Thread: Line for bluegill

Water clarity plays a factor with the clear lines here. Very rarely do I encounter crystal clear conditions while shallow water gill fishing. I have been getting away with the yellow 4lb mono for years, but have switched to braid the last few years, 2 and 3lb test in green and white and have not seen a fall off of bites. Get some Trout Magnet 2lb SOS at your local Walmart and give a whirl. It breaks at about 3.5lb and casts well. If you cast micro plastics, you will get better distances and bite detection with the lighter lines.


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Originally Posted by no luck

I have always used 6 lb test I fish a lot of Lilly pads and brush. I read where lots of people use 2 lb test. Will I catch more fish if I go to 2 lb test?

Hey No Luck - I was a little concerned about it as well but made the switch to the 2-lb SOS last summer. I am pretty sure that we fish some of the same lakes and yes when the pads come up, it is a little tricky fishing with the light line. But it really is not that big of a deal. And yes, I think I catch more fish with the light line. I have fished with friends who were using 4-lb and even 6-lb line and I definitely caught more fish. I think it makes a difference. I’m about ready to start using some nano fill for my main line and tie on a light leader for better sensitivity.


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Clear water l use 2 lb but fishing stained water or lilies l would go with heavier line maybe 6 lb because of hangups and breaking off.

If you use lighter line you are going to get a lot more opportunities for fish. The lighter the line the more natural action the jig will have. This applies to any specie you are fishing for. I've had a lot of folks ask me to take them fishing and show them my method. They ask me what kind of gear to bring. I tell them Ul or L and...2# test line. More often than not they show up with 4-6 pound test line. Standing shoulder to shoulder I've caught fish every cast and my guests have caught few...or none many times. You can not work a micro jig to its best using 6# test line. If you're live bait fishing it is a different story. I am many times reluctant to answer this type of question on a forum. Folks will come back and say "I caught so and so using 6 pound test line". I'm sure thay did but they would have done a lot better using 2# test line. A few weeks back I was at Dale Hollow on a slow day. My nephew and I tied into several smallmouth in the 18-19 inch range. It was no problem landing those fish on light line. It is all I fish with. There will be a learning curve when you switch to 2# test for the first time...with many breakoffs. But you will soon get the hang of it. I love the SOS 2# test...which has already been said it is really 3.5# test. That would be a good line to start with.


Regards

Originally Posted by D10

Hey No Luck - I was a little concerned about it as well but made the switch to the 2-lb SOS last summer. I am pretty sure that we fish some of the same lakes and yes when the pads come up, it is a little tricky fishing with the light line. But it really is not that big of a deal. And yes, I think I catch more fish with the light line. I have fished with friends who were using 4-lb and even 6-lb line and I definitely caught more fish. I think it makes a difference. I’m about ready to start using some nano fill for my main line and tie on a light leader for better sensitivity.


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The Nanofil has been great for me the last couple years. This winter I tried using it with a fluorocarbon leader, and just could not keep the leader from slipping. I have gotten better at tying the Triple Loop Surgeons knot, and with a JDM braided line I am having much better success. With our stained waters this spring I have just been tying straight to the 2lb Nanofil when using it.


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I generally use 2# since I like to fish jigs (1/64 - 1/32 oz) and need it to get casting distance. When I fish with crickets or other live bait I often use 4# since I share those rods with the wife and kids. I don't think it generally makes much difference and I doubt you'd be missing much with 6# if you're fishing in a manner that casting is ok with that size line. For a cricket under a weighted float with a split shot I doubt the difference would often be noticeable unless you are bank bound and need every foot of casting distance possible or are fishing in very clear water. I have had a couple of days where the fish seemed to be line shy, as shown by the difference between two anglers fishing identically, but with different lines, but the vast majority of the time the line doesn't seem to be critical. Heavier line combined with the right light wire hook will definitely help getting the rig back from snags.

I know there are lot of guys that like SOS - I've never used it. Last week I got to observe someone else fishing with it - not pretty. Jim lost (broke off) 3 big fish in one day (the day we were catching huge CNBGs) - 1 to Maxima and the other 2 to SOS. For extreme UL fishing I will fish izorline XXX or the Hybrid Yo-Zuri. I don't have any problems casting 1/48th, 1/32nd, or 1/24th jigs. Not trying to set line class records - just want to land big fish...

4 Lb Stren original clear blue florescent .