Topwater Line

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Scott Sevigny on June 10, 2010 at 11:42am

I like the Sufix Elite line 12 lb mono for topwater and crankbaits. I'm trying to switch all my other rods to fluoro or braid/fluoro for less stretch and better detection.

Permalink Reply by eric mccarthy on June 10, 2010 at 11:48am

I generally throw14lb mono works great for me. Topwater is the only time I throw mono now everything else on flourocarbon

Permalink Reply by cody hampton on June 10, 2010 at 12:25pm

I use 12 lb McCoy mean green and it works great for walkers and poppers, for buzzbaits i use my flippin stick with 65lb braid and that works well.

Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on June 10, 2010 at 12:39pm

I use 15-30lb braid for Frogs and Buzz baits around cover. I have decided on 12lb Cajun red for my Pop R baits and Spooks or Sammys. I also will throw the buzzer on the mono if the cover is not heavy since it stretches. As you know I also use 8lb Cajun red for jerk baits :)

Permalink Reply by David Parnicky on June 10, 2010 at 1:14pm

I use either 12 lb. Mccoy Mean Green or 12 lb. Pline CXX in Moss Green for topwaters with exposed trebles. Same principle as with crankbaits, mono for the stretch. I like using 30 lb. braid around heavy cover with frogs. I haven't used braid on buzzbaits yet but I like that idea. seems to make perfect sense.

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on June 10, 2010 at 5:45pm

Walking Baits (Spook, Vixen, Sammy, Gunfish, etc.) - 20 lb. or 30 lb. braid, or 10,12 or 15 lb. test P-Line CXX copolymer)

Small poppers (10 lb. braid) Larger Poppers (20 lb. or 30 lb. braid, or 10, 12, 15 lb. P-Line CXX copolymer)

Buzzbaits (50 lb. braid) or 15 lb., 17 lb. or 20 lb. fluoro. OK to use Fluoro on a buzzbait since there is virtually no line in the water to sink the bait.

Frogs (50 lb. or 65 lb. braid)

Wakebaits, Lunker Punkers, etc. (65 lb. or 80 lb. braid to 20 lb. or 25 lb. CXX leader)

Prop baits (10 lb., 12 lb. or 15 lb. CXX)

Permalink Reply by Jordan Doucet on June 10, 2010 at 9:28pm

Good stuff Tag. Definitely depends on the situation. I guess the only thing I will add is that I like to run 8lb pline cx on my small poppers on a spinning rod. I will coat the line in Gink, which is what the fly guys use on their tippets for dry flies to make sure it floats. It comes with a pad that you can soak in Gink and really coat the first 10' or so, but after that I will put a few drops on the spool. Makes your line float real good. Most fly shops will stock it, and 3 rivers has it now too.

Permalink Reply by Joel Alinen on June 11, 2010 at 12:49pm

Right on guys thanks

Tag your post was awesome thanks! So Elhler was working a Luckycraft Gunfish, which is a large popper/walking bait. You mentioned using 20-30lb braid or 10-15lb Mono for this bait.

Why do you think Ehler fished the gunfish on the braid and 19 lbs leader?

How do you think the line diameter and type line effects the action of the bait?

Any idea what size braid will work best with a 19lbs mono leader?

Permalink Reply by Joel Alinen on June 13, 2010 at 8:32pm

Thanks Craig,
So what do you think the benifit was for Ehler going to the 19lb test mono? More line strength cause he was in the thick stuff? Or maybe that pound test provided the best action for the gunfish? What are your thoughts?

Craig Taylor said:

When trying to figure out what pound test leader to link up with a particular brade the best rule of thumb I use is to try your best to match line diameters as much as possible. A slight difference won't be that big of a deal, especially with the bigger line sizes. IMO line diameter doesn't effect the action that much on topwater. If anything, I would however say that brade (with or with out leader) gives you more control of the topwater and makes the bait react/twitch faster. Maybe I should say topwaters like the Gunfish are more sensitive to rod movements when used with brade.. Hope that gives you more insight on the "why" aspect of Ehler using brade and mono with a walk the dog/popper style bait..

The length of the leader does more to the action I think. Longer the leader of mono, the more it will stretch so you might not get as good of a hook set than with a shorter leader like 24 inches or less. Same idea with trying to move the topwater. Longer leader of mono means you will have less reaction with the bait b/c of all the stretch. I see this more though with big topwaters like the Punkers and superspooks.

If it were me linking up 19 pound test to brade, I would use 50 pound power pro. TW.com doesn't list 19 pound mono but the 20 pound stuff is .014 in. and that is the same size as the 50lb Power Pro.


Joel Alinen said:

Right on guys thanks

Tag your post was awesome thanks! So Elhler was working a Luckycraft Gunfish, which is a large popper/walking bait. You mentioned using 20-30lb braid or 10-15lb Mono for this bait.

Why do you think Ehler fished the gunfish on the braid and 19 lbs leader?

How do you think the line diameter and type line effects the action of the bait?

Any idea what size braid will work best with a 19lbs mono leader?