Another leader question- leader or no leader? Best line?

[Slyster]

OK.. for basic Northern fishing.. is it better to use a clear line WITH a leader.. or superline (Fireline) without a leader? I have one rod I'd like to set up just for pike.. what line or line/leader do you experienced recommend?

[Random guy]

I have seen fish caught on clear line, green braids and even the hi-vis green and yellow with big old nasty leaders. So line/leader visability does not seem to hurt much. What does hurt is losing a fish and lure from the line getting cut by those razor like teeth.

For pike I set up with a 60lb super braid and a ball bearing leader of the same strength. Make sure you use a leader with a good cross lock or hoop style snap. Pike will roll and can unhook some of the normal style snaps. I actually go a step further and use split ring instead of snaps to prevent this.

[Slyster]

Thanks for the tip.. What kind of leader? Metal? Mono?

Also.. what's the best overall clear water lure? A crank? Or (I am guessing) a big spinner?

[Maashkinoozhe]

Definitely metal. The point of metal leaders is to prevent the pike's sharp teeth from chewing through, and mono's strength is more linear - it can't take the shearing forces of a muskie/pike bite. I like black metal leaders, but the unpainted ones work fine too. Pike aren't known to be finnicky. They bite first and ask questions later. Mono leaders are usually used for walleyes or catfish, when your setting up a slip sinker rig.

Dave D.

[Stratosman]

Pike mostly strike out of aggression so leader type may not be the top priority in that regard, the good old plain wire leader has been around for ages and has caught coutless pike, but now we have options, black, flourocarbon...I typically use flourocarbon for muskies on anything besides a jerkbait and have yet to experience a bite off. More spendy than a typical wire leader, and for pike, probably not a necessity.

As far as lures... hard to beat the old reliable daredevil, I also catch countless pike while throwing spinnerbaits for bass, and the two largest pike I have seen caught have come on small muskie bucktails.

[Slyster]

Great info thanks! Can't wait.. soon we can go out to catch some Northerns! I want a setup just for them.. and who knows.. before bass season opens.. maybe a metal leader will discourage any bass from hiting the lure.. I'll try spinnerbaits and daredevils... I get few bass on those where I fish.