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Posts: 89
Location: East of muskie country | I've heard of people using flurocarbon leaders up to 48" I have never used one over 12" and feel that I've had decent success trolling.
Do you guys feel a longer leader provides any significant advantage in trolling applications? Does it depend on the bait? Conditions? etc....Thanks |
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Posts: 155
| I use 5 to 6ft 50# big Game for propwash rods.Give,s a little stretch when a fish hit,s that close. |
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Posts: 135
| There are many variables but, I run at least a 3 foot steel leader, usually 4 feet, because of the Zebras in my lake. In the prop wash, I usually run a 12 inch steel leader with 5 to 10 feet of line out. I like to "tick" the top of humps with the out rods, and the 4 foot steel leaders enable me to do that. The 12 inch prop wash leaders enable the big lip cranks to run well.
Works well for me, the Zebra are so thick in this NE Ohio lake, that it amazes me that the docks are still floating when they are pulled in November. |
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| For trolling I like a 5 foot leaders best, and it allows seperation for blades I use for additional attraction and flash |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | most of the trolling leaders i make for people are 3 ft that seem sto be the most popular length...i have made them anywhere from 18" - 6ft for people...i think they should be at least long enough to cover a fish rolling once or twice...if you go too long take into considration how long your rod is and if you fish alone alot like i do it can be a bit of a trick landing a fish with that long a leader on a 10ft trolling rod. i think it boils down to personal preferance and what your comfortable with. |
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| I use a 5ft 80 lb test Seaguar Fluorocabon Leader with Stringease Stay-Lok Snap #7 and 350 lb Aussie Swivel at the other end.Long leader is for big fish that go to the surface with big crank baits and roll. When they roll up on short leaders if your using powerbraid the fish can get cut up,same with wire leaders.What fish see is the shadow cast off by the line.Wire line being solid gives off the biggest shadow,mono is next because it reflects light rays off it.Fluorocarbon is non refracting or lets most of the light rays pass through it,there for it is the closest thing to invisable as you can get.Where it realy shines is in those very slow below 1.5 mph trolling aplications,right on bottom,the Fluorocarbon floats the lure just off bottom as you work structure,using 60 lb Mason Lead Core Line to get the lure on bottom going that slow.Long Fluorocarbon Leaders have doubled my fishing success!
Capt. Larry D. Jones |
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Posts: 89
Location: East of muskie country | Thanks all for the input. Great info Larry! I can't wait to troll your FatBoy's in Quebec this summer. |
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Posts: 1529
| 5 fters . we use a inline weigt at the front. we use 50 to 60 mono. on the bigger woodie thumpers we will go with 6-7 ft leaders in fall with braids |
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Posts: 5874
| I use 3 and 4 foot leaders made with 50# and 80# flouro when trolling. I know some have critisized me in the past for not using 180# flouro. Looks like I'm in some good company with the 50#. Pretty sure Larry has a few more than 175 fish to his credit on this line. I know I do. |
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Posts: 2
| When your trolling is going to consist of banging rocks, a 5' leader is best. You'll see how needed it is when your 5' floro-leader comes up and has abrasion marks almost all the way up it. I tie my own 130lb floro leaders and they have never failed from fish or rocks. I usually replace them after a full day of rock pounding...the shreaded up floro makes me a little nervous, though I know people that will keep the same floro leader on all week....
Make sure to have a "cast-back" rod ready to go that has a shorter leader when using these...as they SUCK to cast with! |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | I would use 3-4 footers and use line that won't break, get cut or get bitten through.
Go with strong pound test, 130-180 pound and 3-4 footers.
Clear is clear, no matter what, and musky aren't leader shy...they can't see the leader when they are swimming behind the bait...and their eyes are on the sides of their head....
Use quality beyond everything. |
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Length of trolling leaders