Why Lite Line is Neccessary

You may ask why I choose light line.  The answer is “clear”.    As winter arrives the lakes water color  naturally clears up.  The ice on top does not allow the wind to stir up the bottom, and lack of sunlight prohibits the growth of algae and plankton. Although in the summertime you may be able to get away with some heavier line, winter is no time to fish with anything that is remotely visible.  The thinner diameters that lighter line offers make it next to impossible for the fish to detect.  I stick with the monofilament, usually Berkley’s Micro Ice or Sensation in 2-4lb test. simply b ecause it is clear like the water.  The new high-tech super lines may have extremely small diameters, but they also show up like a rope in a fish bowl.  Mono has a very low reflective index (transparency), which makes it almost disappear when it hits the water.   Super lines on the other hand are seen as is, in or out of water.

The other factor of using light line is the action.  The best way to describe this it to imagine having a 1/32 oz. jig on some  fine sewing thread.  The jig will be able to dance around with lots of natural free motion.  If you take that same jig and put it on some heavier, stiffer line, its going to move very little; the bait looses its natural falling look.  Granted using 6,8 or 10lb test will not be that extreme, it still makes all the difference in the world.  

Light line is not only the key to more success, it’s the clear way to go!

by: Troy Peterson "Mr. Bluegill"