The debate rages on about what's the best choice for fishing line in the BWCA . . .Let's here your 2-cents!

Personally, I prefer fireline / spiderwire because of all the abuse it takes fishing in and around all the rocks & deadfall . . . where the fish hide!

Only been a member for a week and already stirring the pot!
You will fit in great with this crowd.

I will reply with the most generic, non-specific, forum friendly response I can think of......Every different kind of line has it's place in the world of fishing the BWCA and anywhere else :)

I run a little of everything up in the wilderness.

I use either 8 or 10 pound mono, Trilene XL. I also use 30 pound fireline on one spool for when I fish the Lucky 13.

Hears too you my friend.

I use 8 or 10 fireline on all my spinning reels. It's thin casts a mile and breaks at over 20 lbs. fireline is smoother than other braids so line to line knots are stronger. Deep crank baits run the deepest on fireline. I can hit 40 plus feet on a tdd 11 rapala. I use a flouro leader for everything except topwaters.

I use Trilene Xl 8 pound clear for Smallies, Walleyes, and Lake Trout. I use 4 pound xl for Stream trout in lakes, and line shy walleyes in clear water. I use fireline mostly if Im fishing Pike, or if I'm using a bottom bouncer. Fireline up to the swivel, then mono back to the lure.

I love the feel of braid and the fact that it cast a mile and doesn't tangle. The problem I feel like I get more bites with it, but I feel like I lose a lot more fish with it. So when I am in the bwca I typically use mono.

i'm with BP & QM (#8-#10) i'll even run with #12 XT triline for shore fishing and casting those 1oz type lures in the BW and local . and #50 power pro if really targeting bigger fish . as BigBri eluded on sometimes stretch is a good thing , but deep water jigging , for sure braid with a mono/fluorocarbon leader , and other applications , i'm sure ;)
i'll add this:::; i was a huge magnathin fan , but the inconsistancey has dissappointed me the last few years , triline XL #8 is my all around go to set up now.....strength for bigger fish and castabilty of smaller lures with a MDL (fenwick rod) ;) ;) , it really covers it all from sunfish to #15 fish.

quote QueticoMike: "I use either 8 or 10 pound mono, Trilene XL. I also use 30 pound fireline on one spool for when I fish the Lucky 13."

yup this is good thinking IMO except I would throw in a spool of lighter mono (6ib) for certain and a reel with heavier braid for pike fishing.

Braid is fantastic for specialty fishing and knows no equal for certain applications. As Shock as stated it is excellent for jigging......or for deep trolling........tangling with big pike.........buts its not the "be all- end all" that many anglers think it is.

Offshore snapper fishing I see lots of braid and I see fewer bites with it and lots more pulled hooks. They get fish 1/2 way up and they are off........seen it time and again. So yea, they can feel everything great but as one one guy quipped (out of 6 guys) after I collected my catch off the deck of Capt Yuris catamaran "well there goes 1/2 of them".

quote BigBri: " The problem I feel like I get more bites with it, but I feel like I lose a lot more fish with it."

I take a lot of scouts and newbies fishing and I am amazed at how many fish they lose half way up from the bottom when using Fireline. The problem is that because of the no stretch properties of this line it is very easy to send pulses of slack down your line. The 2 biggest causes are trying to pump fish in or just getting very excited and being what I call "herky jerky" while reeling. I had one friend this last winter that it took us awhile to figure out how he was losing so many. He had thick gloves on and they would hit the bail periodically during the retrieve. Of course this same line characteristic makes it much easier to pop jigs and other baits out of snags.

quote AmarilloJim: "

quote BigBri: " The problem I feel like I get more bites with it, but I feel like I lose a lot more fish with it."

The 2 biggest causes are trying to pump fish in or just getting very excited and being what I call "herky jerky" while reeling."

Now we are talking fishing! I couldn't agree more! Pump and wind usually only does bad things for you. Admittedly when fishing very light tackle you may not have much choice but generally slow and steady wins the fight. If at all possible I use what is called "Straight crank" which is just as it sounds........a steady winching of the fish in. I do not "herky-jerky" the rod around which does nothing positive for you but can do plenty negatively > Like enlarge the hook hole, pull the hooks and excite the fish to battle harder........all bad things.

When a fish wants to "go" you may have to drop the rod to alleviate line pressure on the guides which works against your drag but after the run its back up with the rod and a steady smooth reeling. Do not reel if line is going out (the drag will sound off) as line cannot go out and in at the same time and line twist will be the result and eventually a broken line.

Just as big a cause as slack line, or perhaps even more so, of fish lost on braid is pulled hooks. Trebles only have so much gap to them and therefore their "bite" is only so deep. Braid with its no stretch qualities as well as superior strength and fishermen (and fisherwomen ;-) are able to rip the hooks right out of the fishes mouth.

That is one reason I like a bit longer and more flexible rods while fishing braid. The ability to cushion and absorb some of that energy is paramount in order to stay connected. Exceptions exist and big strong circle hooks or J hooks can be used with fish like Grouper where I run 150 lb braid to 125lb mono leader and a short stout rod. In such a situation it is important not to allow any room for these type of fish to turn and get power diving into the rocks......"stop em or pop em" is the strategy and the deep bite of a circle hook will not generally pull from the corner of a fishes mouth.

i prefer medium light or medium action rods for casting or trolling lures with braid. My medium heavy rod is strictly for lures I need to set the hook for like tubes. If your losing fish it's not because of the braid. Typically in the bwca I use a spinnerbaits, spoons, x raps, or crank baits. I feel braid gives me a huge advantage with those lures. The x raps slash harder and cast farther on braid. The cranks run deeper and it's much easier to tell if the bait has picked up weeds or debris. The biggest mistake I see is tying braid directly to a lure without a leader. Tie a leader on always. I like mine 6 to 10 feet long. The leader allows for stretch and is less visible than braid.
Yes trilene xl works if you like to jig for walleyes. For everything else I'll choose fireline every time.

MnPat
You like Fireline over power pro? I have never tried fireline so my curiosity is up a tad. What lb test do you use and what sort of knot do you like to connect your leader.......and as long as we are at it do you use fluorocarbon leaders? And if so what test do you like? Inquiring minds want to know.

8 lb power pro and 3-4 foot Fluorocarbon leader (10 lb test.) for all my Quetico fishing.

quote mastertangler: "MnPat
You like Fireline over power pro? I have never tried fireline so my curiosity is up a tad. What lb test do you use and what sort of knot do you like to connect your leader.......and as long as we are at it do you use fluorocarbon leaders? And if so what test do you like? Inquiring minds want to know. "

I use 6 8 and 10. Uni to uni knot with 8 to 12 lb leader. Fluorocarbon for everything except topwater. Fireline over power pro because it's thinner,stronger and smoother which makes the knot stronger. It's also casts better.

quote Mnpat: "

quote mastertangler: "MnPat
You like Fireline over power pro? I have never tried fireline so my curiosity is up a tad. What lb test do you use and what sort of knot do you like to connect your leader.......and as long as we are at it do you use fluorocarbon leaders? And if so what test do you like? Inquiring minds want to know. "

I use 6 8 and 10. Uni to uni knot with 8 to 12 lb leader. Fluorocarbon for everything except topwater. Fireline over power pro because it's thinner,stronger and smoother which makes the knot stronger. It's also casts better. "

Thinner, stronger and smoother with better knot strength and casts better! Whoa Nellie thats quite a boast!

Interesting.......I wonder why Fireline has not caught on in Salt water? Most everybody uses Power Pro. But you certainly have piqued my interest level. OK......I will give it a go. Are there different kinds of Fireline? If so which do you use and why? Are there any unusual quirks that I should be aware of?

10LB Power Pro .006in dia
10LB Fireline .008in dia

I need taller boots to continue reading the thread. PP Super Slick here with floro leader except cranks and trolling then I used mono. Good Luck.

I usually use mono for trolling as well but I am rethinking that.