Best Fishing Lines for Walleye (a Helpful Guide)

Walleye can be hesitant to bite and immensely line-shy, especially in clear waters or heavily-fished bodies of water. Learning to catch walleye can be a lifelong task but understanding the proper lines, and environments to use them in, takes basic skills to the next level.

The best fishing line for walleye would be an 8-12 pound test fluorocarbon due to its thin diameter, difficulty to visually be seen underwater, and shock absorption ability. Fluorocarbon also naturally sinks making it a great walleye line for most situations.

Anglers often swear by a certain type of line be it braid, monofilament, or fluorocarbon, making it difficult for newer anglers, to understand the difference between them. This article will go over the different line types, when it is best to use them, and how they differ.

Best Fishing Line for Walleye

The best fishing line for walleye is 8-12 pound test fluorocarbon. The fluorocarbon is effectively invisible underwater and does not stretch, making it easy to feel bites. The sensitivity also makes it an incredibly adaptable line and able to use in most scenarios. Fluorocarbon is abrasion-resistant and sinks naturally, making it work well for fish wary to tackle.

Seaguar Blue Label Fluoro, a more expensive option, is the most versatile fluorocarbon line. The Seaguar is incredibly sensitive and sinks faster than other brands, which is helpful when dropping a lure close to where a fish jumped. The fluorocarbon can be used by itself but also works as an incredibly effective lead for virtually any type of line. It holds especially well when catching walleye because of its low visibility.

To buy Seaguar Red Label from Amazon, click here to check out the product page and read customer reviews.

The more budget-friendly option is 10-pound Suffix Fluoro. The Suffix works incredibly for its price but struggles in its casting distance. Both lines hold sturdy knots and fluorocarbon’s invisibility produces many bites for the otherwise line-shy walleye.

To buy Suffix Flourocarbon from Amazon, click here to check out the product page and read customer reviews.

Wine Strength Recommendations for Walleye

Line strength for walleye fishing varies based on the type of line. For braid and monofilament line the preferred strength is between 8 and 12-pound test. For fluorocarbon, and finesse jigging the preferred strength is 8-10 pound test. For heavier duty fishing, such as trolling with lots of weight, you may want to use a higher strength line, up to 20-pound test.

Crankbaits are one of the best systems to reel in large walleye. Since a crankbait resembles a smaller fish, the walleye often hit the reel with enough strength to knock the rod out of your hands. When using a crankbait, fishermen should think about water temperature in relation to their method of fishing. Colder water temperatures make walleye sluggish and warmer temperatures make them more aggressive. Understanding the surrounding environment directly correlates to hooking more fish.

Since most walleye fishing will be done near the bottom it is almost unavoidable to snag the bottom. Breaking certain lines, such as braided ones, is nearly impossible and often they have to be cut which makes them less popular in walleye fishing. Braided fishing lines are also much more visible than fluorocarbon and monofilament lines and should be used in murky waters.

Line Types: Walleye Fishing Applications

Braid

Braided lines have distinct advantages but have greater disadvantages when walleye fishing. The braided line has incredible strength but forfeits visibility and floats too easily. The strength of the braid helps to cut through vegetation, but more often walleye spot braided line before they bite. The braid is remarkably sensitive, similar to fluorocarbon. Every rock, weed, or strike transmits instantaneously through the braided line.

Crankbaits and trolling are the ideal setups for a braided line but this method is less popular than other setups for walleye fishermen. Braided line performs poorly simply because walleye are too line shy to bite a line they can see. The best scenario to use braided line would be in dirty water with thick vegetation but I recommend this only to more advanced fishermen, as a braided line can be near impossible to break if snagged on a rock.

An 8-10 pound test braid works best for Walleye fishing. I would recommend Power Pro, one of the most popular braids; it has a low chance for winding knots and casts quite well. For braids, I would stray away from white or yellow line, and stick to a dark green to lower the visibility.

To buy PowerPro Super Sick moss green braid from Amazon, click here to check out the product page and read customer reviews.

To up one’s chances of catching walleye, I would recommend using a fluorocarbon leader attached to the mainline. This lessens the possibility of scaring off the wary Walleye.

Monofilament

Monofilament offers a forgiving stretch, but it can be a drawback in terms of sensitivity. A major benefit is the knot strength that monofilament offers. The weakest part of a line is always the knot and having assurance in it allows a heavy fish to stay hooked.

The monofilament is also less visible than braid but is still visible to walleye. It’s best to go with a clear line to keep visibility to a minimum. Monofilament works best for moving baits, such as crankbaits or trolling, or in current because of its forgiving stretch and very good shock absorption.

Anything in the 10-14 pound test range makes the perfect line for walleye fishing. This allows the line to be strong enough to handle large walleye, while thin enough to let crankbaits sink to the bottom. The best trolling lines have the least amount of stretch, offering enough sensitivity to land hard strikes without frustration.

This is why I recommend Berkley Trilene XT line. It allows just the right amount of sensitivity to be forgiving, while making it crystal clear to read your line. Monofilament works well as a leader for braided lines. Be aware that sometimes a low stretch (fluorocarbon line) is needed to get depth in comparison to monofilament.

To buy Berkley Trilene XT from Amazon, click here to check out the product page and read customer reviews.

Fluorocarbon

Fluorocarbon is my preferred choice of line when fishing for walleye. This works best with finesse baits such as jigging minnows or drop shots. The fluorocarbon does not perform well with crankbaits or trolling. Its main benefit is that it is virtually invisible. Even in clear waters walleye will have a hard time finding this line intentionally.

The disadvantage of fluorocarbon is its sensitivity, which makes it incredible for feeling bites, but breaks easily if hit hard. It’s also less strong than monofilament when it comes to knot tying. I suggest getting your knots/line wet before securing it fully, this lets the knots cinch as tightly as possible. Lastly, fluorocarbon is a stiffer line and has more memory than monofilament making it harder to manage.

I would recommend clear 10-12 pound test line. The brand I am partial to is Seaguar Red Label which makes very versatile fluorocarbon. The best part about fluorocarbon is that it acts as an incredible leader for lines. Though, when trolling or crankbaiting I would recommend going with monofilament as a leader.

To learn if walleye can see line and how to select the best fishing line for line-shy walleye, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Are Leaders Needed for Walleye?

Leaders are not needed to catch walleye but most anglers argue that using a leader will boost your success. Walleye are careful and picky hunters with strong vision. They avoid lures that move in an abnormal way, not resembling walleyes’ normal prey. When using leaders I recommend using fluorocarbon for everything, unless in fast-moving waters. In those fast-moving water, or serious trolling I recommend using monofilament as a leader.

I would advise those fishing in waters with larger pike, to use a more robust fluorocarbon leader such as 12-16 pound test. This will prevent potential bite-offs from bigger predators. Using the stronger line also allows more advanced anglers to catch larger walleye.

For those fishing for walleye without leaders, a direct connection from lure to hook will provide much better sensitivity and feeling while fishing. I recommend a fluorocarbon without any knots, for low visibility, high sensitivity, and a relatively strong line. In contrast, a mainline increases the risk of snagging your line on something on the bottom.

Knowing when to use a leader is knowing your water. Understanding the features of the body of water you’re fishing in, such as water clarity, known obstacles, and cloud cover, will help you make a better call of when to use a leader.

Can Walleye See Line?

Walleye can see your line. They will shy away from most lines that do not act like their normal prey and often take time before biting. This is why I prefer the invisible fluorocarbon line on most of my rigs.

Walleye have incredible line-shy tendencies when fishing in clear, calm, and using finesse rigs. When fishing moving baits, crankbaits, and trolling, walleye have less time to study the lines and rely on their reaction to strike. Using this to your advantage is key to catching walleye after walleye.

When trolling or using a crankbait, braid and monofilament work better than fluorocarbon. Using a neutral colored or clear line is preferred in making the line as invisible as possible. Braid is best used in murky waters or when needing a powerful line.

What is the lightest line to use for walleye?

The lightest line used for walleye is different for each individual line. Fluorocarbon, for example, is much stronger than both monofilament and braid when compared by thinness. A 6-8 pound test fluorocarbon leader is more than enough in most walleye fishing scenarios.

When pulling in strictly smaller walleye 2-4 pound test fluorocarbon or monofilament can be used. These kinds of rigs only work on smaller fish though and experiencing bite-offs due to pike can be common. Understand that walleye are typically found between 10 and 40 feet underwater depending on the time of year. More often than not the warmer it is the deeper they will be.

Walleye average at about 23 inches long, being around 2-3 pounds. They can grow much bigger though, the largest walleye caught was 42 inches long. Unless you are planning on rigging a serious line and championship fishing, walleyes that size are relatively uncommon.

If you want to learn what are the best fighting fish to catch to include saltwater and freshwater, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Best Walleye Line for Trolling

The best trolling lines provide abrasion resistance, consistency, controlled stretch, thin diameter, low visibility, and exceptional knot strength. In my opinion, monofilament is the best line for trolling when it comes to walleye fishing.

I personally use Berkley Trilene XT line or the Berkley FireLine. The Berkley FireLine is most popular for trollers trying to reach the maximum depth possible. It offers strength and durability, as well as cast-ability and line behavior (low occurrence of “wind knots”) that stay consistently superior to other lines. The Berkley FireLine works best on warm days when walleye are found deep below the surface (often 20 feet or lower).

Best Ice Fishing Lines for Walleye

The best practice in ice fishing for walleye is cutting holes where walleye typically feed. I would also recommend luring the tip of your hook with a live minnow as walleyes primarily eat fish. Once using a live minnow you should notice considerably more bites on your line.

For a regular jig with live bait, line your rig with 4-8 pound fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon is the choice for many ice veterans because of the low stretch and abrasion resistance that it provides. My second choice would be to use a 6-8 pound test braid with a fluorocarbon leader. The braid works well in deep water applications or low-light/murky situations.

Deciding between monofilament, fluorocarbon, or braid can be difficult for bigger anglers but ultimately it depends on the situation you are fishing in. Understanding the environment prior to dropping a line in vastly increases your success rate.

Remember you’re fishing for walleye, who put up less of a fight than a big pike or trout. Again, if there are bigger fish in the waters I recommend using a stronger line, 8-10 pound test fluorocarbon.

For a complete breakdown of the best lines for crappie fishing, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best lines for striped bass fishing, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best lines for carp fishing, check out this breakdown. For a complete breakdown of the best lines for crankbaits, check out this guide. To learn the best barometric pressure for walleye, check out this article.