Muskies and spinnerbaits and buzzbaits

[Scoot]

I know a number of people believe that you don't need a leader when using spinnerbaits and buzzbaits for muskies. Joe Bucher is one of them and he supposedly has caught over 3000 muskies (if you believe his self-agrandizing comments on his show). What do others think of this?

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Scoot

So I got dat goin’ for me… which is nice.

[TomWehler]

No Doubt Joe has caught 3000 Musky.
Use a leader as I seen what a Big fish can do to a quality spinner bait and buzzzer?
Don't want to lose the fish, nor do I want the lure hanging in the fish.
Everyone likes what he or she likes I guess.

T.

[Guest]

Joe is very talented when it comes to muskies. Why he does this, I don't know.

But I do know this........

Buzz Baits and Spinner Baits are fast lures. The musky isn't going to study whether or not there is something wrong with the picture or not (meaning if he sees the leader, he will turn cheek).

I also know that having a leader is not going to effect the performance of the lure (example again, is that you need to match your leader with the size of a glider bait to make it swim right).

I also know that I would of lost a 49" musky on Mille Lacs one fall if I wouldn't of had a leader, because she INHAILED my spinner bait (safety-pin, musky style). She was chewing on my leader.........

The only advantage of not using a leader in my opinion would be on gliders. If the leader isn't just right, to match the size, it does effect the swimming characteristics.

Stick with the leader........

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Let 'em go so they can grow!!!

[RK]

Hiya,
You probably could get away with it, at least most of the time. But, why would you want to risk it? It's not like a leader messes up the action of either bait... I guess on bass-style baits with an R-bend rather than closed eye leaders are a problem, but most of them aren't built well enough for muskies anyhow, and there are other options if you want to downsize that style bait.

There's lots of ways for a fish to cut you off though, and having a fish swim away with a bait in its mouth is a horrible feeling. Plus, it's not like muskies are line shy. I guess I just don't see a good reason to NOT use a leader on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits.

RK

[Scoot]

I see your point about "why not?" But I watched a Joe Bucher show recently and one of the things he said for working in and around sloppy weeds was that they tend to get hung up on the leaders more than the baits. He suggested not using a leader and tying directly to one of his new lures (Slophopper I think). This sounded a little fishy to me and that's why I asked here. I can see how the leader would cause some weed problems, but like the posts above mentioned- I don't really want to leave hooks hanging in the mouths of sklunges.
Thanks to all for the feedback.

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Scoot

So I got dat goin’ for me… which is nice.

[guideman]

Hey Scoot,
Besides all the things mentioned above Joe also dosen't have to pay $15 at a crack for his lures, you do. If a small pike can bite off a bass size spinner bait, a muskie can easily eat a muskie sized bait.

I have found that titianum leaders work very well with spinners or buzzbaits in all types of cover. The softer material allows the baits to work as designed.
Also, nothing will kill a muskie faster than a mouth full of spinnerbait, that it can't dislodge.

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Terry "Ace" Sjoberg
aceguideservice.com
Muskies and More.
Pro Staff Member.
Catch-n Tackle.
CKat Custom Muskie rods.
Bearpaws Handpoured Baits
Ohio Pro Lure.
Muskie Nut Tackle.
Big Chimney Muskie Baits.
Marcum.

[delmuts]

for fishing in the weeds( or around them) i watched a in-fisherman show the one time and they talked about using a length of wire instead of a conventional leader. this would eliminate some of the problem with the snap catching the weeds. del

[Guest]

Dick Pearson has taught me how to work this. He calls this "grinding".

When you are working heavy slop, you want to point the rod at the lure, while retrieving. When you come into weeds, don't pull, because you rip the weeds from the root, thus causing the weeds to hang up on the lure or leader. Instead, just keep cranking at a steady pace. This will "pull" the lure free from the weeds.

If you try to rip the lure free from the weeds, you tend to rip the weeds from the root.

Am I making sense here?

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Let 'em go so they can grow!!!

[muskieboy46]

since i fish clear lakes the leader does make a difference. i noticed that i catch more then twice as many fish without using a leader but when the suns going down i put a leader on just in case (plus they cant see it anymore) thats my bit.

[RuKiddingMe]

Maybe try a floralcarbon(sp?)leader, just for the added security. It's a big bummer if the fish gets away with a huge spinnerbait lodged in it's mouth.

RU

[muskieboy46]

I'll look into the flourocarbon leaders. Can you get them anywhere?
thanks to all

[RuKiddingMe]

A lot of fisherman make their own from bulk that can be bought just about any where. But I believe places like Thorne Bros and Cabelas carry them ready made.

RU

[Aj10]

i would use the leader also.i really wouldnt want my line to snap if im fighting a 50 incher