Leadcore questions

[lock1nout]

I'm new to leadcore. i recently setup a leadcore for walleye rod and reel. i paired an okuma magda with a shimano tdr 8 foot. I've also spooled 18lb leadcore with backing and a 10 foot mono leader (berkley big game).

from what I understand, each colour will drop my lure approx 10 feet at 2mph. I've also read that it may be closer to 7 feet, which is correct? I would assume the latter because of the smaller lb.

i tried running a number 6 flicker shad (9-11 ft) at 2mph in 30 feet of water and found myself with 4 colours plus my 10 foot leader PLUS a bit of my dyneema backing to hit bottom....in only 30 feet of water. If i do the math, 3 colours would bring me down 21-30 feet, an additional 9-11 from my crank and plus a little bit extra with my 10 foot mono leader. 4 colours and a bit of backing later and im still not hitting bottom? what gives? is my 18lb leadcore not bringing me down 7-10 feet per colour?


Is there something within my equation that I'm not understanding? I would love to know how much leadcore to use to get these small cranks down to 20, 30 feet. Im fishing small rivers and lakes and i'm not fighting some heavy currents.

[Chad]

I use an est of 5ft per color. This assumes 18lb lead and a 15 ft superline leader at 2 mph. It will vary a little depending on speed and crank.

Your crank doesn't have as much effect on the dive as you think when using lead.

[Skeeter20]

5' per color 1.8-2.2mph. I use a 30' 10# mono leader, so I look at the dive depth of that crank and add it to how much lead I have in the water.

[Rough House]

Originally Posted by Chad

I use an est of 5ft per color. This assumes 18lb lead and a 15 ft superline leader at 2 mph. It will vary a little depending on speed and crank.

Your crank doesn't have as much effect on the dive as you think when using lead.

+1

You can almost cut your lure dive curve in half or even more when using lead. The lures dont pull the same as if your using mono or braid.

[ptprior]

Sorry for jumping in, but you are saying 5 foot per color and then add the 1/2 the max depth of the crank? So a rap, #5 glass deep diving shad has a max depth of 7 feet . For this to reach 30 feet I need to 5 1/2 colors?

[BCLII]

Yep, you are right there. Five colors, #5 shad rap and I run 12' fireline = 30'.

[moose-hunter]

How much effect do you think leader length has? Some run 10'. Some 12'. Others up to 30'. And what of the mono vs. fluorocarbon vs. superline debate?

[BCLII]

I find no difference here on lake mille lacs between a 30' leader of 10 lb.mono and 12' of fire-line attached to lead! Thats running them side by side! The key is the lure color,depth and speed that the active fish want that day or as weather conditions change!

[Chad]

Originally Posted by ptprior

Sorry for jumping in, but you are saying 5 foot per color and then add the 1/2 the max depth of the crank? So a rap, #5 glass deep diving shad has a max depth of 7 feet . For this to reach 30 feet I need to 5 1/2 colors?

Keep it simple!

5' per color-that is it.

You do not factor in the dive curve of the lure. It is pretty much eliminated by the leadcore. A 10' leader of fireline will not get your lure down much further than the lead core alone. If you are fishing bottom, this will get you in the range-then just adjust by letting out a little more or taking some in when you hit bottom.

[Brotsky]

Originally Posted by moose-hunter

How much effect do you think leader length has? Some run 10'. Some 12'. Others up to 30'. And what of the mono vs. fluorocarbon vs. superline debate?

The reason you run a superline is that it translates the lure's vibration better to the tip than mono. It's easier to see if your plug gets fouled or weeded up. I catch 1k fish per year on lead and I run a 12' fireline leader, usually 8lb fireline. I've run mono as well but the fireline translates far and away more accurately what your lure is doing, especially when you're running deep. 5' per color at 2 mph is the standard regardless of lure. If you're using a super deep diver like a reef runner you can use a little less but for your standard shad type baits the 5' per color lure is dead nuts on. If you go faster you'll need to let out more line.