Leaders (again, sorry)

[Cooter]

Anyone making their own sevenstrand leaders with connections other than crimps? Do you have 100% faith in crimps? How about the heavier knotable leader material? Does anyone use single strand for all their lures/presentations? Would like to make my own sevenstrand leaders but am almost positive I would screw the crimps up and lose a big fish

[RK]

Hiya,

If I'm using wire, I use single strand for everything. To me, crimps are just one more thing to go wrong, and a crimp crapping out means a fish with a bait in its face...no good. I've seen crimps fail - even ones made by guys who know what they're doing - and I just don't have the confidence in them. The ONLY thing I use stranded wire for is sucker quickstrike rigs, and I double crimp those.

I really don't pay much attention to what size wire I use - I sort of grab whatever coil of wire I unearth first when it's time to make leaders (if you saw my fishing room you'd understand..) I think most of the time I use 174# though. I do make lighter leaders for smaller baits. I think that stuff is 120# or something like that.

I really don't think I'm hurting the action on baits much by only using singlestrand leaders. I just don't think muskies are that selective (look at a chewed up Firetiger suick or a pink and purple spinnerbait, then convince me that they're overly choosy about what they eat...) I know some guys that are really fanatics about using certain leaders with certain lures so they work better, but I guess I figure the fish don't really know the difference, so... I suppose I could get a little extra wiggle or wobble out of some baits by using stranded wire, but I generally dislike baits that are that fussy anyhow.

Another big argument for going all single strand is plain old simplicity. Why complicate things? Hard enough just figuring out where the buggers are and what they'll bite on at the moment...

I have been experimenting with fluorocarbon leaders though, and I'll probably use them more this upcoming season. Since I can tie knots in them, I'm a little less worried about the connections failing. Getting more and more confident in them as I use them more.

Cheers,

RK

[kjgmh]

I use single strand for everything. I use 74lb for light stuff and 124lb for heavy stuff. I spent good money on good solid ring swivels and made my own pliers. I will be putting solid rings on the lure end of leader this year. I had a couple of the 74lb leaders start to work back into the split ring(I do not use snaps). I really do not think that I am loosing any action using solid, but who knows. It gives me a peace of mind that my leaders will not fail(knock on wood).

Cooter if you have never fished Rice Lake for muskies we should get together sometime.

Kris

[Stratosman]

I have made numerous leaders, seven strand, flourocarbon, wire, whatever. I have never lost a fish due to a poor crimp, although it has been in the back of my mind. I just made sure to test each one, no problems at all.

[fiskyknut]

Find yourself some Surflon Micro supreme 49strand wire by American fishing wire. You can tie knots in this stuff and say goodbye to those crimps and their drawbacks.

Kinda spendy compared to sevenstrand but worth it.

fiskyknut

[Scoot]

Fisky,

Any suggestions on where to find it? How heavy do they make it?

[Fish-n-Freak]

I use a lot of the 49 strand wire. I will tie a quick knot and then put a crimp on the tag end to prevent a slip.

I have this stuff in 15, 30, 65 and 175 pound test. I have seen it in 275, 400 and even 480 pound test.

I like the flex and the extra security of a knot plus the crimp. This way I think I am getting maximum performance from my lures and leaders. You can find the stuff in most shops and their catalogs. The really heavy stuff I have seen in the BassPro and Cabelas saltwater catalogs.

Good Luck to everyone in '05

Steve Sedesky

[Cooter]

Muskybuck - Have not fished Rice L. before but would sure like to give it a try this summer. Lets plan on it.

Scoot - Go online to Cabelas for the knotable leader material, am about sure they have it.

[dsludge]

I only started making my own leaders last year. I use crimps, heavy swivels/swivel snaps, and stranded wire with a teflon (I think?) coating. I thought that by folding the wire around the crimp and then back through once more, it would help. In addition, I started adding another "half-crimp" just below the other crimp to hold the end in place and prevent fraying. Got two nice 40-inch plus muskies using my own leaders, one pulled out of the milfoil. So far, so good.

Am I crazy, or is it just me?

dsludge

[wisconsinfish]

I also make my own leader and all are single strand. I've never had a problem. Just have to check them every once and a while for wear or crimps from fish. Make sure to get good snaps and bearings. It's relatively cheap to make them compared to buying also.