Bringing only one rod to try getting some fall hogs in both walleye and northern. I know I've heard never use a leader for walleye, but besides that what line would people use to bridge the gap on these 2 species? I don't mind switching if I need to but I'd rather just spool up once and let it ride since we'll only be there for 2 days.

Andy

8 pound test clear trilene

Trilene XL 8 lb. like Walllee recommended or Trilene XT (lo vis green).

XT offers a little bit more abrasion resistance and strength yet remains plenty flexible.

Berkley Trilene XT

8 lb Trilene XL clear.

Bah Humbug.........I don't like the approach. 1 line for two very different fish. Get an extra spool and do things right.

Here is my thinking.........in fall the water is super clear. Not much in the way of organic growth to color the water and help disguise your presentation. Plus the water is cool, everything is moving slowly and your bait needs to as well. All this adds up to Mr Walleye getting a nice long look. I am usually a green trilene XT guy but not now. I would go with 6lb Gamma in clear for the walleye. Think clear, think thin. Test all your knots before leaving the house........light line is fussy. I often use fas-snaps to bridge diameter gaps to provide solid connections when using light line. (mono likes to join itself to like diameters)

So that leaves any serious pike fishing null and void. Get another spool, some 12 line, a titanium leader and some Daredevils and you're set. Spoons are good in the fall, I like the crackle frog best (hand sharpen the hooks!)

If you try and straddle the fence your not going to be very successful at either IMO.

I never had a problem catching any or all fish with either 8 or 10 # Trilene clear XL. Just go with 10# and you will be fine.

8# Trilene will do the job just fine. I've done it many times before. When I take my Pike rod I spool it up with some superline.

1 fishing set up for 2 days pike/walleyes. i'm with QM go with #10

8# monofilament... basic, cheap, good

8 pound mono, clear. You can boat anything on it with your drag set right.

8# Trilene here as well.

quote fishtales: "8 pound mono, clear. You can boat anything on it with your drag set right."

Agreed, having quality drag is the key. If you don't trust your equipment I would recommend some 20 lb braid (power pro, sufix, etc.). Add a clear 8 lb mono/flouro leader for walleye specific tactics as needed.

8#, but I prefer braids over mono...but I do a ton of pitching/jigging, also. Bring a 6"-8" leader for the pike and you're set!

quote shock: "1 fishing set up for 2 days pike/walleyes. i'm with QM go with #10"

Just one line? I would have to go with QM as well. The problem with 8lb is it really limits what pike lures you can use. Its not a matter of catching the fish (you can catch lots of big fish on 4lb line) its a matter of setting the hooks. Even a #5 spinner wants 10b test to set the hooks, same with even smaller pike spoons etc.

Plus the thicker diameter of the 10b line will have the added advantage of slowing the fall of jigs. That might be a bigger consideration given the time of year (the need to fish slow).

I dunno.......I still like the idea of 2 spools with one reel.

Thanks everyone. I'd love to do 2 reels but it's not in the finance cards right now. I'm full up on line of all kinds though. Just hoping not to cut into an already short trip with respooling. Looks like the 10# clear should be the choice. I've got plenty of 12 and 18 inch leaders for pike also. I'll be hitting the water in 2 days and the weather looks gorgeous. Wish me luck.

Andy

When I'm running only one line and am fishing for both Pike and Walleye, I go with a Seaguar Abrazx Fluorocarbon usually in 10 lb. I've used Invizx in 10 lb as well. I run them as my mainline on my spinning reel.

Here's why: Fluorocarbon is virtually invisible under water, so it's much more "clear" than a mono, so you can afford to upsize a bit over 4, 6, or 8lb mono. Secondly it's much more abrasion resistant, and in this case that's why I'd choose Abrazx over Invizx. Fluorocarbon is more dense than Mono and is still effective like ripstop nylon when nicked up. Mono is like a perforated stamp, once it's nicked it tears easily. Both Invizx and Abrazx are made for spinning reels. Most other fluoros are made primarily for casting reels and would tend to have too much memory to be effective on spinning reels.

Another option would be to go with a braid and then tie a fluoro leader via a knot called an FG knot, that way you could go as low as 4lb fluoro for walleye, and by using a fluoro over a mono you have a faster sink rate and can fish with a lighter jig, with less line drag, or upsize to even a 20lb fluoro leader for pike with the same fg knot. Doing it this way you could use a Blue Label Seaguar (which is primarily leader material), or a general blend from any of the other fluoros manufacturers.

Another vote for 10. If you put a 6# long leader on for walleyes I'm not sure they know the difference.

Landing northerns in a canoe has its own set of challenges and as it relates to line strength, I'd surmise that the most stress is put on a line when you're landing that northern. As we all know at that point there's a short length of line that often times gets thrashed and tugged on pretty hard by mr tooth- often times vertically- and there's usually a last second run or two to boot.

I even use 12 often times which makes me feel better for northerns. Yes it's less sensitive for walleye, but still functional.

quote walllee: "8 pound test clear trilene"

+1

6 lb ultra clear Gamma Polyflex copolymer

I run 10 or 12 lb XT on most of my reels, if fishing for pike I put on a steel leader, if fishing walleye I go with a six lb fluorocarbon leader. I always use a high quality ball bearing swivel to attach the leader and make my own steel or titanium leaders with the ball bearing swivels.

All that great advice and I could have brought no line. Not even a nibble. Luckily the weather was gorgeous. Thanks for all the help though everyone.

Berkley NanoFil - 8 lbs.

You can add a fluorocarbon leader
NanoFil leader

quote DonnyDont: "All that great advice and I could have brought no line. Not even a nibble. Luckily the weather was gorgeous. Thanks for all the help though everyone."

first of all donny welcome to "the site" ;) you gave it a shot and sometimes fish do shut down , and being on a short trip doesnt give you a whole lot of time , to try and figure it out, we are in canoes not a powerboat where we could zip from spot to spot. ;) on your next trip "if you fish it they will come" ;)

quote DonnyDont: "All that great advice and I could have brought no line. Not even a nibble. Luckily the weather was gorgeous. Thanks for all the help though everyone."

Donny if you dont mind me asking what lake were you on, what was the water temp, how clear was the water. I just ask to get an idea of what you were up against because you may have run into lake turnover and that will make the best fisherpeople on earth look bad :-)