Line help (Phil??)

[Smithvillesteve]

I dont fish for trout very often. I enjoy the experience just dont get the opportunity. I have a question for anyone on this site and your help will be greatly appreciated. I am going down to Taneycomo in late Jan for a tournament with a bunch of "cabin fever" married guys. I try and watch the topics on here leading up to my trip to find out what is working. With  all this high water lately that has been tough. I have 3 ultra light setups that i take. I spool one with 6 lb test mono for throwing jerk baits and 1/8 oz jigs. I spool one with 4 lb test mono that i use the most. Drift fishing, spoons, crankbaits. I spool one with 2 lb test mono for small jigs under a strike indicator. I have never used flurocarbon down there. I just use my Trilene XL green mono. A buddy of mine claims i need to be using flurocarbon at Taneycomo. I use flurocarbon at Table Rock as a leader on my braid for drop shotting. I just dont think it is very strong. Any advice for this novice trout fisherman would be greatly appreciated. 

[mwfischer]

I swear by Berkeley Vanish clear floro at Taneycomo.  Even in the normal clear conditions i've always had better luck than those in my group who are mono guys.  The floro sinks better with the ultra light jigs I throw when there is little or no generation.  Used to be terrified of the idea of 2# but landed a nice 23" rainbow a few years back on it.  Stuff is incredibly strong for what it is.  Not a huge fan of Vanish as it gets up above 10# bass fishing, but the small stuff is great for me personally.

[Smithvillesteve]

Thanks mwfischer. Greatly appreciated info. 

[Phil Lilley]

Good answer.

With water color the way it is, you can get away with heavier line BUT throwing 1/8th oz jigs using 6 pound line might be tough - just because of the weight of the jig.  I use 4 pound.

[Ham]

Phil is the Man on Taney. I've caught a few trout on Taney and a few more on the White River below Bull Shoals. I use 6 lb mono or copoly tied to nanofil witout too much of an issue. In heavier water, the smaller diameter line will cut the current better AND in theory fluro should be a little better. Keep in mind that fluro requires you to pay a lot more attention to how you tie your knots and what knot you use.

I guess if I felt like it was necessary, I'd switch to 4 lb fluro.

[JestersHK]

I've had good success with both 2 and 4 lb Maxima in green on Taney.  Also used Vanish as well.  Man when that Maxima snaps though it really KAPOWS!   

[Travis Swift]

I LOVE the trout magnet SOS line.  I use the 2 pound test about 90% of the time and 4 pound test the other 10% of the time.  It's inexpensive and very strong and I like the color that it is as well.  I have tried the 7x tippet fluorocarbon tied to it but I haven't noticed an increased catch rate and I don't trust my abilities of tying the 2 lines together very well either so I stick to the 2 pound test SOS all the time. 

[Gatorjet]

After trying various flurocarbon lines for a while, and not liking the way it handled, I switched back to Maxima Ultragreen. I will still use short pieces for leader on my jig & float rigs, and drift rigs. But I don't see an advantage over the Maxima. I use 2#  all the time for jig fishing, and for the afore mentioned leaders. My main line on my drift rig rods is 6#. I have been trying 6# Nanofil on my jig & float rods. It has done very well for casting, and not showing any signs of reel memory causing those dreaded loops. But it is at the same time a nightmare in windy conditions because of the wind knots it seems to enjoy tying itself into in any slack line. I do up my line to 4# for stick baits, and Little Jake's Spin-A-Lures. But I don't use them very often.

 

 

 

 

 

[Linwood Tom]

Im the buddy in smithville steves post.my issue with fluro is knot strength what is the best knot ?  what Is the reason for using sink rate or visabilety ?   

[fshndoug]

#4 lb seguar all the way.I would stay away from their Red Label,it is a little cheaper.Carbon Pro Seguar is the line I have thrown for years ,I like it so much I buy it in 1000 yard spools.There is one other brand I throw jerk baits on,it is called Dam from Germany.I throw 6.4 lb test,it is not fluorocarbon but still has a fine dia.and great strength.I know Phil used to throw it.