Leaders for Pike Fishing?

[MichaelAngelo]

Do you guys use tougher leader material like high lb test line or wire when targeting pike? I had wire leaders on my last 2 winter harbour trips and caught nothing.

Thinking of going to a more minimal set-up like direct-tie to 10 lb test. Is this too risky?

[Frank81]

I just recently stopped using the wire leaders and started making my own leaders out of fluorocarbon line, however I have not used any yet. But I did find a video a couple days ago that I find useful and you might too.

http://www.thenextbite.com/node/20499

The few that I made were not made that easy, lol but one thing I would like to do different is find clear crimping tubes.

[MichaelAngelo]

(02-15-2012 07:39 PM)Frank81 Wrote:  I just recently stopped using the wire leaders and started making my own leaders out of fluorocarbon line, however I have not used any yet. But I did find a video a couple days ago that I find useful and you might too.

http://www.thenextbite.com/node/20499

The few that I made were not made that easy, lol but one thing I would like to do different is find clear crimping tubes.

Pretty awesome. Must be a lot better than the unnecessarily thick wire leaders. Aren't crimp tubes made of metal, so clear isn't really an option. Then again I'm not aware of the current technology lol.

[Frank81]

(02-16-2012 09:40 PM)MichaelAngelo Wrote:  

(02-15-2012 07:39 PM)Frank81 Wrote:  I just recently stopped using the wire leaders and started making my own leaders out of fluorocarbon line, however I have not used any yet. But I did find a video a couple days ago that I find useful and you might too.

http://www.thenextbite.com/node/20499

The few that I made were not made that easy, lol but one thing I would like to do different is find clear crimping tubes.

Pretty awesome. Must be a lot better than the unnecessarily thick wire leaders. Aren't crimp tubes made of metal, so clear isn't really an option. Then again I'm not aware of the current technology lol.

Yeah, you may be right.
I work in the automotive industry and at our shop we have frosty see thru crimp tubes that I think would be less detectable, I would use them but they have a metal connector on one end, back to the drawing board lol

[MichaelAngelo]

I think it's funny that for some fish like trout and salmon anglers aim for an invisible leader, even if it's as low as 4 or 6lb line. Then on the other hand you have these guys going with 130lb fluoro leaders for pike/musky LOL

[MichaelAngelo]

(02-17-2012 11:10 PM)Frank81 Wrote:  Yeah, you may be right.
I work in the automotive industry and at our shop we have frosty see thru crimp tubes that I think would be less detectable, I would use them but they have a metal connector on one end, back to the drawing board lol

Well I've never dealt with fluoro that thick, I'm assuming it's not tie-able like the thinner line is? Other than the sluggish winter pike i"m dealing with now I don't think pike are particularly picky about leader visibility.

[Frank81]

(02-18-2012 09:32 PM)MichaelAngelo Wrote:  

(02-17-2012 11:10 PM)Frank81 Wrote:  Yeah, you may be right.
I work in the automotive industry and at our shop we have frosty see thru crimp tubes that I think would be less detectable, I would use them but they have a metal connector on one end, back to the drawing board lol

Well I've never dealt with fluoro that thick, I'm assuming it's not tie-able like the thinner line is? Other than the sluggish winter pike i"m dealing with now I don't think pike are particularly picky about leader visibility.

Yeah probably not, and I am no expert on Pike, but when I was ice fishing up north of Huntsville in January, the ONLY pike caught were on rods and tip ups that did not have wire leaders. Eight of us there fishing, we were all using two lines each (16 lines in the water) and all fish were caught in flouro leaders or my step dad even caught a twenty incher on six pound test with no leader at all ..lol

[bfisher]

I do pike fishing in spring and I dont used leader.. just 6lb fluro-carbon and jerk baits... pike would hit anything just in proper presentation...





I dont knowif you could see the line from the jerk bait.. just showing that you dont need a leader

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I got this ice fishing last 3weeks ago

[MichaelAngelo]

some amazing pictures bfisher, welcome to the forum! Why the 6 lb fluoro?

[bfisher]

I dont really need a heavy line, 6lb fluro and 10ft rod is all I need... pike doesnt fight that hard, once you set the hook 3 to 5mins it will eventuall give up... I used fluro so that pike doesnt see line much and 6lb because its lighter, easy to reel and do better presentation but like other people said pike will hit anthing...