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| I saw some discussion on leaders a while back and even paid some attention to it. I'm new to muskie fishing and have tried several different leaders and found some to be just bad. The clips come undone in slop and some the wire wrap tangles at the snap.
I was just at the Bait Box in Superior and they handle some leaders made by a local guy, Jerry's Tackle. The sleeve in the package says bite proof, the swivles are 120lb, the wire is 100lb single strand and they sell for $1.99 each. So far I like these the best of what I've used so far, not that I know a whole lot to begine with, and the price is right. 715-398-3554 if anyone is intersted. |
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| I think you will find most Muskie Nuts make their own...I mainly use Bucher leaders. I'll have some Mania leaders, and have tried Ray's Titanium leaders which you find at jacksonlures.com. These are pretty darn good. No bending or kinking. Get 7 strand, 100 pound, 12 inches! |
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| Terry,
I use leaders I make for my own use out of .050 wire for the gliders and Suicks, and 60# sevenstrand for everything else. I buy the wire in bulk. I would guess I have under a buck in any one I make, and I know what to expect from them, everytime.[:bigsmile:] |
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| If you don't know how to make your own you really ought to learn.I like flourocarbon the best,but it is not best choice for all applications,as it has a lot or resistance and hurts the action of some baits.I use single strand and twist by hand.Takes about two minutes.BTW I put my arm through a glass door today,trying to stop my bloodhound from getting out.45 stitches later I'm home.Gotta go to plastic surgeon tomorrow.He has to open it back up again to repair some muscle.Outlook good.Now I know how they got the name BLOODHOUNDS.Might need some trolling tips. |
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| Do you guys crimp your 7 strand or do you tie? What is the best knot to tie with 7 strand? I have used flourocarbon for casting for a while and like it. Sometimes in late fall I don't want to risk a bite off or at night are times I would prefer to go 7 strand. I like the Bucher leader knots but they loook like a pain to tie. Any input is appreciated. Don't care much for crimps on my casting leaders. |
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| I crimp mine, using linesmans pliers; the serrated part. That gives me several crimps on the sleeve with little stress, and nothing sticking out to poke me or catch weeds.
I am told that the sleeves cut the wire, but that simply doesn't happen to me. I have made and worn out hundreds of leaders using the sleeves, and have never had one fail on a fish. Just watch the wire as the leader gets beat up. Clip the hardware off for reuse, and toss the wire in the garbage when it begins to kink or fail, usually after LOTS of fish.
I HAVE had two Berkely croslocks fail this year, new ones. Never have had that happen before. Seems like the wire used doesn't have the memory it used to have, and the snaps open up at bad times. |
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| Thanks Steve for your input on the crimps. I use Stamina tackles snaps and get my swivels in bulk packages from bass pro. I too had snaps by Berkely fail. Never had a snap from Stamina fail and I throw mag dawgs a lot. If you can't wear out a snap with one of those things, you won't. I do change snaps when they loose their backbone. |
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| I started using Stay-Locked snaps by Stringease tackle this year.They seem a lot stronger than cross locks...........www.stringease.com |
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| I like the bucher leaders but with some skill of your own you can too make some premium single strand. Get some good snaps I like stringease. Just wrap the ends of the wire with like an inch and a half overlapping around the nail to make your circle and then pull off it and then wrap it around itself tight like you would see on an ordinary leader. THe good thing about that is you can make them however long you want and whatever thickness. Good luck. I find it sickening that it is cheaper to buy 20 - 30 ft of wire is cheaper than some leaders out there on the market. I haven't been doing this very long but works for me. |
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Leaders