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| I troll a lot for Tigers using crankbaits. I use 50-80 lb. braided line with wire leaders. I have never had a problem with fish getting off after being hooked. It seems to me that the lures will have better action if no wire leader is added. Do I really need a wire leader?
The fish in my lake are about 9 yrs. old - the larger ones in the low 40" size with occasional reports of larger fish . Thanks - Tom |
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| While some might disagree, it is my opinion that a wire leader is a MUST for trolling apllications... especially speed trolling. A high percentage of muskies will spin and twist - the bigger the bait, the more they'll spin. If they happen to roll in the line, there is a 50/50 chance that the line is either going to come in contact with gill covers, teeth, or hook points. Without a good leader, that fish is going to swim away with an expensive bait in its mouth. Potentially left to die a slow lingering death because it cannot feed properly. Despite what you may have heard or read... muskies will be dead long before the hooks ever rust out. This is a wasteful approach to muskie fishing - and a potentially costly one too.
I use 36" leaders for trolling, and I am seriously debating going to 48" leaders. I use single strand stainless of .030, with a size 2/0 swivel at one end, and a size 2/0 swivel and coastlock snap at the other. These are actually designed for use with the small gunwhale mount portable downriggers. In effect, I have built a leader that is roughly 150 pounds test! Yes, it may dampen the action of some baits. But it is marginal in most cases. And NO, the muskies don't care... they'll hit the bait anyway!
Steve Wickens |
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| Tom, you may not need 1 for 99% of the time but the first time you need one you will regret losing the fish of a lifetime. I use steel leaders until fall when I switch to mono for two reasons. The fish like to roll in the cold water and the steel cuts them up and I also like them when slow trolling big baits as they have a big move give then wire.[:sun:] |
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| I use a 60" steel leader when trolling the line takes a real beating when it bounces on rock a wood and what ever so its better to be safe than sorry
larry |
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| OK, I'm convinced. I use fairly good sized baits and you're right-the leader doesn't really make that big of an impact in the action. Thanks-Tom[:bigsmile:] |
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| I would never go without a leader either.But then again I do not like steel leaders for many reasons:When fish rollup in the leader they get cut up,big active crankbaits wear out the leaders at the crimps or twist and you can get breakoffs on big hawgs,something must give with no stretch line and wire leader,the weight of the leader changes the action of the crankbait at slower speeds in the fall,inside turn while trolling the Fluorocarbon Leader floats up as the crankbait flutters,on wire the weight of the leader takes the bait down.I use 70 lb test Fluorocarbon Leaders that are six feet long or 3/4 of the legnth of my rod. |
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