Tip-up Leaders

[loebs93]

I recently rigged my tip-up with a florocarbon leader. I am not convinced that it will prevent bite-offs in most situations. I have a swivel attached to regular tip-up line which is then attached to some of Cabelas brand florocarbon leader material in 40lb test. Will this do the trick? Should I have gone with a larger lb. test? Or should I just stick with the classic wire leader. Any other recommendations?

So far I have not seen any negative results. I have caught a few pike where the hook was burried deep in the mouth and the line was easily exposed to its' teeth. But I just don't want to have any get away due to them slicing the line in two.

Thanks again

loebs

[mtreno]

try a circle hook. i have been using my walleye tipups this year for pike fishing with 6 lb mono line and been just fine. key being the hook is always in the corner of the mouth. not sure without a side by side test but i feel like i am catching more fish due to less for them to see under the water. other than on mille lacs this year my flags have been flyin left and right - so far only lost one with this.

[Cooter]

Here's another option I've had good luck with the past few seasons: Get some Tyger or Cortland Toothy Critter knotable leader material and make your own. I've been using 50lb test. I use an 80lb crane style swivel for the main line connection and then either tie directly to a treble or add a combination of small beads and spinner blades first and then tie the treble on. Bring some with you while fishing and you can whip a new one up in no time at all. I'm a bit flourocarbon shy myself - this route seems like a good compromise.

[Steve Foss]

In my experience, mono or fluorocarbon of extra thickness doesn't prevent bite-offs. It's the sharp edges of Esox teeth that slice through line. For that reason, while using circle hooks might save a few bite-offs if you're using mono (because there's no line in the fish's teeth while you fight it), the circle hook usually starts far enough down the gullet that there's plenty of line running through the teeth to cause a bite-off before the hook works its way into safe country in the corner of the mouth.

I just use sevenstrand wire and make my own. All you need is a small wire nippers and a locking forceps. The nippers to cut the wire, the forceps to clamp on the tip of the wire after it's run through the hook or through the swivel and spin around and around. The black plastic coated leader material is OK, but you need the sleeves and stuff, and it shows up too well in the water. The bare sevenstrand nearly disappears.