I guess it depends on where you are fishing walleye but I just dont need see the need to run more than 8lb because i use floats on all my rigs to keep them off of the bottom. I fish them off of bottom bouncers with 6ft to the hooks. Are you dragging your spinners across the bottom or just above the bottom? I like my odds of hooking more line shy fish on smaller diameter line. As far as braid, it sounds great but tangles way too easy. My line from the bouncer to the hooks Never touches the bottom. I dont see how yours is breaking. If you have a weak spot in your line from dragging bottom then I understand. I caught alot of walleye over 8lbs this year using 10lb main line on my stickbaits. 17lb or 8 lb, it isnt going to matter if it touches a tooth. BP, you said you lost a huge walleye at night. If it were night, then you must have had it next to the boat to see it was a walleye and not another species. Was the problem in losing the fish at the boat? Was the line fine all the way until you tried to net it or something? Im trying to figure this out?