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Posts: 214
Location: Beaver County, Pennsylvania | Just wondering what some of you guys use for leaders. Brand name, home made, lengths, materials(if you build your own) and why you use a certain length for each application????? Thanks a ton folks. -Shane
Edited by adudeuknow 5/3/2008 4:49 PM
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Posts: 4266
| All home-made.
I even take a 20' loop of wire in the boat with me and make them as I need them. I put split rings on all of my lures, and leave a loop on the connecting end of the leader. I've seen every kind of snap open, but have never seen a loop come out of wire. On the end that I tie to, I will use a ball-bearing swivel for bucktails. For gliders and cranks, I will use either a welded ring or a solid ring barrel swivel. I make them anywhere from 8" to 10", and it takes me about 15-30 seconds to make one. All that I need is a small pair of Vise-grips and my Knipex to trim the end of the wire.
Make your own, it's easy.
Beaver |
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Posts: 1760
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | I use all 0.035" wire and 200 lb crane swivels and stay-lock snaps. These leaders end up at 200 lb test total and I have not broken one yet. I make my leaders to 12" because I had a 9" leader get bitten off when a fish ENGULFED my swimbait. I saw the head shake and no leader exposed and she was gone. For bucktails I do use sampo ball bearing swivels and they are definitely worth the extra cost. I do not have faith in fluoro because there is no physical way it can be as durable as wire. Metal will take a much greater beating and will still hold up. Yes they get bent, but if you make them yourself, you can make them for about 50-60 cents each. Cut out the wire, and re-twist at the end of the day. I also don't think you lose any action by using wire instead of fluoro. Musky baits are so large and the difference in drag is minimal compared to the size of the bait. I have seen 130 lb fluoro and it is no less visible in water than wire is. I will stick with 'ole faithful (wire) and continue to have great success. I had 119 muskies last year on wire leaders. I never fish without a leader like some do, and I have never noticed anyone catching more fish than me due to "leader visibility". Hope this helps. |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | I make flourocarbon leaders for most applications casting and trolling. I use double barrel crimps and use 70lb(pike) 80 and 100lb casting and trolling. Pike leaders are 6" long, the pike i take my kids to fish are of average size. The casting leaders are 8=12" long based on lure size. I use ball bearing swivels and berkly style snaps with no issues.
For glide baits and walk the dog topwaters, I use a solid wire with a berkely snap and a welded ring. I use anywhwere from 105lb to 174lb wire. I do not go heavier as it can affect the action of many baits and 174lb can even affect some "tempermental" gliders from working properly because of the weight it adds to the nose of the bait. |
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