Hey this is my first post here. I'm an Ontario guy and mainly fly fish, but I often take a spinning rod as well for the trout opener in Algonquin. If I am using a superline - its power pro. IMHO much better than Fireline. I think the point of MT's post re rod position was that you have to have a tight line to the fish on the hook set. Bad hook set, no fish. With a 'soft' rod (bendy) the tip will bend way too much for a good hook set. Jax, I see where you are coming from in that you are trying to get the top third of the rod loaded, so by angling forward you hope to impart a max bend. The problem is that it is still the butt of soft action rods that, gives you the most power to set the hook so you are actually taking longer to get the rod butt in play when you angle the line forwards. With your use of fire line, you are okay in that the no stretch still allows a good set and on your stiffer rod, but if using mono and a soft rod, you'll end up losing fish.  A really good example is when I troll streamers with my fly rod. Even though its is fast action rod, it is still WAY more bendy than a spinning rod, and being 9 feet, it takes longer for the rod to load down to the stiffer butt section. If I angle the rod out to the side, I will get very poor hook sets and lost fish. What I do is point the rod tip STRAIGHT BACK behind the canoe, and hang the reel over the canoe yoke (or thwart). I have to be careful how I adjust the drag, so that I get a good set but that it will give line to a big fish. Usually I am quite fast on the set. As soon as the rod/line moves, due to a hit, I grab the rod and line, so as to ensure a good set from a turning/running fish, then let off the pressure a bit and fight the beast. I catch a lot of lakers like this. And walleyes too in other waters.

Hope no one takes offense to this post, as none was intended. We all have our own methods and obviously are having some success. Just my two cents.

Moonman.

Drag is crucial when trolling, totally agree.

The method I use to set my drag is to crank the drag tight then load the rod.  Get a good bend in it.  Once loaded I'll slowly loosen the drag until it just starts to let out, tic...tic...tic. 

Is this good/correct?

Jaximus,

Power Pro to my mind has a much limper hand than Fire-line.
I don't notice any significant backlash/rat's nest issues. Has almost zero memory and cast well off my rod of choice, a spinning one.

Here's a little info I found comparing the two. As you might suspect opinions vary but PP seems to have a slight edge.

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thanks solotripper, that was a good read. it answered a lot of the questions i had and mastertangler addressed the one question i had left about how well PP cut through the water. fireline is pretty flat and is quite thin so it cuts through the water quite well.

ill have to get a spool of PP and see how i like it.

any suggestions on what lb test? i primarily use the baitcaster for pitching jigs, rattletraps, spinnerbaits, spoons and plugs. nothing overly big. probably the 15 lb test (4lb diameter mono) PP. i use the 14lb test (6lb diameter) fireline currently

what color? i generally fish in clear lakes and mildly stained rivers. i have the smoke fireline but the red PP looks interesting

Jaximus,

I'd say the 15l# PP would be about right, although as you can see the line weight runs up or down depending on who's using it.

I'm a solo paddler, so when I'm traveling and have a line in the water,
which is 90% of the time, weather permitting, I use the 20# PP on a Med-Heavy UglyStik rod.

I used too lose a lot of baits because by the time I could grab rod or stop forward momentum solo, a lighter line would snap under the pressure.

I found with heavier test, I can set the drag right, and unless I'm being pushed by a good tailwind, I don't break off as much.

20# PP is about 6# mono, so the lure gets down well, and I don't think it's costing me missed strikes, although with the quality of fishing, I don't know how you would even know that

If I was in a tandem canoe, I'd probably go lighter as you have someone to control canoe and more time to monitor your rod.

I have 2 spools for my 2 spinning rigs I bring, with a mix of braid and mono ( TECTAN). If you've never used this premium German mono, give it a try if you can find it? Cabelas carries it or used to. Ultra-thin, ultra strong knot strength.

I use the 11# Tectan, which is about regular 4# mono diameter. On a light spinning rod it's great for smallies/Waldo's and will handle the big boys with a little extra backup if needed.