MT,  what about using an Albrecht knot tie a 3 ft flurocarbon leader to braid?

MT,

Will definitely bring a spool of braid and a spool of 8 lb. mono for each pole this year. I have been a faithful user of Spiderwire (tried Suffix 832 in 2012) and like it for trolling and jigging but like you said sometimes when walleye are finicky ... you need stealth. I was thinking that adding fluorocarbon to braid would be one step better for stealth over going with just braid and would be the way to go...but why not go all the way and go 8 lb. Trilene XL for even better stealth.

Good fishin'

Mike

I'm with you Jax on having 3 or 4 ft of FC leader material when trolling, but I also like it for casting and usually have at least 3' when backcountry snook fishing. I like 8ft FC leaders when floating down a chunk of sardine to a big snapper......super stealth daytime mode if the current is light (of course it is a big snapper and not a small one     ).

We have exactly opposite results in backlashes!! My lashes with braid are usually impossible to get out and I usually reach for my cutters........can you say "Master-Tangler" 

I used straight braid last August in a number of situations and they ate it........4 pike in the 9lb class and one walleye at a bit over 6lbs which ate a muskie in-line spinner sporting twin 8/0 treble hooks..........big lure

On the other hand I also related striking out on straight braid on a reef that was incredibly hot just the week before while trolling mono. Trolling to fast, to slow, wrong lure, not eating?............or maybe they didn't like the braid? I fish to catch big ones. A fish snob? Perhaps. But I get bored catching 2 lb walleyes and 2 lb smallmouths pretty quickly. I would rather catch 14" crappies. "Wow, look at the size of that one"!

My thinking on the braid is it might just cost me Mr Big.........that 10lb walleye is thinking about eating and at the last moment turns aside........instead a 3 pounder eats and I think "wow, this braid is great, I have another one".........How do you know if the braid isn't costing you the bigger ones as they turn aside at the last moment deciding something just isn't right?

Of course the test is to fish side by side with one guy using braid and another mono. The pros use braid to great effect. But in the crystal clear waters of canoe country with mostly open water I'm not buying in. Heavy weed beds and timber is a different story and so is deep vertical jigging as well as fishing in strong current........but for most applications I like mono.........no extra knots to tie, stealthy with a little stretch......perfect. Here Fishy, Fishy 

I am currently looking for a line counter that will handle 8lb test. It needs to be small and hopefully quite a bit lighter that what is typical in line counters to make for good portaging. I absolutely loved knowing exactly where my lure was in relation to the bottom. For someone who trolls pretty much everywhere they paddle this helps in alleviating hassles as well as putting fish in the boat. Although I often wonder while fishing with the line counter if fishing 12" off the bottom is as good as fishing 2 or 3 or 5 ft off the bottom where the bait is more visible. Ahhh, fishing, the thinking mans game.......... or not! 

Jax you are the man! WOW that is a beauty, that has to be a great story on 6lb.

Calm down, breathe, 

I have never popped a really big Muskie.......a few decent ones but nothing like that. Secretly thinking about going back to WCPP to that Muskie lake up there and see if any big boys want to play........but we'll see.......a few blocks have to fall into place first.   

Jax.......you mention lots about baitcasters........don't you use spinning for lighter applications?

i have a problem. i was wandering through ACE hardware and stumbled upon their small fishing section. (who knew??)!! i found a couple of mismarked clearance rapalas... the new for 2013 bx minnow... one was purpledescent and the other was the baby rainbow trout *cringes* needless to say, i came home with 2 more.