Lb test line for muskies

[nathenpd]

Do you guys think i could get by with 17 lb test when fishing muskies?

[Jason]

Hey what is a miskies . LOL

[nathenpd]

miskies? what are you talking about? lol did you change it?

[Jason]

LOL .... No I didnt change it . That is was what you wrote on the Title : )

[rapanatic]

I honestly would not go under 80 pound test. With all the super lines available you can get 80 lb test in like 20 lb diameter. My big baitcasters are rigged with 100 lb. Case in point - the muskie club in my area put on a seminar run by 2 muskie guides - like 70 some years experience between the 2 and one of them won't even use line any more because he has lost numerous fish over 50". His baitcasters all had wire of some sort spooled up and the guides on these rigs were tore up. Maybe that's over kill but he says he's never lost another fish.

Here is a pic of the fish my aunt just caught recently. 49" and they use 80-100 on everything-

i67.photobucket.com/albums/h306/fwissa/Millacvacation2015.jpg

Just my opinion and what I've seen most people using around here-

[nathenpd]

Which superline would you suggest? I'm kinda afraid of using them, because they tend to knot up, and are imposible to untie them. I'd like to hear Bodeens opinion on the 17 lb test.

[nathenpd]

I think i'll try 50 lb spiderwire, any opinions?

[rapanatic]

Nothing wrong with spiderwire but my preference is the New fireline-alot easier to pick the back lash. Usually just pull up were it's notted and then string the line out-back lash is gone then.

[Bodeen]

I would probably go with the 65 lb spider wire stealth. I use 20 lb stealth for my salmon dipsys and downriggers and it works well. Case in point though, is these applications are mainly trolling situations. Casting, I don't tend to like spider wire. Jigging is fine with it. If I was going to cast with it, I would put it on a high end open face reel and go 20 lb test so I could get more on the spool. It would have to be in an area where I could let the fish wear itself out. I wouldn't want to have to turn a fish of that size and power with 17 pound test.

I don't like high lb test mono at all. Heaviest I use is 17 and that is for river fishing cats. Otherwise, the most I go is 12 for casting, and I prefer 8. I don't think I would baitcast spider wire. If I had to, I would go with a super line that didn't tangle so bad.

In case you don't know, you need to use a backing with spiderwire. Something to let it bite into the reel, otherwise it just spins on the spool.

Two things you don't want to have happen. One, forcing the fish with light line, and B getting spooled by the fish. (yes that wasn't an accident)

[bronco10]

I use 25 lb berkely gorilla. Its a braided line and i have never had a problem landing muskies over 40 inches with it, you just have to watch your line, after numerous casts youll have to retie your knot, the line will get worn down.

[nathenpd]

Would 17lb mono be good enough for backing? How much of it should i have on?

[Bodeen]

You want you backing diameter to match as close as possible your line diameter.

[nathenpd]

What knot should i use to connect the two lines? Would the rapala knot work ?

[Bodeen]

I use a blood knot.

[nathenpd]

Hmmm, i'll have to try that one. It looks pretty easy to tie