jiging and were watching us. I heard few of them callout when he pulled the rod up and held it like a trophy. By the end of the day the catch was one 10" walleye and one St Croix rod and one more fishing story.