Lead core

[Gregking]

I am wondering what you guys/gals are using this for? Spinner rig, jig, plugs, how deep? How much line are you putting on your reels? Would like to try it but idk wth I'm doing with it

[Rough House]

i use shallow diving cranks. Been doing very well on most of our trips with this method. The educated guess about LC is every color you let out (30ft) goes 4-6 feet deep. I use 5 color which roughly dives 25ft. Now this is very speed dependent. Im running between 2-2.8 so i could be a little higher than that but another thing you can do is attach snap weights where the leader meets the leadcore. 1 oz. of weight roughly gives you 5 feet. So right now im my fish are stacking between 45-55 feet down so im running 5 color with 3 to 4 oz added. Adding the weight keeps the lead lengths short compared to just running a full core (10 Color = 300ft) Also deep divers on lead core like tail dancers, bombers, and reef runners work great on it too. RR 800's on 5 color Im hitting bottom at 43-45 depending on speed.
I have run harnesses on it too but i use it on big boards and its a pain checking if the worms are still on them. So i switched to the cranks.
Good Luck
RH.

[cspierings]

I got exposed to lead core this spring a couple times and set a couple rods up to use with lead core. So far I have used it to pull crankbaits and had some success with it. For me I seem to use it the most on rivers and when on water that has more room I go with planers.

It seems like you have much better control of where your bait is running in terms of trying to follow a depth contour. That being said I don't think I could easily run more than 4 lines on my boat, two short off the back and one off each side should work. I will probably add the shorties this winter.

I'm a novice with lead but so far I really like it and it seems like its a bit less hassle at times than trying to read boards in some situations.

[Gregking]

Thanks guys. I stopped by scheels yesterday and looked at the stuff. I run mostly bottom bouncers but am trying to get into cranks to give me some more options. Thanks

[Steeleyes]

What Rough House says is dead on. Only thing I would add is be aware of how much space leadcore takes up on a reel. A full core of leadcore takes a very big reel. I run 1/2 cores with 100yds of 20lb mono backing, they fill an Okuma 30 size (or Shimano Tekota 600) nicely. For me personally I would never run a full core because I don't want to reel in that much line, I run the 1/2 core then use snap weights. For attaching the leader and backing to the leadcore familiarize yourself with the Willis Leadcore Knot.

[Eric_CO]

I put some dacron backing on the reel and then the full spool of leadcore. I use penn 209m reels and it fits perfect.

You can run anything on lead you would normally troll or move through the water like that. Spinners (use swivels to reduce twist), shallow cranks, even diving cranks.

[Brotsky]

Greg, out here in the Dakotas you don't need to over complicate it. Get an Okuma 30 or a Daiwa 47 and spool a whole core on it no backing or if it makes you feel better tie on 30' of mono backing, tie on a 10-15' leader of fireline or mono and go fishing. I like superline better as it translates your bait better to the tip to tell if it gets fouled or weeded up. Shad Raps, flickers, and reef runners are most commonly pulled out here. Plan on 5' down per color (30') at 2 mph (RR will go a little deeper). I.E. 120' will get you 20' down at 2 mph. The faster you go the line will ride up so you let out a bit more and if you go slower the reverse is true. You're better off letting out not enough than too much as the fish will rise up to hit your bait. For spinners you're better off using inlines or snap weights, jigs are good on their own on mono. Lead is best suited to trolling cranks in 15'-30' of water.