Steel Leaders?

[Neal/CO]

Does everyone use them? I use them during open water for throwing horizontal baits like spinnerbaits, spoons, and Cranks. I always have one heavy spinning rod loaded with 14lb Fireline that I use to cast heavy jig and reaper combos. I hate using a leader on that rig because it ruins the nice hopping action that Pike love. I also fish a reaper and soft plastic combo alot thru the ice also on Fireline without a leader. I paid the price for that last weekend. After catching some small Pike and one that was about 7 lbs I had a fish try to take the rod out of my hands and just as abruptly cut me off.

Here's my question. Did I lose a fish because I was being stupid or was it one that might not of ever struck if I had a leader on?

[mudpuppy]

Kind of a catch 22 . I'm sure you get more hits without a steel leader , but you get cut off a lot without them . Especially the larger pike with a little weight behind them . I usually sacrifice a little action so I don't lose fish & jigs . I've got some uncoated brown wire I use for jigging . You can get fairly light (8lb. I think is the lightest) thats not too stiff . I'll usually just tie it directly to the jig with a double overhand knot . The snaps on the ones you buy just kill the action . I've never had a knot slip in the 15 or so years I've been doing it . Just make sure you pull it up tight with a pair of needle nose pliars . Maybe that wiil help . Good Luck !!!

[gjdbass]

My bet is that you lost the fish because you didn't have a steel leader. Pike are such aggressive feeders that I doubt they will be scared off by a steel leader.

I spent a week on the Mackenzie river about 6 years ago and caught more than 600 northerns. I used steel leaders and don't believe I lost any. Some were in access of 20 lbs. I recommend Berkley Steelon leaders, 9 inches long, 30 lb test.

Jerry

[mac]

I've been using 30 lb mono leaders in Canada for years and have never been cut off. They get frayed at times and need to be changed, but never have they completely cut through the mono. I use small snaps and a swivel at the line end and crimp sleeves and make my own.

[Jbob]

If you are using 14 LB Fire line you shouldn't have a problem with getting bit off.

[crash]

Neal,

I've been using a short piece of wire, tied or twisted directly to the lure. Thin stuff 12lb or less. Just keep checking it for weak spots. My friend keeps telling me 15lb pure floro but I don't know about that...caught a big pick' on it and didn't tear it up, but I havn't used it in that way enough yet.

waddya been up too?

You should try this saltwater fishn, its really bad for you and the pocketbook!! A 10lb bluefish would bite right through 30lb wire. HA! I'm way past addicted. Fer petes sake, I got one of those fancy Loomis rods even...

seeya!

[Neal/CO]

Thats what I was using! Thats the first time I have been cut off on that rig. I was just at www.MuskyShop.com and they have some 30 lb test Floro Carbin leaders I think I will try. The thing I hate about the leaders is that you don't get that nice flutter after the upstroke, instead your bait turns over quickly and drops to fast? I guess there is no perfect answer, it sure sucks to feel the surge of a nice fish and feel him slice thru your line like it was sewing thread!!

[Neal/CO]

Hey Crash! I just posted here last weekend, wondering if you were still alive? I thought maybe the witness protection program had moved you to a new Location, LOL.

[crash]

I'm good, familys good, everybody I know somehow dodged the WTC thing. I'm back at ice fishn while the stripers are south, got me thinking about you guys agian. The same crew still hangs here? Ness? I see BE is still da man...

check your PM's..

[Neal/CO]

We had the second WC Western Get-Together up in Wyoming in late August and it was a blast. We caught about 150 eye's in three days between 5 boats, including three over 30 inchs! I learned my lesson, no more fall events. You should try to make it out this summer. Looks like around August 17th this year.

Did you use the leadcore and streamer trick at all last summer?

[crash]

Yup, right up to when they kicked us out of the reservoirs. Dumbest thing you ever saw Neal, The N. guard would be all upity untill 5:30pm and then everybody would split. We'd sneak in after dark and fish then sneak out before the'd show up at 5. The feds caught on though, looks like the city and state are loosing control of the reservoirs to the Army CoE. We've already been told that we'll be let on come opening day (April 1st).

Oh yea, they liked dace too...ssshhhh

tell ya what, you come to my get together, I'll come to yours...I just did an Ice fishn "Fling" as this site out here calls em. We do several a year, mostly stripers though...

can I post links? ahh fudge who cares...http://www.stripersonline.com/ubb547/Forum26/HTML/000428.html

[rickn]

I use leader material from cabelas, called seven strand. It's very flexible, and I also use the leader sleeves they have. I just crimp them with a vice grip, watch that you don't crimp too hard. Works for me.

[Chad]

I fish Devils Lake often and use a Titanium Leader when pitching cranks in the wood. I also use one when pulling lead and very small cranks. The Titanium leader is 5 x the cost but it does not kink. It is tough to find the smaller ones but well worth it.

I would not use one if it we not for the gaters or if someone agreed to resupply my cranks when they were eaten.

[Neal/CO]

I forgot all about that site! Are you still the Moderater?

[Bump]

Bringing it back up.

[SUPERTROLLER]

Pike do not care if you use a steel leader. They probably wouldn't care if you tied on with a small diameter rope. If they think it's food, they'll eat it. We have used 7 strand steel leaders on tip-ups for as long as I can remember and we still catch plenty of pike. In this situation they can look it over for as long as they want.

[Neal/CO]

I agree with you that the leader doesn't scare them? But it does effect the action of a soft stickbait dramatically. Use loose that soft flutter when use a steel leader and that effects my success with those baits.

[BruceMLPS]

Not concerned over Pike's thoughts on leaders... they'll hit. Personally think black leader is better than silver.

But my concern is fishing for Walleyes with pesky Pike. I don't mind losing a jig or simple hook, but hate thinking a Pike biting off my crank's multiple hooks and swimming with its jaws locked up till it dies. And costly. At a guide tip, I use 80# floro leaders for Musky, and have boated many without loss.

I've been bitten off with 6/20 fireline, at least near the cut, there was no general fraying. I hand tied 12# wire (like piano wire), and bought "InVisible Leaders". Both kink badly and must be replaced after one fish, but I get the fish and lure back. But, I feel eyes are passing me by.

Any pike success with small floro, or do walleye ignore the wire too?

[crash]

If you check my profile it still says forum leader, but I turned the reins over during the summer to two other guys. I still do alot for that site, the ice fling was just one of the "get-togethers" we did this last year. My bbq has more miles on it then the car...


anyway... try the floro, the toothy SOB didn't cut it last weekend so it might work for you.

[Gumbo]

Neal, try the titanium leaders. They're spendy, but have an extremely small diameter. Once you try titanium, you'll never use steel again.