Hi there, I'm starting to fish a weedy lake, only short range stuff it's only 80
Yards wide at the widest point, but I've never fished a really weedy lake before, used to silty lakes in the northwest. Braid is allowed and even though I'm an experienced angler I've never used it so not sure if to go down that route. What would you recommend to use mainline wise ? They dyed the water last year and apparently wasn't as bad as previous years so thinking of going with mono for now and if it gets bad then get some braid.
Yards wide at the widest point, but I've never fished a really weedy lake before, used to silty lakes in the northwest. Braid is allowed and even though I'm an experienced angler I've never used it so not sure if to go down that route. What would you recommend to use mainline wise ? They dyed the water last year and apparently wasn't as bad as previous years so thinking of going with mono for now and if it gets bad then get some braid.
In reply to Post #1
One water I fish has a rule of minimum 0.4mm line, for this water I have a setup loaded with 18lb Synchro XT line. When I started fishing a small weedy lake last year, this is what I used. Did well on it, only fished a handful of sessions and had the biggest fish out of there.
One water I fish has a rule of minimum 0.4mm line, for this water I have a setup loaded with 18lb Synchro XT line. When I started fishing a small weedy lake last year, this is what I used. Did well on it, only fished a handful of sessions and had the biggest fish out of there.
In reply to Post #1
Braid + flurocarbon leaders, all the way.
My current water is very weedy, I use Gardner hydrosink noir with about 10-15ft of 30lb mirage flurocarbon as a leader.
Hydrosink Noir does cast like ****, however it does sink like a brick - it's interwoven with flurocarbon strands.
Braid + flurocarbon leaders, all the way.
My current water is very weedy, I use Gardner hydrosink noir with about 10-15ft of 30lb mirage flurocarbon as a leader.
Hydrosink Noir does cast like ****, however it does sink like a brick - it's interwoven with flurocarbon strands.
Anyone else opinions on a mainline in weed ?
In reply to Post #4
I think it's better to smoke rather than mainline, but each to their own
I think it's better to smoke rather than mainline, but each to their own
In reply to Post #1
Original Nash Bullet if they still do it - pig to cast but great for upping the fish landing ratio odds on weedy waters
Original Nash Bullet if they still do it - pig to cast but great for upping the fish landing ratio odds on weedy waters
In reply to Post #4
Daiwa Sensor or Gardner Pro Line 15lb used to work for me straight through
Daiwa Sensor or Gardner Pro Line 15lb used to work for me straight through
I use Fox EOS 20lb line and fish a very weedy lake. Extremely strong, low diameter and a great colour for weed. And it's cheap!! So far in 18 months of using it I've never had it break - same can't be said for some of the more expensive expensive brands I've used on there!
In reply to Post #4
Gardner Pro Light Blend XM, very strong and robust line, sinks ok and has been my go to line in recent seasons, might not be as fancy as some of the other lines but has been excellent for me.
Gardner Pro Light Blend XM, very strong and robust line, sinks ok and has been my go to line in recent seasons, might not be as fancy as some of the other lines but has been excellent for me.
In reply to Post #7
15lb Gardner pro is not up to weedy lakes and big fish in My experience. It has poor abrasion resistance and the 15 breaks at 15.
I fish a weedy syndicate with carp to upper 40. It let me down more than once.
Gardner hydrotuff in 15lb or esp synchro in 15lb far more abrasion resistant. Both break over 20lb.
15lb Gardner pro is not up to weedy lakes and big fish in My experience. It has poor abrasion resistance and the 15 breaks at 15.
I fish a weedy syndicate with carp to upper 40. It let me down more than once.
Gardner hydrotuff in 15lb or esp synchro in 15lb far more abrasion resistant. Both break over 20lb.
In reply to Post #1
A decent mono in 0.35mm diameter or higher will do you fine. I've used both ESP Synchro XT and daiwa sensor in weedy lakes without any issues. Any type of leader can be bad news, as weed can gather on the leader knot, causing issues when landing fish. Strong Mono straight through to a 2-4ft leadcore leader would be my go to in weed.
A decent mono in 0.35mm diameter or higher will do you fine. I've used both ESP Synchro XT and daiwa sensor in weedy lakes without any issues. Any type of leader can be bad news, as weed can gather on the leader knot, causing issues when landing fish. Strong Mono straight through to a 2-4ft leadcore leader would be my go to in weed.
In reply to Post #10
Not quite the same as my test findings!
I can go back to my original thread on the other forum, and my tests on the line:
Gardner Pro-Carp Monofilament Mainline.
I was asked to test this line in 0.35mm diameter, so this is my initial findings, and as I did breaking strain tests on a spring balance I may have slightly different findings from professional tests. As of yet, I have not used the line "in anger" as it were, everything has been done on the workbench.
First test was to cut off 5x 1 metre lengths of Pro-Carp and attach them to a standard lanyard at both ends with a Uni knot, I then attached one lanyard to a fixed point (my garage wall), and the other to an old set of scales. (This is NOT recommended for your best fishing scales)
On 5 pulls until breaking the line, I got slightly different results, but that is down to eye on a set of scales, and hand working at the breaking point.
Test1 18.5lb
Test2 19.5lb
Test3 20lb
Test4 19lb and a bit
Test5 21lb
Please note, as I said it was my eye checking it as I pulled gradually backwards, so readings are NOT 100% accurate, but every test was well over the 15lb rating.
Next test, obviously how supple the line felt, and it was very smooth and supple, more supple than my other mono Daiwa Sensor, and it was actually visibly thinner.
I did cut another metre length, and dropping it in a bucket of water, it sunk very easily of its own accord without needing pushing under to break surface tension.
Loading onto the reels from a bucket of warm soapy water, it was smooth and went on very easily, no kinks, no twists and had a good line lay, again, better than Sensor.
As I said, first impressions and it has now been made my first choice line, it is on all 3 spools of my Baitrunners.
My only point of disappointment, and that is simply because I'm awkward is that the 15lb 0.35mm spool is supplied in a spool length of 920metres, I did have to put some backing on my 10000 baitrunner spools to get to the spool rim.
I brought this thread up again after realising that I have now been using the Pro-Carp (the original as it was sent to me) for a few years now. It is my first choice of line, and over the past few years I have put a number of fish on the bank with it, from long and short casts at Nazeing, in clear and coloured water, and over gravel bars and after being fragged by Crayfish.
The largest fish I have caught using it is 33lb, a fish that took me round a few tree roots, but I have caught numerous others from the other lagoons on the complex.
A better line than many more of the more expensive lines available.
At the same time on the same thread Richard Gardner also commented about its abrasion resistance
Not quite the same as my test findings!
I can go back to my original thread on the other forum, and my tests on the line:
Gardner Pro-Carp Monofilament Mainline.
I was asked to test this line in 0.35mm diameter, so this is my initial findings, and as I did breaking strain tests on a spring balance I may have slightly different findings from professional tests. As of yet, I have not used the line "in anger" as it were, everything has been done on the workbench.
First test was to cut off 5x 1 metre lengths of Pro-Carp and attach them to a standard lanyard at both ends with a Uni knot, I then attached one lanyard to a fixed point (my garage wall), and the other to an old set of scales. (This is NOT recommended for your best fishing scales)
On 5 pulls until breaking the line, I got slightly different results, but that is down to eye on a set of scales, and hand working at the breaking point.
Test1 18.5lb
Test2 19.5lb
Test3 20lb
Test4 19lb and a bit
Test5 21lb
Please note, as I said it was my eye checking it as I pulled gradually backwards, so readings are NOT 100% accurate, but every test was well over the 15lb rating.
Next test, obviously how supple the line felt, and it was very smooth and supple, more supple than my other mono Daiwa Sensor, and it was actually visibly thinner.
I did cut another metre length, and dropping it in a bucket of water, it sunk very easily of its own accord without needing pushing under to break surface tension.
Loading onto the reels from a bucket of warm soapy water, it was smooth and went on very easily, no kinks, no twists and had a good line lay, again, better than Sensor.
As I said, first impressions and it has now been made my first choice line, it is on all 3 spools of my Baitrunners.
My only point of disappointment, and that is simply because I'm awkward is that the 15lb 0.35mm spool is supplied in a spool length of 920metres, I did have to put some backing on my 10000 baitrunner spools to get to the spool rim.
I brought this thread up again after realising that I have now been using the Pro-Carp (the original as it was sent to me) for a few years now. It is my first choice of line, and over the past few years I have put a number of fish on the bank with it, from long and short casts at Nazeing, in clear and coloured water, and over gravel bars and after being fragged by Crayfish.
The largest fish I have caught using it is 33lb, a fish that took me round a few tree roots, but I have caught numerous others from the other lagoons on the complex.
A better line than many more of the more expensive lines available.
At the same time on the same thread Richard Gardner also commented about its abrasion resistance
In reply to Post #12
Ive fished a few weedy water and been using korda braid 20lb, casts ok doesn't need wetting, sinks well, but does lose it colour quite quickly but thats not too surprising. The bs of braid lines is literally bs, I have Daiwa braid in 55lb and its not as strong or abrasion resistant as the korda stuff rated at 20lb. You can tell more by looking at it as to what its best uses are.
Ive fished a few weedy water and been using korda braid 20lb, casts ok doesn't need wetting, sinks well, but does lose it colour quite quickly but thats not too surprising. The bs of braid lines is literally bs, I have Daiwa braid in 55lb and its not as strong or abrasion resistant as the korda stuff rated at 20lb. You can tell more by looking at it as to what its best uses are.
In reply to Post #12
He's talking about abrasion resistance not linear strength , most lines are well over rated but I'm not going down that road and explaining that again
He's talking about abrasion resistance not linear strength , most lines are well over rated but I'm not going down that road and explaining that again
In reply to Post #14
In reply to Post #12
He's talking about abrasion resistance not linear strength , most lines are well over rated but I'm not going down that road and explaining that again
I did go on abrasion resistance, so Would you please read the whole post, or more specifically this bit:
It is my first choice of line, and over the past few years I have put a number of fish on the bank with it, from long and short casts at Nazeing, in clear and coloured water, and over gravel bars and after being fragged by Crayfish.
The largest fish I have caught using it is 33lb, a fish that took me round a few tree roots, but I have caught numerous others from the other lagoons on the complex.
In reply to Post #12
He's talking about abrasion resistance not linear strength , most lines are well over rated but I'm not going down that road and explaining that again
I did go on abrasion resistance, so Would you please read the whole post, or more specifically this bit:
It is my first choice of line, and over the past few years I have put a number of fish on the bank with it, from long and short casts at Nazeing, in clear and coloured water, and over gravel bars and after being fragged by Crayfish.
The largest fish I have caught using it is 33lb, a fish that took me round a few tree roots, but I have caught numerous others from the other lagoons on the complex.