Should I wait to spool up?

[BrackishBassin]

I’m planning on re-spooling my Tatula CT in preparation for the unlikely event that I can find some soft water in the next couple of weeks. It’s currently spooled with 15lb Big Game, but the last time I fished it the line was a mess. Nothing but coils. Tried throwing a jerkbait and the line looked like a slinky sitting on top of the water during pauses. I’d like to have it ready to go should the situation arise, but don’t want to spool it up and then have it sit for a while if things stay really cold. I’ll be dealing with the slinky effect all over again. 

 

I know I could go with braid and not worry about it, but it’s on my rod that I use to fish my moving baits (chatterbaits, cranks, topwater, etc.) and I feel like the stretch helps keep them pinned with trebles. So, I’m going to avoid going that route. 

 

Would there be any line management benefits to going with fluoro, or does it do the same thing when it sits? Does it really have no stretch in the same way that braid does? If I have to stick with mono, is there something I could use to prevent the line from coiling like that when it sits?

 

Can you guys tell it’s been too long since I was able to wet a line? My tackle has been sorted, re-sorted, polished, sorted again, and inspected with a microscope. I probably should clean/service my reels, but don’t want to end up with a ‘bag o’ reel’. Please, for the love of God, give me something fishing related to do before I lose my ever-loving mind. Thanks!

[Angry John]

It's winter so lines will be a little more difficult to manage.  It's also a great time to downsize your line and use thinner wire hooks.  They have a lot less fight and are not going to bite near as agressive.  Look into something like 10 lb xl for the winter period.  Kvd l and l may help and seemed to keep the ice from building up as much.  My next outing I am going to shoot some directly on the guides to see if it helps.

 

[Boomstick]

In this weather, mono is not going to perform great. You might want to try fluorocarbon in the cold weather for that reason as it's a little more predictable.

 

Also I would suggest trying Sufix Siege line. I used to use Berkley Big Game line on all of my reels (I still use it on spinning reels), but I find the Sufix Siege casts much better and has far less memory, even in the warmer weather. The Big Game really took a memory to the spool, where the Siege line did not. I did not honestly expect the difference to be that major and expected to return to Big Game.

 

In my limited experience, the original Stren line also seems to not take memory to the spool as much as Big Game.

[fishnkamp]

Well here is what I want you to do. Ignore the cold for a few minutes when we get a warmer day. Try standing your rod up against a tree, walk your line out  and then using a cloth under tension pull your line straight as you walk along the line. You need to remove any lure so the coils will straighten out.  Adding a line conditioner like Reel Snot helps too.

[BrackishBassin]

 

In this weather, mono is not going to perform great. You might want to try fluorocarbon in the cold weather for that reason as it's a little more predictable.

 

Also I would suggest trying Sufix Siege line. I used to use Berkley Big Game line on all of my reels (I still use it on spinning reels), but I find the Sufix Siege casts much better and has far less memory, even in the warmer weather. The Big Game really took a memory to the spool, where the Siege line did not. I did not honestly expect the difference to be that major and expected to return to Big Game.

 

In my limited experience, the original Stren line also seems to not take memory to the spool as much as Big Game.

That’s actually what I use for my UL panfish rig and leaders for my ML spinning set up that’s spooled with braid. May even have a spool or two of it in the garage. Thanks!

 

I defaulted to Big Game because guys here mentioned it quite and bit and I have three 900 yd spoils of it in 15lb test for saltwater stuff. So, it cost me nothing to throw it on the reel. 

[Boomstick]

 

That’s actually what I use for my UL panfish rig and leaders for my ML spinning set up that’s spooled with braid. May even have a spool or two of it in the garage. Thanks!

 

I defaulted to Big Game because guys here mentioned it quite and bit and I have three 900 yd spoils of it in 15lb test for saltwater stuff. So, it cost me nothing to throw it on the reel. 

 

Yeah I get that. The Big Game is so cheap that you can respool before every trip and not break the bank. On the other hand, I seemed to get good life out of my Siege as well and it holds its shape so much better and casts so well that it's definitely worth the extra money for me.

[OnthePotomac]

Detail cleaning/lubing program underway now and as I finish a reel I will do my annual strip the line.  Sometime in late February I will start respooling.  In the event there is a freak of nature wherein temps allow getting on the river, I will just respool what I am going to take out.  That said, the last time that happened was five years ago when we had 65 degrees on January 5.  In the normal course of our weather it will be at least the first week of March before happy fishing begins for me and the lines will not be like coils of boing.

[Deleted account]

 

I’m planning on re-spooling my Tatula CT in preparation for the unlikely event that I can find some soft water in the next couple of weeks. It’s currently spooled with 15lb Big Game, but the last time I fished it the line was a mess. Nothing but coils. Tried throwing a jerkbait and the line looked like a slinky sitting on top of the water during pauses. I’d like to have it ready to go should the situation arise, but don’t want to spool it up and then have it sit for a while if things stay really cold. I’ll be dealing with the slinky effect all over again. 

 

I know I could go with braid and not worry about it, but it’s on my rod that I use to fish my moving baits (chatterbaits, cranks, topwater, etc.) and I feel like the stretch helps keep them pinned with trebles. So, I’m going to avoid going that route. 

 

Would there be any line management benefits to going with fluoro, or does it do the same thing when it sits? Does it really have no stretch in the same way that braid does? If I have to stick with mono, is there something I could use to prevent the line from coiling like that when it sits?

 

Can you guys tell it’s been too long since I was able to wet a line? My tackle has been sorted, re-sorted, polished, sorted again, and inspected with a microscope. I probably should clean/service my reels, but don’t want to end up with a ‘bag o’ reel’. Please, for the love of God, give me something fishing related to do before I lose my ever-loving mind. Thanks!

Make a couple of casts to get your line wet, then tie the end of your line to something (I usually put the hook in a picnic table) and walk off a long cast. Point the rod and stretch, hold for about 10 seconds, repeat a time or 2 (humming "for fun it's a wonderful toy, fun for a girl and a boy" helps it work better). If its really cold, BG (and most other monos) will coil up like that. No, flouro won't help. 15 lb with JBs?. WWDs near DC are giving up a few.

 

[LionHeart]

Seagur Red Label is the highest quality flouro I have used and it coils pretty bad if it sits on a reel.  I have tried Reel Magic but can't say I noticed much difference.  I have heard KVD is a bit better though. 

 

My plan is to take care of any chores now that would keep me from fishing once the weather warms up.  A faulty plan I'm afraid.  Those kinds of chores are endless.

[Angry John]

 

Seagur Red Label is the highest quality flouro I have used and it coils pretty bad if it sits on a reel.  I have tried Reel Magic but can't say I noticed much difference.  I have heard KVD is a bit better though. 

 

My plan is to take care of any chores now that would keep me from fishing once the weather warms up.  A faulty plan I'm afraid.  Those kinds of chores are endless.

Reel Magic Used To Have A Warning About FLOROCARBON On The can. You may want to check.

[BrackishBassin]

 

Make a couple of casts to get your line wet, then tie the end of your line to something (I usually put the hook in a picnic table) and walk off a long cast. Point the rod and stretch, hold for about 10 seconds, repeat a time or 2 (humming "for fun it's a wonderful toy, fun for a girl and a boy" helps it work better). If its really cold, BG (and most other monos) will coil up like that. No, flouro won't help. 15 lb with JBs?. WWDs near DC are giving up a few.

 

Yeah, I’m a bank beater so I limit my set ups. I’ve got a MH for bottom contact stuff and throwing a frog (50lb braid), the M is used for anything that moves and anything with trebles (had 12lb on it but got annoyed with backlashes), and a ML spinning for smaller stuff. 

[LionHeart]

 

Reel Magic Used To Have A Warning About FLOROCARBON On The can. You may want to check.

Thanks for the info man.  I will take another look.

[fishwizzard]

I am a big believer in the KVD Line and Lure, but I don't find it helps much in weather this cold.  

 

I was up at the Patapsco today and it is de-iced but I am not hopeful about ponds and such anytime soon.