Sk8man

+yep. The downside to the larger diameter is two-fold: capacity on the reel (less line with each increase in diameter and once you get to say 40 lb of most mono it begins to get quite stiff and offers a lot more resistance in the water (e.g. 50 lb.or more Big Game). For all of my pre-flea years on Lake O (about 40 of them beforehand) I used 12 lb Big Game mono, and before that its predecessor Berkeley Hombre (tough salt water mono) in 12 lb and many kings were caught and landed on it including a 32 lb. king my 8 yr. old son (at the time) caught on a rigger with it. Even the thirty pound line I'm using now feels like rope to me

The increased line diameter is only one factor in the equation. The line texture is another factor. I think that the longer you experiment with this stuff over time you'll find that when the fleas are really thick line diameter and perhaps texture become nearly irrelevant. Even on the same body of water they vary in density both vertically and horizontally in the water column. This is why some folks report that the fleas are not bad and other report they are "terrible" on the same day on the same body of water, same side of lake and they may be using the same diameter and types of lines with somewhat different results. Another concern is the TYPE of waterflea encountered. The spiny flea seems to be generally easier to get off lines while the fishhook type seems tougher to get off. They are both a pain in the butt regardless. My hunch is that the fishhook type are a little more susceptible to the increased line diameter because of the size of the hooking apparatus which limits their grip so maybe when these guys are the culprit encountered they don't seem quite so bad because they can't adhere real well to the larger diameter line.The Bloodrun Sea Flee line has both an increase in diameter and a slick coating on the surface so the fleas apparently have a harder time adhering to it. When the coating wears off after time the situation may change,. I have used it for over five or more years and I have noted that as the line gets older and is used more the fleas seem to be abole to get a better grip or so it seems. I know this explanation is subjective and not scientifically based but I know for sure line diameter itself is not the only factor involved because 150 and 200 lb test dowwnrigger wire is also affected when they are real thick and can be so bad as to impeded retrieval of the wire.

Two things come to mind as possible factors. increased photosynthesis taking place with the increased sunlight and higher temps of late and with the higher water temps potential algae blooms.

Last week I was able to shake most of the fleas off my line when reeling in with the30 lb. Sea Flee. It isn't a total answer but an improvement over most other stuff I've tried.

Too bad they couldn't be interrupted somehow before the mating occurs but given the size of water bodies most things would be impractical or cost prohibitive i would imagine.

When they are really bad I use a paint stir stick with a strip of commercial (sticky side) velcro at the end. It works best on taught wire with scraping motions. It isn't a total answer but can help. Not very elegant looking but functional and you can tell it has been used Show Reply

More than one type of water flea. They are softbodied pests (invasive species) that multiply like crazy and attach to fishing lines and clog up the rod tips and when very thick can prevent you from reeling in fish.P.S. They can make a mess of your boat (e.g. grey/brown stains) and smell like hell.

I think we have all had those days and when it happens now like you I opt to call it a day and not push it .....always another day

When the fleas are really bad and are suspended throughout the water column even 150 lb rigger wire is not immune to them. A,lot of time they seem to be "patchy" in the water column and i think that is why some folks have better luck avoiding than others in spots in the lakes. When they are reaally bad even the riggers get clogged especially with the fishhook type fleas which seem harder to remove from anything no matter what the diameter.

As the water temperature goes up they seem to rapidly multiply and we have had some very high ambient temps lately.

I was thinking about you folks as I was driving to Ithaca to the Farmers Market today (my wife's idea). I was diplomatic and just thought to myself sure wish I was out there after the fish but on the other side of the coin I was beat from all day on Lake O yesterday Hope everyone stayed safe and had fun and avoided the storm. I also hope stix left a couple fish for the rest of you

Have used them for many years both behind attractors (e.g. cowbells) and by themselves from downriggers. Sometimes they work when nothing else produces. Like Mike I also used to run then from Seth Green rigs (5 per rig max of 15 hookpoints) and usually it was the bottom one that caught most of the time for whatever reason. I used shorter leaders than normal with them though (6-8 ft vs 15-24). Close to the weight on the riggers. The treble is split between the hooks so that you can slide the center wire through the mouth of the bait (sawbelly or smelt) and out the anal area and then snap the treble back on the loop on the wire.

Good advice

You guys are too much!

Nice starter kit for someone

I think Mr 580 is right on the mark. Again, speed is a critical factor and depending on lure especially after a cerain point the line bows upward with a belly in it. It is thought to be the swaying action of the leadcore in the water that attracts fish and they will come both vertically and horizontally to check it out and as it is some distance from the boat they may not appear on the fish finder either.