what pound test for walleyes?

[midwesthunter]

Just about to get my ice fishing stuff ready for the year. What pound test do you use for walleyes? I just bought a spool of Fireline Crystal in 6# test.

Any recommendations or suggestions would be appreciated

[upnorth]

I use 4# Trilene XL myself. I am sure you will see alot of different preferences.

[Kyle Sandberg]

For winter time, I like to use 6-8 pound fireline crystal. Really strong and small diameter.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Generally I use 6 lb, but at times will go down to 4.. seldom have I ever gone higher than 6 unless I was trophy hunting.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Not to sound like Deitz's opposite, but I start at 4 and rarely go higher. Sometimes I will use 6, but that's rare.

I like the 4 because sometimes a guy just doesn't know what he's going to do that day. I do not have an arsenal of 35 rods so I take the usual 4 out with me. I also enjoy the feel of lighter line and my jigs sink better.

I'll take a good drag over heavier line every day.

[hanson]

Once again, this question should not be "What pound test for walleyes?" but rather "What pound test for the jigs I plan to fish for walleyes."

Its all about balancing your rod/reel/line/jig combo. For most walleye sized jigs and jigging spoons, I go with 4lb P-Line Floroice. Its nice and limp and has very little memory. When you get into 6lb mono or heavier, the line really starts to stiffen up and it kills the action of your lure underwater.

You really always want to use as light a line as you can get away with.

I don't use much superline anymore through the ice as they are terrible for icing up. OK in a heated ice shack, but very tough to deal with outside hole hopping during the winter.

[Matt Johnson]

I think a lot of it comes down to the presentation you plan on using. Larger jigging rapalas and swimming lures will need a higher pound test line in order to perform properly, while smaller jigging spoons and jigs perform better with 4 pound test line.

I prefer either 4 or 5 pound test for a majority of my walleyes out on the ice. 5 pound seems the most versatile and I use that more regularly, but for smaller spoons like the 1/16 or 1/8oz I really like using 4 pound test...

[WALLEYEDUDE2001]

I will go in the totally opposite direction. Most of my fishing is done in 4' or less (yes I said or less, sometimes there might only be 18" of water) so I tend to use a higher test line (say 14 lb). Occasionally I will have a large northern or big mamma on so I need the extra strength when fishing in this shallow water. You might be suprised at how shallow they will go. Otherwise I use 8 lb sensation.

[MASON38]

Fishing up there must be a lot different than down here on Erie and Saginaw Bay. I have some jig and small spoon rods rigged with 8 lb Power Pro, for bigger spoons the 10 lb Pwr Pro. For the larger swim baits, 10 to 12 mono to get the right swimming action.

Guess if I was going to downsize and fish up there, I would give the newer 5 lb Pwr Pro a shot with some rods rigged with 6 lb mono.

[Northlander]

I fish a lot of current areas and rivers and have to use heavier lures to get to bottom. I also fish a lot of stained waters. So I use a lot of Power Pro with a mono shocker for me walleye fishing. I use the 8# Power Pro to a 8# trilene Xl leader or the Gamma Floro. I also tend to catch a lot of big eelpout early in the year.

Like Hanson says it about balancing out your gear and using the right line for where and what your fishing. I us a lot of bigger spoons and jigging raps/chubby darters and blade baits so I use heavier line than most.

Like said previously a good reel/drag is good to have but even the best reels will get stiff when out in the cold hole hoppin.

[Snake River King]

I like to use 6# on one rod and 8# on the other I use to use 4# but go out on Mille lacs and have a 29 inch wallhanger hit your poll with the 4# and you will wish you had aleast 6# for extra insurence!

[Deitz Dittrich]

It really depends on the lake... On URL I often go with 2 lb.. same with Lake of the woods... on Mille Lacs.. 6 for sure.

[charliepete2]

I'm a 4# test guy. I think the smaller diameter increases chances on finicky biters, and I've hauled up plenty of Walleyes in that 26"-30" range without a problem.

[Snake River King]

I agree with on that Hubercita about finicky biters I have also a pole set up with 4# and if they are biting light i will use that, but most of the time 6# is where im at I just like to know that I have a better chance on not breaking my line