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Posts: 31
Location: Syracuse, New York | What's everybody's opinion on leaders?
Is it worth paying 3-4 times as much for premium lure specific leaders, or are the standard wire leaders (usually available in packs of 3 for 2/3 bucks) just as good.
In the past, I have always used basic wire leaders and never had one fail before. But, do the premium leaders offer advantages, such as improved action or better durability?
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Posts: 1245
Location: Madtown, WI | Yes, yes, and yes.
you catch a pile of 30 plus inchers ona a leader...no issues..but...say you hook that fish you have been looking for...say a 40 lber...
Give me a HIGH quality leader with either a split ring or a Stringease snap on it and nothing else!!
We spend sooo much money on baits, reels, rods...why would you skimp on the one thing that connects you to that fish of a life time????
I use flourcarbon leaders made with 180 lb Seagar flouro, Stringease snaps and heavy duty ball bearing swivels. Brad Nelson makes them if your interested in buying some. Maybe he will respond here so you can PM him. I have had NO failures with these leaders....Stealth Tackle makes some very similar to the ones I use and both Brads and Stealths have put a LOT of big fish in the boat with out failure....
I have seen many other leaders fail. Usually its the cross snap locks that have opened up or cheap slit rings...or a 7 strand leader that should have been retired a few months prior.
my two cents...
cory
Edited by C.Painter 6/18/2008 12:17 PM
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Posts: 720
| Cory,
That pretty much says it all. Great response. |
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Posts: 311
Location: Ontario | I definitely agree with all of that. Another point you don't hear much about is SHOCK/IMPACT from a lot of casting and bottom contact. Nevermind a big fish hitting or fighting...think about the stress that occurs heaving a muskie lure around hour after hour, or having one jack into the rocks every minute or so at trolling speed. (Same thing with your knots). I have never broken a leader on a fish, but I have seen them break when guys leaned a little hard into a cast with a heavy bait. I'm not talking so much about little lures like a DepthRaider, Mepps bucktails or Topraider. More like the shock from casting baits in the 6 to 30oz range. If you do survive all that casting and don't lose a bait on a cast, they next good one will take the lure anyways, and both deals suck. Crimps, snaps and knots take a great deal of impact and abuse in just casting all trip. Think of the ratio of casts made:hook sets on fish. The lion's share of abuse on a cheap leader will come in the form of just everyday use casting or trolling. I use split rings to the lure and solid wire that's been twisted on any larger lure. Fluoro is 130lb+, and stranded wire is normally 120lb, carefully crimped. Your connections will give out first on a junk leader, namely crimps or wire twists. The rings or snaps will normally be junk too. I am looking at trying 200lb fluoro this fall, seen some Seaguar on EBay. If a lure's worth $24.99 to a guy, then I'd say a leader's worth at LEAST that...it will save the $24.99 lure. Attach a nice fish to the $24.99 lure and the price of the leader suddenly seems miniscule. If anything, I think guys undercharge for leaders, a good one will save you lures, damage to the resource and you will not have to worry about losing a nice fish.
Edited by JBush 6/18/2008 12:19 PM
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Location: Contrarian Island | Like the rest have said..don't skimp on anything from the reel to the fish..hooks, split rings, leaders, line, reels, rods.
saving a few bucks is not worth losing a single fish over by breaking cheap leaders.
The ones I make are 180 lb Seaguar like Cory said. Stealth makes a great leader too and I use some of his for some applications (like his kick butt night leaders).
For an avg fishermen a 6 pack of the ones I make could easily last you a full season...they are durable, quality components and hold up. I lost count of how many fish have been caught on the leaders I made for guys but it has to be over 500 fish by now... with many over the 50 inch mark.
zero failures.
Edited by MSKY HNR 6/18/2008 12:32 PM
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| I'm repeating the same message for emphasis: don't skimp. I use 130# fluoro leaders from Thorne Brothers or Stealth and that's it. Both have high quality snaps and BB swivels. I haven't had a leader failure since I switched to fluoro. An extra buck or two is nothing compared to the money invested in the rods, reels, baits, boat, motor, and gas. It constantly blows me away when I see people fishing with an braided wire leader that is all kinked and bent and is probably 3-4 years old. Leaders should be replaced no matter what they're made of. |
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