What line ya’ll using for 1/2 oz walking topwater lures, and:

 

*If mainline braid, do you also tie a leader?

*Or mainline Mono?

*Anyone use a loop knot or

*Snap

*Ring?

 

Pound test, size, brand all appreciated.  Thx! 

Sufix 832 green/brown camo. 50 lb direct tie, double pitzen knot, drop of super glue.

I fish in or close to seriously heavy vegetation!

30# Smackdown braid

No leader

Palomar knot

Tied direct

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

36 minutes ago, Mike L said:

30# Smackdown braid

No leader

Palomar knot

Tied direct

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

Mike, if you also use the same rod for 3/8 oz poppers do you still use 30 lb direct tie to braid, or add a mono leader? 

43 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Mike, if you also use the same rod for 3/8 oz poppers do you still use 30 lb direct tie to braid, or add a mono leader? 

Yes Sir

I throw all top waters except frogs with the  same 30#. 
I don’t use a leader of anything for anything. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

I use braid.   and I use a leader.  for me, braid is so limp some cast result in a helicoptering lure that tangles with the limp line.  just a couple of feet of relatively stiffer leader material mitigates it pretty well.  

 

just me.  

30 pound smackdown braid to a 15 pound mono leader - typically maxima ultragreen, but whatever I’ve got handy is fine.  

12lb Berkley Trilene XL mono. 

Specifically for walking topwater baits: Sunline Super Natural

 

Straight up all mono, no leader.  I use a snap.

30 Ib  J Braid with an 18 inch leader of 15 pound mono.   Long casts, sharp twitches, easy hook sets, and the mono keeps the soft braid from rolling on itself is the fish knock the lure hard and smallmouth do that quite a bit.

I didn’t know sunline was made for top waters, but that’s what I throw. Depending on the rod, either 14 or 16#. Faster actioned rods are my preference. Depending on if I’m swapping around or not I’ll both direct tie and use a snap. Loop knot if no snap. 

I have two combos for throwing Spooks. One is spooled with 12lb. Big Game for targeting fairly open water. The other has 40lb. Suffix braid with a 14lb. leader for targeting submergent weeds or around wood and brush. 

Walking baits are probably my #1 lure the last year or so. 832 20# mainline. 14lb sufix elite leader, 10ish feet. Palomar knot, vmc size 0 duo lock snap for line tie. 8' medium rod. 8 gear lews reel. Easy walkin. 

30lb. braid.If the water is choppy it can foul on the front hook occasionally.

If needed I just tie on 6 or 8 inches of mono or flouro leader.

Mono.

50# braid because of stripers.  It is stiff enough to rarely foul the hooks and casts a long ways.

8 hours ago, Glenn said:

Specifically for walking topwater baits: Sunline Super Natural

 

Straight up all mono, no leader.  I use a snap.

I hear that is good line, but possibly a little thinner diameter. What pound test?  Thx

14lb Trilene XL

3 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

30lb. braid.If the water is choppy it can foul on the front hook occasionally.

If needed I just tie on 6 or 8 inches of mono or flouro leader.

 

2 hours ago, Jig Man said:

50# braid because of stripers.  It is stiff enough to rarely foul the hooks and casts a long ways.

 

If you're straight braid and getting the front hook tangle, 2-3 bobber stops over 3-4 inches can fix it.  I throw leader mostly now, but this helped me in the past.

 

scott

I fish mono for top water walkers. Sun line Defier armilo for as long as my stock lasts.

A couple things I’ve done over the years…

One of the reasons I tie direct instead of tying to the split ring is that at rest the split ring will always fold straight down which then has a greater risk of fouling the line. 
 

Another tip I got from a pro when I was a Marshall is if fouling becomes a real problem replace the front hook with a shorter shank. 

Another which I admit is a little tougher to do is never throw into the wind if possible, and as soon as the lure hits the water, pick up the slack until the lure is pointed directly at you then begin. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

10lb yo zuri hybrid

pitzen knot

direct tie however the lure comes out of the box

2 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

What pound test?

14lb

12lb yozuri hybrid, tactical angler clips.