Hello all.

 

I do alot of creek fishing with ultra light rods, so naturally, I've got some small reels paired with these. Most of these reels only listed rating for 2#, 4# and 6# mono line. However, if I decrease the yardage, can I also use 8# mono line? I'm finding that tying knots using 6# sometimes is more difficult that I'd like (line gets stretched easily). Thoughts?

Easily, think of the listed rating as a guide to spool capacity more than a limit on line size.  As you mentioned the trade-off is capacity.

8 seems way too heavy with that setup but thats just me. I use 8 on my Shimano 3000 reels and medium rods for bass fishing.

While you could use 8# on a UL rig - I try to keep to 4#...I'd go 6# max.

I run 6# on one of my two ML rigs, 8# on the other - my UL rig has 4#.

Do 4# and 6# sometimes make it difficult for you to tie the know? I've only tried Trilene 6# so far, and it tends to stretch and get all out of sorts when tying the know. My PLine 8# (on my medium setup) seems to not have this problem.

 

I've ordered some KastKing 6# mono and we'll see if that works any better.

What knot do you tie? What wrong with stretch line?

Yes you can use bigger line but there will be a lot more consequent. You say ultralight and small creek I assume you are fishing for small fish, panfish trout. The bigger line will cost you distance and you might not get as many bites.

If you think it harder to tie knot with stretch line, how about switch to braid? or use small snap so you don’t need to re-tie when changing lure.

6 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

While you could use 8# on a UL rig - I try to keep to 4#...I'd go 6# max.

I run 6# on one of my two ML rigs, 8# on the other - my UL rig has 4#.

many lines there is virtually no difference between the dia of 6 and 8 lb test mono, .001

Get some fluorescent line like Trilene XL in 6, it will help you see it.

8lb is too heavy for an UL rig.

5 lb Maxima Ultra Green is small .008 dia and extremely strong line that I use for most of my finesse bass fishing.

Tom

Smaller reels have smaller diameter spools. They are rated for line they perform best with. As pound test goes up so should spool diameter. It makes for less line issues if using mono or flourocarbon lines.