I am new to fishing walleyes and am looking forward to getting out and getting my virgin fingers on some eyes. I have a few combos that I’ve set, however i’m stuck between if I should run braid with a leader or if I should just run straight mono. Also since sure set trebbles are d/c how are people rigging tip-ups? Single hook through the dorsal, trebble in same spot or a quick strike set up.
Thanks!
On most of my reels I run an ice braid tied to a small SPRO swivel, with a 12 lb flourocarbon leader of around 24 inches tied to the other end of the swivel. The swivel is small enough to fit through the guides with no issues. If you don’t want to bother with that just run straight mono.
For tip ups, a plain hook or treble hook will work. Hook through the dorsal fin or tail hook. Tail hooking will create more commotion as the fish struggles to stay upright. When they are aggressively feeding this can be effective. When the bite is slower the dorsal fin method can be more effective.
Also, I usually run the bait about 6 inches off the bottom.
I have never had success with a quick strike rig. It’s too much presentation for eyes. Best for Pike I think.
Do you fish inside or outside more?
Quick way to justify having another half dozen rods.
3 in braid for jigging. Can splice leader when needed.
4 in 6# mono for live bait rigs. I nearly always just use a gamakatsu #2 drop shot hook. Super sticky.
2 in 8 or 10# floro. If it’s too cold for braid and problems with freezing, I switch over to my floro rods for jigging
Braid with a fluoro leader joined by a blood knot. There isn’t a stronger way to join two lines than with a blood knot. It can be difficult to join braid to a mono or fluoro, but once you get the knot down, it’s great.
Extremely strong (the line around the knot will break before the knot). Goes through guides without issue. Get the strength/durability/cold water fishability of braid (I prefer braid to full mono or fluoro through the ice), and limited visibility of fluoro.
Braid with a fluoro leader joined by a blood knot. There isn’t a stronger way to join two lines than with a blood knot. It can be difficult to join braid to a mono or fluoro, but once you get the knot down, it’s great.
I have tried the blood knot but have had problems with it. I know it my technique that is bad, but I lost fish from it coming apart so I went with the small swivel. I have not had any problems with the swivel. I do Palomar knots on both ends and they ware never coming loose.
I’m not in the braid camp. Short rods make for less shock absorption which braid would just exacerbate, you have 10-30′ of line out straight down a hole, how sensitive of line does one really need, and the stiff/icing action of braid in the cold makes no sense to me for the majority of ice anglers. Lake Erie with it’s mules it kicks out, lake trout, etc one can make a case for braid but IMO mono/flouro works better overall for most walleye fishing.
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