Line choice for spook type lure

[dannyplug1]

Wondering about different lines and working a spook type lure.  Was out on a boat and working a one knock heddon spook.  Worked the best I have ever seen.  Wondered why the height of the boat kept the braid out of the water and the mono shocker floated on top.  In the surf the spook doesn’t seem to glide as well until the end of the retrieve (when I am retrieving a couple feet of braid and the mono shocker.  I am guessing that a spook or other top water works better with mono because it floats or at least doesn’t sink as fast as braid.  The negative being the stretch of the mono.  Curious thanks Charlie.

[FalmouthFisher]

Were you using the same rod in both instances?  Rod action can have an impact on some lures. 

[dannyplug1]

Same rod off the boat same from the beach.

[BrianBM]

I suspect that the height of the boat simply gave you a better view of how the lure was performing. A spook works best, IMHO, with a sharp tug on the lure. Having the line airborne is undoubtedly a help, but the greater water drag of mono and its' elasticity work against giving the lure a nice sharp tug much more than the immersion of skinny braid in water will do.

 

I also suspect that a spook is a lure that works better with a medium action rod than a fast one.

 

IMHO only, so YMMV.

[baldwin]

Medium action does seem to work better with spooks than do fast action rods. You also need to bounce the rod back from that sudden jerk and give the plug some slack in order to let it glide. Spooks work just fine in the surf, and braided line with a mono leader works well, also. I've used Fireline since it came out, and never had any trouble working spooks with it until recently. For the last 5 years, I've been plagued by wind knots when casting into the wind and working spooks with that line. I heard they changed the formula for that line a few years ago, so that may very well be the problem.  I've recently respooled with Suffix 832. Has anyone else had a similar problem? What lines work best for you with them?

[unskunk]

15 lb Stealth........the spook dances............

[surfcast]

Just for an experiment tie the spook with a small nonslip loop knot to your leader. Get rid of the swivel and or breakaway.

try it like that both ways in equal conditions and see if it changes the retrieve. Sometimes when it's a little choppy out. Start off as you would a pencil popper then switch when it is halfway in. When you make a long cast the line tends to Drag the head of the spook down. Like you mentioned above the line out of the water will change the mechanics of lure. So will what type of rod you have Line weight current and location.

 

 

 

[DZ]

I’ve always found the rod angle to the water makes a huge difference. In a boat or high perch I was always able to get the correct action by pointing the rod tip downward towards the water.  When I’m wading in the surf or pond I cannot get that angle and the action of the spook is not as good.  First learned this while using spooks in freshwater.  

[EricDice]

12 hours ago, DZ said:

I’ve always found the rod angle to the water makes a huge difference. In a boat or high perch I was always able to get the correct action by pointing the rod tip downward towards the water.  When I’m wading in the surf or pond I cannot get that angle and the action of the spook is not as good.  First learned this while using spooks in freshwater.  

Awesome as always! You put into words what I have also experienced. 
 

To the OP:

 

I would add that wind and current combos will change your ability to get slack which is absolutely necessary for walk-the-dog action.

 

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And for line:

 

Something very strong - like min 30 lbs PP SS8 with 50 lbs leader - if I’m tossing my heavy Doc. Too difficult to find in PA/NJ & too expensive to lose via a snap off. 

[TopStriperAngler]

I know what you're talking in the surf. Have to say I don't have that problem right now, used to. Don't know if it's the beaches I'm fishing right now or current set up or spooks using. I use like a 10.5 rod hold it between legs the usual way and work the rod that way until spook comes in pretty close than I put rod under arm and tip down to side and work it like that. I like a spook that gets worked pretty fast and doesn't glide that much in the surf but I've also used the longer type spook that can glide a good ways still works.  

 

If there's current taking slack out of your line that could cut down the glide on a long gliding spook. Maybe rod action affects that too like in surf might need to accelerate the lure faster? Dunno. 

 

Maybe size of spook has a thing to do with it too. 

 

Chop can cut down on glide also make the spook submarine. 

 

[LockedDrag]

Lighter line helps in my experience. 6-10lb braid for anything up to 1oz. Anything else, no more than 30lb. Leader length and on test matters too depending on the size of your spook. Your rod matters too. More moderate rods are best.