Line For Gin Clear Water

[Quarry Man]

Will be fishing a lake with 25' of visibility this weekend. I will be drop shotting with a spinning setup. I will also be fishing Strike King Tour grade Swim Jigs 1/4 oz around docks and wacky rigs and jerk baits. I have a Daiwa Zillion TWS 7.3:1. It has 10 lb mono currently. I am considering putting 8 lb seaguar invisx just for the weekend. swim jigs, wacky senko,and jerk baits only. should i?

[fishnkamp]

Why don't you pick up a spool of the Invisx if that is your favorite fluoro.  Personally, I would go with P Line Halo in 6 or 8 pound test. Never heavier than that on a spinning reel.  That stuff breaks at closer to 15 pounds.

Either way, I would try fishing my mono with a 4 to 6 foot leader made up of 6 pound P Line CXX in moss green.  In a pinch I will use the green P Line FloroClear in 8 pound test. 

 

When I fish things like Ned Rigs, drop shots or small grubs in Dale Hollow ( a very clear TN lake) I get away with 14 pound Berkley FireLine and the 4 foot leader made of that P LIne CXX.  That FireLine is equal to 6 pound test mono.

[WRB]

Good line choice,  8 lb should work good for you. Make sure you get a line conditioner like KVD or TangleFree and tie good knots carefully.

Tom 

[Quarry Man]

reminder, this is a casting reel

[fishnkamp]

Man I think I was up too late, yes it is a baitcaster sorry, I guess I still had the drop shot/ spinning rod stuck in my head.

I am sure the Invisx would work fine, and I still like the Halo in 8 pound test.  Either way, WRB is right it is worth using some good line conditioner as you spool it up.

[Mr Swim Jig]

I don't believe I would go with 8lbs fluorocarbon on a bait casting reel, especially the Zillion. I would step up to 10lbs fluorocarbon.

 

Definitely use some KVD Line and Lure conditioner on the line...

[NHBull]

I have that type of water and for drop shotting, spinning gear, 10 lb Braid and 13 feet of FC leader. Seaguar Blue, or Tatsu.....just my personal preference 

 

[Quarry Man]

1 hour ago, NHBull said:

I have that type of water and for drop shotting, spinning gear, 10 lb Braid and 13 feet of FC leader. Seaguar Blue, or Tatsu.....just my personal preference 

 

 

Does having the line to line knot in the actual reel affect casting distance?

 

[roadwarrior]

Usually not, but your results may vary.  I prefer a short leader with the knot outside the guides.

 

[kroberts9]

i like 10-15 lb braid backer with an 6-8lb fluro leader 6-8'long 

 

my fav braid is the newer spiderwire white braid stealth translucent

[Airman4754]

I spent the previous 30 years fishing gin clear water. Use braid as a main line and run a 6'-10' leader. If visibility is over 10ft use a 6lb fluoro leader, if it's less use 10lb fluoro leader. You won't need a spray bottle or have to fight with your reel every time you change weight.

[NHBull]

1 hour ago, Quarry Man said:

 

Does having the line to line knot in the actual reel affect casting distance?

 

Usually not, but I usually make it so the knot stops just before the reel.....for drop shot I don't mind casting a bait that almost makes it back to the handle......it would better with spinning guides than casting guides

[WRB]

Braid with a leader creates 2 knots to fail and 1 knot going through the rod guides, both are problems with FC line. If your rod has micro guides knots don't go through them smoothly. I use small diameter 8 lb FC occasionally on my bait casters without any issues,  prefer to use spinning for 4 lb to 8 lb mono or FC.

We say bass aren't line shy, this doesn't apply to rock quarry bass in gin clear water that can be spooked by anything unusual in thier environment.

Tom