Opinions on line weights and lengths

grizzly190 · 02-18-2006, 01:14 PM

When I was looking at a Zebco 808 I got to thinking about putting 60lb Spyder Wire on it. Because It has the same diameter of 12lb mono and the reel will hold like 250 yards of it. But your less likely to lose a fish on 180lb Dacron but I'm guessing you could only put like 50 yrds on it. SO heres what I have come up with.

1. Use light line and have a lot of it and let the fish run and die on its own (I hope it'll die before it swims 250 yards)

2. Use heavier line and fight the fish and just horse it onto land or the boat.

OTHER: It would probally depend on the type of fish you shoot also, Carp I'd use the light line , Gator Gar- heavy long nose gar either one,

Man I have too much time on my hands

So whats everyone think of this?

carpsniper · 02-18-2006, 02:10 PM

Go with the heavier line. 50 yards is a ton of line in bowfishing.

The lightest I've used is 80lbs and it worked okay, but I much prefer 150lb power pro.

Fishhunter · 02-18-2006, 07:24 PM

Go with the heaviest line you can handle. Unless you spine it or rip its insides out, it will live a long time. I eat most all the fish I shoot, so I put them on a long rope stringer. With 4-barbs buried in their head, or their intestines hanging out, they've lived up to 5 hours. You'll more likely run out of line befoer they run out of life, and it's very doubtful you'll have any 50 yard shots.

Mark S · 02-20-2006, 10:55 AM

I like the heavier line just to grab onto. I'm always grabbing it pulling it out of the mud (on that rare occasion I missed) or hauling in a larger fish. Tangles less easily and is easier to see also. I like my hi-vis yellow. My shots are usually 25 yards at the very longest just to see if I can fling that fiberglass out that far. I guess I've never really worried about extra line to play the fish when he's got an arrow through him and I have 200 lb line. Of course I haven't been after the Asian's yet!

KBI-PREZ · 02-20-2006, 01:41 PM

i use 200 pound fast flight on my zebco 808 i buy the 150 foot spools and cut them in half it will spool exactly two reels per spool and it works well on any fish...........

KBI-PREZ · 02-20-2006, 01:42 PM

And that is everything from gar to bigheads....you just have to watch the line when you are shooting gar especially ifyou shoot through them just watch for frays and if you find one cut it off and rety your good to go....

slim23 · 02-20-2006, 07:23 PM

you wont want to use the 180 lb dacron on a closed face reel. you problay wont get 20 yds on it. I would suggest 200 lb fast flight. dont over fill it and it is great stuff. never have tried power pro yet though. bigger line wont cut your hand as easy, wont break with some nicks in it. I have never broke any pulling the boat around with it when i was stuck on something hard on the bottom.