Leaders

[Down to Earth]

What kind of leader do you use on your tip up line when fishing for northerns? Or do I not even need one? Thanks.

Andy

[Bob_D]

I use 50# florocarbon. I catch a fair number of pike (150+ per season) and don't have bite off issues. I do play the pike and I don't get any monsters where I am. 36-38" is about it for the bigger ones. I think floro out fishes steel if you average it out over the season.

[buzbunni]

The quick-strike rigs that I purchase are made with a steel leader material. I attach these directly to the clasp swivel that I have tied on to the end of my dacron main line.

I have also made my own quick-strike rigs with two treble hooks and a short lead of the main dacron(30# in this case). I have not had a problem with bite offs, but I suppose it is possible.

I don't feel the need to be very stealth-like when rigging a tip-up for pike.

If I am using a spoon or jig with a minnow (used more in my jigging applications), I will usually use 7-strand wire in about 12# test. I tie the leader material direct to the jig (or to a crosslock snap when using spoons or horizontal swimbaits), and then use an albright knot to tie the leader material to the mainline. I learned this technique from Doug Stange of In-Fisherman fame. He wrote about it in this years Ice Fishing magazine. It has proved effective for me