Thread: line size and color

If you're fishing stained water 6 lb yellow will work great.

I have used colored line in the past. WAY past. Like in the 80's. My experience was not good. Catch rate went down. There has been new technologies out that have created better thinner lines so maybe it is different now. Not sure I want to experiment more as I use clear line and do just fine. Knowing how to use a jig is the biggest thing you need to work on first. I do not think by changing to a colored line will help you much except maybe be able to see the line better fo light bites. I am a line watcher and see the clear line just fine. As far as pound test I normally use 6lb but do go to 4 lb if the bite is light. You will lose fish with the 4 lb. My wife lost about a 6 pound smallmouth as it jumped right in front of her face on 4lb test. She was so mad she threw that pole down and grabbed one with 6lb. Told me to take that line off her pole.

I approach line diameter and type a bit differently. I match my line weight to the weight and action of the lure I am using. Since that is generally 1/32nd and smaller that means light lines, 4# and less, give me the presentations that work best for me. I am also a line watcher and I find that colored line does not generally improve my take, nor generally diminish it in normal fishing, although in a real tentative bite it does cut my catch. I definitiely want as limp a line as possible and prefer transparent monos or co-polymers for all fishing.

I set my drag very carefully, though, to balance the line strength and the rod action. You don't horse a fish of any size on that light of a line weight and you don't generally swing big crappies into the boat or up onto the dock either or the little hooks will easily tear out. If you hook up to a good fish, first and foremost do not bring them in close too green.

I fish GAMMA almost exclusively. With that brand 6# rating is a bit too stiff for anything lighter than 1/16th oz. It is about as limp as any; so if you fish the heavier jig weights more common down south, you might try moving up to 6#, especially if you use a double jig set up. Just remember you have to have a good positive connection to your presentation generally to be able to detect the softer takes. One thing that ice fishermen do that helps with that is to run out a length of line and pre-stretch it to take out the coils and reel memory. That gives you a much more positive connection for bite detection.

Most importantly pay close attention to your buddy's presentation techniques and how he balances his tackle. That will pay you more dividends than simply changing line weights.

I keep at least one reel spooled with a more visible line like the colored ones or the finer super braids, but normally I only run them out for occasional testing or as a backup when I get on active fish. I have always returned to the GAMMA copolymer for a day-in, day-out rig.

I use the Mr. Crappie camo line in 6 lb. test. It works great.

Hey Dave: I am with Lynn on that!Get that whimpy line off my reel also!
I couldn't find any Stern Golden so I put some of the Crappie Camo 6 lb on that rod.
Well I was having so much trouble trying to see how to tie on the lures with that line!UGH Being Old isn't a lot of fun however best to stay on the green side of the grass long as you can.
I have been learning from my pal and I did catch all of my crappie on the jig except 2 so that is a improvement.
I had only One of the Charchuse jigs with me and that was doing great,that is the one the big fish got and broke my line right at the lure.I went to walmart earlier this morning looking for some RebelCrappie Crank R's but they didn't have them.I don't think the new Dunhams in Tullahoma has the either guess I will order on line.

I used to use suffix green/cameo 6lb sore by it,i though these crappie club guys and there hi-vs yellow was just into the next hype it was whats hot now , that they had to be spooking the crappie at least the big slabs . but i reckon crappie ant rocket scientist because i catch way more now than i did then and it because you'll see 60%/70% more bites than you will fill while jig fishing if your casting letting the jig free fall ( 1/16oz-1/132oz)( highly effective) over brush,blow downs , shooting dock or vertical jigging. float fishing, spider rigs long line trolling , pulling cranks not as much. try the high-vis see what your missing you wont be sorry. i use ( vicious pan fish high-vs yellow 6lb for 1/16oz jig-4lb for 1/32oz) i think its made in Alabama i set the drag so when i set hook the drag will sing just a bit