Icefishing with Braided Line

[N.E.T.O.]

What Wipermac says is true. It can be a pain unless you are inside a tent, as it will ice up on you and freeze to the spool and your guides. That said, I still prefer it, even ice fishing (I always use a shack). The key is, to use about 3 feet of fluorocarbon leader. I never tie my lure directly to the braid. I like the sensitivity and the durability of braid when ice fishing/jigging. I usually take at least one rod rigged with pure mono, just in case I want to go outside the shack to test a few new holes, etc, but my goto rods are all filled with braid (specifically, 14lb. Fireline) with 6lb or 8lb fluorocarbon leader on the end.

But to answer your questions directly...I think that non-impulse fishing, such as ice fishing where fish have a while to sit and stare at the lure before taking it (validated via an underwater camera), the line can be visible and spook the fish away...hence...the 3 feet of fluorocarbon.

Hope this helps.
Randy
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