leaders for pike

[Jacob]

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

[Pikeslayer8]

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

[DRIFTER_016]

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.

[ChrisK]

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.

[GoneFishin]

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

[LefroyFisherman]

I use 40 pound power pro, no leader, caught tons of pike.

[LefroyFisherman]

I also use a double catch 80 pound swivel

[farsider]

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

[GoneFishin]

The thin titanium line also works pretty well a lot of guys swear by it.

Edited July 18, 2011 by GoneFishin

[mike rousseau]

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...

[Roy]

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.

[adolson]

According to my grandpa, pike will hit an ANCHOR tied to anchor line!

[TDunn]

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

[Rod Caster]

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.

[bassman]

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.

[Joeytier]

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.

[Jacob]

 

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

[Gregoire]

I'm going to try making the transition from fluoro to mono leaders for musky fishing.

[singingdog]

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

[Roy]

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!

[Gregoire]

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.

[Joeytier]

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.

[backbay]

I use 30 or 40 lb seven strand wire available at BPS, and tie my own.

[mike rousseau]

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

[NAW]

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.