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Posts: 246
Location: Rochester, New York | I was just thinking and why that on my heavy duty (muskie) setup it seems I get far less bites with wire leaders (I run a stealth tackle #240 right now with 100lb Power Pro Maxcuatro) compared to my buddy who just uses 15lb mono to a swivel on the exact same lures and was wondering if it had something to do with my leaders or set up.
The other differences is I swap out my trebles for the owner single inline hooks, I swap out the split rings with Worth Zinc Coated Steel Split Rings( I was able to buy 100 packs of them in every size for $50) and have a sliding bead above the leader but thats really it
Edited by Muskie101 7/24/2026 6:18 AM
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Posts: 601
Location: deephaven mn | leaders can make a difference. Specific leaders for specific bairs. wire leaders on bucktails and jerk baits are prefered. Seven strand is perfered for rubber but flouro works. Good question different fisherman have there preferences and most from experience. Keep asking fisherman what they use and why musky's don't care what leader you have some biats perform better with diffwrent leaders. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | My guess is that you can get a slightly different action with a stiff wire than with a more flexible leader. I use stiff wire for jerkbaits and Stealthy fluoros for bucktails and cranks. m |
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Location: PA Angler | Having same problem my bigger lures they seem to just attack with wire but my smaller they seem to be wire shy. Went to fluoro and seem to be doing better. |
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Posts: 1709
Location: Brighton CO. | 50 years ago to the day I started muskie fishing we had thick black line and the leaders were a year away from the early high quality leaders they started to sale in the late 70's. The leaders keep getting better and the lines thinner. When we get to go somewhere where the fish are not pressured or they are really going (the Muskies) leaders more no difference at all. I make my own 124# and 240# solid wire leaders and they catch fish. My largest fish was caught on a crankbait with a cable leader.
Fluorocarbon are invisible in water but they are thick and I've never caught a fish on them. |
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Posts: 3936
| Wire leaders when wire leaders required. I make my own and
20# braid for quick strike rigs and the creature throwback rod
a 9" 240# straight wire for gliders
a 9" 80# flouro for everything else
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Posts: 32976
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Same as Ranger. |
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Posts: 3936
| sworrall - 7/25/2026 10:37 PM
Same as Ranger.
Because I learned from you! |
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Posts: 3936
| sworrall - 7/25/2026 10:37 PM
Same as Ranger.
Because I learned from you! |
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Posts: 2100
| Muskie101 - 7/24/2026 6:17 AM
I was just thinking and why that on my heavy duty (muskie) setup it seems I get far less bites with wire leaders (I run a stealth tackle #240 right now with 100lb Power Pro Maxcuatro) compared to my buddy who just uses 15lb mono to a swivel on the exact same lures and was wondering if it had something to do with my leaders or set up.
The other differences is I swap out my trebles for the owner single inline hooks, I swap out the split rings with Worth Zinc Coated Steel Split Rings( I was able to buy 100 packs of them in every size for $50) and have a sliding bead above the leader but thats really it
If I’m understanding you, you’re throwing the same baits on a 100lb braid that your buddy can throw on 15lb mono? Pretty safe to assume these are relatively small baits? Like 6” or less? If so then I’m guessing 240 wire is killing the action, for baits at or less than 2oz you really don’t need muskie gear… and the only time I throw 100 pound is late fall with 12oz+ baits…80 is plenty for 3-10oz baits , I like 65lb for 2-4 oz baits….muskie and pike on heavy bass tackle with 40lb tieable single titanium definitely is fun and effective with small baits |
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Posts: 246
Location: Rochester, New York | IAJustin - 7/27/2026 3:29 PM
Muskie101 - 7/24/2026 6:17 AM
I was just thinking and why that on my heavy duty (muskie) setup it seems I get far less bites with wire leaders (I run a stealth tackle #240 right now with 100lb Power Pro Maxcuatro) compared to my buddy who just uses 15lb mono to a swivel on the exact same lures and was wondering if it had something to do with my leaders or set up.
The other differences is I swap out my trebles for the owner single inline hooks, I swap out the split rings with Worth Zinc Coated Steel Split Rings( I was able to buy 100 packs of them in every size for $50) and have a sliding bead above the leader but thats really it
If I’m understanding you, you’re throwing the same baits on a 100lb braid that your buddy can throw on 15lb mono? Pretty safe to assume these are relatively small baits? Like 6” or less? If so then I’m guessing 240 wire is killing the action, for baits at or less than 2oz you really don’t need muskie gear… and the only time I throw 100 pound is late fall with 12oz+ baits…80 is plenty for 3-10oz baits , I like 65lb for 2-4 oz baits….muskie and pike on heavy bass tackle with 40lb tieable single titanium definitely is fun and effective with small baits
It is power pro maxcuatro which seems a lot thinner then even the mono, the specific bait I am referring too is 6", (tend to use pike size lures rather full on muskie baits at least for now)there have been a few times i ran my lure on his gear and it didn't take hits though the lure surprisingly hasn't done all that well
I did take a fish with my leader on a jointed x rap last year with the same leader and I couldn't justify losing lures in that price range on my budget |
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Posts: 2100
| A jointed x-rap 5.5” is a perfect example of size bait best fished on 65lb braid and heavy bass gear…like a tranx 300…. Or I use them a lot in saltwater, 4000-6000 size spinning gear and 40lb braid… small baits will have much better action on a lighter leader, matching your leader to size and style bait is important |
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Posts: 20282
Location: oswego, il | Justin beat me to it. Your setup is way too heavy for a 6 inch bait. Balance is a big deal it's all part of the detsils. |
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