I have spent the last few years with my wife as my fishing partner. Spent most of our time chasing whites. She is getting where she can't fish much so I'm thinking of gearing up and trying for some stripers at Texoma or maybe Tawakoni. I'm gonna put a couple reels on med hvy rods. What brand and pound test line do I need and probably more important, what knot to tie. In years past while on stripers I just used my bass tackle so using light line and Palomar knot I had a lot of break offs. Trying to prevent that in the future. All input appreciated.

It sounds like you need to work on your drag settings and not your knots. Palomar knots are nearly 100 per cent of line strength knot. Break offs happen when the drag doesn't slip when the line strength is exceeded. Good luck with your efforts to catch stripers.

I typically run 15lb flouro. Can get tricky working a spook but you can make it work. I Palomar single hook baits and Trilene knot treble baits. No issues. Where I see people run in to problems (primarily artificials) is not checking their line after 3-5 fish. Striper are harder on equipment than bass are. Check your line and re-tie. You'll be happy you did when you lay in to a kicker 15.

For Grapevine sandies 10lb flouro, or 10lb castking braid with a 20lb fluoro leader joined with an alberto knot. For Tawakoni size fish, I would go 12lb fluoro.. All lures I tie on utilize the palomar knot.

Prosise

I use 30lb Power Pro braid, and attach a 15lb, 6’ fluorocarbon leader with an FG knot. I use the Palomar knot on everything, and feel the leader every few fish for nicks and scrapes. I replace the leader when it gets to about 3’ long.

Note- if you vertical jig with light lures, this is not a good setup, the line will twist up on your rod tip if you don’t pay attention. For those light lures, I use 12lb flouro. At some lakes I fish I have to go down to 8lb as they get really clear.

My two fav lakes are Tawakoni and Texoma. For Texoma 12# test is plenty on swim bait and flukes. I've caught good number of DD stripers this year on 12#. Let the drag work and enjoy the fight. If using ARigs or heavy lures then you can go bigger line.

For Tawakoni i mainly use 10# test for magnums and bigs, because i throw the light mepps. I can use my bigT setup at Tawakoni also if I need to.

For flouro lines, its thinner, less visible, stronger than momo but they don't tell you the knot is the weakest point for flouro.

For knots there at countless videos on YouTube. Try em test em all out and pick the one you like. I am a knot junkie and Ive used many knots but now using the Executioner's knot (noose) ive learned from mepps master DC about 6 years ago cuz its quick to tie and strong. But iam open to change if I find some knot knot better. Lol

Just go play and have fun.

Thanks. Sure appreciate all the advice.

My dad started striper fishing On Lake Texoma in the late 70's, He was breaking off fish on a regular basis until I showed
him this knot. One of the strongest knots you can tie,

https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/eye-crosser-knot


good luck

MO

Thanks Mo