07-14-2008, 09:39 PM
[cool][#0000ff]What scares me is that I can't remember yesterday. At my age every day is REALLY a new day. Meet lots of new friends that already seem to know me...and there is no such thing as a rerun on TV.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The thing on the line is pretty much the same. But, it is good to revisit the options once in a while. Hail progress. Technology marches on and there are always new choices.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, it still boils down to personal preferences in limpness, visibility, abrasion resistance, memory, knot strength...and cost. I have tried a bunch of lines and still stick with my Silver Thread Excalibur. And, I still have not had a fish break off in over 8 years. And...again...I generally manage to get my share of hits and hookups...against other guys using higher priced and more exotic lines.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff] If you are basically a good angler and know how to use your lures and tackle, line makes less difference than other factors. It doesn't matter what line you use if you are fishing in the wrong place, using the wrong lure and the wrong presentation. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]High country trout in air-clear water are notorious for being leader shy. Ditto for many fish in clear streams. But, for bass, walleye, perch, white bass, wipers, catfish and many others, you can often use straight braided line with high visibility and still get plenty of action. Of course, using quality clear leader will improve the success rate, but line visibility alone is not the only killer.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]For every finicky fish that turns away when it sees the line/leader, there are just as many that don't give a hoot. Ever watch a bass smack a crawdad? They open their mouth, flare their gills and suck in a cubic yard of crawdad, vegetation and rocks. Same with many other fish. If they see food hiding in a pile of sticks, they chomp the whole mess and sort out the edible part later.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Bottom "line" is that you should use whatever you like and you have confidence in. Just like with lures, you will always do better if you fish with positive expectation...while standing on your left leg, squinting your right eye and holding your mouth just right.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The thing on the line is pretty much the same. But, it is good to revisit the options once in a while. Hail progress. Technology marches on and there are always new choices.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]But, it still boils down to personal preferences in limpness, visibility, abrasion resistance, memory, knot strength...and cost. I have tried a bunch of lines and still stick with my Silver Thread Excalibur. And, I still have not had a fish break off in over 8 years. And...again...I generally manage to get my share of hits and hookups...against other guys using higher priced and more exotic lines.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff] If you are basically a good angler and know how to use your lures and tackle, line makes less difference than other factors. It doesn't matter what line you use if you are fishing in the wrong place, using the wrong lure and the wrong presentation. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]High country trout in air-clear water are notorious for being leader shy. Ditto for many fish in clear streams. But, for bass, walleye, perch, white bass, wipers, catfish and many others, you can often use straight braided line with high visibility and still get plenty of action. Of course, using quality clear leader will improve the success rate, but line visibility alone is not the only killer.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]For every finicky fish that turns away when it sees the line/leader, there are just as many that don't give a hoot. Ever watch a bass smack a crawdad? They open their mouth, flare their gills and suck in a cubic yard of crawdad, vegetation and rocks. Same with many other fish. If they see food hiding in a pile of sticks, they chomp the whole mess and sort out the edible part later.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Bottom "line" is that you should use whatever you like and you have confidence in. Just like with lures, you will always do better if you fish with positive expectation...while standing on your left leg, squinting your right eye and holding your mouth just right.[/#0000ff]
[signature]