Any one use steel leaders with their fake decoys?

[Huey]

I have a favorite Bruell and a really sweet ShamAlex cisco decoy that I'd hate to loose.

I might try using a wire leader to safeguard the decoys. Has anyone tried that? Will it spook the fish?

[troutned]

I haven't speared in years, and don't recall using a steel leader with fakes, but I've angled a lot of northerns with just a minnow on a hook, with a steel leader. That doesn't seem to spook them, so I doubt it would with a spearing decoy.

[Gordie]

I do not use steel leaders Huey cause I think that it may affect the swim factor of the decoy. Ive lost two decoys and it wasnt to the teeth of a pike. old line and bad a knot got me at the GTG on Big Lake acouple years ago. if the decoy swims good with steel it should be alright to use I dont think that it will scare the pike to much most guys use them on tip ups and they see to smack the pike.

[merkman]

I just use 80 lb gorilla braided line with no steel leader.

I lost one decoy and it was due to the snap swivel not the line.

[mnspearingguider]

I use steel leaders, if its a good decoy (balanced properly) it will not affect the swim of a decoy, I spend way to much time and get enough money for my decoys I will use leaders, merkman, has it good to, use a good braided line, but also use a good swivel.

Everyone has there opinion or favorite swim style, but a good swimming decoy will pull the line directly behind the line tie as if coming from the dorsel of the decoy. If it nose dives to fast it will pull the line all the time, which in my professional opinion from competing for the last several years. is not a good swimming decoy, but is effective for attracting pike.

On the other hand if you are using whitefish attractors, the swivel or leader will affect the balance of the decoy. But these decoys are usually under 3"

[BOUNCED]

I lost one decoy and it was due to the snap swivel not the line.

Rrrrrr me too, I always invest in the nicest snap swivels

[Laska]

Originally Posted By: merkman

I lost one decoy and it was due to the snap swivel not the line.

Rrrrrr me too, I always invest in the nicest snap swivels

Spearhead you didnt just spear it to get your decoy back? lol

[shamalex72]

I have a favorite Bruell and a really sweet ShamAlex cisco decoy that I'd hate to loose.

Have you used it yet?

[Shawn Kellett]

I just use 80 lb gorilla braided line with no steel leader.

I lost one decoy and it was due to the snap swivel not the line.

Try Spro swivels with String Ease snaps. You should get much fewer wind knots and the snaps are very reliable and easy to use by people who's arms are too short for their eyes.

[BOUNCED]

Spearhead you didnt just spear it to get your decoy back? lol

I tried, the bottom was to soft. Plus it had aluminum fins which aren't real effective with a magnet.

[Huey]

Have you used it yet?

[bassNspear]

HUEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY whats Cracking!!

I have not used one becuase i feel everything works better with line!

[Huey]

Originally Posted By: Huey

I have a favorite Bruell and a really sweet ShamAlex cisco decoy that I'd hate to loose.

Have you used it yet?

I used the cisco today. It swims awesome. Slowwwwww and wide.

[Spike76]

I use a steel leader and I don't think it hinders anything. One quick hit, and a shake of the head, and your decoy could be gone like one of mine , before I started using steel leaders.

[Gordie]

I do not use steel leaders as I have not ever lost a decoy due to a pikes teeth yet but I'm sure someday it will happen now if were talking knot failure I have had a couple of those

[Mcfin]

If you spear long enough and you don't use steel, jaws WILL get your decoy someday.

[Gordie]

guess I'll wait for it to happen then

[Mcfin]

One day years ago, jaws came in and ripped off 3 of my giant, expensive,live suckers in about a 45 minute period. I never got a shot at any of them.

[Gordie]

like this Mcfin

[Mcfin]

Ha Ha ya kinda like that. Actually, the decoys(hard and soft) that I have lost to jaws over the years were taken by smaller pike. The big guys usually come in slower and are less aggressive.I speared a smaller one this year(about 3 pounder) that had a belly full. It had two large sucker minnows in it's belly that it had taken from someones tip-up(had hook marks in them).It grabbed my sucker and was trying to get way with it There is no way it had room in it's belly for that big thing.

[mrklean]

i have one line with a leader and one without, i had the leader with me so i tossed it on one and it hasnt effected anything yet speared pike on both setups

[MJ1657]

I use a leader with a small silver blade on it.

It gives a little extra flash when you swim the decoy.

[merkman]

Awesome video Elwood.

[NDpikepoker]

I just use heavy braided line with a 4" loop tied in the end. that way no knot or snap swivel to fail. and you can switch decoys easily. just run the decoy through the loop.