Jacob Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 I'm just wondering what you use as a leader for pike, because i've noticed that a lot of pike are following right to the side of the boat when i use wire leaders. So i thought about trying flourocarbon next time and i wanted to know lb test to use. Most of the fish are in the 35 to 40 inch range, i'll mainly be fishing big hard bodied swimbaits, minnow baits and big soft plastics, most of the lures are 5 to 10 inches. Thanks in advance Jacob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikeslayer8 Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 I'm just wondering what you use as a leader for pike, because i've noticed that a lot of pike are following right to the side of the boat when i use wire leaders. So i thought about trying flourocarbon next time and i wanted to know lb test to use. Most of the fish are in the 35 to 40 inch range, i'll mainly be fishing big hard bodied swimbaits, minnow baits and big soft plastics, most of the lures are 5 to 10 inches. Thanks in advance Jacob hi Jacob, Im probably in the minority, but with the newer lines out, I havn't used a leader in years. Easier to cast and more proficient in the water. Good luck Slayer8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 On my recent trip to the Attawapiskat I only used 40# Seaguar flourocarbon leader material. I only had to retie a couple of times the whole week and I caught a bunch of big pike to 45" and didn't have a single biteoff. I use a good quality snap/swivel on the lure end and use a back to back UNI knot to join my leader to mainline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisK Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I'm one of the ones that count my blessings and go leaderless when targeting pike. Now if I'm targeting muskie well thats a different story all together. I like to use 80lb mono of some sort. Usually Triple fish or Seaguar with good heavy duty snap swivels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoneFishin Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 (edited) I've been using 17lb suffix flouro for years for pike chucking bass baits and almost never break my line. But if your chucking bigger baits I'd go with 40lb possible more if your baits are expensive Edited July 18, 2011 by GoneFishin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LefroyFisherman Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I use 40 pound power pro, no leader, caught tons of pike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LefroyFisherman Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I also use a double catch 80 pound swivel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farsider Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Now I always use min. 80lb Fluoro Leader. I have had pike break 50lb braid like it was candy floss. And personally, I would not want to have a break-off and have a lure stuck in the Pike's mouth...possibly killing it. I know I am not the only one who has caught a fish with a lure or hook still stuck in its mouth. I think the whole "It'll rust out or work its way out" is something we tell ourselves to lessen our guilt. Pike are not leader shy. I always catch as many or more as those in the boat who don't use a leader. But don't think switching to Fluoro will stop follows. It just comes with esox fishing. Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoneFishin Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 (edited) The thin titanium line also works pretty well a lot of guys swear by it. Edited July 18, 2011 by GoneFishin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I use 100lb floro to cast for musky... Part of the reason for the high lb test is the thicker diameter line doesn't hurt the fish as much when they "death roll" So I would use 80-100lb floro for those pike... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I'm just wondering what you use as a leader for pike, because i've noticed that a lot of pike are following right to the side of the boat when i use wire leaders. So i thought about trying flourocarbon next time and i wanted to know lb test to use. Most of the fish are in the 35 to 40 inch range, i'll mainly be fishing big hard bodied swimbaits, minnow baits and big soft plastics, most of the lures are 5 to 10 inches. Thanks in advance Jacob Changing type of leader will not encourage pike to strike. Use what you're comfortable with. Pike will hit a 6 ounce bottom bouncer tied to anchor line. I use fluoro leaders 50lb and up....not because they are less visible but because they are more convenient to tie and are available in a larger range of strengths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adolson Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 According to my grandpa, pike will hit an ANCHOR tied to anchor line! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDunn Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 40# Seaguar flourocarbon leader material. Thats what I use during the summer and winter....Never have had a bite off. Send highdrifter a PM. He ties up some sweet leaders! TDunn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Caster Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Changing type of leader will not encourage pike to strike. Use what you're comfortable with. Pike will hit a 6 ounce bottom bouncer tied to anchor line. I use fluoro leaders 50lb and up....not because they are less visible but because they are more convenient to tie and are available in a larger range of strengths. Yup, a big pike tore a piece out of a walleye I had on a stringer tied to my canoe the other day. use a good steel stringer as a leader and you can tie several lures at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassman Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Thats what I use during the summer and winter....Never have had a bite off. Send highdrifter a PM. He ties up some sweet leaders! TDunn Ditto, i use 30lb fluoro for pike, 80lb for musky. No breaks off yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeytier Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I've always just used whatever 40 or 50 lbs mono I could find that is relatively inexpensive. I prefer xt. But if i'm fishing dark/murky water, I'll just throw on a steel leader if I happen to have any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Posted July 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 And personally, I would not want to have a break-off and have a lure stuck in the Pike's mouth...possibly killing it. I know I am not the only one who has caught a fish with a lure or hook still stuck in its mouth. I think the whole "It'll rust out or work its way out" is something we tell ourselves to lessen our guilt. That's the same way i feel about breaking fish off, also a lot of the hooks that are used on pike lures are salt water hooks, which wil never rust out. Thanks for all of the replies, i picked up some 50lb flouro for the next tome i'm out pike fishing. Jacob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregoire Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I'm going to try making the transition from fluoro to mono leaders for musky fishing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singingdog Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Was reading a great article on esox leaders the other day. The author was commenting on the irony of using "invisible" leaders on lures with 7/0 hooks dangling off of them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Was reading a great article on esox leaders the other day. The author was commenting on the irony of using "invisible" leaders on lures with 7/0 hooks dangling off of them Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregoire Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I use leaders made out of mono or fluoro to protect the fish. I feel as though braid would be more likely to damage the fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeytier Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I use leaders made out of mono or fluoro to protect the fish. I feel as though braid would be more likely to damage the fish. I've had a wire leader pretty much tear the eye out of a fish once. Thankfully he made a nice dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backbay Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I use 30 or 40 lb seven strand wire available at BPS, and tie my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I believe it's also about fish safety... Heavy floro or mono is less likely to hurt the fish if/when they roll up in your line... Thin wire leaders can bruise and cut the fish... It's more about fish safety then you losing a fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAW Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I make my own leaders using crimps, 55lb flouro and high quality swivel snaps. Just started using them this year, and so far so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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